Greetings & Basic Phrases
These are the most important words you will use every day. In Italian, we change how we speak depending on who we are talking to — Formal (polite, strangers, older people) or Informal (friends, family, people your age).
Hello & Goodbye
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ciao | chow | Hi / Hello / Bye | Informal only — friends & family |
| Buongiorno | bwon-jor-no | Good morning / Good day | Formal — use until 1pm |
| Buon pomeriggio | bwon po-meh-ree-jo | Good afternoon | Formal — 1pm to 4pm |
| Buonasera | bwon-ah-seh-rah | Good evening | Formal — 4pm onwards |
| Buonanotte | bwon-ah-not-teh | Good night | Only when leaving / going to sleep |
| Arrivederci | ah-ree-veh-dehr-chee | Goodbye | Standard formal |
| A presto | ah pres-to | See you soon | Friendly / Common |
Politeness: Please & Thank You
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per favore | pehr fah-vo-reh | Please | |
| Per piacere | pehr pee-ah-cheh-reh | Please | |
| Grazie | grats-yeh | Thank you | |
| Molte grazie | mol-teh grats-yeh | Thank you very much | |
| Prego | preh-go | You’re welcome / Go ahead / After you | |
| Mi scusi | mee skoo-zee | Excuse me / Sorry | Formal |
| Scusa | skoo-zah | Excuse me / Sorry | Informal |
Understanding & Help
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sì | see | Yes | |
| No | no | No | |
| Va bene | va beh-neh | Okay / That’s fine / Alright | |
| Non capisco | non kah-pees-ko | I don’t understand | |
| Non ho capito | non oh kah-pee-toh | I didn’t understand | |
| Può ripetere? | pwo ree-peh-teh-reh | Can you repeat? | Formal |
| Parla inglese? | par-lah een-gleh-zeh | Do you speak English? | Formal |
Conversation: Introducing Someone
Scenario: Person A meets Person B, then introduces Person C.
Below are the exact same conversation — first Formal, then Informal — so you can see exactly what changes.
Below are the exact same conversation — first Formal, then Informal — so you can see exactly what changes.
FORMAL
Strangers / Polite
A:
Buongiorno, come sta?
Good morning, how are you?
Good morning, how are you?
B:
Buongiorno, sto bene, grazie. E Lei?
Good morning, I am well, thank you. And you?
Good morning, I am well, thank you. And you?
A:
Molto bene, grazie. Permette, Le presento il mio amico, Marco.
Very well, thank you. Allow me, let me introduce my friend, Marco.
Very well, thank you. Allow me, let me introduce my friend, Marco.
B:
Piacere, Marco. Mi chiamo Giulia.
Nice to meet you, Marco. My name is Giulia.
Nice to meet you, Marco. My name is Giulia.
C:
Piacere di conoscerla, Giulia. Come sta?
Nice to meet you, Giulia. How are you?
Nice to meet you, Giulia. How are you?
B:
Tutto bene, grazie. Arrivederci!
All good, thank you. Goodbye!
All good, thank you. Goodbye!
INFORMAL
Friends / Casual
A:
Ciao, come stai?
Hi, how are you?
Hi, how are you?
B:
Ciao, sto bene, grazie. E tu?
Hi, I’m good, thanks. And you?
Hi, I’m good, thanks. And you?
A:
Tutto a posto! Guarda, ti presento il mio amico, Marco.
All good! Look, this is my friend, Marco.
All good! Look, this is my friend, Marco.
B:
Ciao Marco, piacere! Mi chiamo Giulia.
Hi Marco, nice to meet you! I’m Giulia.
Hi Marco, nice to meet you! I’m Giulia.
C:
Piacere Giulia! Come stai?
Nice to meet you Giulia! How are you?
Nice to meet you Giulia! How are you?
B:
Tutto bene, grazie. Ciao, a presto!
All good, thanks. Bye, see you soon!
All good, thanks. Bye, see you soon!
What changed? — Key Differences
| Formal | Informal | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Buongiorno / Buonasera | Ciao | Hello / Hi |
| Come sta? | Come stai? | How are you? |
| E Lei? | E tu? | And you? |
| Le presento… | Ti presento… | I introduce… |
| Permette… | Guarda… | Allow me… / Look… |
| Piacere di conoscerla | Piacere | Nice to meet you |
| Arrivederci | Ciao / A presto | Goodbye |
💡 Golden Rule: When in doubt? Use Formal. It is always polite and safe. People will quickly tell you “diamoci del tu!” if they want to switch to informal.