Italy is a country of culture, beauty, and passion. Due to this, several people are interested in adding this dreamy place to their bucket lists. Now, if you are traveling here, I am sure you are wondering if there are legitimate ways to sound like a total native when you say good morning, good day, or a simple hello in Italian, right? If you are, then worry no more because our post for the day is intended to help you learn basic Italian greetings for formal or informal situations.
Because of the country’s distinct and vibrant history, Italy remains to be one of the top tourist destinations in Europe. Aside from the amazing food and warm people, the country is best known for its ancient glories that have made rounds all over the world and changed the perceptions of people regarding beauty, art, and architecture. Some of its best spots include Rome (for travelers looking for a bit of history), Florence (for those ready to see swoon-worthy art pieces), Venice (for couples looking to get lost in a magical and romantic place), and Verona (for Shakespeare fans.)
32 Italian Greetings
Unlike other nationalities, Italian greetings are generally warm yet formal and it works best with a few body languages wherein people usually incorporate their heads arms, eyes, shoulders when speaking. Commonly, if you are meeting someone for the very first time on a formal occasion, it is best to extend your hands for a quick shake. However, if you are meeting friends, you are somehow expected to hold hands, give hugs, and pat the back. Also, there are a huge number of people who also love giving air kisses on the cheeks (left to right) so do not be surprised if someone will do that to you!
Now that body language is out of the way, let us now move on to how to say the most common Italian greetings that I bet can make you sound like a local and help you in creating the most authentic relationship with the locals. Try some of these today and be ready to greet your way on coffeeshops or pizzeria in Italy!
| Italian | Translation | Context |
| Buongiorno | Good morning / Good day | Formal and Informal (this can also be the formal version for ciao when speaking with strangers.) |
| Buon dì | Good day | Formal |
| Buon pomeriggio | Good afternoon | Formal and informal (locals also use buongiorno at times instead of this word since it is easier to say.) |
| Buona sera | Good evening | Formal and informal (only use this when greeting at night as you arrive from a place) |
| Buona serata | Have a good evening | Formal and informal (only use this when you are finally bidding farewell at night) |
| Buona notte | Good night | Formal and informal (use this whenever you are ending a conversation politely at night) |
| Buona giornata | Have a nice day | Formal and informal |
| Ciao | Hi / Bye | Informal |
| Salve | Hello / Bye | Formal (Use this when you are speaking to a stranger or someone you are not close with.) |
| Pronto | Hello | Formal and informal (use this when answering a call since it also literally means ready) |
| Che piacere rivederti | Nice to see you again | Informal |
| Ehilà | Hey there | Informal (can be used with family and friends) |
| Ueilà / Ehi | Hey | Informal (can also be used to signify total surprise) |
| Come va? | How is it going? | Informal |
| Come sta? | How are you? | Formal |
| Come te butta? | How are you | Informal |
| Come stai? | How are you? | Informal |
| Come vanno le cose? | How are things going? | Informal |
| Piacere di conoscerti | Pleased to meet you | Informal |
| Piacere di conoscerLa | Nice to meet you | Formal |
| Statemi bene | Take care | Informal (Aside from shaking hands or kissing each cheek, use this when saying goodbye to a group of people) |
| Stammi bene | Take care | Informal (use this when saying goodbye to a single person) |
| Alla prossima | See you next time! | Formal and informal (this expression can be used when you have a plan to meet the person again in the future but not anytime soon) |
| A presto | See you soon! | Formal and informal (only use this when you have actual plans to meet the person) |
| A tra poco | See you in a bit! | Informal |
| A dopo | See you later! | Formal and informal |
| A domani | See you tomorrow! | Formal and informal |
| Ci vediamo | So long! / See you around | Informal |
| Addio | Goodbye | Formal (this is what you’ll usually hear from Italian media, but it does not fit in well in real-world conversations) |
| Arrivederci | Goodbye / See you later | Informal |
| Arrivederla | Goodbye | Formal |
| Ti saluto! / Vi saluto! | See you, bye! | Informal |
13 Foolproof Ways On How To Answer Common Italian Greetings
In reality, the conversation you will have is not a one-way street! With this being said, you have to come prepared with some answers if ever someone greets you or asks you how your day is. To help you navigate this perilous part, take note of some of the best ways to answer the Italian greetings.
| Italian | Translation |
| Alla grande | Awesome |
| Benissimo | Great! |
| Così così | So-so |
| Sto bene | I am doing good |
| Molto bene, grazie | Very well, thank you |
| Va tutto bene | Everything is alright |
| Abbastanza bene grazie, e tu? | Pretty well thanks, and you? |
| Non c’è male | Not bad! |
| Sto bene grazie, e tu? | I am doing good, and you? |
| Sto male | I am feeling ill |
| Malissimo | Very bad |
| Va Benissimo | Things are going great! |
| Va male | Things are not well |
But wait! Before you get yourself lost in the Colosseum or the Grand Canal, feel free to review our previous post about language tips so that you can come prepared anytime. As I end this article, I hope that I was able to shed light and spark your interest in some of the easiest ways to express yourself in a new language. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it on social media and help us spread the word on Italy’s unique language, cuisine, traditions, attractions, and more!
Interested in Learning Italian Language?
Did you know that you can master any language in the world as long as set aside at least 10 minutes a day? Explore a country with style by being able to use their language like a pro through constant practice. Make the most out of your spare time by reviewing the basic vocabs, grammatical structures, and even speaking patterns with the help of a dedicated educational platform like the Ling App, one of the biggest language learning apps today. You can also learn Italian with a teacher at BlaBlaLang language school.
For additional reinforcement in the Italian language, be sure to check out the Ling App to master any language of your choice in no time. What sets this application apart is that it features fun mini-games, Chatbots, and engaging quizzes that will surely encourage you every single day to practice and discover further about the target language.
