How to Say “Hello, My Friend” in Italian

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Ciao, amico mio
/ˈt͡ʃa.o aˈmi.ko ˈmi.o/word by word
The English phrase "hello, my friend" can be said in Italian as Ciao, amico mio.
Ciao, amico mio is a friendly greeting used to address a person the speaker knows well. While Ciao, amico mio is a direct translation of "Hello, my friend", you might also hear the informal greeting Ehilà, vecchio to mean "Hey there, old buddy".

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

Ciao, amico mio is an informal way to greet someone. The word Ciao itself is used with friends, family and people you know well, but it is not suitable for formal settings like business meetings or when speaking to strangers. If you need a more versatile word that works in both formal and informal contexts, you can use Salve.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In the Veneto region, the word compare can be used to mean "buddy".

How does it change in a sentence?

If you are addressing more than one person, the phrase must change to match the gender and number of the group. To say "hello, my friends" to a masculine or mixed-gender group, use Ciao, amici miei. To say "hello, my friends" to a group consisting only of females, use Ciao, amiche mie.

How do you pronounce it?

/ˈtʃa.o aˈmi.ko ˈmi.o/. The phrase has 6 syllables and the stress is on the first syllable.

Did you know?

  • The word Ciao has a surprising origin as a way to call oneself a 'slave' or 'servant' in the Venetian dialect. It evolved from the expression 's-ciavo vostro', meaning 'I am your humble servant'.
  • The greeting Ciao is unique because it is used both when arriving and when leaving.
  • Italian speakers often accompany Ciao, amico mio with a light touch on the shoulder or a cheek kiss.

Examples in context

  • Ciao, amico mio, come stai?
    Hello, my friend, how are you?

Example conversation

Lorenzo meets Martina at a cafe.

  1. Lorenzo

    Ciao, amico mio! Quanto tempo!
    Hello, my friend! Long time no see!
  2. Martina

    Ciao Lorenzo! Sto molto bene.
    Hello Lorenzo! I am doing very well.
  3. Lorenzo

    Vuoi prendere un caffè con me?
    Do you want to have a coffee with me?
  4. Martina

    Sì, volentieri!
    Yes, I'd love to!

Sources

  • IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ciao, amico, mio) and can differ in connected speech.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries amico, ciao, mio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Jasmine Alisha
Jasmine AlishaHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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