ciao
/ˈt͡ʃa.o/
ciao is the Italian way to say hello and goodbye.
ciao is an informal expression used to say both hello and goodbye when arriving or leaving.
Which one should you use?
While ciao is versatile, you should use the formal greetings Buongiorno (Good morning) or Buonasera (Good evening) in more formal situations. Additionally, Ehi can be used as an informal way to say hello to someone you know well.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ciao is an informal word. In formal settings, you should use Buongiorno (Good morning) during the morning and early afternoon or Buonasera (Good evening) in the late afternoon or evening instead of ciao.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈtʃa.o/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word ciao originates from the Venetan phrase s-ciao vostro, which literally means 'I am your slave'.
- Because ciao is strictly informal, using it with a stranger or a superior in Italy can be perceived as overly familiar or disrespectful.
Examples in context
- Salve, sono qui per l'appuntamento.Hello, I'm here for the appointment.
- Salve ragazzi, c'è una festa stasera?Hey guys, is there a party tonight?
- Ehi, ci vediamo dopo la lezione!Hey, see you after the lesson!
- Ciao, come stai?Hello, how are you?
- Ciao, a domani!Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
- Ciao a tutti!Hello everyone!
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo meet briefly in the street.
- ChiaraCiao, Matteo!Hello, Matteo!
- MatteoCiao, Chiara! Come va?Hello, Chiara! How is it going?
- ChiaraBene, ma devo andare. Ciao!Fine, but I have to go. Goodbye!
- MatteoCiao, a presto!Goodbye, see you soon!
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.
