benvenuto Italian · revision 37965

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1274, Pietro da Bescapè|origins=la bene, la veniō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ben.veˈnu.to/, /ˌbɛn.veˈnu.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''benvenuto''' (feminine benvenuta, masculine plural benvenuti, feminine plural benvenute)^(Wiktionary)

+ Northern forms in the early texts include [[roa-oit|benvegnudo]] and [[m|roa-oit|benvignudo]].^(TLIO) It is still sometimes written ''ben venuto''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|it|bene|venuto]], the past participle of [[venire]], from the phrase meaning “well come”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(TLIO) Wiktionary takes it back to the phrase [[la-vul|*bene venūtus]], perhaps a calque of a Frankish word continuing [[gem-pro|*wiljakwemô|t=a welcome guest or arrival]], the source of [[en|welcome]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The first part is [[la|bene|t=well]], from an older ⟨*duenēd⟩ formed on the adjective that became [[m|la|bonus|t=good]].^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) Tommaseo notes that the word is also a given name of good omen, like Bonaventura and Bentivegna.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is the Lombard poet Pietro da Bescapè in 1274, with the sense “welcome, gladly received”.^(TLIO) Zingarelli dates the word before 1292, and GRADIT to Boccaccio's ''Decameron'' (1348–1353), where a woman greets Andreuccio with “O Andreuccio mio, tu sii il benvenuto” (My dear Andreuccio, you are welcome).^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the start the word was used both as a greeting and of a person gladly received, as in Pulci's ''Morgante'': “Tu sii 'l benvenuto” (Be welcome).^(TLIO)^(DEI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) DELI dates the noun “person or thing well received” to Boccaccio (1353) and the greeting formula as an interjection to Salvator Rosa (before 1650).^(DELI 1999) Benvenuto Cellini, on the birth of a son, said that the child was dear to him and welcome, and Tommaseo illustrates ''dare il benvenuto'', to greet a new arrival, with Paolo Segneri.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The synonym ''ben arrivato'' is recorded from before 1625, and ''dare il benarrivato'' from 1891.^(LEI|5, 1011) Today ''benvenuto'' is also the welcome itself, as in a warm or a cold reception.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1274 – Pietro da Bescapè uses the word in Lombardy.^(TLIO)

+ * 1348–1353 – Boccaccio uses ''il benvenuto'' in the ''Decameron''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1625 – The synonym ''ben arrivato'' is recorded.^(LEI|5, 1011)

+ * Before 1650 – Salvator Rosa uses ''benvenuto'' as an interjection of greeting.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # [[m|en|welcome]]!, a greeting to someone who arrives, agreeing with the person greeted: ''Benvenuta in squadra, Giulia!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The greeting itself, chiefly in ''dare il benvenuto a qualcuno'', to [[m|en|greet]] someone on arrival: ''Il sindaco ha dato il benvenuto ai nuovi abitanti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # A reception: ''Ci hanno riservato un benvenuto un po' freddo.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # A person or thing gladly received, in ''essere il benvenuto'': ''Con quel dolce sei la benvenuta!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bene]]

+ * [[venire]]

+ * [[benarrivato]]

+ * [[en|welcome]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ As a greeting it agrees with the person addressed: ''benvenuto'', ''benvenuta'', ''benvenuti'', ''benvenute''.^(Wiktionary)^(Treccani 2011) Sabatini–Coletti gives ''benarrivato'' as a synonym.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}