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buonasera
/ˈbwɔ.naˈseː.ra/
good evening
Buonasera, come va?
Good evening, how are you?
formal
A polite greeting used in the evening, equivalent to 'good evening' in English.
Buonasera a tutti!
Good evening everyone!
Used from late afternoon until evening. More formal than 'buonanotte' (good night).
Collocations
buonasera signoregood evening sirbuonasera signoragood evening madam
Pro Tip
When to use
Use 'buonasera' from around 4-5 PM until midnight. After midnight, 'buonanotte' (good night) is more appropriate.
Gold Rule
Formality
Always use 'buonasera' when addressing strangers, elders, or in formal settings. It is more polite than 'ciao'.
Word Origin
From Italian 'buono' (good) + 'sera' (evening). The phrase literally means 'good evening'.
Usage Notes
Used as a greeting when meeting someone in the evening or when leaving in the evening. In informal contexts, 'ciao' may replace it.
Word Breakdown
buono
good
adjectivesera
evening
nounDizionario Italiano-Inglese