Greetings and Farewells

Now that you understand Italian pronunciation, it is time to put it into practice with real communication. Greetings and farewells are the first words you will use in any interaction with Italian speakers. In this lesson, you will learn the essential greetings, farewells, and the crucial distinction between informal and formal address.

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Overview

Italian has a rich system of greetings that changes depending on the time of day, the formality of the situation, and your relationship with the person you are speaking to. The most important distinction is between tu (informal "you") and Lei (formal "you").

Cultural Note: Italians place great value on greetings. It is considered rude to walk into a shop, restaurant, or office without greeting the people there. Always say buongiorno or buonasera when entering, even to strangers.

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Informal Greetings

Ciao — The Universal Greeting

Ciao (pronounced "chow") is perhaps the most famous Italian word in the world. It can be used as both a greeting ("hello") and a farewell ("bye"). However, it is informal — use it only with friends, family, children, and peers your own age.

Usage:

• Ciao, Marco! (Hi, Marco!)
• Ciao, come stai? (Hi, how are you?)
• Ciao ciao! (Bye bye! — very casual)

Fun Fact: Ciao comes from the Venetian dialect word s-ciào, which was a reduction of schiavo (slave/servant), used as an expression of devoted service: "I am your servant." Over time, it became a casual greeting.

Come stai? — How Are You? (Informal)

Italian	Pronunciation	English
Come stai?	"KOH-meh STAH-ee"	How are you? (informal)
Come va?	"KOH-meh vah"	How's it going?
Tutto bene?	"TOOT-toh BEH-neh"	Everything OK?
Che si dice?	"keh see DEE-cheh"	What's new? (colloquial)

Common Responses

Italian	Pronunciation	English
Bene, grazie!	"BEH-neh GRAH-tsyeh"	Well, thanks!
Molto bene!	"MOHL-toh BEH-neh"	Very well!
Benissimo!	"beh-NEES-see-moh"	Great!
Abbastanza bene.	"ahb-bah-STAHN-tsah BEH-neh"	Pretty well.
Così così.	"koh-ZEE koh-ZEE"	So-so.
Non c'è male.	"nohn cheh MAH-leh"	Not bad.
E tu?	"eh too"	And you? (informal)

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Formal Greetings

Buongiorno — Good Day/Good Morning

Buongiorno (pronounced "bwohn-JOR-noh") means "good day" or "good morning." It is appropriate from morning until early afternoon and is suitable for both formal and informal situations.

Buonasera — Good Evening

Buonasera (pronounced "bwoh-nah-SEH-rah") means "good evening." The exact time when Italians switch from buongiorno to buonasera varies by region — generally between 2 PM and 5 PM. When in doubt, follow the lead of the person you are speaking to.

Buonanotte — Good Night

Buonanotte (pronounced "bwoh-nah-NOHT-teh") means "good night." It is used only as a farewell when someone is going to sleep or when parting late at night. It is never used as a greeting.

Greeting	Time of Use	Formal?	As Farewell?
Buongiorno	Morning to early afternoon	Yes	Yes
Buonasera	Afternoon to evening	Yes	Yes
Buonanotte	Late night (bedtime)	Yes	Yes (farewell only)
Ciao	Anytime	No (informal)	Yes

Come sta? — How Are You? (Formal)

Italian	Pronunciation	English
Come sta?	"KOH-meh stah"	How are you? (formal)
Come sta, signore?	"KOH-meh stah see-NYOH-reh"	How are you, sir?
Come sta, signora?	"KOH-meh stah see-NYOH-rah"	How are you, madam?
E Lei?	"eh lay"	And you? (formal)

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Tu vs Lei — The Crucial Distinction

Italian has two ways to say "you": tu (informal) and Lei (formal). Using the wrong one can cause awkwardness.

When to Use Tu (Informal)

• Friends and peers your own age
• Family members
• Children
• Fellow students
• Close colleagues (once invited to use tu)
• Young people speaking to other young people

When to Use Lei (Formal)