buonanotte Italian · revision 38346

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˌbwɔ.naˈnɔt.te/, /bwo.naˈnɔt.te/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''buonanotte''' (interjection; also a feminine noun, invariable)^(Wiktionary)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ It is also written separately, ''buona notte'', which Devoto–Oli and Treccani call the more common spelling, and less often ''bonanotte''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|it|buona|notte|t1=good|t2=night]], the greeting written as a single word.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary) The adjective is the feminine of [[buono]], agreeing with the feminine noun.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI and GRADIT date the word from Boccaccio's ''Decameron'' (1348–1353), both as a greeting on parting late or before going to bed and as a noun naming that greeting.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(TLIO) At the end of the third day the king, judging that it is time to sleep, sends the company to bed “con la buona notte” (with a good-night).^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun it is used in ''dare la buonanotte'', to say good night, and in ''il bacio della buonanotte'', the good-night kiss.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Colloquially it may be shortened to '''notte''.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ In familiar speech ''…e buonanotte'' closes a matter that is dropped or ended for good, and the longer ''buonanotte al secchio'' and ''buonanotte ai suonatori'' mean that it is all over and nothing more can be done.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Said alone, ''Sì, buonanotte!'' expresses doubt or disappointment.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ In popular usage a ''buonanotte'' was also a ceramic jug or cup set on a pierced stand with a small oil lamp inside, used in the past to keep herbal teas warm through the night.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # [[m|en|good night]], said on parting late in the evening or before going to bed: ''Buonanotte, ci vediamo domattina!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' ''…e buonanotte'': and that's the end of it, closing a matter that is dropped or settled for good: ''Gli ho restituito le chiavi e buonanotte.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Expressing [[m|en|scepticism]] or disappointment.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The good-night greeting itself, as in ''dare la buonanotte''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(popular, dated)'' A ceramic jug or cup on a pierced stand holding a small lamp, used to keep infusions warm overnight.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[buono]]

+ * [[notte]]

+ * [[buongiorno]]

+ * [[buonasera]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Buonanotte al secchio'' and ''buonanotte ai suonatori'' (or ''sonatori'') are fixed phrases for something that is finished and cannot be mended.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}