How to Say Good Night in Italian
Learn how to say good night in Italian. 'Buonanotte' is the standard phrase for saying goodnight. Includes pronunciation, when to use it, and related bedtime expressions.
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Quick answer
To say good night in Italian, say 'Buonanotte' (pronounced bwon-a-NOT-teh). It is used as a farewell when someone is going to bed, or as a warm closing in evening messages. 'Buonasera' (good evening) is different — it's a greeting used when arriving, while 'Buonanotte' is used when departing for sleep.
Buonanotte
/bwon-a-NOT-teh/ — Italian
How to Say Good Night in Italian
Buonanotte is one of the warmest words in Italian — a gentle farewell that closes the day. Unlike the daytime greeting Buongiorno, which opens interactions, Buonanotte marks an ending, a rest, a return to home.
The Phrase: Buonanotte
Pronunciation: /bwon-a-NOT-teh/ — four syllables, stress on NOT.
Break it down:
- Buona — good (feminine form; notte is feminine)
- notte — night
Together: buona + notte = buonanotte — typically written as one word in modern Italian.
Usage: Said when someone is going to sleep, when leaving at the end of an evening, or as a warm sign-off in a late-night message.
Buonasera vs Buonanotte: The Key Difference
This is one of the most common sources of confusion for Italian learners:
| Italian | Time | Function | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buongiorno | Morning–early afternoon | Greeting (arrival) | Good morning / Good day |
| Buon pomeriggio | Afternoon (~2–6 PM) | Greeting | Good afternoon |
| Buonasera | Evening (~6 PM+) | Greeting (arrival) | Good evening |
| Buonanotte | Bedtime | Farewell (departure) | Good night |
Think of it this way: Buonasera is what you say when someone arrives in the evening; Buonanotte is what you say when someone leaves to go to sleep.
All Italian Good Night Expressions
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Buonanotte | bwon-a-NOT-teh | Good night |
| Sogni d’oro | SON-yee DOR-o | Golden dreams / Sweet dreams |
| Dormi bene | DOR-mee BEH-neh | Sleep well |
| Buonanotte e sogni d’oro | — | Good night and sweet dreams |
| A domani | ah do-MA-nee | See you tomorrow |
| Ci vediamo domani | chee veh-DYA-mo | We’ll see each other tomorrow |
| Riposati bene | ree-PO-za-tee BEH-neh | Rest well |
| Nanna | NAN-na | Bedtime / Night-night (baby talk) |
| Fai bei sogni | fai bay SON-yee | Have good dreams |
| A presto | ah PREH-sto | See you soon |
Pronunciation Guide
Buonanotte confuses learners because of the “buo” opening:
- Buo — not “boo-oh” (two separate sounds) — it’s a glide: bwoh in one smooth motion
- na — short, unstressed “na”
- not — stressed, like the English word “not”
- te — short “teh,” never silent
Common mistakes:
- ❌ “boo-oh-na-NOT-teh” (too many syllables in the opening)
- ❌ “bwon-a-NOT” (dropping the final -te)
- ✅ “bwon-a-NOT-teh”
Using Buonanotte in Real Situations
Leaving a dinner party: Grazie per la cena! Buonanotte a tutti! (Thank you for dinner! Good night everyone!)
Tucking children in: È ora di dormire. Buonanotte, tesoro. Sogni d’oro. (Time to sleep. Good night, darling. Sweet dreams.)
Ending a phone call at night: Okay, è tardi. Buonanotte! Ci sentiamo domani. (Okay, it’s late. Good night! We’ll talk tomorrow.)
In a text message: Stavo per andare a dormire. Buonanotte! 🌙 (I was about to go to sleep. Good night!)
Italian Sleep Vocabulary
| Italian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| dormire | to sleep |
| andare a letto | to go to bed |
| svegliarsi | to wake up |
| il sonno | sleep (noun) |
| sognare | to dream |
| un sogno | a dream |
| stanco/a | tired |
| assonnato/a | sleepy |
| alzarsi | to get up |
| la sveglia | the alarm clock |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Buonasera and Buonanotte?
'Buonasera' (good evening) is a greeting used from around 6 PM onwards when you arrive somewhere or meet someone. 'Buonanotte' (good night) is a farewell — you say it when someone is going to bed or when ending an evening interaction. You greet with Buonasera; you part with Buonanotte.
How do you pronounce Buonanotte?
Buonanotte is pronounced bwon-a-NOT-teh — four syllables. The 'bwon' is one smooth glide (buo = bwoh), 'a' is short, 'NOT' is stressed, and 'teh' is the ending. Don't say 'boo-oh-na-NOT-teh' — keep the first syllable as one smooth sound.
Can you say Buonanotte to everyone?
Yes — Buonanotte is appropriate in both formal and informal situations. You can say it to family, friends, colleagues, and even people you've just met at a dinner party. It's a universally warm and appropriate farewell in Italian.
How do you say sweet dreams in Italian?
'Sogni d'oro' means 'golden dreams' in Italian — the equivalent of 'sweet dreams.' It is a beautiful, poetic expression commonly used between loved ones at bedtime. You can say 'Buonanotte e sogni d'oro!'
What do Italians say before bed?
Common Italian bedtime expressions include: 'Buonanotte' (good night), 'Sogni d'oro' (sweet dreams / golden dreams), 'Dormi bene' (sleep well), and 'A domani' (until tomorrow / see you tomorrow). In families, children often add a goodnight kiss along with the words.