Greetings & Introductions
Italian greetings are warm and slightly time-sensitive. Ciao is famously friendly — but it's informal in both directions, so it isn't the right choice for every situation.
Buongiorno and buonasera are the safe defaults with anyone you don't know.
Vocabulary
- Ciao
- Hi / Bye (informal)
- Buongiorno
- Good morning / Good day
- Buonasera
- Good evening
- Buonanotte
- Good night
- Arrivederci
- Goodbye (formal)
- A presto
- See you soon
- Per favore
- Please
- Grazie
- Thank you
- Prego
- You're welcome / Go ahead
- Scusi
- Excuse me (formal)
Example Phrases
Come si chiama?
What is your name? (formal)
Mi chiamo Luca.
My name is Luca.
Come sta?
How are you? (formal)
Sto bene, grazie.
I'm well, thank you.
Piacere.
Pleased to meet you.
Grammar note
tu vs. Lei
Italian's formal you is Lei — grammatically third person, so the verb looks like she/he: Come sta? (formal) vs. Come stai? (informal).
Use Lei with strangers, in shops, and with anyone noticeably older. Ciao pairs with tu; buongiorno pairs comfortably with either.
Cultural note
Prego is the universal reply
Prego answers grazie, but it also means "go ahead", "after you", "please take a seat", and "how can I help?". A shopkeeper saying prego is inviting you to order.
Scusi (formal) and scusa (informal) open a question to a stranger — the Italian equivalent of the French pardon.