Reference · module 1
Hello and goodbye
Everything this module explains, on one page.
Ciao and buongiorno
Greet people and say goodbye at any time of day.
- Ciao means both hi and bye, but only with friends, family and people your age. With a shopkeeper or a stranger it sounds too familiar.
- Buongiorno is the polite hello until the afternoon; after that Italians say buonasera. Buonanotte is only for going to bed.
- Arrivederci is the polite goodbye. A presto means see you soon, and buona giornata wishes a good day as you leave a shop.
The mistake you are about to make
Buonanotte! (arriving at 9 pm)
Buonasera!
Good night works as an evening greeting in some English speech. Buonanotte only means goodnight when leaving; arriving in the evening is buonasera.
Mi chiamo
Say your name and ask someone theirs.
- Mi chiamo Anna means my name is Anna, literally I call myself Anna. The ch is pronounced like k: kyamo.
- To ask a friend: Come ti chiami? To ask politely, use the Lei form: Come si chiama? Italians use Lei, she, as the polite you.
- After meeting someone, say piacere — pleased to meet you. Molto piacere is warmer. Sono Anna, I am Anna, also works.
The mistake you are about to make
Mi chiamo è Anna.
Mi chiamo Anna.
My name is suggests adding è. Mi chiamo already contains the verb: mi chiamo Anna.
Tu or Lei
Choose between tu and Lei.
- Tu is for friends, family, children and people your age. Lei is the polite form for strangers, older people and anyone in a formal situation.
- Lei takes the verb of he and she: Lei è italiano? — are you Italian? It is often written with a capital L to show respect.
- How are you: Come stai? with tu, Come sta? with Lei. The answer: bene, grazie — fine, thanks. E tu? — and you?
The mistake you are about to make
Come stai, professore?
Come sta, professore?
English has one you, so stai feels neutral. A teacher or stranger gets Lei with the third-person verb: come sta.