Buonanotte is one of the first expressions that Italian learners encounter, along with buona sera (good evening) and ciao. It’s also one of the most useful, as it can be used in both formal and colloquial situations. It’s often accompanied by terms of endearment such as amore or tesoro to show that you mean your good night in a romantic way!

When saying good night to friends, you can add a personal touch by using a form of your friend’s name, or other words that express your affection for them. For example, if you’re saying good night to your best friend, you can say buonanotte amico mio (good night, my dear) or buonanotte amore mio (good night, my love).

You might be wondering where the expressions buonanotte and sogni d’oro come from. Buonanotte, which literally means “good night,” and sogni d’oro, or sweet dreams, have long been used in Italian culture. In fact, it’s customary for family members to wish each other a good night before they go to sleep!

Another word that has a literal meaning is buonanotte al secchio, which is a common expression in Umbria and can be interpreted as: it’s all over! It’s as good as it gets. The phrase may have a more pessimistic interpretation as well, with some people interpreting it to mean that something is doomed to fail.

You’ll also hear people use a less formal version of the phrase by simply saying dormite bene or, when addressing someone in a more formal situation, fai una bella dormita. The latter is a bit more emphatic, and it’s the best choice for wishing someone a good night when you know they have a long day ahead of them tomorrow!

The word dormite itself is derived from the verb dormire, or to sleep. If you’re speaking to a child, you might wish them dormite bene with a kiss or cuddle before letting them drift off to dreamland! You can also say buona notte, or buona serata if you’re wishing somebody goodbye in the evening.