Ciao!
everyday, informal
To a guy you know, say Ciao! With a stranger the safer choice is Salve!, and Ciao bello! is a friendly form for a male friend.
Meaning: greeting a man (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Italian | Note |
|---|---|
| Ciao! | everyday, informal |
| Salve! | polite, neutral |
| Ciao bello! | friendly, to a man |
Ciao bello sounds natural between friends, and it can also be flirty if the tone is warm. For a young man you do not know, a plain Ciao is enough.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For an older man or a formal moment use Buongiorno or, in the evening, Buonasera.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending of bello is the masculine form. For a woman it is bella.
Did you know?
- Salve comes from Latin and originally meant "be well".
Examples in context
- Ciao, come stai?Hello, how are you?
- Salve, posso aiutarla?Hello, can I help you?
- Ciao bello, tutto bene?Hey there, all good?
Example conversation
Giulia says hello to her classmate Luca in the hallway.
- GiuliaCiao Luca!Hi Luca!
- LucaCiao Giulia, come va?Hi Giulia, how is it going?
- GiuliaBene, grazie. E tu?Fine, thanks. And you?
