buongiorno Italian · revision 37945

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1348–1353, Giovanni Boccaccio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˌbwɔnˈd͡ʒor.no/, /bwonˈd͡ʒor.no/, /bonˈd͡ʒor.no/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''buongiorno''' (interjection; as a noun masculine and invariable). Also written ''buon giorno'', less often ''bongiorno''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound [[af|it|buono|giorno|t1=good|t2=day]]: the greeting “buon giorno” written as one word.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI and GRADIT date both the greeting and the noun “the greeting itself” to Giovanni Boccaccio, between 1348 and 1353.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) The TLIO also records it in Franco Sacchetti's ''Trecentonovelle'' at the end of the 14th century.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is said above all in the morning, but may be used until the early afternoon or, in general, before evening; by extension it serves as a plain “hello”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary) As a noun it is the greeting itself, as in ''dare il buongiorno'', and Tommaseo also records a plural: “Mi assordano co' loro buongiorni” (they deafen me with their good-mornings).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861|1, 1073) Ironically, ''bel buongiorno!'' greets someone who starts grumbling as soon as they are up.^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The proverb ''il buongiorno si vede dal mattino'' says that a good start shows how a thing will go.^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ The greeting is sometimes shortened to ''giorno'', and its synonym is ''buondì''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(DEI|635)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1348 – Giovanni Villani uses ''buongiorno'' for a club used as a weapon.^(TLIO)

+ * 1348–1353 – Boccaccio uses the greeting.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DELI 1999)

+ * Late 14th century – Franco Sacchetti uses it in the ''Trecentonovelle''.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # [[m|en|good morning]], good day: a greeting used on meeting or leaving someone, especially in the morning or before evening: ''Buongiorno, signora, come sta?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(by extension)'' [[m|en|hello]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The greeting itself: ''Entrando non ci ha nemmeno dato il buongiorno.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[buono]]

+ * [[giorno]]

+ * [[buondì]]

+ * [[buonanotte]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate ''buongiorno'', a long club with a heavy studded head used as a weapon, is first recorded in Giovanni Villani (1348).^(TLIO)^(Treccani 2011) It renders the Flemish name of the weapon, ''godendag'' (“good day”), which came through Old French and Occitan ''godendac''.^(DEI|635)^(TLIO) Tommaseo took it as an ironic name, like ''darle buone'' for a beating.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861|1, 1073)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}