Buongiorno
polite, work email
In a work email in Italian you can open with Buongiorno or, more formally, with Gentile and the name, for example Gentile signora Rossi. It is also called Salve and Ciao.
Meaning: opening line of an email (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Italian | Note |
|---|---|
| Buongiorno | polite, work email |
| Gentile | formal |
| Salve | neutral |
| Ciao | casual, friends |
At the end of a formal email, Italians often write Cordiali saluti, "kind regards". For a friend, A presto is common.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To friends and colleagues you know well, Ciao is normal. To a stranger or a customer, Buongiorno or Gentile are better. Salve sits in the middle.
What mistakes should you avoid?
For a first formal email avoid starting with only Ciao, because it can sound too casual.
Did you know?
- In Italian emails Gentile is usually followed by a comma, and the next line starts with a small letter.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, le scrivo per un'informazione.Hello, I am writing to you for some information.
- Gentile dottor Bianchi,Dear Dr. Bianchi,
- Ciao Marco, come stai?Hi Marco, how are you?
Example conversation
Sara asks her colleague Luca for advice on writing an email to a new client.
- SaraCome comincio l'email al cliente?How do I begin the email to the client?
- LucaScrivi «Buongiorno» e il suo cognome.Write "Buongiorno" and his surname.
- SaraE alla fine?And at the end?
- LucaCordiali saluti, con il tuo nome.Kind regards, with your name.
