buonasera

Buonasera is the Italian greeting meaning "good evening." It is formed from buono (“good”) and sera (“evening”) and is commonly written as a single word in modern Italian, though older texts sometimes show it as two words.

Usage and context: Buonasera is used as a salutation during the late afternoon and evening, when meeting someone or beginning a conversation. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. A typical exchange might be, “Buonasera, come sta?” with the response often being simply “Buonasera.” For farewells, Italians more commonly say “buona serata” (“have a good evening”) or “arrivederci,” rather than using buonasera as a farewell.

Timing and regional variation: There is no strict clock, but buonasera is commonly spoken from late afternoon until night, with social norms varying by region and situation.

Related phrases and notes: The parallel greetings are “buongiorno” for daytime and “buonanotte” for night. The two-word form “buona sera” can appear in older writing or signage, but the standard contemporary spelling is “buonasera.” The phrase is widely used in Italy and among Italian-speaking communities worldwide as part of everyday courtesy.