Italian Phrase
Buonasera. Come stai?
Meaning
‘Buonasera’ means ‘good evening’, a polite greeting used after late afternoon. ‘Come stai?’ asks ‘how are you?’ in an informal way. Together they form a friendly evening greeting that checks on someone’s wellbeing.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal or semi‑formal settings after about 5 p.m., when meeting friends, family, classmates, or colleagues you know well. It’s a warm way to start a conversation in the evening.
✦Grammar Breakdown
BuonaseraComestai
Buonasera
A compound greeting (buono + sera) used after late afternoon; always written as one word.
Come
Interrogative adverb meaning ‘how’; placed at the start of a question.
stai
Second‑person singular present of ‘stare’ (to be/feel). Used in informal contexts.
🗨In Conversation
Buonasera. Come stai?
Good evening. How are you?
Bene, grazie! E tu?
Fine, thanks! And you?
✕Common Mistakes
Buon sera. Come stai?
‘Buonasera’ is written as one word; splitting it changes the meaning.
Buonasera. Come sei?
‘Sei’ comes from ‘essere’ (to be) and is not used for asking how someone feels.
Buonasera. Come sta?
‘Come sta?’ is formal; using it with a close friend can sound stiff.
↔Alternatives
Buona sera, come va?
Good evening, how’s it going?
Buonasera, tutto bene?
Good evening, everything good?
Salve, come sta?
Hello, how are you? (formal)
Cultural Tip
In Italy greetings are a sign of respect. ‘Buonasera’ replaces ‘Buongiorno’ after late afternoon. ‘Come stai?’ is informal; with strangers or older people you should use the formal ‘Come sta?’ and possibly add a title (Signor/Signora). Italians often accompany the greeting with a light handshake or a kiss on each cheek in the north, and a single cheek kiss in the south.