How to say hello in Italian
15 words, from beginner to advanced. Tap a word to hear it.
Good to know
The right Italian greeting depends on the relationship, setting, and time of day. Ciao is informal and works for both greeting and parting. Salve is a neutral greeting, not a universal choice for every formal situation. Buongiorno and Buonasera are polite greetings linked to the time of day; the switch to evening usage varies by region and habit.
Scusa is informal and can introduce a small apology or a request for attention. Mi dispiace expresses regret or sympathy. Prego can answer thanks or politely invite someone to proceed.
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- Ciao /ˈtʃao/ Hi
- Salve /ˈsalve/ Hello
- Buongiorno /bwɔnˈdʒorno/ Good morning
- Buonasera /bwɔnaˈsera/ Good evening
- Come va? /ˈkome ˈva/ What's up?
- Arrivederci /arriveˈdertʃi/ Goodbye
- Sì /ˈsi/ Yes
- No /ˈnɔ/ No
- Per favore /per faˈvore/ Please
- Grazie /ˈɡrattsje/ Thank you
- Grazie mille /ˈɡrattsje ˈmille/ Thank you very much
- Prego /ˈprɛɡo/ You're welcome
- Scusa /ˈskuza/ Sorry / excuse me
- Mi dispiace /mi disˈpjatʃe/ I'm sorry
- Saluto /saˈluto/ il pl. i saluti Greeting
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Rules to remember
- Sì keeps the grave accent on its final letter, even when it stands alone or starts a sentence.
- Grazie mille expresses stronger thanks than Grazie. Per favore is a fixed two-word phrase used to make requests polite.
- Saluto, used as a noun, is masculine and means “greeting”. It names a greeting rather than serving as a greeting on its own.
