You probably already know one of the most informal salutes--the universal "Ciao!" Say "ciao" (chaow) when you are greeting family members, children, close friends and peers such as classmates. This all-purpose word also means "goodbye."
"Salve" (sahl-veh) is another, slightly more formal greeting you can use with friends and family. It's an ancient salute that dates back to the Romans and to Latin, Italian's root language.
Formal greetings set the right tone, especially when you are saying hello to a someone you don't know well. Such instances include greeting a stranger or an older person who is not a relative or someone in authority, such as a doctor, teacher or police officer.
Say "Buon giorno" (bwohn jor-noh), which means "good morning," until midday. Then use "Buon pomeriggio" (bwohn poh-mehr-ee-joh), or "good afternoon," in the early afternoon. Many people, however, prefer to use the more common "Buona sera" (bwohna seh-rah), or "good evening," to greet others once noon has passed.
Even though these greetings are considered formal, you can also use them in informal settings as well, especially when you are saying hello to two or more people.
Several other phrases can function as greetings and conversation starters. Try asking "come va?" (coh-meh vah), which means "How's it going?" Or, inquire "Come sta?" (coh-meh stah) to find out "How are you?" Both phrases are formal. The informal versions are "Come vai?" (coh-meh vahy) and "Come stai?" (coh-meh stahy). You can also ask your friends "Cosa c'e'?" (coh-sah chay) to learn "What's going on?" or "What's happening?"
When answering the phone the Italy, the proper salutation is "Pronto" (prohn-toh), which literally means "ready."
