Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"How are you?" in Italian: Come stai?
Come stai?
Note: formal: Come sta?
How are you in Italian with friends is Come stai? (KOH-meh STY), using informal tu. Stai is from stare. Common replies are bene, grazie and non c'è male. With strangers use Come sta?
Meeting a classmate
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How to pronounce Come stai?
Say it
KOH-meh STY
/ˈko.me stai/
Come is KOH-meh. Stai is a bright STY, like sty with a clear i. Keep the question rising at the end.
"How are you?" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Come stai? | How are you? (informal) Friends, family, people you call tu. | Friends, family, people you call tu. |
| Come sta? | How are you? (formal) Strangers and lei form. | Strangers and lei form. |
| Come va? | How's it going? Casual alternative. | Casual alternative. |
| Tutto bene? | Everything good? Short check-in. | Short check-in. |
How to use Come stai? in real life
- 1Meeting a classmate
Ciao! Come stai oggi?
Hi! How are you today?
Come stai with informal tu.
- 2Replying briefly
Sto bene, e tu come stai?
I'm fine, and how are you?
Return the question with come stai.
- 3After a rough week
Come stai? Sembrava stanco ieri.
How are you? You seemed tired yesterday.
Genuine check-in, still using stai.
Mistakes English speakers make with Come stai?
Incorrect: Come sei?
Correct: Come stai?
Health and mood use stare: come stai, not come sei.
Incorrect: Come stai? to a formal client.
Correct: Come sta?
Use Come sta? with lei for strangers and formal contacts.
Good to know
Come stai? can be a real question among friends, but in passing it often expects a short bene, grazie. Save the long story for when someone asks again with eye contact.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Running into a friend on the tram
ChatPal
Ehi! Come stai?
Hey! How are you?
You
Bene, grazie. Tu come stai?
Fine, thanks. How are you?
ChatPal
Non c'è male. Oggi corro tutto il giorno.
Not bad. I'm rushing all day today.
You
Capisco. Come stai di umore almeno?
I get it. How's your mood at least?
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"How are you?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "How are you?" in Italian
When do I use Come stai?
With people you address as tu: friends, classmates, family.
What is Come sta?
The formal lei version for strangers and respectful settings.
How should I answer?
Sto bene, grazie is enough. Add e tu? to return it.
Is Come va the same?
Close. Come va? is how's it going and works in casual chat.
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
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- 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.
