Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"Hello" in Italian: ciao
ciao
Note: formal: buongiorno
The everyday way to say hello in Italian is ciao (CHOW), which you use with friends, family, and people your age. With strangers, shop staff, or older people, say buongiorno until the afternoon and buonasera after that. Ciao also means goodbye, so it works at both ends of a conversation.
Meeting a friend for coffee
Ciao, Marco! Come stai?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ciao
Say it
CHOW
/ˈtʃa.o/
Said quickly, ciao sounds like CHOW, rhyming with "now". The i is not a separate sound: it only tells you that the c is a soft "ch". Buongiorno is bwon-JOR-noh, with the weight on JOR.
"Hello" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ciao | hi, hello (also bye) Informal. For friends, family, children, and people your age. | Informal. For friends, family, children, and people your age. |
| buongiorno | good morning, hello Formal. The polite hello from morning until the afternoon, for anyone you call Lei. | Formal. The polite hello from morning until the afternoon, for anyone you call Lei. |
| buonasera | good evening, hello Formal. The polite hello from mid or late afternoon onward. | Formal. The polite hello from mid or late afternoon onward. |
| salve | hello Neutral. A safe choice when you are not sure if ciao is too casual. | Neutral. A safe choice when you are not sure if ciao is too casual. |
| ciao a tutti | hi everyone Informal. For greeting a group of friends or classmates as you arrive. | Informal. For greeting a group of friends or classmates as you arrive. |
How to use ciao in real life
- 1Meeting a friend for coffee
Ciao, Marco! Come stai?
Hi, Marco! How are you?
Italians usually follow ciao straight away with come stai? or come va?
- 2Walking into a shop
Ciao! Posso dare un'occhiata?
Hi! May I have a look around?
Ciao works in a small shop with young staff; with older strangers prefer buongiorno.
- 3Leaving a party
Ciao ragazzi, ci vediamo domani!
Bye guys, see you tomorrow!
Here ciao means goodbye. Ragazzi is a friendly way to talk to a group of friends, whatever their age.
Mistakes English speakers make with ciao
Incorrect: Ciao, signora Rossi!
Correct: Buongiorno, signora Rossi!
A title like signora or signore signals a formal relationship, and ciao usually sounds too familiar next to it. Use buongiorno or buonasera instead.
Incorrect: Ciao! (arriving at a restaurant at 9 p.m.)
Correct: Buonasera!
Ciao is too casual with restaurant staff. When you arrive in the evening, even late, say buonasera—not buonanotte, which is for leaving or bedtime.
Good to know
Ciao comes from the Venetian s-ciavo, meaning "(your) servant", once a polite way of saying "at your service" that slowly became casual. On the phone, Italians often end the call with a quick ciao ciao. Between friends, a hello often comes with a light kiss on each cheek, while a handshake and buongiorno are the norm in formal settings.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting someone new at a café in Rome
ChatPal
Ciao! Posso sedermi qui? Gli altri tavoli sono tutti pieni.
Hi! Can I sit here? The other tables are all full.
You
Ciao! Certo, siediti pure. Mi chiamo Alex.
Hi! Sure, have a seat. My name is Alex.
ChatPal
Piacere, Alex! Io sono Giulia. Sei di qui?
Nice to meet you, Alex! I'm Giulia. Are you from here?
You
No, sono in vacanza, ma adoro Roma!
No, I'm on holiday, but I love Rome!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Hello" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Hello" in Italian
Is ciao formal or informal?
Ciao is informal. Use it with people you call tu: friends, family, classmates, and children. With strangers, choose buongiorno, buonasera, or the neutral salve.
Does ciao mean hello or goodbye?
Both. Ciao works when you arrive and when you leave. To make a goodbye clearer, add a short phrase: ciao, a domani (bye, see you tomorrow) or ciao, ci vediamo (bye, see you).
When does buongiorno turn into buonasera?
There is no fixed time. Many people switch during the afternoon, and in some regions right after lunch. If you are unsure, listen to the greeting you get and repeat it.
Is ciao pronounced chee-ow?
No. The i is silent and only makes the c soft, so you say CHOW, not chee-AH-oh. Spell it c-i-a-o, even though you only hear "ch" plus "ow".
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- How to Learn Italian Fast and Speak with ConfidenceLearn how to learn Italian with a clear roadmap, speaking-first tactics and daily habits that turn basics into real conversation confidence.
- Translate Hello in Italian with ConfidenceLearn how to translate hello in Italian with context, pronunciation, and practice prompts. Master ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve for real conversations.
