ciao
/ˈt͡ʃa.o/
ciao is the Italian word for bye.
ciao is a well-known word for bye or hello, commonly used among friends or people with a close relationship.
Meaning: short for goodbye (intj)
Which one should you use?
While ciao is used for 'bye' among friends, arrivederci is the more formal way to say goodbye.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈtʃa.o/, with the stress on the first of two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers should avoid using ciao in formal situations, such as with a boss or a stranger, as it is strictly informal.
Did you know?
- The word ciao originates from the Venetian phrase s-ciao vostro, which literally means 'I am your slave'.
- In Italy, it is common to say ciao twice in a row, such as ciao ciao, when hanging up the phone or leaving a room quickly.
- While ciao is ubiquitous in modern pop culture, the more formal arrivederci literally translates to 'until we see each other again'.
Examples in context
- Ciao.Bye.This sentence shows a simple use of ciao.Tatoeba #4522287 by Guybrush88, translation #1903709 by AsliAbbasi
- Vado. Ciao!I’m off. Bye!This sentence shows ciao used when leaving.Tatoeba #5838895 by dnnywld, translation #12838377 by JeanM
- Ciao!Bye!This sentence shows a casual use of ciao.Tatoeba #607364 by Cero, translation #647456 by Hans07
- Arrivederci, Signora Rossi.Goodbye, Mrs. Rossi.
- A risentirci presto.Speak to you soon.
- Ciao, Luca! Ci vediamo domani.Bye, Luca! See you tomorrow.
- A presto ragazzi!See you soon, guys!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are leaving a cafe after lunch.
- SofiaA presto, Francesco!See you soon, Francesco!
- FrancescoSì, ciao, Sofia!Yes, bye, Sofia!
- SofiaBuon pomeriggio!Have a good afternoon!
- FrancescoGrazie, anche a te!Thanks, you too!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
