How to Say Hello in Italian: 17 Greetings for Every Situation

The Short Answer

The most common way to say hello in Italian is Ciao (CHOW). It works in any casual situation, from greeting friends at a café to bumping into a neighbor on the street. But Italian has a rich system of greetings that signal formality, time of day, and regional identity, and getting them right matters more in Italy than in most other European countries.

Italian is spoken by approximately 85 million people worldwide and is an official language in four countries: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, and Vatican City. According to Ethnologue's 2024 data, it ranks among the top 25 most spoken languages globally. With Italy's strong regional identities and deep cultural emphasis on bella figura (making a good impression), choosing the right greeting is genuinely important.

"In Italian, the greeting you choose is a social declaration. It tells the other person whether you consider them a peer, a superior, or a stranger, all before you say anything else."

(Tullio De Mauro, Storia linguistica dell'Italia unita, Laterza, 2014)

This guide covers 17 essential Italian greetings organized by category: universal, time-of-day, casual, formal, regional, and slang. Each includes pronunciation, an example sentence, and cultural context so you know exactly when and where to use it.

Quick Reference: Italian Greetings at a Glance

Universal Greetings

These greetings are understood across all of Italy and among Italian speakers worldwide. The Accademia della Crusca, Italy's oldest linguistic authority (founded in 1583), recognizes these as standard modern Italian.

Ciao

Ciao is arguably the most famous greeting on the planet. It has been borrowed into dozens of languages, from Portuguese to Japanese. Its origin is surprising: it derives from the Venetian dialect word s'ciavo, a contraction of schiavo vostro ("I am your slave"), an old-fashioned expression of deference that evolved into a casual greeting over centuries.

The critical rule: Ciao is informal. Using it with an older person you do not know, a government official, or in a business meeting can come across as presumptuous. When in doubt, reach for Buongiorno or Salve instead.

Salve

Salve is the greeting that solves the Italian formality puzzle. It comes directly from Latin (the imperative of salvēre, to be in good health) and it occupies the neutral zone between Ciao and Buongiorno. According to the Treccani dictionary, it is classified as neither strictly formal nor informal.

Use Salve when entering a small shop, greeting a neighbor you do not know well, or meeting someone for the first time in a relaxed setting. It is a safe default that never offends.

Time-of-Day Greetings

Italian uses two primary time-based greetings that divide the day, plus a dedicated nighttime farewell.

Buongiorno

Buongiorno is the workhorse of formal Italian greetings. Unlike English, which splits "good morning" and "good afternoon," Italian uses Buongiorno for the entire first half of the day. The switch to Buonasera happens somewhere between 3 PM and 6 PM depending on the region, earlier in the north and later in the south.

In shops, restaurants, offices, and any interaction with strangers, Buongiorno is your safest bet during daylight hours. It is polite without being stiff.

Buonasera

The transition from Buongiorno to Buonasera is one of those cultural nuances that reveals how well you know Italy. In northern cities like Milan and Turin, the switch can happen as early as 3 PM. In Rome, around 4-5 PM. In southern Italy and Sicily, many people stick with Buongiorno until 5-6 PM or even later.

Buonanotte

Unlike Buonasera, which works as both a greeting and a farewell, Buonanotte is almost always a farewell. You say it when parting ways late at night or when someone is going to bed. Using it as a greeting upon arrival would sound strange.

Casual Greetings

These expressions go beyond a simple hello. They combine greeting with genuine (or ritual) interest in how the other person is doing.

Come stai?

Come stai? is the informal version, used with the tu (informal you) pronoun. Unlike in English, where "How are you?" is often purely ritual, Italians may actually give you a real answer, especially in the south. Be prepared for a genuine update on their health, family, or mood.

Come sta?

The formal counterpart uses the Lei (formal you) conjugation. The difference is just one syllable (stai vs. sta) but it communicates respect. Use it with professors, doctors, elderly neighbors, clients, and anyone you would address with a title.

Come va?

Come va? has a useful advantage: it does not require choosing between tu and Lei, since the verb andare (to go) is conjugated in the third person here. This makes it a comfortable option when you want to be friendly without navigating the formality question.

Tutto bene?

This greeting works as both a casual hello and a genuine check-in. Pair it with Ciao for maximum naturalness: Ciao, tutto bene? The response is almost always Sì, tutto bene, even when things are not entirely fine.

Formal and First-Meeting Greetings

Essential for professional settings, first introductions, and showing respect. Italian culture places enormous value on bella figura (presenting yourself well) and your greeting is the first impression. For more on navigating these cultural nuances, explore our Italian learning hub.

Piacere

Piacere is non-negotiable when meeting someone for the first time in any formal or semi-formal context. It is typically accompanied by a handshake. The most natural responses are Piacere mio (my pleasure), Il piacere è mio (the pleasure is mine), or simply echoing Piacere back.

Benvenuto/a

Like many Italian words, Benvenuto changes form based on gender and number. A host welcoming guests to dinner would say Benvenuti a tutti! (Welcome, everyone!). This greeting carries genuine warmth. Italians take hospitality seriously.

Regional Greetings

Italy's regional diversity runs deep. As the historian Tullio De Mauro documented, standard Italian only became the majority's everyday language in the second half of the 20th century. Before that, most Italians primarily spoke their regional dialects. Those dialects still influence how people greet each other today.

Uè!

Uè! is pure Naples. It is an exclamation that functions as a greeting, an attention-getter, and an expression of surprise all in one. You will hear it shouted across narrow streets in the Quartieri Spagnoli and in every Neapolitan film ever made. It reflects the south's reputation for expressive, effusive communication.

Che bella sorpresa!

This is not just a greeting; it is a performance. Italians, particularly in central and southern regions, turn unexpected encounters into small celebrations. The exclamation is often accompanied by wide eyes, open arms, and the inevitable double cheek kiss.

Eccomi!

Eccomi is the greeting of arrival. When you walk into a friend's house, when you show up at the meeting point, or when someone calls your name from across the piazza, Eccomi! announces your presence with natural Italian flair.

Slang and Youth Greetings

Every generation puts its stamp on language. Italian slang greetings are influenced by regional dialects, English loanwords, and social media culture.

Ehi!

Ehi is a straightforward English import that has become thoroughly Italian. Young people across Italy use it freely. Pair it with bello or bella (literally "beautiful," used like "babe" or "mate" among close friends) for a natural-sounding casual greeting: Ehi, bella!

Che si dice?

This is Italy's version of "What's up?" or "What's new?" It works well as a follow-up after Ciao: Ciao, che si dice? The extended form Che si dice di bello? adds a characteristically Italian touch of optimism, asking specifically for good news.

Phone Greetings

Pronto?

Unlike many languages that use different phone greetings by region, Italy is united by Pronto? It dates back to the early days of telephone operators who would say Pronto! to signal the connection was ready. Today it is the only way Italians answer the phone. Using Ciao to answer a call from an unknown number would sound very unusual.

How to Respond to Italian Greetings

Knowing how to greet is half the conversation. Here is how to respond naturally.

Responses to Formal Greetings

Responses to Casual Greetings

Practice With Real Italian Content

Reading about greetings builds knowledge, but hearing them spoken by native speakers is what makes them instinctive. Italian cinema is one of the richest in the world, and films are an excellent way to absorb natural greeting patterns, from the formal exchanges in period dramas to the rapid-fire Ciao, ciao! of modern Roman comedies.

Wordy lets you watch Italian movies and shows with interactive subtitles. Tap any greeting to see its meaning, pronunciation, and cultural context in real time. Instead of memorizing phrases from a list, you absorb them from authentic conversations with natural intonation and gesture.

For more Italian content, explore our blog for guides including the best movies to learn Italian. You can also visit our Italian learning page to start practicing with real content today.