Pronto
phone, everyday
Italians answer the phone with Pronto, literally "ready". It means "hello" and is used only for phone calls. It is also called Buongiorno and Pronto, chi parla?
Meaning: answering a phone call (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Italian | Note |
|---|---|
| Pronto | phone, everyday |
| Buongiorno | formal |
| Pronto, chi parla? | phone, who is speaking |
The caller often answers with Ciao or Buongiorno, then says who they are, for example Sono Marco.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
At work people may give a greeting and a company name instead, such as Buongiorno, studio Rossi.
How do you pronounce it?
Pronto sounds like "PRON-toh".
Did you know?
- Pronto is not used when you meet someone in person. It belongs to the phone.
Examples in context
- Pronto? Chi parla?Hello? Who is speaking?
- Pronto, sono Anna.Hello, it is Anna.
- Pronto, mi sente?Hello, can you hear me?
Example conversation
Anna calls her friend Marco from Turin.
- MarcoPronto?Hello?
- AnnaCiao Marco, sono Anna.Hi Marco, it is Anna.
- MarcoCiao Anna, che piacere!Hi Anna, what a pleasure!
