saluti
The Italian word for "greetings" is saluti.
saluti is a formal way to say "hello". While it can be used as a standalone exclamation, it is more commonly used in formal written correspondence or as a polite closing.
Meaning: formal way of saying "hello" (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
saluti is the plural form of the noun saluto, which means "a greeting".
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English 'greetings', which can feel slightly stiff or archaic, saluti is a standard, common way to end a professional email or letter in Italian.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For informal situations, you might use Ciao to say hello or goodbye or Ehi to get someone's attention. Buongiorno is the standard way to say 'good morning' in Italian and is used until approximately 1 p.m.
Did you know?
- The word saluti shares the same root as salute, which means 'health'. In Italian, wishing someone greetings is historically linked to wishing them good health.
- Although saluti is for greetings, the phrase salute! is shouted specifically when someone sneezes, serving as the Italian equivalent of 'bless you'.
- While saluti is used for greetings, it is also the word for 'salutes' given to a military officer or a person of high authority.
Examples in context
- Ti porgo i saluti.I bid you greetings.This sentence shows how to use saluti when bidding someone greetings.Tatoeba #10536645 by Guybrush88, translation #3446464 by pauldhunt
- Saluti!Greetings!This is an example of using saluti as a standalone exclamation.Tatoeba #4422337 by Guybrush88, translation #1130106 by cntrational
- Molti saluti.Many greetings.This sentence demonstrates the phrase saluti used to express many greetings.Tatoeba #4564545 by Guybrush88, translation #1130973 by cntrational
- Buongiorno, signora. Come sta?Good morning, madam. How are you?
- Buonasera, signore. Come posso aiutarla?Good evening, sir. How can I help you?
- Salve, mi chiamo Laura.Hello, my name is Laura.
- Buonanotte, a domani.Goodnight, see you tomorrow.
- Ciao, come stai?Hi, how are you?
- Salve a tutti, sono contento di essere qui.Hello, everyone, I am happy to be here.
- Ehi, come ti chiami?Hey, what's your name?
- Buondì! Come è andato il tuo weekend?Good day! How was your weekend?
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are exchanging formal emails for work.
- ChiaraCordiali saluti, signor Matteo.Kind greetings, Mr. Matteo.
- MatteoGrazie, Chiara. Come sta?Thank you, Chiara. How are you?
- ChiaraTutto bene, grazie.Everything is well, thank you.
- MatteoBene. Allora, saluti a tutti.Good. Well then, greetings to everyone.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry saluti, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
