Ciao
/ˈt͡ʃa.o/
Ciao is the Italian way to say hi casually.
Ciao is a popular informal greeting used as both 'hello' and 'goodbye'. Another informal, laid-back way to say hi to friends or peers is Ehi.
Which one should you use?
While Ciao is casual, 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 used for both 'hi' and 'bye' in informal settings.
Did you know?
- The casual greeting Ciao has a surprising origin as a term of total subservience, tracing back to the Venetian word for 'slave'.
- In Italy, saying ciao to a stranger or a superior can be seen as overly familiar or even disrespectful.
- The casual ciao is often accompanied by a light wave or a cheek kiss in Italy, depending on the region and relationship.
Examples in context
- Ciao, come stai?Hi, how are you?
- Ciao a tutti!Hi everyone!
- Ciao, ci vediamo dopo.Hi, see you later.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia meet on a street in the afternoon.
- LorenzoCiao, Giulia!Hi, Giulia!
- GiuliaCiao, Lorenzo. Come va?Hi, Lorenzo. How's it going?
- LorenzoTutto bene, grazie.Everything is good, thanks.
- GiuliaBene, allora a presto!Good, see you soon then!
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry ciao.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
