Ciao
/ˈt͡ʃa.o/
The Italian phrase for hello to a friend is Ciao.
Ciao is an informal greeting used with friends, family and people you know well. Other ways to greet friends include using Buongiorno to mean good morning or Buonasera to mean good evening in casual settings.
Which one should you use?
Unlike the informal Ciao, Buongiorno is a more formal or polite way to say hello during the day.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ciao is an informal greeting, though it is widely accepted in more formal settings among friends.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use Ciao in formal settings, such as with a boss or a stranger, which can be perceived as disrespectful.
Did you know?
- The word Ciao actually traces its roots back to the word for 'slave', which comes from the Medieval Latin 'sclavus'.
- In some regions of Italy, a friendly 'hello' might be accompanied by a double cheek kiss, starting with the left cheek first.
- Ciao is not just a greeting for 'hello', but it is also used in Italian to say 'goodbye'.
Examples in context
- Ciao, come stai?Hi, how are you?
- Ciao, tutto bene?Hello, all good?
- Ciao, quanto tempo!Hi, long time no see!
- Buongiorno! Hai dormito bene?Good morning! Did you sleep well?
- Buonasera! Hai visto l'ultima puntata della serie?Good evening! Did you watch the latest episode of the series?
- Ciao, da quanto tempo!Hi, it's been a long time!
- Ciao! Ti va un caffè?Hi! Do you want a coffee?
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina meet on a street in the afternoon.
- MatteoCiao, Martina!Hi, Martina!
- MartinaCiao, Matteo! Come va?Hi, Matteo! How's it going?
- MatteoTutto bene, grazie.Everything is good, thanks.
- MartinaChe bello vederti!It's so nice to see you!
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry ciao.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
