ehi
/ˈej/
The English phrase 'oi' can be translated into Italian as ehi.
The word ehi is an informal exclamation used to get someone's attention or to initiate a friendly conversation.
Which one should you use?
While oi is used in some Italian dialects or very informal contexts, ehi is the standard informal way to say 'hey' in Italian.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ehi is a common, neutral-informal option. In contrast, oi is a very informal, often rough or dialectal way to get someone's attention. For more formal greetings throughout the day, you might use Salve or use Buongiorno until around 5 or 6 PM, followed by Buonasera to say good evening.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form oi is associated with certain Italian dialects.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈej/
Did you know?
- While ehi is the standard informal greeting, using oi in the South of Italy can sometimes be interpreted as an aggressive command to stop or pay attention, rather than a friendly hello.
- In some specific Venetian contexts, oi can be used as a mild expression of annoyance or frustration, similar to saying 'come on' or 'give me a break' in English.
- Although ehi is used for greetings, it can be transformed into a question of surprise or disbelief by shifting the pitch to a rising intonation, similar to 'what?' in English.
Examples in context
- Ehi, mi senti?Hey, can you hear me?
- Ehi, guarda qui!Hey, look here!
- Ehi, come va?Hey, how's it going?
Example conversation
Chiara sees Alessandro walking across the street.
- ChiaraEhi, Alessandro!Hey, Alessandro!
- AlessandroCiao, Chiara! Tutto bene?Hi, Chiara! Everything good?
- ChiaraSì, volevo solo salutarti.Yes, I just wanted to say hi.
- AlessandroChe gentile, a presto allora!How kind, see you soon then!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ehi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
