“Hello” in Italian: 10 Ways to Greet Someone Depending on the Context

In brief

Our top pick: Salve, the all-purpose formula that works in every context without any risk
Good to know: In Italian, the time of day changes the greeting — three different expressions depending on the moment

In Italian, saying hello is not as simple as a single word. The greeting changes depending on the time, the relationship and the context: professional, friendly, on the phone or in writing. Choosing the wrong expression can come across as unintentionally rude.This guide covers all the ways to say hello in Italian depending on the context, from the most formal to the most familiar, with pronunciation and examples for each situation.

1. Buongiorno: The formal morning greeting

Buongiorno (good morning) is the go-to greeting in Italian. It is used from morning until early afternoon, generally until around 2–3pm. It is the safe default in any formal context.Pronunciation: bwon-djor-no. The stress falls on the second syllable. The “dj” is pronounced like the “j” in “jeans”, not like a French “j”.In formal contexts, Buongiorno is easily paired with signore (sir) or signora (madam) to show additional respect:

Buongiorno! (Good morning!): in a shop, an office, when entering a room
Buongiorno signora (Good morning, madam): professional setting, first meeting
Buongiorno signore (Good morning, sir): same use, masculine
Buongiorno a tutti! (Good morning, everyone!): to greet a group

Time of use: From waking up until around 2–3pm
Pronunciation: bwon-djor-no
Key point: Also works as a farewell in the morning — Buongiorno is bidirectional

2. Buon pomeriggio: The afternoon greeting

Buon pomeriggio (good afternoon) takes over from Buongiorno after lunch. The transition happens around 2pm. This expression is less well known among learners, but Italians use it naturally. Like all everyday Italian words, it is quickly picked up with a little practice.Pronunciation: bwon-po-mé-ri-djo. The word pomeriggio means “afternoon” in Italian.Like Buongiorno, it works equally well as an arrival greeting or a farewell in the middle of the day.

Buon pomeriggio! (Good afternoon!): midday greeting
Buon pomeriggio, come sta? (Good afternoon, how are you?): complete and polite expression
Buon pomeriggio a tutti (Good afternoon, everyone): for a group

Time of use: Approximately from 2pm to 5–6pm
Pronunciation: bwon-po-mé-ri-djo
Key point: Often overlooked by learners — knowing it signals a genuine grasp of Italian social conventions

3. Buonasera: The formal evening greeting

Buonasera (good evening) is used from around 5–6pm onwards and throughout the evening. It is the go-to evening greeting, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It naturally replaces Buongiorno as the sun begins to set.Pronunciation: bwona-se-ra. The word sera means “evening” in Italian.

Buonasera! (Good evening!): when entering a restaurant in the evening
Buonasera signora, ho una prenotazione (Good evening, madam, I have a reservation): hotel or restaurant setting
Buonasera a tutti (Good evening, everyone): on arriving to a group
Buonasera signore (Good evening, sir): polite and respectful expression

Time of use: From around 5–6pm until night
Pronunciation: bwona-se-ra
Key point: Like Buongiorno, this expression works both on arrival and departure

4. Buonanotte: The late evening farewell

Buonanotte (good night) is used at the end of the evening, when parting before going to sleep. It is not a greeting for when you arrive somewhere — it is purely a farewell expression once night has fallen.Pronunciation: bwona-not-té. The stress falls on the first syllable of notte.Italians often accompany it with dormi bene (sleep well) or sogni d’oro (sweet dreams), affectionate expressions used to wish someone a good night.

Buonanotte! (Good night!): leaving friends or family in the evening
Buonanotte, dormi bene (Good night, sleep well): warm and affectionate
Buonanotte, sogni d’oro (Good night, sweet dreams): between close friends or family

Time of use: Late evening, before going to sleep
Pronunciation: bwona-not-té
Key point: Only used at night when saying goodbye — never as an arrival greeting

5. Ciao: The universal informal greeting

Ciao is the most internationally recognised Italian greeting. It is used interchangeably to say both hello and goodbye, at any time of day. Its use is strictly limited to informal contexts: friends, family, close colleagues, people of a similar age.Pronunciation: chow. A single syllable with a clear stress.A brief piece of history: the word comes from Venetian s-ciào, which literally meant “I am your slave” — a polite formula that has since become thoroughly casual. Using Ciao with a boss, an elderly stranger or in a professional context should be avoided. It can be perceived as a lack of manners.

Ciao! (Hi!): between friends at any time of day
Ciao, come stai? (Hi, how are you?): greeting and wellbeing question
Ciao a tutti! (Hi, everyone!): to greet a group of friends
Ciao bella / Ciao bello (Hey gorgeous / Hey handsome): between close friends, affectionate context

Register: Informal only
Pronunciation: chow
Key point: Works for both hello AND goodbye, but never in a professional context or with older strangers

6. Salve: The neutral, all-purpose formula

Salve (hello) is the most versatile greeting in the Italian language. Neither formal nor familiar, it adapts to any situation where the level of formality is uncertain. It is the expression to reach for when in doubt.Pronunciation: sal-vé. Two syllables, stress on the first.Salve works at any time of day, with any person. It is particularly useful in digital exchanges — emails, text messages, group messages — where the right tone can be hard to gauge.

Salve! (Hello!): neutral greeting in any context
Salve, come sta? (Hello, how are you?): respectful without being overly formal
Salve a tutti (Hello, everyone): to open a meeting or a group message

Register: Neutral — formal without being distant, informal without being familiar
Pronunciation: sal-vé
Key point: The best choice when you are unsure what level of formality is expected

7. Pronto: The telephone greeting

Pronto is the typical way to answer the phone in Italy. It is the exact equivalent of “hello” when picking up a call. The word literally means “ready”, as in ready to listen.Pronunciation: pron-to, with the stress on the first syllable.Pronto is exclusively reserved for phone calls. Using it face to face would make no sense to an Italian speaker. This is one of the most common mistakes learners make.

Pronto? (Hello?): when picking up the phone
Pronto, chi parla? (Hello, who is speaking?): complete and natural expression
Pronto, sono Marco (Hello, it’s Marco): to introduce yourself when answering

Context: Phone calls only
Pronunciation: pron-to
Key point: Never use Pronto face to face — only when answering a call

8. Piacere: Nice to meet you, on a first meeting

Piacere (pleased to meet you / nice to meet you) is the expression to use when meeting someone for the first time. It is not an opening greeting but a phrase added after the initial hello, to signal politeness.Pronunciation: pia-ché-re. Three syllables, stress on the second.Two variants exist depending on the level of formality:

Piacere (Nice to meet you): short form, suitable for all situations
Piacere di conoscerti (Nice to meet you): informal register, using “tu”
Piacere di conoscerla (Pleased to meet you): formal register, using “Lei”
Molto piacere (Very pleased to meet you): for extra politeness

Context: First meeting, after the initial greeting
Pronunciation: pia-ché-re
Key point: Conoscerti is used with “tu” (informal) and Conoscerla with “Lei” (formal). The choice depends on the relationship.

9. Come stai / Come sta: How are you

Come stai and Come sta both mean “how are you”. These expressions are used after the initial greeting, never alone to open a conversation. They show genuine interest in the other person.The distinction between the two is grammatical and social:

Come stai? (How are you?): informal form using “tu”, for friends, family, people of a similar age
Come sta? (How are you?): formal form using “Lei”, for strangers, older people, professional contexts
Come va? (How’s it going?): common and neutral version, suitable across all registers
Tutto bene? (Everything okay?): direct and warm question between people who know each other well

Worth noting: in Italy, Come stai? is not an empty formula. Italians often expect a genuine answer. Asking without really wanting to listen can come across as cold or distant.

Key point: Stai is used with “tu” (informal) and Sta with “Lei” (formal). This distinction applies to all polite expressions in Italian.

10. Regional and familiar greetings

Italy is a country of remarkable linguistic diversity. Every region has its own greeting habits, inherited from local dialects. These expressions enrich the language and signal a deeper knowledge of Italian culture.

Buondì (Good day): regional variant of Buongiorno, more casual, mainly used in the north. Very common in the 18th century, less frequent today
Ciao bello / Ciao bella (Hey handsome / Hey gorgeous): affectionate expression used mainly in the south and in Rome, between people who know each other
Salutoni (Big hello to everyone!): augmentative form of saluti, very casual, for greeting a group of friends
Uè / Uagliò: informal Neapolitan greeting, equivalent of “hey guys” in Campanian dialect
Come butta? (How’s it going?): casual slang among young people, very common in Rome and Milan. Literally means “how is it rolling”
Bella zio / Bella fratè (Hey mate / Hey bro): urban youth greetings, mainly in Rome and Naples. Zio (uncle) and fratè (brother) here refer to a close friend
Ehi / Ehilà (Hey / Hey there): informal and spontaneous, close to the English “hey”