Say hello and goodbye in Italian
Learn the core Italian greetings and goodbyes, when each fits, and how to handle a simple first meeting from hello to farewell.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Italian greetings are not interchangeable. The choice between ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve depends on the time of day, how well you know the person, and how formal the situation is. This lesson gives you the phrases you need for a realistic first interaction, from the moment you meet someone to the moment you leave. You will also learn the difference between informal and formal address, so you do not accidentally sound too casual with a stranger or too stiff with a friend.
By the end, you can…
- greet someone appropriately in Italian depending on the time of day and level of formality.
- introduce myself and ask someone's name using both informal and formal address.
- say goodbye in Italian and choose between ciao, arrivederci, and buonanotte.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ciao!
Hi! / Bye!
CHAH-oh
Informal, used with friends, family, peers, and people you already know. It works both when you meet and when you leave.
Buongiorno.
Good morning. / Good day.
bwon-JOR-no
Standard polite greeting used from morning until roughly mid-afternoon. Safe with strangers, shopkeepers, and older people.
Buonasera.
Good evening.
bwoh-nah-SEH-rah
Used from late afternoon onward. It is polite and works in both formal and neutral situations.
Salve.
Hello.
SAHL-veh
A neutral, slightly formal greeting that works at almost any time of day. Useful when you are unsure whether to use ciao or buongiorno.
Come ti chiami?
What is your name?
KOH-meh tee KYAH-mee
Informal question for someone your age or a new friend. The formal version is Come si chiama?
Piacere.
Nice to meet you.
pyah-CHEH-reh
Said while or right after shaking hands or introducing yourself. It is short for Piacere di conoscerti or Piacere di conoscerla.
Arrivederci.
Goodbye.
ahr-ree-veh-DEHR-chee
Polite goodbye for someone you may see again. Use it with acquaintances, shopkeepers, and people you address formally.
Buonanotte.
Good night.
bwoh-nah-NOHT-teh
Used only when leaving late in the evening or before bed, not as a general evening greeting.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Italian has two ways to say you: tu for informal situations and Lei for formal ones. This changes the verb. Compare Come ti chiami? (informal) with Come si chiama? (formal). The reply also changes: Mi chiamo Marco works for both, but Piacere di conoscerti is informal, while Piacere di conoscerla is formal. When in doubt with a stranger, use Lei and the formal verb form.
When to use it
Use ciao only with people you know well or peers your own age. Use buongiorno in the morning and early afternoon, buonasera from late afternoon, and salve when you want a neutral option. For goodbye, ciao is informal, arrivederci is neutral or formal, and buonanotte is only for late evening or bedtime. In a shop, for example, Buongiorno, vorrei un caffè is natural, while Ciao, vorrei un caffè can sound too familiar.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno!
Good morning!bwohn-JOHR-nohBuongiorno. Come si chiama?
Good morning. What is your name?bwohn-JOHR-noh. KOH-meh see KYAH-mahMi chiamo Anna. Piacere di conoscerla.
My name is Anna. Nice to meet you.mee KYAH-moh AHN-nah. pyah-CHEH-reh dee koh-noh-SHEHR-lahPiacere mio. Io sono Luca.
Nice to meet you too. I am Luca.pyah-CHEH-reh MEE-oh. EE-oh SOH-noh LOO-kahArrivederci, Luca. Buona giornata!
Goodbye, Luca. Have a good day!ahr-ree-veh-DEHR-chee, LOO-kah. BWOH-nah johr-NAH-tahArrivederci, Anna. A presto!
Goodbye, Anna. See you soon!ahr-ree-veh-DEHR-chee, AHN-nah. ah PREH-stohA little context goes a long way
Italians often use buongiorno and buonasera as complete greetings, not just as part of a longer sentence. A simple Buongiorno with a smile is normal when entering a shop, a lift, or a waiting room. Handshakes are common in formal first meetings, while friends may exchange two cheek kisses, though this varies by region and context. In the north, one kiss or a handshake may be more common; in the south, two kisses are frequent. Follow the other person's lead.
One thing to watch for
Using ciao with a stranger, a professor, or an older person you have just met.
Try this instead: Use buongiorno, buonasera, or salve instead. For example, say Buongiorno, come si chiama? rather than Ciao, come ti chiami? with someone you do not know. Once the other person invites you to use tu, ciao becomes appropriate.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1It is 9 a.m. and you enter a small bakery. What is the most natural greeting?
Show a sample answer
Buongiorno.
Buongiorno is the standard polite morning greeting with strangers and shopkeepers. Salve could also work in a neutral way, but ciao would be too informal here.
2A friend your age says Ciao! Come ti chiami? How do you reply with your name and a polite phrase?
Show a sample answer
Ciao! Mi chiamo Marco. Piacere!
Mi chiamo plus your name answers the question directly. Piacere is a short, natural way to say nice to meet you. Piacere di conoscerti is also correct and slightly fuller.
3You are leaving a formal office meeting in the late afternoon. Which goodbye fits best?
Show a sample answer
Arrivederci.
Arrivederci is neutral and polite, suitable for people you address formally. Ciao would be too casual, and buonanotte is only for late evening or bedtime.
Match the greeting to the time of day and your relationship with the person: ciao for friends, buongiorno and buonasera for polite everyday use, salve when unsure, and arrivederci for a respectful goodbye.
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