ciao
The English phrase "hi" is translated into Sicilian as ciao.
In Sicilian, there are several ways to greet others depending on the time of day and the level of closeness. ciao is a friendly greeting, while Bonjornu is used to show respect or courtesy. In the late afternoon and evening, you might use Bonasira to say good evening. To greet a whole group of people at once, you can say saluti a tutti, which means "greetings to all".
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
Which one should you use?
The forms differ primarily in their level of formality and the time of day they are used. Bonjornu is a formal way to say hi used until mid-afternoon, whereas Bonasira is a formal greeting specifically for the afternoon and evening. For much more casual settings, you can use the informal Ciau for both saying hi and goodbye or the informal Salutuzzu when speaking with close friends or family members.
Did you know?
- The word ciao is shared with Italian but derives from the Venetian phrase s'ciavo vostro, meaning 'I am your slave'.
- Sicilian greetings are often paired with the 'kiss on the cheek', but the number of kisses and which cheek comes first can vary by region.
- In many Sicilian social contexts, a greeting like Bonjornu is often accompanied by a slight nod or a specific hand gesture to acknowledge social hierarchy.
Examples in context
- Ciao, comu stai?Hi, how are you?
- Ciao a tutti!Hi everyone!
- Ciao, a domani.Hi, see you tomorrow.
Example conversation
Antonio and Agata meet on the street.
- AntonioCiao, Agata!Hi, Agata!
- AgataCiao, Antonio!Hi, Antonio!
- AntonioComu va?How is it going?
- AgataTuttu beni, grazzi.Everything is good, thanks.
