Signification
Greeting.
Contexte culturel
The 'passeggiata' is a key cultural moment where 'buonasera' is the primary greeting. It's a social ritual of seeing and being seen. In the South, 'buonasera' can start as early as 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM, right after the midday meal. Northerners tend to stick to 'buongiorno' or 'buon pomeriggio' until later in the day, often until 5:00 PM. TV news programs like TG1 always open with 'Buonasera' for their 8:00 PM edition, setting a tone of national formality.
The 4 PM Rule
If you aren't sure, wait until 4:00 PM to start using 'buona sera.' It's the safest transition time.
Don't 'Night' your 'Evening'
Avoid 'buonanotte' unless you are actually heading to sleep. It's a very common beginner mistake!
Signification
Greeting.
The 4 PM Rule
If you aren't sure, wait until 4:00 PM to start using 'buona sera.' It's the safest transition time.
Don't 'Night' your 'Evening'
Avoid 'buonanotte' unless you are actually heading to sleep. It's a very common beginner mistake!
The 'Serata' Switch
To sound like a native, always use 'buona serata' when leaving a shop or a group of friends in the evening.
Teste-toi
It is 7:00 PM and you walk into a restaurant. What do you say?
Qual è il saluto corretto?
7:00 PM is the perfect time for 'Buona sera.' 'Buongiorno' is for morning, and 'Buonanotte' is for bedtime.
Complete the sentence to wish someone a pleasant evening as you leave.
Arrivederci e buona _______!
We use 'serata' when wishing someone a pleasant duration of the evening as we depart.
Match the greeting to the time of day.
1. 09:00 | 2. 19:00 | 3. 23:30 (bedtime)
Morning is Buongiorno, Evening is Buonasera, Bedtime is Buonanotte.
Complete the formal dialogue.
A: Buonasera, Dottore. Come sta? B: ________, sto bene grazie.
In a formal context, it is polite to mirror the greeting used by the other person.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Sera vs. Serata
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesQual è il saluto corretto?
7:00 PM is the perfect time for 'Buona sera.' 'Buongiorno' is for morning, and 'Buonanotte' is for bedtime.
Arrivederci e buona _______!
We use 'serata' when wishing someone a pleasant duration of the evening as we depart.
1. 09:00 | 2. 19:00 | 3. 23:30 (bedtime)
Morning is Buongiorno, Evening is Buonasera, Bedtime is Buonanotte.
A: Buonasera, Dottore. Come sta? B: ________, sto bene grazie.
In a formal context, it is polite to mirror the greeting used by the other person.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsBoth are correct! 'Buonasera' is more common in modern writing, while 'buona sera' is the traditional form.
Usually after lunch, around 2:00 PM or 4:00 PM depending on the region. When in doubt, listen to what the locals say first!
Yes, it is very appropriate and respectful for a student to greet a teacher this way in the evening.
It is neutral-to-formal. It's more formal than 'ciao' but perfectly standard for everyday interactions with strangers.
Simply repeat it back: 'Buonasera!' or add a polite 'come sta?' (how are you?).
In Southern Italy, the 'evening' is often considered to start right after the main midday meal.
Yes, it's a great way to open a professional email sent in the late afternoon.
'Sera' is the point in time (the evening), while 'serata' is the duration or the experience of the evening.
Young people might just say 'Sera!' with a quick nod, dropping the 'buona' entirely.
No, 'buona sera' stays the same regardless of who you are talking to.
Expressions liées
buongiorno
contrastGood morning / Good day
buona serata
similarHave a good evening
buonanotte
specialized formGoodnight
buon pomeriggio
similarGood afternoon
