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22 Essential Ways To Say "Hello" In Italian: Mastering Greetings, Etiquette, And Slang In 2025

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Learning how to say "hello" in Italian is the first and most crucial step in connecting with one of the world's most expressive cultures. While the entire world knows the iconic Ciao, using it incorrectly can instantly mark you as a tourist, or worse, come across as disrespectful in a formal setting. The language is rich with context, requiring different greetings based on the time of day, the person you are addressing, and the social environment.

As of December 12, 2025, mastering Italian greetings goes far beyond a single word; it involves understanding a nuanced system of formality, time-based phrases, and physical etiquette. This comprehensive guide will equip you with over 20 ways to greet someone, ensuring you can navigate any social situation, from a casual encounter with a friend to a professional meeting with an Italian colleague, with the confidence of a native speaker.

The Foundational Four: Formal, Informal, and Time-Based Greetings

The Italian language uses a strict system of formality that dictates which greeting you should choose. Ignoring this social hierarchy can lead to awkward interactions, especially when addressing elders, professionals, or strangers.

1. Ciao (CHOW): The Universal but Informal Greeting

The word Ciao is undoubtedly the most famous Italian word for "hello." It is highly versatile and means both "hi" and "bye." However, its use is strictly reserved for informal settings. You should only use Ciao when greeting friends, family, children, and people you already know well.

  • Context: Casual, friendly, peer-to-peer.
  • Pronunciation: CHOW.
  • LSI Keyword: Ciao ciao is a common, friendly way to say goodbye.

2. Buongiorno (BWON-jor-noh): The All-Purpose Formal Greeting

For any formal interaction—a shopkeeper, a bank teller, a hotel receptionist, or a stranger on the street—your default greeting should be Buongiorno, which literally translates to "Good day." This phrase is the polite and universally accepted way to say "hello" in professional and formal contexts.

  • Context: Formal, professional, or when greeting strangers.
  • Usage Time: Generally used from sunrise until mid-afternoon (around 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM).

3. Buonasera (BWON-a-SEH-ra): The Evening Greeting

Once the afternoon fades, Buongiorno is immediately replaced by Buonasera, meaning "Good evening." This is a greeting, not a farewell, and is used from the late afternoon (around 4:00 PM) until late into the night.

  • Context: Formal or general greeting in the late afternoon and evening.
  • Crucial Distinction: Never confuse Buonasera with Buonanotte.

4. Salve (SAHL-veh): The Neutral Alternative

Salve is a less common but perfectly acceptable way to say "hello." It is considered a neutral greeting, falling somewhere between the informality of Ciao and the formality of Buongiorno. It can be a safe choice when you are unsure of the appropriate level of formality, though Buongiorno is still the safer default for strangers.

  • Context: Neutral, often used in places like Rome.
  • Etymology: Derived from the Latin word salvē.

Beyond "Hello": Advanced Greetings and Contextual Phrases (LSI Keywords)

True fluency in Italian greetings comes from knowing the follow-up phrases and the words used in specific, modern contexts.

Asking "How Are You?"—The Essential Follow-Up

In Italy, a simple "hello" is almost always followed by a question about well-being. The choice of phrase is critical as it highlights the formal/informal distinction.

  • Informal: Come stai? (KOH-meh STAH-ee) - Used with friends and family (using the informal pronoun tu).
  • Formal: Come sta? (KOH-meh STAH) - Used with strangers or superiors (using the formal pronoun Lei).
  • General/Friendly: Come va? (KOH-meh VAH) - This translates to "How's it going?" and is a very common, friendly phrase.

The Phone Call Greeting: Pronto?

If your phone rings, do not answer with Ciao or Buongiorno. The standard Italian greeting for answering the phone is Pronto? While it literally means "Ready?", it is used as the equivalent of the English "Hello?" or "Yes, speaking."

Slang, Colloquialisms, and Farewell Entities

To sound truly native, you need to sprinkle in a few colloquialisms:

  • Ehi! (AY) - A very casual "Hey!" or "Hi," used only among close friends.
  • Bella! - In some regions, particularly Rome, Bella (beautiful) is used as a slang greeting, often as "Ciao, bella!"
  • Piacere di conoscerti (Pee-ah-CHEH-reh dee koh-noh-SHER-tee) - "Nice to meet you." (Informal version).
  • Buonanotte (BWON-a-NOT-teh) - This is strictly a farewell, meaning "Good night," used only when someone is going to bed.
  • Arrivederci (Ahr-ree-veh-DEHR-chee) - The standard, polite "Goodbye."
  • A presto (Ah PREH-stoh) - "See you soon."
  • 'Notte - A modern, slang contraction of Buonanotte.

Italian Greeting Etiquette: Mastering the Physical Rituals

In Italy, greetings are a physical act as much as a verbal one. Understanding the body language (gesti) is key to topical authority and avoiding social missteps.

The Handshake (La stretta di mano)

The handshake is a formal gesture, typically used when meeting someone for the very first time. It should be firm, accompanied by direct eye contact, and is the preferred greeting between two men who are not close friends.

The Cheek Kisses (I Baci)

The most famous Italian greeting ritual is the baci, or cheek kisses. This is reserved for friends, family, and people you have been formally introduced to—it is not for strangers. The ritual is almost universally two kisses, one on each cheek.

  • The Order: You should always start with the left cheek (your left, the other person’s right) and then move to the right cheek.
  • The Contact: Often, the lips do not actually touch the skin; it is more of a "fake kiss" or a brush of cheeks accompanied by a kissing sound.
  • Gender Rules: Men greeting women, women greeting women, and men greeting close male friends all use cheek kisses. Men greeting other men they don't know well will stick to a handshake.

The 22 Essential Italian Greetings & Entities Checklist

To truly master the art of the Italian welcome, here is a checklist of all the necessary vocabulary and contextual phrases you need to know:

  1. Ciao: Hi/Bye (Informal)
  2. Buongiorno: Good day/morning (Formal, until 4 PM)
  3. Buonasera: Good evening (Formal, after 4 PM)
  4. Salve: Hello (Neutral/Polite)
  5. Pronto?: Hello? (Answering the phone)
  6. Come stai?: How are you? (Informal)
  7. Come sta?: How are you? (Formal)
  8. Come va?: How's it going? (Friendly)
  9. Tutto bene?: All good? (Casual)
  10. Piacere di conoscerti: Nice to meet you (Informal)
  11. Piacere di conoscerla: Nice to meet you (Formal)
  12. Ehi!: Hey! (Slang)
  13. Ciao, bella/bello!: Hi, beautiful/handsome! (Colloquial)
  14. Buonanotte: Good night (Farewell, going to bed)
  15. 'Notte: Night (Slang goodbye)
  16. Arrivederci: Goodbye (Standard)
  17. A presto: See you soon
  18. A domani: See you tomorrow
  19. Ci vediamo: We'll see each other (Casual goodbye)
  20. La stretta di mano: The handshake (Formal etiquette)
  21. I baci: The cheek kisses (Informal etiquette)
  22. Permesso: Excuse me (When passing through a crowd)

Mastering "hello" in Italian is a journey from the simple Ciao to a complex understanding of social and time-based cues. By adopting the right phrase—be it the formal Buongiorno in the morning or the friendly Come va? with a close friend—you demonstrate respect and a genuine appreciation for the Italian culture. Remember that your greeting is incomplete without the proper physical gesture, so practice your firm handshake and get ready for two quick cheek kisses!

22 Essential Ways to Say
hello in italian language
hello in italian language

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