Italian 101 · Lesson 1
Hello and Goodbye
Greet people naturally, from a café counter to an evening with friends.
Begin ↓01 / 08
A greeting opens the door
Buongiorno.
bwon-JOR-noh
Good morning / good day.
Say this when you enter a shop or café. It is a friendly, polite default with someone you do not know.
02 / 08
With friends
Ciao!
chow
Hi! / Bye!
Ciao is informal. Use it with friends, children and people you are on familiar terms with. It works both when arriving and leaving.
03 / 08
Later in the day
Buonasera.
bwon-ah-SEH-rah
Good evening.
Buonanotte.
bwon-ah-NOT-teh
Good night.
Buonasera is an evening greeting; the switch from buongiorno varies by place and speaker. Buonanotte is for taking leave at night or going to bed.
04 / 08
Leaving politely
Arrivederci.
ar-ree-veh-DER-chee
Goodbye.
Arrivederci works in shops, restaurants and everyday polite exchanges. Hold the double r briefly rather than skipping it.
05 / 08
When you will meet again
A dopo.
ah DOH-poh
See you later.
A presto.
ah PRES-toh
See you soon.
Choose the phrase that fits the next meeting. A dopo suggests later today; a presto leaves the time open.
06 / 08
One word you will use all day
Grazie.
GRAHT-tsyeh
Thank you.
Keep the final vowel audible. These English-readable hints are approximations; capitals mark the stressed syllable, not extra volume.
07 / 08
At the café door
Buongiorno!
Good morning!
Grazie, arrivederci.
Thank you, goodbye.
Greet the person first, then close the exchange with thanks. Buonanotte would sound like a night-time farewell, not an evening hello.
Remember this
Takeaway
Ciao, a dopo!
Bye, see you later!
For a stranger, pair buongiorno or buonasera with arrivederci. With a friend, ciao can do both jobs.