Ciao, buongiorno, salve — choosing the right greeting
Italian has a greeting for every moment of the day and every level of formality. Here is how to pick the right one.
Italian greetings encode two things: the time of day and how formal the situation is. "Ciao" is reserved for people you know well — it means both hello and goodbye.
For everyone else, "Buongiorno" carries you from waking up until the early afternoon, and "Buonasera" takes over in the evening. "Salve" is a useful neutral option when you are not sure: it is polite but warmer than a formal greeting.
"Buonanotte" is tricky for learners: it is what you say when someone is going to bed, not a general evening greeting.
| Greeting | When to use it | Formality |
|---|---|---|
| Ciao | Friends and family | Informal |
| Buongiorno | Morning and early afternoon | Neutral / formal |
| Buonasera | Evening | Neutral / formal |
| Salve | Any time, safe neutral choice | Semi-formal |
| Buonanotte | Late-night goodbye, before sleeping | Neutral |
| Arrivederci | Saying goodbye | Neutral / formal |
Examples
- Buongiorno, signora Rossi!· Good morning, Mrs. Rossi!
- Ciao, Marco! Come stai?· Hi Marco! How are you?
- Arrivederci e buona giornata!· Goodbye and have a good day!