In Italy, how do people greet each other when they meet for the first time (e.g., on the street)? What's a good response to that greeting if you're not from Italy or don't speak Italian fluently yet?
07.06.2025 01:36
Italian greetings are split into formal and informal ones. So if you are in a formal context people will tell you buongiorno or buonasera, according to the time of the day (meaning good morning or good evening). The only possible answer is the same buongiorno or buonasera. If you are not actually sure about the kind of situation you can use “Salve”, this is a little less formal. Things get easier when in an informal context, in this case everyone will use Ciao in both directions. If you are introduced to someone you can add “piacere” (equivalent of nice to meet you) but some consider it cheap and would use “molto lieto” (meaning very glad… to know you). Be careful then as if you use these expressions you might let the others think that you are fluent in Italian and they could go on talking Italian 😂