buon anno
happy new year
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Italian greeting used to wish someone a Happy New Year during the festive transition from December to January.
- Means: Happy New Year (literally 'Good Year')
- Used in: Midnight toasts, greeting neighbors, and holiday cards
- Don't confuse: Using 'buono anno'—the 'o' must be dropped before 'anno'
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
Celebration.
Cultural Background
The 'Cenone di San Silvestro' is the massive dinner held on New Year's Eve. It almost always includes lentils and cotechino sausage. In the past, people threw old objects out of windows to symbolize getting rid of the old year's negativity. Wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve is a must for many Italians to ensure the 'buon anno' is lucky. The Pope gives a special blessing and 'buon anno' to the crowds in St. Peter's Square on January 1st.
The 'Altrettanto' Trick
If someone says 'Buon anno' to you and you're too nervous to say it back, just say 'Altrettanto!' (Same to you!). It's perfectly native.
Double N is Key
Be careful with 'anno' (year). If you pronounce it with one 'n' ('ano'), it means 'anus'. Always double that 'n'!
Meaning
Celebration.
The 'Altrettanto' Trick
If someone says 'Buon anno' to you and you're too nervous to say it back, just say 'Altrettanto!' (Same to you!). It's perfectly native.
Double N is Key
Be careful with 'anno' (year). If you pronounce it with one 'n' ('ano'), it means 'anus'. Always double that 'n'!
Eye Contact
When saying 'buon anno' during a toast, always look the person in the eyes. It's considered bad luck otherwise!
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form of the greeting.
Come si dice 'Happy New Year' in italiano?
We use 'buon' because 'anno' is masculine and starts with a vowel.
Complete the sentence with the missing word.
Ti auguro un _____ anno nuovo!
'Felice anno nuovo' is a common way to wish someone a happy new year.
Match the greeting to the situation.
You are at a formal dinner with your boss on Dec 31st. What do you say at midnight?
Using 'Le auguro' and the title 'Direttore' is appropriate for a formal context.
Fill in the response.
A: 'Buon anno a te e famiglia!' B: 'Grazie, ________!'
'Altrettanto' means 'the same to you' and is the perfect response to a holiday wish.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Buon Anno vs. Felice Anno Nuovo
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, if you won't see the person again until the new year. It's like saying 'Have a good New Year' in advance.
Neither is 'better'. 'Buon anno' is shorter and more common in speech; 'Buon anno nuovo' is slightly more complete.
Because of a rule called truncation. 'Buono' becomes 'buon' before masculine nouns starting with a vowel or most consonants.
Usually after the Epiphany (January 6th). By January 10th, it starts to sound a bit late.
'Buon anno' is specific to the New Year. 'Buone feste' covers the whole period from Christmas to New Year.
No, just 'Buon anno!' is the most natural way to say it. The 'I wish you' part is implied.
Yes, it is very common to start the first email of the year with 'Buon anno' or 'Spero che il Suo anno sia iniziato bene'.
Don't worry! You can say it all through the next day and the following week.
Not really a slang word, but people might say 'Auguroni!' (Big wishes!) as a very casual alternative.
Yes, they say 'Buon 2024!', which is a very common variation.
Related Phrases
Buone feste
similarHappy Holidays
Capodanno
builds onNew Year's Day
San Silvestro
relatedNew Year's Eve
Buon principio
specialized formGood beginning
Where to Use It
Midnight Toast
Luca: Tre, due, uno... Buon anno!
Giulia: Buon anno! Cin cin!
Meeting a neighbor
Signora Rossi: Buongiorno, buon anno!
Marco: Altrettanto, Signora! Come sta?
Business Email
Manager: Gentile cliente, Le auguriamo un buon anno nuovo.
Cliente: Grazie, ricambio cordialmente gli auguri.
Texting a friend
Sara: Buon annoooo! ✨🥂
Matteo: Auguroni! Ci vediamo presto!
At the Supermarket
Cassiere: Ecco lo scontrino. Buon anno!
Cliente: Grazie, anche a Lei!
Family Dinner
Nonna: Mangiate le lenticchie e buon anno a tutti!
Nipote: Sì nonna, buon anno!
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'BONE' (Buon) that you give to a dog every 'ANNual' (Anno) party.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant bottle of Italian Prosecco exploding, and instead of bubbles, thousands of tiny calendars with the word 'BUON' written on them fly out.
Rhyme
Buon anno, buon tutto, mangiamo il prosciutto!
Story
A traveler arrives in Rome at midnight. He sees a two-faced god (Janus) who hands him a golden key. The god says 'Buon', and as the traveler turns the key in the lock of the new year, the crowd roars 'Anno!'.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to say 'Buon anno' to three different people (real or imaginary) using three different tones: excited, formal, and sleepy.
In Other Languages
¡Feliz año nuevo!
Spanish uses 'Feliz' more frequently than 'Buen' for this specific holiday.
Bonne année !
French uses the feminine form 'Bonne' because 'année' refers to the duration of the year.
Frohes neues Jahr!
German grammar requires specific adjective endings based on the neuter gender of 'Jahr'.
あけましておめでとう (Akemashite omedetou)
Japanese has a specific version for before Jan 1st and a different one for after.
كل عام وأنتم بخير (Kul 'am wa antum bikhair)
The Arabic phrase is a general blessing for any recurring occasion, not just Jan 1st.
新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè)
In China, the Lunar New Year is the primary context for this phrase.
새해 복 많이 받으세요 (Saehae bok mani badeuseyo)
It is phrased as a polite request or command to 'receive' luck.
Feliz ano novo!
Portuguese speakers often use 'Bom ano' specifically in Portugal, while Brazil prefers 'Feliz ano novo'.
Easily Confused
Learners often mix up 'year' (anno) with 'birthday' (compleanno).
Remember: 'Anno' is for the whole world; 'Compleanno' is just for you.
Both refer to a 'good year'.
Use 'annata' for wine or harvests, 'anno' for the calendar.
FAQ (10)
Yes, if you won't see the person again until the new year. It's like saying 'Have a good New Year' in advance.
Neither is 'better'. 'Buon anno' is shorter and more common in speech; 'Buon anno nuovo' is slightly more complete.
Because of a rule called truncation. 'Buono' becomes 'buon' before masculine nouns starting with a vowel or most consonants.
Usually after the Epiphany (January 6th). By January 10th, it starts to sound a bit late.
'Buon anno' is specific to the New Year. 'Buone feste' covers the whole period from Christmas to New Year.
No, just 'Buon anno!' is the most natural way to say it. The 'I wish you' part is implied.
Yes, it is very common to start the first email of the year with 'Buon anno' or 'Spero che il Suo anno sia iniziato bene'.
Don't worry! You can say it all through the next day and the following week.
Not really a slang word, but people might say 'Auguroni!' (Big wishes!) as a very casual alternative.
Yes, they say 'Buon 2024!', which is a very common variation.
