How to Say Hello in Italian: Formal and Informal Greetings for First Encounters
Learn when to use buongiorno, buonasera, salve, ciao and piacere in Italian, with pronunciation, a workplace dialogue and practice choosing the right register.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Italian has more than one way to say hello, and the choice depends on who you are speaking to and when. The safest formal greeting for most of the day is buongiorno, which means good morning or good day. In the evening, switch to buonasera. With friends, family and people your own age in relaxed situations, ciao works, but it is not appropriate with a professor, a doctor, a hotel manager or a stranger in a formal setting. This lesson gives you the direct answer first, then shows how the main greetings behave in real conversations.
By the end, you can…
- greet someone formally in Italian using buongiorno, buonasera or salve.
- choose between formal and informal greetings based on the person and situation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Buongiorno.
Good morning. / Good day.
bwon-JOR-no
The standard formal greeting from morning until roughly mid-afternoon. Use it with strangers, staff, older people and anyone you address with Lei.
Buonasera.
Good evening.
bwo-na-SEH-ra
The formal evening greeting, typically from late afternoon onward. It is not a farewell; for goodbye in the evening, Italians often say buonasera again or arrivederci.
Salve.
Hello.
SAL-veh
A neutral, slightly formal greeting that works at almost any time of day. It is useful when you are unsure whether buongiorno or buonasera fits.
Ciao.
Hi. / Bye.
CHAH-oh
Informal and friendly. Use it with friends, family, classmates and people who have already invited you to use tu. Avoid it with strangers in formal service situations.
Piacere.
Nice to meet you.
pya-CHEH-reh
Said when you are introduced to someone, usually after the greeting. It can stand alone or appear in piacere di conoscerla in very formal contexts.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is greeting plus name or title. Formal: Buongiorno, signora Rossi. Buonasera, dottore. Informal: Ciao, Marco. Ciao, Giulia. If you are introduced, add piacere: Buongiorno, sono Anna. Piacere. In a shop or hotel, start with Buongiorno or Salve, then ask your question. For example: Buongiorno, parla inglese? This keeps the register polite without being stiff.
When to use it
Use buongiorno with people you do not know, with staff, with officials and with anyone older or in authority. Use buonasera after roughly late afternoon. Use salve when you want a neutral option that is not too casual and not too formal. Use ciao only when the relationship is informal or when the other person has used ciao first. In northern and central Italy, ciao is common among peers; in more formal southern contexts, buongiorno may remain the safer choice with strangers. These are tendencies, not strict regional rules, and individual speakers vary.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno, signora. Come sta?
Good morning, ma'am. How are you?bwon-JOR-no, see-NYOH-ra. KOH-meh staBuongiorno. Bene, grazie. E lei?
Good morning. Well, thank you. And you?bwon-JOR-no. BEH-neh, GRAT-tsyeh. eh LAYMolto bene, grazie. Le presento il collega Marco.
Very well, thank you. Let me introduce my colleague Marco.MOL-toh BEH-neh, GRAT-tsyeh. leh preh-ZEN-toh eel kol-LEH-ga MAR-kohPiacere, Marco. Io sono la signora Bianchi.
Nice to meet you, Marco. I am Mrs. Bianchi.pya-CHEH-reh, MAR-koh. EE-oh SOH-noh la see-NYOH-ra BYAN-keeA little context goes a long way
Italian formality is not only about words; it also involves Lei, the polite you, and titles such as signora, signore, dottore and professore. A formal greeting often pairs with a handshake, while friends may exchange cheek kisses. When in doubt, start formal and let the other person invite you to use ciao or tu.
One thing to watch for
Using ciao with a professor, a doctor or a hotel manager you have just met.
Try this instead: Start with buongiorno, buonasera or salve, and wait for the other person to suggest a more informal register. For example, say Buongiorno, professore rather than Ciao, professore.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You enter a small hotel in the late morning and want to greet the receptionist politely. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Buongiorno.
Buongiorno is the standard formal daytime greeting with staff and strangers. Salve would also be acceptable and slightly more neutral.
2It is 8 p.m. and you meet your friend's parents for the first time. Which greeting fits best?
Show a sample answer
Buonasera.
Buonasera is the formal evening greeting. Ciao would be too casual on a first meeting unless they invite you to use it.
3A classmate your age says Ciao, come stai? How can you reply informally?
Show a sample answer
Ciao, bene grazie, e tu?
Ciao and tu match the informal register your classmate used. Bene, grazie, e lei? would be grammatically correct but would shift the exchange into formal register.
Start with buongiorno or buonasera in formal situations, keep salve as a neutral backup, and save ciao for people who have made the relationship informal. Add piacere when you are introduced.
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