ciao nonna
/ˈt͡ʃa.o ˈnɔn.na/word by word
The English phrase "hi grandma" is translated into Italian as ciao nonna.
ciao nonna is an informal greeting used when speaking to one's grandmother. You can also use more affectionate or casual variations like Ciao nonnina or Hei nonnina.
Which one should you use?
Ciao nonnina uses a diminutive form to express affection and Hei nonnina serves as a casual way to say "Hey Grandma".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of ciao nonna is /ˈtʃa.o ˈnɔn.na/. It has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word ciao shares a linguistic ancestor with the English word 'slave' via the Latin sclavus.
- The word ciao actually functions as both 'hi' and 'bye'. It is one of the few words in Italian that works perfectly for both arriving and leaving a room.
- In Italian culture, the figure of the nonna is often viewed as the emotional heart of the family and the primary keeper of traditional recipes.
Examples in context
- Ciao nonnarella! Come stai oggi?Hi Grandma! How are you today?
- Ciao nonna, come stai?Hi grandma, how are you?
- Ciao nonna, che bello vederti!Hi grandma, it's so good to see you!
- Ciao nonna, ti ho portato dei fiori.Hi grandma, I brought you some flowers.
Example conversation
Matteo visits his grandmother at her house.
- MatteoCiao nonna, sono io, Matteo!Hi grandma, it's me, Matteo!
- MartinaCiao caro, entra pure!Hi dear, come right in!
- MatteoGrazie, che profumo di torta!Thanks, what a smell of cake!
- MartinaVieni in cucina a mangiarla.Come into the kitchen to eat it.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ciao, nonna) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ciao, nonna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
