Italian Greetings

Greetings are among the most commonly used words in any language. That’s why they’re one of the first things you need to learn. In this lesson, you’ll discover how to say hello and good morning in Italian. By the end, you'll be able to greet others like a native speaker.

How to Say Hello in Italian

The most common Italian word for hello is:

Ciao is friendly, versatile, and can be used at any time of day. However, it's informal, so it's best suited for casual situations—among friends, family, or colleagues you know well.

If you're speaking to someone older, someone you don't know, or someone in a formal setting like your boss, you should use a more polite greeting:

Salve is a formal and respectful way to say hello, and it's suitable for both daytime and evening.

Fun Fact: The Origin of Ciao

Did you know that ciao comes from the word for slave? In medieval Venice, people used to greet each other with sciavo vostro, meaning I am your servant. It was a way of showing respect and willingness to help. Over time, this expression was shortened and evolved into ciao, which is now used all across Italy.

Greeting a Group

When saying hello to multiple people, you can say:

Time-Based Greetings in Italian

While ciao works throughout the day, Italians also use specific greetings depending on the time:

Used until early afternoon.

Used from early to late afternoon though less common in casual conversation.

Used from around 5–6 PM until bedtime.

This is not used as a greeting. It’s said when parting ways for the night, usually before someone goes to sleep.

Note: In informal speech, some people drop the buon and simply say giorno instead of buongiorno.

Other Useful Expressions

You can reply with:

Long Time No See

In Italian, the expression is:

Used after greeting someone you haven’t seen in a while.