ciao amico
/ˈt͡ʃa.o aˈmi.ko/word by word
The Italian phrase for "hi friend" is ciao amico.
ciao amico is an informal greeting used to say hello to a friend. In casual Italian conversation, however, it can sound slightly unnatural or like a "textbook" phrase compared to simply saying ciao.
Which one should you use?
While ciao amico is a direct translation of "hi friend", you may also encounter Ehi amico, which means "Hey friend".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes based on who you are addressing. Use ciao amica if the friend is female, and use ciao amici to greet a group of friends.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈtʃa.o aˈmi.ko/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word ciao originally stems from the Venetian word for 'slave', derived from the phrase meaning 'I am your humble servant'.
- While ciao amico is a literal translation, Italians often use the word amico ironically or condescendingly when speaking to a stranger during a confrontation.
- In Italy, ciao is one of the few greetings used both when arriving to say 'hello' and when departing to say 'goodbye'.
Examples in context
- Ciao amico! Come stai?Hi friend! How are you?
- Buongiorno amico! Hai visto il nuovo film al cinema?Good morning, friend! Have you seen the new movie in the theater?
Example conversation
Francesco meets Martina in the street.
- FrancescoCiao amico, che sorpresa!Hi friend, what a surprise!
- MartinaCiao Francesco! Tutto bene?Hi Francesco! Is everything well?
- FrancescoSì, tutto a posto.Yes, everything is fine.
- MartinaOttimo, a presto allora!Great, see you soon then!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ciao, amico) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amico, ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
