How do you say this in Italian?
#7
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,194
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Doing an "in Italian" search on "Felice Anno Nuovo" yields 16,100 hits on yahoo.it - - "buon'anno" yields 30,300 hits.
I am thinking that businesses are more likely to put "Felice Anno Nuovo" in print... and people are more likely to say "Buon'anno" to each other.
As I have never been to Italy in December nor January, perhaps I was too quick to jump on this one. Just wanted to get her a quick answer.
FWIW, I took a look at what babelfish offered.. and it was "Nuovo Anno Felice"... and to me, THAT sounded "too verbatim". They do at least translate Merry Christmas as Buon Natale!
I am thinking that businesses are more likely to put "Felice Anno Nuovo" in print... and people are more likely to say "Buon'anno" to each other.
As I have never been to Italy in December nor January, perhaps I was too quick to jump on this one. Just wanted to get her a quick answer.
FWIW, I took a look at what babelfish offered.. and it was "Nuovo Anno Felice"... and to me, THAT sounded "too verbatim". They do at least translate Merry Christmas as Buon Natale!
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#8
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,327
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Buon'anno is idiomatic for Happy New Year...the same as Buon Natale for Merry X-mas...the others are verbatim.I would think that any Itlian would be happy to hear any of these greetings from a stranger...it's the thought that counts.
#9
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,793
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Various ways are OK:
Buon anno
Buon capodanno (commonly said on the actual New Year's Day)
Felice anno nuovo (more stuffy, but seen a lot in print)
P.S.
F.Y. pedantic I., with the word "buono," you don't need to use the apostrophe before a masculine noun, regardless of whether it starts with a consonant or a vowel. You'd use the apostrope--buon'--before a feminine noun beginning with a vowel.
Buon anno
Buon capodanno (commonly said on the actual New Year's Day)
Felice anno nuovo (more stuffy, but seen a lot in print)
P.S.
F.Y. pedantic I., with the word "buono," you don't need to use the apostrophe before a masculine noun, regardless of whether it starts with a consonant or a vowel. You'd use the apostrope--buon'--before a feminine noun beginning with a vowel.



. And, Buon Capodanno to all of you.

