In Italy, the afternoon (pomeriggio) generally runs from noon (12 PM) or just after until around 6 PM, transitioning into sera (evening). While buon pomeriggio technically means "good afternoon," it's used less frequently than buongiorno (good day, used until ~4-5 PM) or buonasera (good evening, used from ~5-7 PM onwards) for greetings. The time also aligns with the riposo (midday break), when many shops close for lunch and rest.
del mattino / di mattina – literally, "of the morning," equivalent to a.m. del pomeriggio – "of the afternoon" (1 to 5 p.m.) di sera – "of the evening" (6 to 11 p.m.) di notte – "of the night" (midnight to 3 a.m.)
1 PM: Full Lunch
Most lunch places in Italy do not open earlier than noon, and many open at 12:30. Lunch is between about 1:00 and 2:30 pm, and then the restaurants close for the afternoon until the dinner shift around 7-7-7:30 pm. Restaurants in Italy are not open all day.
The afternoon is divided into three parts: early afternoon, mid-afternoon, and late afternoon. Early afternoon is the time between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Mid-afternoon is the time between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Late afternoon is the time between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
What time is the afternoon and what time is the evening? The afternoon is the time between 1 to 5 pm, the Evening is the part between 5 to 7 pm, and Night is the time from 9 to 4 pm.
We start saying good afternoon rather than “good morning” when the time reaches 12 p.m. (midday).
The Do's and Don'ts of Italian Food Etiquette
Mornings are reserved for milky drinks, such as a cappuccino or caffè latte, and it is often frowned upon to drink milkier beverages later in the day. After 11 a.m., Italians switch to espresso-based drinks like a simple shot of espresso or a macchiato instead of a milkier cup of coffee.
The Social Aspect of Dining
In Italy, dinner is more than just a meal; it's a social event. Italians value spending time with family and friends over a long, leisurely dinner. Eating late allows for a more relaxed and extended dining experience, where conversation and connection are as important as the food itself.
The most common Italian greeting is Ciao ( pronounced CHOW). Ciao is a simple, snappy way of saying hello and goodbye in Italian. It comes from the Venetian word sciavo—literally meaning servant or slave.
The word has a Latin origin and means something deserving. While the British have the afternoon tea break, Italians have the Merenda. It's nothing more than a light afternoon snack, usually prepared with ingredients commonly available at home, but it has a special place in the Italian food tradition.
Prego! – You're welcome! K: Here's our first example of prego. It means “you're welcome”, as a response to grazie.
Like buongiorno, buonasera works in both formal and informal contexts.
Pranzo (Lunch)
The midday pranzo is the most important meal of the day in Italy. While a sandwich (panino) or pizza a taglio — pizza sold by weight, and a popular street food — suffices for Italians in urban towns, a traditional pranzo brings families and friends together to enjoy their lunch at home.
"Fangool" (or Va fangool) is a heavily slang, often playful-sounding, Italian-American corruption of the Italian phrase "Va' a fare in culo," which directly translates to a vulgar "go f*** yourself" or "go stick it up your ass," used to express strong anger, dismissal, or contempt. It's a colorful expression of telling someone to get lost or that you don't care about their opinion, similar to "get out of my sight!".
Pointing directly at people or things with your fingers is considered impolite in Italy. Instead, use an open hand or nod in the direction you wish to indicate.
The Aperol spritz may just be Italy's most famous alcoholic drink and, in some parts of the country (*cough cough* Venice), has even become synonymous with aperitivo.
The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in coffee means 80% of flavor comes from 20% of the variables, emphasizing that a few key factors—fresh, quality beans; proper grind; and good water—yield the best results, rather than obsessing over every tiny detail. It suggests focusing your effort on core elements like sourcing great beans and grinding fresh for significant flavor improvement (the 80%), while the remaining 20% of brewing nuances (like water temperature precision) offer diminishing returns.
The 5 Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) in Italian are Chi (Who), Cosa (What), Quando (When), Dove (Where), and Perché (Why). These are fundamental question words used for gathering information, similar to their English counterparts, and often include "Come" (How) as a bonus.
Eating habits are also a factor. Italians who regularly consume fruits and vegetables, for example, have a significantly lower rate of overweight than those who regularly drink alcohol and consume junk food. Obese people seem to get more pleasure from shopping and are more interested in cooking.
“Creative Alternatives to Say Good Afternoon” ✨🌤️ Instead of just saying Good Afternoon, try these: Hope your day's going well 🌸 Wishing you a pleasant afternoon 🌿 Enjoy the rest of your day 🌞 A bright afternoon to you ☀️ Hello sunshine 🌼 Hope your day is as lovely as you 🌺 Keep shining through the afternoon ✨ A ...
Good Morning / Good Afternoon / Good Evening
The greetings change depending on the time of the day. For example, “Good morning” is generally used from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. whereas “Good afternoon” time is from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. “Good evening” is often used after 6 p.m. or when the sun goes down.
In general, “good evening” is a little more formal. Friends don't normally say “good evening” to each other – they would say “Hi” or “What's up?” or another informal phrase for greeting people.