I can say hello and goodbye to suit the time of day, ask and answer “how are you?”, and address a friend and a stranger without mixing them up.
Buongiorno o ciao?
Buongiorno o ciao?
The first words show at once whether you're polite or too familiar with a stranger.
Greetings follow the time of day: buongiorno — until lunch, buonasera — after lunch and in the evening, buonanotte — only at bedtime. Salve is neutral: any time, informal or formal. See the table.
To say goodbye: arrivederci — neutral and polite, ciao — only with people you call tu, a presto — see you soon, a domani — see you tomorrow.
Formality: with friends and by first name, tu (ciao, scusa, Come stai?); with a stranger and by last name (signor Esposito, signora Moretti), Lei (salve, scusi, Come sta?). Don't switch mid-conversation.
English “you” is one word; Italian has three: tu (a friend), Lei (a stranger), voi (several people). Formal Lei has a capital even mid-sentence; lei is “she”.
How are you: Come stai? — to a friend, Come sta? — formally, Come va? — in any situation. Answers: bene, grazie; non c'è male; così così.
In Italy buonasera starts earlier than English “good evening”: right after lunch. Buonanotte is never a greeting.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Ciao, signora Moretti!” → “Buongiorno, signora Moretti!” (with a last name, only Lei).
• NOT “Come stai, signor Esposito?” → “Come sta, signor Esposito?”
• NOT “Lei come stai?” → “Lei come sta?” (the he / she form).
• NOT “Buonanotte!” during the day → “Buongiorno!”
Greetings by time of day
Salve works any time of day — both informally and formally.
| When | What you say | Literally |
|---|---|---|
| In the morning, until lunch | buongiorno | good day |
| After lunch, in the evening | buonasera | good evening |
| At bedtime (not when you meet) | buonanotte | good night |
| Any time | salve | hello |
Tu or Lei
Don't switch between tu and Lei in one conversation.
| Situation | Informal | Formal |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | ciao | salve |
| Apology | scusa | scusi |
| How are you | Come stai? | Come sta? |
| Form of address | by first name: Luca | by last name: signor Esposito |
Lesson notes
Buongiorno o ciao?
The first words show at once whether you're polite or too familiar with a stranger.
Greetings follow the time of day: buongiorno — until lunch, buonasera — after lunch and in the evening, buonanotte — only at bedtime. Salve is neutral: any time, informal or formal. See the table.
To say goodbye: arrivederci — neutral and polite, ciao — only with people you call tu, a presto — see you soon, a domani — see you tomorrow.
Formality: with friends and by first name, tu (ciao, scusa, Come stai?); with a stranger and by last name (signor Esposito, signora Moretti), Lei (salve, scusi, Come sta?). Don't switch mid-conversation.
English “you” is one word; Italian has three: tu (a friend), Lei (a stranger), voi (several people). Formal Lei has a capital even mid-sentence; lei is “she”.
How are you: Come stai? — to a friend, Come sta? — formally, Come va? — in any situation. Answers: bene, grazie; non c'è male; così così.
In Italy buonasera starts earlier than English “good evening”: right after lunch. Buonanotte is never a greeting.
Common mistakes:
• NOT “Ciao, signora Moretti!” → “Buongiorno, signora Moretti!” (with a last name, only Lei).
• NOT “Come stai, signor Esposito?” → “Come sta, signor Esposito?”
• NOT “Lei come stai?” → “Lei come sta?” (the he / she form).
• NOT “Buonanotte!” during the day → “Buongiorno!”