Will you be spending Easter in Italy? Buona Pasqua! Here’s how to say Happy Easter in Italian, and other words and phrases for your Italian Easter arsenal, with audio files so you’ll know how to pronounce them. You’ll also learn how to respond to Buona Pasqua, and how to make an Easter toast in Italian.
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HAPPY EASTER! IN ITALIAN
Buona Pasqua literally means good Easter, and is like saying Happy Easter. Buona Pasqua is the most common way Italians say Happy Easter. You can say this to people in Italy as an Easter greeting, or when you’re making a toast, or brindisi, at Easter lunch. Learn more about Italian Easter traditions.
The pronunciation of Buona Pasqua is: boo-OHN-nah PAH-skoo-ah
Listen to how to pronounce Buona Pasqua here:
AUGURI!
Auguri is a word that Italians use on many special occasions and holidays to extend their best wishes. Auguri literally means wishes, but if you say it at Easter time it’s understood that you are saying best wishes for Easter, or Happy Easter.
The pronunciation of auguri is: ow-GOO-ree
Listen to how to pronounce auguri here:
AUGURI DI BUONA PASQUA!
This phrase is a way of giving your best wishes specifically for Easter. Auguri di buona Pasqua means wishes for a good Easter in Italian.
The pronunciation of auguri di buona Pasqua is: ow-GOO-ree dee boo-OHN-nah PAH-skoo-ah
Listen to how to pronounce auguri di buona Pasqua here:
HOW TO RESPOND TO BUONA PASQUA
When someone wishes you a Buona Pasqua, or Happy Easter, you can say:
Grazie! Thank you! and then respond with a simple Buona Pasqua! back.
Another option is to say: Grazie! Auguri! Thank you, best wishes!
To say Happy Easter to you too! say:
Buona Pasqua anche a te! (if it’s someone you know well)
Buona Pasqua anche a lei! (for an elder or other formal relationship)
Buona Pasqua anche a voi! (if you’re speaking to a group)
OTHER PHRASES FOR EASTER IN ITALIAN
If you’re celebrating Easter in Italy, you’ll want to know these words and phrases as well.
- Facciamo un brindisi!: Let’s make a toast
- Brindiamo! Let’s toast!
- These phrases are essential for toasting with sparkling wine during Easter lunch in Italy. Then for your toast, you can say Buona Pasqua!
- Pasquetta: Easter Monday
- Pasquetta means little Easter, or Easter Monday. The day after Easter is a public holiday in Italy, so offices, schools, and most stores are closed.
- Scampagnata: excursion to the countryside
The scampagnata is an Easter Monday (pasquetta) tradition in Italy. Italians go on outings to the countryside to enjoy the spring weather and often enjoy a picnic lunch.
- La settimana santa: Holy week
- Catholic settimana santa (Holy week) begins the week before Easter on Palm Sunday, and lasts until Easter.
- Venerdì santo: Good Friday
Italian Good Friday traditions include mass (la messa), and the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) procession.
- Il pranzo di Pasqua: Easter lunch
Il pranzo di Pasqua is a true feast and a very important Italian Easter tradition.
- L’agnello: The lamb
A symbol of purity and sacrifice to Catholics, l’agnello is a traditional dish at many an Italian Easter lunch.
- La colomba: The Dove
The Dove is an Easter symbol and the colomba pasquale (Easter dove) is the name of a traditional, dove-shaped Italian Easter cake.
- L’uovo di Pasqua: Easter egg
On Easter, Italian children look forward to opening a large, surprise-filled chocolate Easter egg, or uovo di Pasqua.