Italian Tip: STOP Saying "Ciao!"

[@italianspoken]

How would you greet someone in Italian?

[@billwilliamon2336]

you said ciao to us at the start of the video, and not another greeting. why?

[@italianspoken]

@@billwilliamon2336 Good catch! I like to treat my videos as if I'm talking with friends, so I often use "Ciao" to keep it friendly and relaxed. It's the most well-known greeting anyway 😄.

[@cosmincodreanu7753]

came here from Metatron , i am not yet sure i want to start learning another language but i will definitely keep your channel in mind

[@SergioBracali]

Actually, we don't use "buon pomeriggio" that much. You hear buongiorno and buonasera most of the time. It's totally correct and not archaic or outdated, you won't look weird if you use it, but it's far less common than buonasera. And we use buonasera at any time after lunchtime, even at night. We only use buonanotte (good night) when we are going to sleep or someone else is going to sleep.

[@italianspoken]

Very true! It’s important to mention that the times to use those greetings are different from those in the states for sure. Thanks for the insight! 😊

[@niladaj4755]

I know that word & used it

[@nicholasschlangen3456]

I feel like 'buondi' is actually quite informal: it has almost a joking/ironic tone compared to 'buongiorno'.

[@italianspoken]

I agree that "buondi” does have a more casual, almost playful vibe, and it’s often used in informal settings with friends. “Buongiorno” is definitely the more formal and accepted choice though. It all depends on the situation and who you're talking to!

[@chiaramazza5523]

I don’t know what’s your exact definition of formal situation, but buon giorno/buon pomeriggio/buona sera are also used for example when you meet your elder neighbour in the hallway of your apartment building: “Buon giorno signor Rossi”. It’s a sign of respect and it doesn’t matter how long you’ve known your neighbour for

[@cucinare-da-zero]

I've begun learning Italian in the past couple of months for the same exact sort of reason; i genitori di mio padre sono nati in Italia. Interestingly I learned about using "salve" from DuoLingo, I'd always been using "ciao" or "buon giorno", etc. I do practice Italian once in a while with the owner of an Italian restaurant I frequent. Her name is Silvia, so next time I go I will be greeting her with "Salve Silvia", the s, L and v sounds just go together!

[@italianspoken]

My father is from Calabria! That’s so amazing we share a similar story. Saying “Salve, Silva!” Is perfect 😁.

[@sergiotogliatti7720]

Salve Silvia sounds funny to Italian ears…. If I can give you a piece of advice …. buongiorno Silvia sounds definitely better ….

[@SergioBracali]

if you're friends just say ciao Silvia. Salve + the name will sound weird to Italians, It's not formal but a little mannered, a friend won't expect that from you. Not to mention that "Salve Silvia" sounds like a tongue twister 😀 Generally speaking, adding the name sounds more formal that the greeting alone, so "ciao" alone is the best solution, or if you want to try "salve" just say salve, without the name.

[@KingaGorski]

So it’s not like in the movies 😂 good to know ‘salve’ for formal greetings! 👋

[@italianspoken]

100%! Better safe than sorry 😉

[@tutatis96]

Mind that salve is something in the mid. For a restaurant salve is perfect, if you're going to something more formal like a public office, university, police and so on buongiorno and buonasera are the truly formal ones, coupled with arrivederci/arrivederla for goodbye

[@KingaGorski]

@@tutatis96 I'll keep those in mind as well-cheers for the additional info 🙂

[@n3mesis566]

Dì means day, so buondì means good day. It can be used from morning 'til afternoon. It's formal.

[@mostaphaeljari2524]

Was thinking of learning Italian Thank God i learned english

[@italianspoken]

Nice! Do you think English or Italian is more difficult?

[@lucar.923]

Ciao!

[@MarriedToEnglish]

This is great 🤩 now we won't sound like newbs at the beginning of the sentence 😂🤗 Thanks, Maria!

[@lucar.923]

Ciao!

[@UnCaffèMacchiato]

Buondi Maria! Grazie mille

[@italianspoken]

Certo! Glad it helps 👍

[@ciao4nowitaly]

Salve for savvy!

[@italianspoken]

That's a good way to think about it!

[@ndrstrapp]

Ciao is the bavarian/austrian "Servus".

[@M0A0S0H]

ciao da sciao, cioè schiavo in veneziano. .. schiavo vostro...

[@marcgg9760]

Who says "buon pomeriggio"? It's buon giorno or buona sera.

[@italianspoken]

It’s valid, but you’re right in that it’s not very common!

[@M0A0S0H]

o abbreviato 'giorno, 'sera...

[@SecondsOfAnOrdinaryLife]

Interestingly, I took an Italian class at my local college in spring of 2024, the teacher was a native from Napoli. During one lesson she asked the class how to say, "Good Afternoon" and I answered, "Buona sera" as I had learned in previous forays into Italian. But she corrected me and said, "No, we say buon pomeriggio for good afternoon." So, I'm wondering, is it a regional thing?

[@armanavagyan1876]

Nice)

[@Aristocle]

I say: Giorno Giovanna or Giovanni Giorgio.

[@lucar.923]

Ciao Giorgio!

[@BillalSpruzza]

bella sei

[@scott1572]

Tutte benne

[@lucar.923]

Tante banane!