Learn Italian: Buongiorno, signora.

Buongiorno, signora.

Good morning, madam.

Breakdown of Buongiorno, signora.

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Questions & Answers about Buongiorno, signora.

Is buongiorno only used in formal situations?

It is the standard polite greeting when using the formal Lei (formal "you"). While you can also use it with friends or family, it is the safest and most expected choice for strangers, shopkeepers, and elders, rather than the informal ciao.

Can I use signora by itself without a last name?

Absolutely! In English, we can say "Good morning, ma'am" but it sounds strange to say "Good morning, Mrs." without a surname. In Italian, signora translates to both "ma'am" and "Mrs.", so using it all by itself to address a woman directly is extremely common and polite.

If I want to greet a man formally, do I just swap it for signore?

Yes! To say "Good morning, sir" to a man, you would say Buongiorno, signore. Just like with signora, you do not need to add his last name for it to be a complete, polite greeting.

How late in the day can I use buongiorno?

Buongiorno literally means "good day" (buon + giorno). You can use it all morning and usually into the early afternoon. Sometime after lunch (usually around 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM, though it varies by region), Italians switch to saying buonasera (good evening).