Ehi!
casual, slang
Among friends Italians greet each other with Ehi! or just Ciao! In Naples and around Milan you will also hear the short Ué!
Meaning: casual greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Italian | Note |
|---|---|
| Ehi! | casual, slang |
| Ué! | slang, regional |
| Ciao! | everyday |
Ehi! works like "hey". Ciao! is the all-purpose informal hello and is used with friends, family and people your age.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
None of these suit a formal setting. With a stranger or an older person use Buongiorno or Salve.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Ué! is typical of Naples and is also heard in Milan. In other regions it can sound foreign or put on.
Did you know?
- The Italian ciao comes from the Venetian phrase s-ciào vostro, meaning "I am your slave", which was once a polite greeting.
Examples in context
- Ehi, come va?Hey, how is it going?
- Ué, che combini?Hey, what are you up to?
- Ciao ragazzi!Hi guys!
Example conversation
Luca runs into his friend Paolo on the street in Naples.
- LucaUé, Paolo!Hey, Paolo!
- PaoloEhi, Luca! Come va?Hey, Luca! How is it going?
- LucaTutto bene, tu?All good, you?
