ciao bello
/ˈt͡ʃa.o ˈbɛl.lo/word by word
ciao bello is the Italian way to say "hi handsome".
ciao bello is an informal greeting used to address a man that compliments his appearance.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ciao (hi/bye) and bello (handsome/beautiful).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈtʃa.o ˈbɛl.lo/. It has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While you are using it to be friendly, the word ciao actually evolved from the Venetan word for 'slave'. It stems from an expression of deep humility where one would say 'I am your slave' to show service to another.
- The word bello is so versatile that it is often used as an intensifier in Italian slang to mean 'quite' or 'very', unrelated to physical beauty.
- In many parts of Italy, especially in the south, calling someone bello can be a common way for street vendors or shopkeepers to create a friendly, albeit slightly theatrical, rapport with customers.
Examples in context
- Ciao bello, come stai?Hi handsome, how are you?
- Ciao bello, che piacere vederti!Hi handsome, what a pleasure to see you!
- Ciao bello, ti trovo in gran forma.Hi handsome, you look like you're in great shape.
Example conversation
Sofia sees Lorenzo at a cafe.
- SofiaCiao bello, come va?Hi handsome, how's it going?
- LorenzoTutto bene, Sofia. E a te?Everything is good, Sofia. And you?
- SofiaMolto bene, grazie!Very well, thanks!
- LorenzoVuoi bere un caffè con me?Do you want to have a coffee with me?
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ciao, bello) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bello, ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
