ciao
/tʃa.o/
ciao is the French transliteration of the Italian greeting or farewell.
Meaning: transliteration of the Italian greeting or farewell (intj)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /tʃa.o/.
Did you know?
- The root of ciao is actually linked to the word 'slave'. It comes from the Medieval Latin word sclavus, referring to the Slavic people.
- In France, ciao is more frequently used as a way to say 'goodbye' than as a way to say 'hello'.
- In French, using ciao to say goodbye can sometimes feel more 'trendy' or 'cool' than using the standard 'salut'. It is often chosen by people wanting to sound more cosmopolitan.
Examples in context
- Salut, ça roule?Hey, what's up?
- Coucou, tu vas bien?Hi, how are you?
- Ciao, tout le monde !Ciao, everyone!
- Il m'a dit ciao en partant.He said ciao to me when leaving.
- On se dit ciao pour l'instant.We say ciao for now.
Example conversation
Two friends are meeting briefly at a café.
- ChloéCiao, Gabriel !Ciao, Gabriel!
- GabrielSalut Chloé, ça va ?Hi Chloé, how are you?
- ChloéÇa va, mais je dois partir. Ciao !I'm fine, but I have to go. Ciao!
- GabrielD'accord, ciao !Okay, ciao!
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.
