Intro.
In Italy, buonanotte is a farewell greeting that encompasses a gesture of affection and care. With a single word, you put a sweet end to the day, wishing the other person rest, serenity, and pleasant dreams. It's the greeting that closes evening phone calls, that's exchanged before going to sleep, or that's written in an affectionate message.
Unlike buonasera, which accompanies the still-active evening hours, buonanotte instead marks the transition to silence and rest. It carries with it a particular intimacy that belongs only to end-of-day moments.
From the simplest "Buonanotte" to variants like "Sogni d'oro" (Sweet dreams), "Dormi bene" (Sleep well), "Fai bei sogni" (Have beautiful dreams), and "Buon riposo" (Good rest), the Italian language offers different formulas, more or less intimate, to say goodbye with warmth and kindness.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll discover when and how to use "buonanotte," its nuances, related expressions, and some useful linguistic notes like the difference between notte and nottata.
Ready? Let's begin... and if you're reading this article before going to sleep... buonanotte to you!
For a complete overview of Italian greetings, we recommend reading our comprehensive guide dedicated to Italian greetings.
1. The Italian Good Night: Buonanotte
Buonanotte is the typical greeting of the late hours, the one that closes the day. It's used when saying goodbye to go to sleep or when greeting someone who's about to do so. It's an affectionate and well-wishing formula that literally means "good night": it closes communication while expressing the wish that the night be "good"—serene and restorative.
Unlike "buonasera", which can be used to greet when entering or leaving at any evening moment, buonanotte marks a precise boundary: the one that precedes sleep. You say it when you truly separate to sleep, not just when darkness falls. For this reason, a friend leaving your house at midnight will say goodbye with "buonanotte", wishing you good rest.
It's used in informal contexts, in family, among friends—between people who have a relationship of closeness and affection. It's also used in formal contexts, for example at the end of a business dinner or evening event, when actually saying goodbye for the night: in these cases it takes on a polite and respectful tone, rather than affectionate.
In English it corresponds to Good night.
"Buonanotte" is always answered with "Buonanotte", maintaining the same register as your interlocutor.
Tone: affectionate, warm, reassuring.
Examples:
A: Vado a letto, papà. Buonanotte!
B: Va bene, buonanotte!
A: I’m going to bed, Dad. Good night!
B: Okay, good night!
A: Buonanotte, Luca. Grazie della cena!
B: Grazie a te! Buonanotte, Luisa, alla prossima.
A: Good night, Luca. Thanks for dinner!
B: Thanks to you! Good night, Luisa — see you next time.
A: È stato un piacere, dottor Paoli. La ringrazio ancora per l’invito. Buonanotte.
B: Grazie a lei, ingegner Moretti. Buonanotte e buon rientro.
A: It was a pleasure, Dr. Paoli. Thank you again for the invitation. Good night.
B: Thank you, Mr. Moretti. Good night and have a safe trip home.
In colloquial contexts, "buonanotte" can be used figuratively and have different functions:
- with a dry and decisive tone, it can abruptly close a conversation or situation that has exceeded the limit of tolerance. In this case it expresses exasperation, surrender, or refusal to continue, as if to say "that's enough", "end of story".
- with a more relaxed or "resigned" tone, it can instead comment on a gesture or episode of distraction, one's own or others'. In this meaning, "buonanotte" becomes a way to good-naturedly acknowledge the oversight.
In English it can correspond, in the first case, to expressions like That's it!, I'm done! or We're done here!; in the second case, instead, it can approach formulas like Good grief!, Oh boy!
Examples:
Sai che ti dico? Basta. La chiudo qui e buonanotte! → (tono deciso, di chiusura e impazienza)
You know what? That’s enough. That’s it! / I’m done! / We’re done here! → (decisive tone, of closure and impatience)
Ho passato mezz’ora a cercare il telefono… mentre stavo parlando al telefono! Buonanotte! → (tono rassegnato di chi riconosce una distrazione)
I spent half an hour looking for my phone… while I was on the phone. Good grief! → (resigned tone of someone recognizing a distraction)
2. Notte: Informal Night Greeting
"Notte" is the abbreviated and colloquial version of "buonanotte". It's very widespread among friends and family members, especially in messages or chats. It's spontaneous, immediate, and maintains the same well-wishing function as "buonanotte" in a lighter and more confidential form.
In English it corresponds to a simple Night, with the same informal tone.
"Notte" can be answered with "Notte," or with "Buonanotte" in complete version.
Tone: intimate, direct, affectionate.
Examples:
A: Notte, tesoro!
B: Notte! A domani!
A: Night, honey!
B: Night! See you tomorrow!
A: Vi lascio, sono stanchissimo. Notte!
B: Notte! Ci vediamo domani!
A: I’m gonna head out, I’m beat. Night!
B: Night! See you tomorrow!
In even more confidential or affectionate situations, "notte" can be repeated and become "Notte notte". It's a more tender way to say goodbye, often used between very close people.
Example:
A: Vado a nanna. Notte notte!
B: Anche io! Notte notte!
A: I’m going to bed. Night night!
B: Me too! Night night!
3. Sogni d'Oro: Sweet Dreams in Italian
The expression "Sogni d'oro" is one of the sweetest and most traditional formulas for wishing good night. It means "may you have dreams precious as gold". It's a wish for serenity during sleep.
It's used especially in affectionate contexts: between parents and children, between couples, or people connected by a relationship of closeness and warmth. "Sogni d'oro" is often preceded and also used together with "Buonanotte", forming the expression "Buonanotte e sogni d'oro": in this case, "sogni d'oro" adds a more caring and attentive tone, specifying the quality of rest being wished.
The closest English equivalent is Sweet dreams or Golden dreams.
"Sogni d'oro" is usually answered with "Sogni d'oro anche a te" (Sweet dreams to you too) or simply with "Anche a te" (You too).
Tone: sweet, reassuring, tender.
Examples:
A: Sogni d’oro!
B: Sogni d’oro anche a te, riposati!
A: Sweet dreams!
B: Sweet dreams to you too — get some rest!
A: Buonanotte e sogni d’oro!
B: Anche a te!
A: Good night and sweet dreams!
B: You too!
4. Italian Sleep Well Wishes: Fai Bei Sogni
"Fai bei sogni" is another tender and positive expression, similar to "Sogni d'oro", but slightly more direct and colloquial. It's often used between close people, with a reassuring tone.
In English it equals Have sweet dreams or Dream nice things.
"Fai bei sogni" is answered with "Anche tu!" (You too!) or with the more complete formula "Fai bei sogni anche tu!" (Have beautiful dreams you too!).
Examples:
A: Ti auguro una notte serena. Fai bei sogni.
B: Grazie, anche tu!
A: I wish you a peaceful night. Sweet dreams.
B: Thanks, you too!
A: Buonanotte, non pensare troppo! Fai bei sogni.
B: Lo spero! Fai bei sogni anche tu.
A: Good night, don’t think too much! Sweet dreams.
B: I hope so! Sweet dreams to you too.
5. Dormi Bene: Sleep Well in Italian
"Dormi bene" is a spontaneous and affectionate wish, directed to someone who's about to go to sleep. It focuses on the action of sleeping and the idea that sleep should be good and regenerating. It's common in informal and family relationships and often accompanies or replaces "buonanotte".
In English it corresponds to Sleep well, Sleep tight.
"Dormi bene" is answered with "Anche tu!" (You too!) or with the more complete formula "Dormi bene anche tu!" (Sleep well you too!).
Tone: warm, caring.
Examples:
A: Buonanotte, dormi bene.
B: Anche tu!
A: Good night, sleep tight.
B: You too!
A: Spengo tutto e vado a dormire.
B: Bravo! Dormi bene.
A: Grazie, dormi bene anche tu!
A: I’m turning everything off and going to bed.
B: Good! Sleep well.
A: Thanks, you sleep well too!
6. Buon Riposo: Good Rest in Italian
"Buon riposo" is a more neutral and polite formula, also suitable in formal or professional contexts, when you want to wish good night without entering too intimate a register.
It's also used in a broader sense, not necessarily before going to sleep, as a wish related to recovery and quiet after the day's fatigue.
In English it corresponds to Have a good rest or Rest well.
"Buon riposo" can be answered by reciprocating with "Buon riposo" or with the more complete formula "Buon riposo anche a te" (Good rest to you too).
Tone: respectful, kind, balanced.
Examples:
A: Vi auguro un buon riposo e una notte tranquilla.
B: Grazie mille, buon riposo e a domani!
A: I wish you a good rest and a peaceful night.
B: Thanks a lot, see you tomorrow!
A: È stata una giornata lunga, buon riposo.
B: Sì, hai ragione! Buon riposo anche a te.
A: It’s been a long day — get some rest.
B: Yeah, totally! You too, rest up.
7. Italian Night vs Evening: Notte vs Nottata
To understand some nuances of expressions related to "Buonanotte" and the moment of nighttime rest, it's useful to distinguish between notte and nottata.
The word notte indicates the period between sunset and dawn, in a neutral and temporal sense. It's the term used in greeting formulas like buonanotte.
The word nottata, instead, emphasizes the unfolding and quality of the nighttime hours. It's used to describe the experience lived during the night, often accompanied by a judgment: una buona nottata (a good night), una brutta nottata (a bad night), una nottata agitata (a restless night).
In English the difference is expressed with the opposition between night (which describes night as a time interval) and nighttime / the night I had (terms that refer to the experience of the night).
Examples:
Ho dormito tutta la notte senza interruzione. (periodo temporale)
I slept through the whole night without interruption. (time period)
Nonostante la febbre, ho passato una nottata tranquilla. (esperienza)
Despite the fever, I had a peaceful night. (experience)
7.1 Having a Good/Bad Night in Italian
To express a judgment on the progress or quality of nighttime hours, the expressions "Trascorrere una buona nottata" (Having a good night) or "Trascorrere una cattiva nottata" (Having a bad night) are used.
"Trascorrere una buona nottata" means spending a serene night, sleeping deeply or without interruptions and waking up in the morning rested and in good shape.
Conversely, "Trascorrere una cattiva nottata" indicates a difficult night — due to insomnia, worries, noise, or various problems. The same concept can also be expressed with the word "nottataccia" (awful night), used in phrases like "Ho passato una nottataccia" (I had an awful night) or "È stata una nottataccia" (It was an awful night).
In English they correspond to To have a good night and To have a bad night.
Tone: neutral or evaluative.
Examples:
Ho trascorso una buona nottata, finalmente ho dormito otto ore!
I had a good night, I finally slept eight hours!
Ho trascorso una cattiva nottata: febbre alta e sogni agitati.
I had a bad night — high fever and restless dreams.
Conclusion
Buonanotte is a greeting that closes the day with sweetness and warmth. From the most neutral and respectful form (Buon riposo) to the most intimate (Sogni d'oro, Fai bei sogni), it encompasses a gesture of care and closeness. With "Notte!" the tone is lightened, while the expression "Dormi bene" adds a caring and personal touch.
Using these formulas naturally means grasping an important nuance of Italian culture: attention to kindness and shared moments, even in the smallest gestures.
And so, buonanotte to you... or, why not, sogni d'oro!
Adriana Rossi is a certified teacher of Italian as a foreign language from Rome, Italy, and has been part of the Giulia team since 2024. With a Modern Literature degree and advanced studies in Modern Philology, she specializes in tracing the origins and evolution of Italian words, bringing expertise in diction and expressive reading to help preserve and share Italy’s linguistic heritage with learners worldwide.
