Ciao, mi chiamo Emily
The English phrase 'hello, my name is emily' is translated into Italian as Ciao, mi chiamo Emily.
Note that Ciao is an informal greeting used to say both 'Hello' and 'Goodbye'.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression mi chiamo literally translates to 'I call myself'.
Which one should you use?
Ciao is an informal greeting used with friends, family or people your own age. If you want to be more formal or polite when introducing yourself to a stranger or a superior, use Buongiorno (Good morning/Good day) instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb chiamarsi is reflexive, which is why the pronoun mi (myself) is used before the verb chiamo (I call).
Did you know?
- The word Ciao has a surprising origin as a greeting of extreme humility, once being part of the phrase s-ciao vostro, meaning 'I am your slave'.
- When introducing yourself, an Italian might not shake hands but instead give two light kisses on the cheeks, starting with the left.
- Italian has a historical parallel to the German greeting servus, as both words derive from the idea of being a servant to the person being greeted.
Examples in context
- Piacere, ciao, mi chiamo Emily.Nice to meet you, hello, my name is Emily.
- Ciao, mi chiamo Emily, e tu?Hello, my name is Emily, and you?
Example conversation
Emily introduces herself to two classmates.
- FrancescoCiao! Io sono Francesco.Hi! I am Francesco.
- SofiaCiao, mi chiamo Emily. Tu chi sei?Hello, my name is Emily. Who are you?
- FrancescoIo sono Sofia, piacere di conoscerti.I am Sofia, nice to meet you.
- SofiaPiacere mio, Sofia!My pleasure, Sofia!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ciao, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
