Bene vs. Buono in Italian

Bene and buono are two common Italian words that can confuse beginners. Both can express the idea of “good” but their usage differs depending on the context. Let’s clarify when to use each.

Photo by Volkan Olmez on Unsplash

Adverb vs. Adjective

Bene is an adverb and generally means “well” while buono is an adjective meaning “good.” The key difference is that bene is invariable, meaning it doesn’t change with gender or number. In contrast, buono is an adjective, so it does change according to the gender and number of the noun it modifies. Here's how it works:

• Bene (always the same, because it's an adverb)

• Buono (masculine singular)

• Buona (feminine singular)

• Buoni (masculine plural)

• Buone (feminine plural)

For example:

• ✅ Sto bene (I’m well, literally: I stay well)

• ❌ Sto buono (incorrect)

If someone asks “Come stai?” (How are you?), we respond with:

• ✅ Bene (short for Sto bene)

• ❌ Buono (incorrect)

If asked, “Com’è il gelato?” (How is the ice cream?), we respond with:

• ✅ Buono (short for Il gelato è buono, the ice cream is good)

• ❌ Bene (incorrect)

Examples of Bene

Here are a few examples of how to use bene. Notice that it stands alone and does not modify other words:

• Fa bene al cuore (It’s good for the heart)

• Una persona per bene (A good person)

• Non è venuto bene (It didn’t come out well)

• Va bene (OK)

You may also encounter intensity variants of bene:

• Benino (a little well)

• Benone (quite well)

• Benissimo (very well)

For example:

• Come è andato il colloquio? (How did the interview go?)

• Benissimo! (Very well!)

Examples of Buono

Now, here are a few examples of buono in action:

• Una buona canzone (A good song)

• Queste olive sono proprio buone (These olives are really good)

• Lo sto ancora leggendo ma mi pare buono (I’m still reading it, but it seems good)

• Un caffè buono (A good coffee)

Dropping the "o" in Buono

When buono comes before a masculine singular noun, it usually drops the final "o," with a few exceptions. Here’s how it works:

• ✅ Ho un buon lavoro (I have a good job)

• ❌ Ho un buono lavoro (incorrect)

• ✅ Buon giorno (Good morning, literally: good day)

• ❌ Buono giorno (incorrect)

• ✅ Un buon viaggio (A good trip)

• ❌ Un buono viaggio (incorrect)

• ✅ Un buon amico (A good male friend)

• ❌ Un buono amico (incorrect)

However, if the masculine singular noun begins with ps, pn, gn, x, y, z, or s followed by a consonant, then the o is not dropped:

• ✅ Un buono yogurt (A good yogurt)

• ❌ Un buon yogurt (incorrect)

Having said that, for these exceptions, it is usually more natural sounding to simply place buono after the noun it modifies. For example, uno yogurt buono.

Using Buona, Buoni, and Buone

When modifying feminine singular nouns, buona stays unchanged (no dropping of the final vowel):

• Una buona giornata (A good day)

• Una buona cintura (A good belt)

• Una buona trattoria (A good trattoria)

For plural nouns, use buoni (masculine plural) and buone (feminine plural):

• Buoni amici (Good friends)

• Buone amiche (Good female friends)

It's worth noting that when buono (and its variants) is used without an article, as a standalone sentence, it often expresses a wish:

• Buone vacanze! (Have a good holiday)

• Buona notte (Good night)

Buono Before or After Nouns

Buono is usually placed before the noun, but sometimes putting it after can change the nuance or emphasis. For example:

• Un buon lavoro (A good job)

• Un lavoro buono (The job is good, often emphasizing this fact)

Similarly:

• Un buon amico (A good friend)

• Un amico buono (This can be interpreted as meaning the friend is a good person)

Bravo vs. Buono for Ability

When describing someone’s ability, it’s more accurate to use bravo rather than buono. For example:

• ✅ Un cantante molto bravo (A very good singer)

• ❌ Un cantante molto bene (Incorrect)

In southern Italy, you might occasionally (colloquially) hear un cantante molto buono, but bravo is generally preferred for skill or talent.

Recap: Bene vs. Buono

• Use bene as an adverb, meaning “well.”

• Use buono as an adjective, agreeing with the gender and number of the noun. It usually comes before the noun but can generally go after as well. For masculine singular nouns, the final o is dropped in most cases when used before the noun.

• Use bravo instead of buono when referring to someone's ability or skill.

Exercises

Fill in the blanks:

1. Devo andare dal dottore, non sto ______ (bene/buono).
   (I need to see a doctor, I’m not well.)

2. Queste cuffie della Sony sono fatte veramente ______ (bene/buone).
   (These Sony headphones are really well made.)

3. Queste cuffie della Sony sono veramente ______ (bene/buone).
   (These Sony headphones are really good.)

4. Il cantante dei Pooh è molto ______ (bene/buono/bravo).
   (The Pooh’s singer is very good.)

5. ______ viaggio! (Bene/Buono/Buon/Bravo).
   (Have a good trip!)

Answer Key

1. bene

2. bene

3. buone

4. bravo

5. Buon