ehi
/ˈej/
The English phrase "hey" is translated into Italian as ehi.
ehi is an informal way to say "hey" in Italian.
Meaning: informal greeting (intj)
Which one should you use?
While ehi can be used to get attention, it is much more abrupt and potentially rude than using a person's name or a polite greeting if used with strangers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The variation Uè is a regional form of "hey" that is popular in Central and Southern Italy, especially in Naples and Calabria.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈej/
Did you know?
- Using ehi to get the attention of a service worker in a restaurant or cafe is considered significantly more offensive in Italy than using 'hey' in the US.
- The regional Uè is so iconic to Naples that it is often used in Italian cinema and literature as a linguistic shorthand to immediately identify a character as being from the South.
- In some southern dialects, the greeting Uè is often paired with a specific hand gesture, such as a slight tilt of the head, to signal friendliness.
Examples in context
- Ehi, non vada lì.Hey, don't go there.This sentence shows how to use ehi to give a command.Tatoeba #10905132 by Guybrush88, translation #10904870 by CM
- Ehi, apri la porta.Hey, open the door.Tatoeba #4948186 by Guybrush88, translation #3575473 by CK
- Ehi, è in anticipo!Hey, you're early!This sentence shows how to use ehi to make an observation.Tatoeba #7880293 by Guybrush88, translation #7880074 by shekitten
- Ciao Michele! Come stai?Hey Michele! How are you?
- Ciao ragazzi!Hey guys!
- Salve ragazzi, che fate?Hey guys, what are you doing?
- Ehi, scusa, posso chiederti qualcosa?Hey, sorry, can I ask you something?
- 221 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia run into each other at a cafe.
- MatteoEhi, Giulia!Hey, Giulia!
- GiuliaEhi, Matteo, come stai?Hey, Matteo, how are you?
- MatteoBene, grazie.Fine, thanks.
- GiuliaAnche io, tutto bene.Me too, everything is fine.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ehi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
