ciao
/ˈt͡ʃa.o/
ciao is the Italian way to say hello or goodbye.
ciao is used as an informal greeting both when meeting someone and when parting ways.
Meaning: transliteration of the Italian greeting or farewell (intj)
Which one should you use?
While ciao is informal, buongiorno (good morning/day) or salve (hello) are more appropriate for formal or polite interactions. salve is a versatile and slightly more formal greeting used throughout the day.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ciao is an informal greeting and should be avoided in formal settings or when addressing strangers and superiors.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Veneto region, the dialect modifies ciao to ciau.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtʃa.o/.
Did you know?
- The word ciao actually derives from the Venetian word for a 'slave'. It evolved from the phrase 's-ciao vostro', which meant 'I am your slave' as a way of saying 'I am at your service'.
- In some contexts, Italians use ciao ciao (doubling the word) specifically when hanging up the phone to signal a final farewell.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, signora Rossi.Good morning, Mrs. Rossi.
- Ciao, Marco! Come stai?Hello, Marco! How are you?
- Ciao, a presto!Goodbye, see you soon!
- Salve, ragazze!Hello, girls!
- Ciao, come stai?Hi, how are you?
- Ciao a tutti!Hello everyone!
- Ciao, a domani.Bye, see you tomorrow.
Example conversation
Martina and Lorenzo meet briefly on the street.
- MartinaCiao, Lorenzo!Hi, Lorenzo!
- LorenzoCiao, Martina. Come va?Hi, Martina. How's it going?
- MartinaBene, grazie. Devo andare!Good, thanks. I have to go!
- LorenzoVa bene, ciao!Alright, bye!
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.
