How do you say Happy New Year in Italian?
The most common way to say “happy new year” in Italian is Buon anno!. Here are the main options, when to use each, and how to pronounce them.
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Buon anno!
bwohn AHN-noh
The everyday greeting, from the last days of December into January.
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Felice anno nuovo!
feh-LEE-cheh AHN-noh NWOH-voh
Fuller; more common in writing and on cards.
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Buon Capodanno!
bwohn kah-poh-DAHN-noh
Wishing someone a good New Year’s celebration.
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Tanti auguri!
TAHN-tee ow-GOO-ree
“Best wishes” — works for any celebration, New Year included.
Use it in a sentence
- Happy New Year, everyone!Buon anno a tutti!
- Best wishes for a happy New Year!Tanti auguri di buon anno!
- Where are you spending New Year’s?Dove passi il Capodanno?
- See you next year!Ci vediamo l’anno prossimo!
Good to know
Say the double n clearly. Anno is “year”; with a single n, ano is an anatomical word.
Capodanno is New Year’s Day and the celebration around it. New Year’s Eve is la notte di San Silvestro.
Many Italian families eat lentils (lenticchie) at the New Year’s Eve dinner, for prosperity.