Which one should you use?
While ciao is a general greeting used with people you know, you should use Buongiorno to say good morning or good day and Buonasera to say good evening. Ehi serves as a more laid-back greeting, similar to saying "Hey!" or "Yo!" in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ciao is an informal term suitable for friends and family. For strangers or in professional settings, it is more appropriate to use formal greetings like Buongiorno (used from morning until early afternoon) or Buonasera (used as the day transitions into evening). Ehi is also informal and is typically used among close friends or peers.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of ciao is /ˈtʃa.o/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
When do people say it?
ciao is the most common way to greet others informally in Italy. When you want to be polite to someone you do not know or in a business context, switch to Buongiorno or Buonasera depending on the time of day.
Did you know?
- The word ciao comes from the Venetan phrase s-ciao vostro, which literally means 'I am your slave'.
- The original Venetian form of the word was pronounced /stʃaʊ/, which sounds much closer to the English word 'chow' than the modern Italian pronunciation.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, signore.Good morning, sir.
- Salve, professori.Hello, professors.
- Ciao, amico!Hi, friend!
- Ehi, ragazzi!Hey, guys!
- Ciao, come stai?Hi, how are you?
- Ciao a tutti!Hello everyone!
- Ciao, piacere di conoscerti.Hi, nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo meet on the street.
- GiuliaCiao, Lorenzo!Hi, Lorenzo!
- LorenzoCiao, Giulia! Come va?Hi, Giulia! How's it going?
- GiuliaTutto bene, grazie.Everything is good, thanks.
- LorenzoBene, allora ci vediamo dopo.Good, well see you later then.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
