How to Say “Good Night” in 80 Different Languages

Saying “good night” is more than just a farewell—a warm gesture that wraps up the day with kindness and care. Whether you’re tucking in a loved one, parting ways with friends, or concluding a late-night meeting, this simple phrase carries a universal sentiment of rest and goodwill. In this expansive guide, we’ll explore how to say “good night” in different languages while also uncovering polite, professional, and casual alternatives to enrich your vocabulary. We’ll dive into the nuances of tone, context, and how to pick the perfect phrase for any situation. Let’s embark on this global journey of nighttime farewells!

“Good Night” in Different Languages

Here’s a natural, flowing exploration of how “good night” is said across the globe. Each entry is written simply and uniquely, avoiding repetition or stiffness, so you can enjoy the diversity of expression.

1. Spanish: “Buenas noches” – A warm and versatile phrase used across Spain and Latin America.
2. French: “Bonne nuit” – Elegant and soft, perfect for a gentle farewell.
3. German: “Gute Nacht” – Precise and heartfelt, a classic German goodbye.
4. Italian: “Buona notte” – Melodic and soothing, like a lullaby in itself.
5. Portuguese: “Boa noite” – Friendly and welcoming, from Portugal to Brazil.
6. Russian: “Спокойной ночи” (Spokoynoy nochi) – A calm, restful wish for the night.
7. Chinese (Mandarin): “晚安” (Wǎn’ān) – Literally “peaceful night,” simple yet serene.
8. Japanese: “おやすみなさい” (Oyasuminasai) – Polite and tender, a common bedtime phrase.
9. Korean: “잘 자요” (Jal jayo) – Sweet and informal, meaning “sleep well.”
10. Arabic: “تصبح على خير” (Tusbih ala khayr) – A poetic “wake up to goodness.”
11. Hindi: “शुभ रात्रि” (Shubh raatri) – A respectful and auspicious nighttime wish.
12. Swahili: “Lala salama” – Meaning “sleep peacefully,” warm and rhythmic.
13. Greek: “Καληνύχτα” (Kalinýchta) – Smooth and timeless, steeped in tradition.
14. Turkish: “İyi geceler” – Straightforward and kind, a Turkish staple.
15. Dutch: “Goedenacht” – Clear and cozy, reflecting Dutch warmth.
16. Polish: “Dobranoc” – Soft and endearing, a Polish favorite.
17. Vietnamese: “Chúc ngủ ngon” – A friendly “wish you a good sleep.”
18. Thai: “ราตรีสวัสดิ์” (Rātrī sà-wàt-dee) – Graceful and polite, a Thai classic.
19. Hebrew: “לילה טוב” (Laila tov) – Simple and cheerful, meaning “good night.”
20. Bengali: “শুভ রাত্রি” (Shubho raatri) – A gentle, cultured farewell.
21. Czech: “Dobrou noc” – Warm and concise, a Slavic gem.
22. Hungarian: “Jó éjszakát” – Unique and melodic, wishing a “good night.”
23. Finnish: “Hyvää yötä” – Soft and soothing, perfect for Nordic nights.
24. Norwegian: “God natt” – Minimalist and kind, a Scandinavian standard.
25. Swedish: “God natt” – Nearly identical to Norwegian, with a Swedish twist.
26. Danish: “Godnat” – Compact and friendly, another Nordic delight.
27. Romanian: “Noapte bună” – Flowing and pleasant, a Romanian treasure.
28. Ukrainian: “На добраніч” (Na dobranich) – A cozy “to a good night.”
29. Persian: “شب بخیر” (Shab bekheyr) – Poetic and graceful, a Persian farewell.
30. Malay: “Selamat malam” – Versatile and polite, used in Malaysia and beyond.
31. Indonesian: “Selamat tidur” – Meaning “happy sleep,” warm and direct.
32. Tagalog: “Matulog ka nang mahimbing” – A longer, heartfelt “sleep soundly.”
33. Urdu: “شب بخیر” (Shab bakhair) – Elegant and kind, echoing Persian roots.
34. Tamil: “இனிய இரவு” (Iniya iravu) – A sweet “pleasant night” from South India.
35. Telugu: “శుభ రాత్రి” (Shubha raatri) – A respectful and calm farewell.
36. Kannada: “ಶುಭ ರಾತ್ರಿ” (Shubha raatri) – Another Indian gem, soft and sincere.
37. Marathi: “शुभ रात्री” (Shubh raatri) – Warm and traditional from western India.
38. Gujarati: “શુભ રાત્રિ” (Shubh raatri) – Consistent and comforting in Gujarat.
39. Punjabi: “ਸ਼ੁਭ ਰਾਤ” (Shubh raat) – Bold and friendly, a Punjabi delight.
40. Sinhala: “සුභ රාත්‍රියක්” (Subha rāthriyak) – A melodic wish from Sri Lanka.
41. Albanian: “Natën e mirë” – Simple and charming, meaning “good night.”
42. Bulgarian: “Лека нощ” (Leka nosht) – A gentle “light night” wish.
43. Croatian: “Laku noć” – Warm and concise, a Slavic staple.
44. Serbian: “Лаку ноћ” (Laku noć) – Nearly identical to Croatian, with Cyrillic flair.
45. Slovak: “Dobrú noc” – Soft and inviting, another Slavic treasure.
46. Slovenian: “Lahko noč” – A smooth “light night” farewell.
47. Latvian: “Ar labunakti” – Meaning “with good night,” soft and unique.
48. Lithuanian: “Labanakt” – A flowing and cozy Baltic term.
49. Estonian: “Head ööd” – Crisp and kind, wishing a “good night.”
50. Icelandic: “Góða nótt” – Rugged yet warm, from the North Atlantic.
51. Irish: “Oíche mhaith” – A lilting Gaelic “good night.”
52. Scottish Gaelic: “Oidhche mhath” – Similar to Irish, with a Scottish twist.
53. Welsh: “Nos da” – Short and sweet, a Celtic classic.
54. Basque: “Gabon” – A unique and simple farewell from this ancient language.
55. Catalan: “Bona nit” – Warm and concise, from northeastern Spain.
56. Galician: “Boas noites” – Plural and friendly, akin to Portuguese.
57. Maltese: “Il-lejl it-tajjeb” – A Semitic “good night” with Mediterranean charm.
58. Luxembourgish: “Gudd Nuecht” – Cozy and compact, from Luxembourg.
59. Macedonian: “Добра ноќ” (Dobra noḱ) – A Slavic “good night” with flair.
60. Armenian: “Բարի գիշեր” (Bari gisher) – A tender and ancient farewell.
61. Georgian: “ძილი ნებისა” (Dzili nebisa) – A poetic “sleep well” from the Caucasus.
62. Azerbaijani: “Gecəniz xeyir” – A warm “good night” from Azerbaijan.
63. Kazakh: “Қайырлы түн” (Qayırlı tün) – A kind Turkic nighttime wish.
64. Uzbek: “Xayrli tun” – Similar to Kazakh, with an Uzbek spin.
65. Kyrgyz: “Жакшы түн” (Jakshy tün) – A friendly “good night” from Kyrgyzstan.
66. Tajik: “Шаб ба хайр” (Shab ba khayr) – A Persian-influenced farewell.
67. Turkmen: “Gijäňiz rahat bolsun” – A longer, heartfelt “may your night be peaceful.”
68. Mongolian: “Сайхан нойрсоорой” (Saihan noirsoroi) – A robust “sleep well.”
69. Nepali: “शुभ रात्री” (Shubha raatri) – A calm and respectful Himalayan wish.
70. Burmese: “အိပ်မက်လှပါစေ” (Eit mat hla par se) – A poetic “may you have beautiful dreams.”
71. Khmer: “សូមអោយសុខសប្បាយនឹងដំណេក” (Som aoy sok sabay nung damnek) – A long, warm “sleep well.”
72. Lao: “ນອນຫຼັບຝັນດີ” (Non lap fan di) – A friendly “sleep with good dreams.”
73. Hmong: “Pw tsaug zog” – A unique “sleep well” from Southeast Asia.
74. Zulu: “Lala kahle” – A rhythmic “sleep well” from South Africa.
75. Xhosa: “Ulale kakuhle” – Similar to Zulu, with a Xhosa touch.
76. Afrikaans: “Goeie nag” – A Dutch-influenced “good night” from southern Africa.
77. Somali: “Habeen wanaagsan” – A flowing “good night” from the Horn of Africa.
78. Amharic: “መልካም ሌሊት” (Melkam lelit) – A rich “good night” from Ethiopia.
79. Hausa: “Kwana lafiya” – A warm “sleep in peace” from West Africa.
80. Maori: “Moe mai rā” – A gentle “sleep there” from New Zealand.

These phrases showcase the richness of global nighttime rituals. From the poetic “Tusbih ala khayr” in Arabic to the cozy “Gute Nacht” in German, each offers a unique way to wish someone a restful night.

Alternatives to “Good Night” in English

While “good night” is a timeless classic, English provides plenty of alternatives to match different tones and settings. Below are 11 standout examples, each with its nuance, context, and a sample use to inspire you.

1. “Sweet Dreams”

• Tone: Warm and affectionate.
• Context: Perfect for loved ones or close friends at bedtime.
• Example: “Sweet dreams, little one—see you in the morning!”

2. “Sleep Tight”

• Tone: Playful and cozy.
• Context: Great for kids or informal goodbyes.
• Example: “Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite!”

3. “Rest Well”

• Tone: Polite and neutral.
• Context: Suitable for acquaintances or semi-formal farewells.
• Example: “Rest well, and I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”

4. “Good Evening and Goodbye”

• Tone: Formal and professional.
• Context: Ideal for late-night meetings or events.
• Example: “Good evening and goodbye, everyone—thank you for your time.”

5. “Nighty-Night”

• Tone: Cute and casual.
• Context: Best for kids or playful exchanges with friends.
• Example: “Nighty-night, sleep tight, my silly friend!”

6. “Have a Peaceful Night”

• Tone: Calm and thoughtful.
• Context: Works for heartfelt or reflective farewells.
• Example: “Have a peaceful night after such a long day—you deserve it.”

7. “Catch Some Z’s”

• Tone: Informal and fun.
• Context: Perfect for laid-back chats or younger crowds.
• Example: “Time to catch some Z’s—see you tomorrow!”

8. “Sleep Soundly”

• Tone: Gentle and reassuring.
• Context: Great for comforting someone before bed.
• Example: “Sleep soundly tonight; everything will be okay.”

9. “Wishing You a Restful Evening”

• Tone: Elegant and polite.
• Context: Fits formal correspondence or classy goodbyes.
• Example: “Wishing you a restful evening after our lovely dinner.”

10. “Off to Dreamland”

• Tone: Whimsical and lighthearted.
• Context: Ideal for kids or imaginative farewells.
• Example: “Off to dreamland you go—hope it’s full of adventures!”

11. “Take Care Tonight”

• Tone: Caring and versatile.
• Context: Works in both casual and semi-formal settings.
• Example: “Take care tonight, and I’ll talk to you soon.”

Wrapping Up the Day

Exploring “good night” in languages and beyond highlights the beauty of connection. From “Shubh raatri” in Hindi to “Moe mai rā” in Maori, each phrase offers a glimpse into how we care for one another at day’s end. Add in English options like “Rest Well” or “Off to Dreamland,” and you’re ready to bid farewell with style and heart.

So, the next time you say good night—whether to a friend, a colleague, or the world—try a new twist. Which will you choose? Every night is a chance to end on a high note.