Small Talk

Small talk is the glue of Italian social life. Italians are warm, expressive people who love to chat — whether it is with a neighbour, a barista, or a stranger at the bus stop. Mastering small talk in Italian opens doors to genuine connections and makes everyday interactions far more enjoyable.

Greetings and Openers

Every conversation begins with a greeting. Italian greetings depend on the time of day and how well you know the person.

Italian	English	When to Use
Ciao!	Hi! / Bye!	Informal — friends, family, peers
Buongiorno!	Good morning!	Formal or neutral — until early afternoon
Buonasera!	Good evening!	Formal or neutral — from late afternoon
Buonanotte!	Good night!	When someone is going to bed
Salve!	Hello!	Neutral — works in most situations

Tip: "Ciao" is used for both hello and goodbye, but only with people you address informally (using "tu"). Use "ArrivederLa" or "Arrivederci" for formal goodbyes.

"Come stai?" — How Are You?

The most common small-talk opener after a greeting is asking how someone is doing.

Italian	Formality	English
Come stai?	Informal (tu)	How are you?
Come sta?	Formal (Lei)	How are you?
Come va?	Neutral	How's it going?
Tutto bene?	Informal	Everything good?
Come te la passi?	Informal	How are you getting on?

Common Responses

Italian	English
Bene, grazie. E tu?	Fine, thanks. And you?
Molto bene, grazie.	Very well, thanks.
Non c'è male.	Not bad.
Così così.	So-so.
Benissimo!	Great!
Abbastanza bene.	Pretty good.
Insomma...	Well... (implies not great)

Dialogue: At the Coffee Bar

Here is a typical morning exchange at an Italian bar (coffee shop):

Marco: Buongiorno, Lucia! Come stai?

Lucia: Ciao, Marco! Bene, grazie. E tu?

Marco: Bene, bene. Che fai di bello oggi?

Lucia: Niente di speciale — lavoro come sempre. E tu?

Marco: Anch'io. Almeno il caffè è buono!

Lucia: Hai ragione! A dopo!

Marco: Ciao, a dopo!

Translation

Marco: Good morning, Lucia! How are you?

Lucia: Hi, Marco! Fine, thanks. And you?

Marco: Good, good. What are you up to today?

Lucia: Nothing special — working as always. And you?

Marco: Me too. At least the coffee is good!

Lucia: You're right! See you later!

Marco: Bye, see you later!

Talking About the Weather

The weather (il tempo) is a universal small-talk topic. Italians discuss the weather frequently, especially given Italy's diverse climate from the Alps to Sicily.

Italian	English
Che bel tempo!	What lovely weather!
Che brutto tempo!	What awful weather!
Fa caldo oggi.	It's hot today.
Fa freddo oggi.	It's cold today.
Piove.	It's raining.
Nevica.	It's snowing.
C'è il sole.	It's sunny.
È nuvoloso.	It's cloudy.
Che afa!	How muggy!
Che vento!	What wind!

Dialogue: Talking About the Weather

Anna: Buongiorno! Che caldo oggi, no?

Paolo: Eh sì, fa caldissimo. Dicono che domani sarà ancora peggio.

Anna: Davvero? Allora meglio andare al mare!

Paolo: Buona idea! Io vado al lago questo fine settimana.

Anna: Che bello! Buon fine settimana allora!

Translation

Anna: Good morning! It's so hot today, isn't it?

Paolo: Oh yes, it's very hot. They say tomorrow will be even worse.

Anna: Really? Then better to go to the seaside!

Paolo: Good idea! I'm going to the lake this weekend.

Anna: How lovely! Have a good weekend then!

Weekend Plans

Asking about weekend plans is another classic small-talk move.

Italian	English
Che fai questo fine settimana?	What are you doing this weekend?
Hai programmi per il weekend?	Do you have plans for the weekend?
Che hai fatto lo scorso weekend?	What did you do last weekend?
Niente di speciale.	Nothing special.
Esco con gli amici.	I'm going out with friends.
Resto a casa a rilassarmi.	I'm staying home to relax.
Vado a trovare i miei genitori.	I'm going to visit my parents.
Facciamo una gita fuori porta.	We're doing a day trip.

Cultural Notes

The bar (il bar): In Italy, a bar is primarily a coffee shop, not a drinking establishment. Italians often stop at the bar for a quick espresso while standing at the counter. This is prime small-talk territory.
The "passeggiata": Many Italian towns have an evening tradition of strolling through the town centre. It is a social event where small talk is expected.
Physical contact: Italians are comfortable with close proximity and may greet acquaintances with a kiss on both cheeks (starting from the right).
Tone and enthusiasm: Italians appreciate animated conversation. Do not be afraid to use gestures and express genuine interest.

Useful Filler Phrases

These phrases keep conversations flowing naturally.

Italian	English	Usage
Allora...	So... / Well...	Starting or continuing a topic
Dunque...	So... / Therefore...	Slightly more formal
Senti...	Listen...	Getting someone's attention (informal)
Senta...	Listen...	Getting someone's attention (formal)
Ma dai!	No way! / Come on!	Expressing surprise
Figurati!	Don't mention it!	Responding to thanks (informal)
Si figuri!	Don't mention it!	Responding to thanks (formal)
Mah...	Well... / I don't know...	Expressing uncertainty

Practice Exercises

Write a short dialogue (6–8 lines) between two neighbours meeting in the morning. Include a greeting, asking how each other is, and mentioning the weather.
Translate into Italian:
- "Hi! How's it going? Everything good?"
- "Not bad, thanks. And you?"
- "What are you doing this weekend?"
- "I'm going to visit my parents."
Fill in the blanks:
- ______ stai? — Bene, grazie!
- Che ______ tempo oggi!
- Hai ______ per il weekend?
- Niente di ______.
Cultural question: Where would you most likely have a quick small-talk exchange in an Italian town in the morning?

Summary

Topic	Key Phrases
Greetings	Ciao, Buongiorno, Buonasera, Salve
How are you?	Come stai?, Come va?, Tutto bene?
Responses	Bene grazie, Non c'è male, Così così
Weather	Che bel tempo, Fa caldo, Piove
Weekend	Che fai questo fine settimana?, Hai programmi?
Fillers	Allora, Dunque, Ma dai, Figurati

Small talk may seem trivial, but in Italian culture it is a sign of respect and warmth. Practice these phrases regularly, and you will find that Italians respond with genuine enthusiasm and friendliness.