Published on December 11, 2024
How to say hello in Italian
To strike up a conversation in Italy with a warm exchange, you’ll need to learn the various ways to say hello in Italian. Whether you’re saying ciao to a friend, buongiorno to a colleague, or celebrating Christmas with a cheerful buon natale, greetings reflect respect, warmth and connection.
But mastering Italian greetings means understanding when and how to use them, from casual conversations to formal meetings or festive occasions. In this guide, we’ll explore some essentials, including the right phrases for different times and social settings. Along the way, you’ll learn cultural tips and how to avoid common pitfalls, setting you up for confident, authentic conversations in Italian!
Informal greetings in Italian are used among friends, family or in casual settings. Ciao is the go-to greeting for both “hi” and “bye” in informal contexts. In playful or very casual situations, some may add local dialect variations or slang.
| Italian | Pronunciation | English |
| ciao | chow | hi/bye |
| ehi | ay-ee | hey |
| ci vediamo | chee veh-dee-ah-moh | see you later |
| ciao raga! | chow rah-gah | hi guys! |
| toh! | toh | hi there! |
| ohilà | oh hee-la | hi! |
| ciao bella/bello! | chow beh-lah/loh | hi pretty/handsome! |
Formal greetings are used in business, when addressing strangers, or in respectful contexts, conveying politeness and professionalism.
| Italian | Pronunciation | English |
| buongiorno | bwohn-johr-noh | good morning/day |
| buonasera | bwoh-nah-seh-rah | good evening |
| salve | sahl-veh | hello |
| arrivederci | ahr-ree-veh-dehr-chee | goodbye |
| piacere | pee-ah-cheh-reh | pleased to meet you |
Italy is divided into 20 regions and some variation of ciao is present in the local dialect of each, from ciau in Sicily to cerea in Piedmont. There are also a few informal ways to greet friends, like uè! in Milan, aò! in Naples or aho! in Rome. Regional forms for come stai? (how are you?) can be heard in different areas, such as cumm’ va? In Naples or comu stai? in Sicily.
Did you know that Spain ruled over southern Italy for about 400 years? Strong local dialects developed as a result of the contact between Spanish and the local languages, and many of these are still heard today across Sicily, Campania and especially Sardinia, where some phrases resemble Spanish even more than Italian.
| Spanish | Sardinian | Italian | English |
| buen día | bona die | buongiorno | good morning/day |
| buenas noches | bona noxi | buona notte | good night |
| comadre/compadre | comare/compare | amica/o | buddy |
Italian greetings often involve strong nonverbal communication, like maintaining eye contact, giving a warm smile or nodding to convey sincerity and friendliness. In formal situations, a firm handshake is expected, especially in business or when meeting someone for the first time.
Among friends, family and close acquaintances, cheek kisses (typically two, one on each cheek) are common, though the practice can vary regionally. For example, in southern Italy, kisses are more common and warm, while in northern Italy, they might be replaced with a handshake in casual settings.
Keep in mind that, even in a two-kiss greeting situation, some regions of Italy kiss on the left side first while others start on the right! Make sure you know the local custom wherever you are, and when in doubt, verify it with a person you trust. It will help you avoid an awkward moment (almost every non-Italian has been there!). The safest way is to respect the context and mirror the other person’s approach. There’s nothing to fear, as Italians are some of the warmest people you’ll encounter.
Italian greetings change depending on the time of day and whether you’re arriving or leaving. Buongiorno is used from the early morning until early afternoon, buonasera from late afternoon on, and buonanotte (goodnight) when parting or heading to bed. Phrases like sogni d’oro (sweet dreams) are also commonly shared among family or close friends before sleep.
| Time | Italian | Use |
| until around 2 p.m. | buongiorno | arriving |
| buona giornata | leaving | |
| between 2 and 5 p.m. | buon pomeriggio | used mainly when leaving, and not very often |
| from 5 p.m. | buona sera | arriving |
| buona serata | leaving | |
| before bed | buona notte | when parting for the night |
For Christmas, buon natale is most commonly used, while buon anno and felice anno nuovo are the phrases you’d use to wish someone a happy New Year.
On birthdays, people say buon compleanno or simply auguri! (best wishes), and the latter greeting is also used for other celebrations like weddings or anniversaries. During Easter, buona pasqua is customary. Italians often accompany these greetings with heartfelt wishes for joy, prosperity or love, as well as embraces and kisses.
Avoid using informal greetings like ciao in formal contexts, such as addressing elders, professionals or strangers, as it can come across as disrespectful. Buongiorno or salve are more polite and appropriate alternatives.
Failing to adjust your tone and body language to match the social hierarchy is another common mistake. You’ll also want to avoid overusing cheek kisses with acquaintances or in professional settings, where a handshake is usually more appropriate. Observing cues from the person you’re greeting can help you avoid these pitfalls!
Ciao is informal, used for “hi” or “bye” in casual settings. Buongiorno is formal, meaning “good morning” or “good day” depending on the time.
Salve is semi-formal, while ciao is informal.
Rarely, unless joking or referencing Spanish. The most common informal greeting in Italian is ciao.
Italian greetings vary by context, time and occasion, reflecting the culture’s broad palette for expressing warmth. Note that these greetings may be associated with different levels of formality and respect, depending on the person you’re interacting with and the occasion for the meeting.
If you want to show your Italian friends, acquaintances, in-laws or coworkers that you understand and truly care for their customs, make an effort to familiarize yourself with how to say hello and other greetings in Italian.
To master these nuances and gain confidence in your interactions from day one, you can rely on us. At Lingoda, we offer real-life language practice with native-level teachers who can ensure you will not only speak the language, but ace every aspect of communication.
