How to Say 'Hey' and 'What's Up?' in Italian: Informal Greetings for Friends
Learn relaxed Italian greetings like Ciao, Ehi, and Come va? for friends and peers, and how they change with the time of day.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Italian has two main registers: formal and informal. With friends, classmates, and people your own age, you use informal greetings. These are short, relaxed, and often include slang. In this lesson you will learn how to say 'Hey' and 'What's up?' in Italian, and how to greet a friend at different times of day. You will also learn which greetings are too casual for strangers or older people.
By the end, you can…
- greet a friend informally in Italian at any time of day.
- ask 'What's up?' and respond naturally to an informal greeting.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ciao!
Hi! / Hey!
CHOW (rhymes with 'now')
The most common informal greeting. Use it with friends, family, and peers. It works both when you arrive and when you leave. Do not use it with strangers or in formal situations.
Ehi!
Hey!
EH-ee (like 'eh' + 'ee' said quickly)
A relaxed attention-getter, close to English 'Hey!' Use it to call a friend or start a casual conversation. It is common in central and northern Italy.
Come va?
How's it going? / What's up?
KOH-meh vah
A very common informal way to ask how someone is. It expects a short answer like Bene or Così così. Use it with friends and people you know well.
Che si dice?
What's up? / What's new?
keh see DEE-cheh
Literally 'What does one say?' This is a slangy, friendly way to ask what's going on. Common among young people and in casual chats. Not for formal contexts.
Tutto bene?
Everything good? / All good?
TOOT-toh BEH-neh
A friendly check-in, often used after Ciao or Ehi. It can also show concern if a friend seems down. Tone matters: rising intonation makes it a real question.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Informal greetings often combine a short opener with a question. Start with Ciao or Ehi, then add Come va? or Tutto bene? For example: Ciao, come va? ('Hi, how's it going?') or Ehi, tutto bene? ('Hey, all good?'). You can also answer with Bene, grazie ('Good, thanks') or Così così ('So-so'). Notice that informal Italian uses tu (you) forms, not the formal Lei. So you say Come va? not Come sta? with a friend.
When to use it
Use these greetings with friends, classmates, siblings, and people your age you already know. In the morning you can still say Ciao or Ehi; Italian does not require a special morning word in informal speech. Buongiorno is more neutral or formal. In the evening, Buonasera is polite, but with close friends Ciao works at any hour. If you are unsure whether to be informal, wait for the other person to use Ciao or tu first.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ehi! Come va?
Hey! How's it going?EH-ee! KOH-meh vahTutto bene, grazie. E tu?
All good, thanks. And you?TOOT-toh BEH-neh, GRAH-tsee-eh. eh tooCosì così. Che si dice di bello?
So-so. What's new?koh-ZEE koh-ZEE. keh see DEE-cheh dee BEHL-lohNiente di speciale. Ci vediamo dopo?
Nothing special. See you later?nee-EHN-teh dee speh-CHAH-leh. chee veh-DYAH-moh DOH-pohA little context goes a long way
Informal greetings build closeness, but they can sound rude if used with strangers, teachers, or older people. In many parts of Italy, young people also greet each other with 'Ciao' plus a cheek kiss or a hug, but this varies by region and relationship. When in doubt, start with Buongiorno or Buonasera and switch to Ciao only when the other person does.
One thing to watch for
Using Ciao with a stranger, a shopkeeper, or an older person you have just met.
Try this instead: Use Buongiorno (before about 5 p.m.) or Buonasera (evening) instead. For example, say Buongiorno, come sta? to an older person, not Ciao, come va? Once they invite you to use tu, you can switch to Ciao.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You meet your friend Luca at 3 p.m. What is a natural informal greeting?
Show a sample answer
Ciao, Luca! Come va?
Ciao works at any time with friends, and Come va? is a common informal 'How's it going?' You could also say Ehi, Luca! Tutto bene?
2Your friend seems tired. Which phrase asks 'Everything good?' in a friendly way?
Show a sample answer
Tutto bene?
Tutto bene? literally means 'Everything good?' and is used as a casual check-in. With a rising tone it shows real interest or concern.
3You are talking to your friend's grandmother for the first time. Should you say Ciao?
Show a sample answer
No. Use Buongiorno or Buonasera.
Ciao is informal and can seem disrespectful with someone older you have just met. Buongiorno or Buonasera is safer until she invites you to use tu.
With friends and peers, keep it short and relaxed: Ciao, Ehi, Come va?, Che si dice? Save Buongiorno and Buonasera for people you do not know well.
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