Italian phrases: Greetings and goodbyes
Italians greet each other a lot, in shops and lifts too. *Buongiorno* and *buonasera* are always safe.
Speed:
- Buongiorno.Good morning. / Hello. · until mid-afternoon
- Buonasera.Good evening. / Hello. · from mid-afternoon onwards
- Buonanotte.Good night. · only when going to bed or leaving late at night
- Ciao.Hi. / Bye. · informal: friends, family, children
- Salve.Hello. · neutral, a little polite; good when unsure
- Arrivederci.Goodbye.
- ArrivederLa.Goodbye. · very formal, to one person you address as
- A presto.See you soon.
- A domani.See you tomorrow.
- Come stai?How are you? · informal
- Come sta?How are you? · polite
- Bene, grazie. E tu?Fine, thanks. And you? · polite: