I think for this post, it's important to not only focus on words but also on manners and tradition. If you want to know how to greet someone in Italian you might as well learn properly.
Must-Watch Italian Movies and TV Shows to Improve Your Italian
'I love places that have an incredible history. I love the Italian way of life. I love the food. I love the people. I love the attitudes of Italians.'
- Elton John
I'm going to start this article by talking about how the Italians greet each other and new people.
How the Italians Greet People
Body language is EXTREMELY important in Italy!
Make sure to smile when you greet a local or they’ll think you don’t like them. If you don’t know how to behave or what to say, just copy the way Italians act towards you!
Italians are straightforward, yet welcoming and formal. When they talk to people they don’t know, or to someone who is older, they address them with the formal form ”lei”, but a lot of the time this is saved for work settings.
When it comes to greeting new people, Italians shake hands and exchange three kisses on the cheeks. As for greeting friends and relatives, the tradition dictates that you must exchange a hug and two kisses on the cheeks. Contrary to what you see in most American-made movies Italians don’t like loud people, especially in public places, hellos and goodbyes are intimate hugs and kisses not loud showy displays.
"What I have always liked about Italians is the way they are serious when they need to be but know how to relax and have a laugh, too."
- Charles Leclerc
How and When to Use the Most Popular Italian Greetings
As already mentioned, body language is very important in Italy, but it's also a good idea to learn which greetings are best to use, and when they may or may not be appropriate. A warm, appropriate introduction can make all the difference when chatting in Italian, especially when you’re focusing on what’s formal versus what’s casual.
Being mindful of these important differences shows respect for the person you’re talking to... let's start with one of the best-known Italian greetings around the world:
Ciao
Ciao is by far the most used and widely known Italian greeting. It derives from an ancient good-mannered expression in the Venetian language: s’ciao vostro, literally your slave, but is understood as at your service.
Thanks to the popularity gained over the past two centuries, ciao is now a spontaneous and informal greeting, that is used among friends, family and young people.
- when you arrive Ciao, come stai? (Ciao, how are you?)
- when you leave: Ciao, ci vediamo! (Ciao, see you later!)
Salve
Salve is a popular form of greeting that comes directly from the Latin verb salvēre meaning to be in good health. (This one is almost like the Irish Dia Duit) It became a greeting in the form of a wish like good health to you / may you be in good health, but this literal sense has been lost in modern Italian.
The peculiarity of salve is that the older generations consider it informal while the younger ones consider it pretty formal. So it's recommended to use it when talking with older people.
Salve is mostly used when you meet someone, but it is also used by some when leave-taking, a bit like ciao.
From "hello" to "goodbye" and everything in between, here are the basic Italian words and common Italian phrases for travellers heading to Italy.
When an article does not follow them, Italian prepositions are called “simple prepositions”.
Arrivederci
Arrivederci is a relatively formal greeting used when parting ways with someone we expect to meet again in the future. If we look at it closely, we can see that it is composed of ‘a – ri – veder – ci’, literally to see us again (as in ‘until we meet again’).
Honestly, Italians don't really like when people say it on their travels, it's very formal, and the truth is you probably don't intend to see every waiter, bartender, taxi driver and tour guide your meet again. So please, unless you fall in love with a local, be careful when you say Arrivederci.
Now, speaking of good etiquette as a visitor to Italy letting someone know you’re a visitor or that you relocated from somewhere else is a good ice-breaker.
A couple of ways you could do this include:
Sono di…
or
Vengo da…
There’s no need to get fancy with this; just insert where you’re from in English to get the conversation moving.
Find a Personal Italian Tutor Anywhere in Ireland!
Practice speaking Italian with a tutor online or in person today. Book an Italian lesson today and get more comfortable with your formal and informal Italian greetings.
Did you know that Italian verbs can be categorized into three types?
Most of the tutors at Superprof offer you the option to take in-home or online lessons. This means you can learn whichever way is more comfortable for you, in your own space, at your own pace and at whatever time suits you. Lessons start from just €15 per session and you can take as many as few as you want.
Buona fortuna!
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