ciao
hello, hi, bye
Pronunciation
/ˈtʃa.o/
Cultural Note
Ciao is one of Italy's most famous exports. It works for both hello and goodbye but is strictly informal — using it with strangers, elders, or in formal settings is considered rude. It originated from the Venetian dialect word 's-ciào vostro' meaning 'I am your slave,' a humble greeting that evolved into casual warmth.
📝 Example Sentences
Ciao, come stai?
Hi, how are you?
Ciao ciao, a domani!
Bye bye, see you tomorrow!
Ciao bella, tutto bene?
Hey beautiful, everything okay?
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