ciao
/ˈt͡ʃa.o/
The phrase "hello to a girl" in Italian is translated as ciao.
ciao is a common greeting used to say hello, but it also functions as a way to say goodbye.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ciao is an informal greeting. It is used when speaking with friends, family or people you know well.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈtʃa.o/.
Did you know?
- Ciao shares a linguistic root with the English word 'slave' through the Medieval Latin word sclavus.
- Because ciao is informal, you should avoid using it with a girl you have never met or in a professional setting. Using it too early can be seen as overly familiar or even disrespectful.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno Elena!Good morning Elena!
- Ciao Sofia, come va?Hi Sofia, how are you?
- Salve Francesca, piacere di conoscerti.Hello Francesca, nice to meet you.
- Ciao, come stai?Hello, how are you?
- Ciao, bella!Hello, beautiful!
- Ciao, piacere di conoscerti.Hello, nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Alessandro sees Martina at a cafe.
- AlessandroCiao, Martina!Hello, Martina!
- MartinaCiao, Alessandro!Hello, Alessandro!
- AlessandroCome stai oggi?How are you today?
- MartinaBene, grazie.Well, thanks.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
