Learn Italian: La cena è pronta: buon appetito! - Dinner is ready

In Italian, you almost always use a definite article (like il or la) before nouns, even for general concepts or meals. While English just says 'Dinner is ready', Italian requires you to say 'The dinner is ready' (La cena è pronta).

Why does pronta end in an -a instead of an -o?

Adjectives in Italian must match the gender of the noun they describe. Because la cena (the dinner) is a feminine noun, the base adjective pronto (ready) changes its ending to match, becoming pronta.

Why is it buon appetito and not buono appetito?

When the masculine adjective buono (good) comes directly before a noun, it usually drops its final -o. Because appetito is a masculine noun, buono gets shortened to buon.

What does buon appetito literally mean?

It literally translates to 'good appetite'. In Italy, it is customary to say this to everyone at the table right before you begin eating a meal together.