Skip to main content
ciao

ciao

47 8.5
A casual way to say hello or goodbye in Italy
  • noun
  • /ˈtʃaʊ/
  • Informal
translation icon : chao
  • The last two words on Mimi's memorial marker are "Ciao Bella!"
  • ciao for now
  • ciao, bella
  • "ciao," said

Each of you can stand up, look at the others and say Ciao michiamo.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • See you in a week. "Ciao, baby." Smith's last commitment before he and Annabel left for London was at the Sevier Home in Georgetown.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "Ciao," he said, and stood up to put the receiver back in the cradle.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Thanks again! Ciao and have fun!

    Blog text (18)
  • Please email me directly for writing requests or just to say "Ciao!"

    Blog text (32)
  • Say merci, ciao, and leave.

    Blog text (17)
  • I remembered that as he went out the door to work, he always winked and said, "Ciao, Baby."

    Fiction book (1995)
  • When we met at the café, she greeted me with a cheerful ciao.

  • As we parted ways after dinner, he waved and said, ciao!

  • I always say ciao to my neighbors when I see them outside.

Synonyms

hi
vsciao
  • Informal
1.0

A short friendly greeting you use when you meet someone

is used both to greet and to say farewell in Italian contexts
see ya
vsciao
  • Texting
8.4

A friendly way to say goodbye when you expect to meet again

is used for both greeting and goodbye in informal Italian speech
goodbye
vsciao
1.0

Words people say when they leave each other

is informal and also serves as a casual meeting greeting in Italian contexts
bye
vsciao
  • Informal
306 1.0

A short word or action people use when they leave each other

is informal and also serves as a casual meeting greeting in Italy
bye-bye
vsciao
  • Informal
279 1.1

A friendly informal way to say goodbye when leaving

is used in Italian informal contexts as both greeting and farewell
farewell
vsciao
199 1.9

A speech or action that says goodbye and wishes someone well

is informal and usually used to greet or part in casual Italian speech
good evening
vsciao
165 1.0

A polite greeting or farewell used in the evening

is informal and used at any time, not limited to evenings
good day
vsciao
  • Formal
131 1.0

A polite or formal way to say goodbye when parting

is informal and used both to greet and to say farewell across times
adios
vsciao
  • Informal
34 7.2

A word people use to say goodbye

is used both to greet and to bid farewell in Italian informal speech
yoo
vsciao
  • Informal
30 9.9

A short shout people use to greet someone or get their attention

is used both to greet and to say goodbye in casual Italian conversation
adieu
vsciao
  • Literature
24 9.3

A final goodbye you say when leaving for a long time

is informal and used casually for both greeting and parting in Italy
cheerio
vsciao
  • UK
17 8.9

A friendly way to say goodbye

is informal and also commonly used as a greeting in Italian speech
arrivederci
vsciao
11 9.8

A friendly way to say goodbye

is informal and used for both greeting and parting rather than only farewell
pronto
vsciao
  • US
8 8.8

A word used in Italy when answering the phone to say hello

is used in informal face to face greeting and farewell situations
aloha
vsciao
7 7.9

A Hawaiian word people use to say hello or goodbye

is informal and tied specifically to Italian cultural use
hullo
vsciao
  • UK
1 8.6

A friendly greeting used to get someone's attention

is used both to greet and to bid farewell in Italian contexts
hallo
vsciao
  • UK
1 1.0

A short friendly word used to greet someone or get their attention

is informal and also serves as a casual goodbye in Italian speech
to hello
vsciao
1 1.0

Say a short greeting when you meet someone or answer the phone

is informal and also functions as a casual farewell in Italian use
namaste
vsciao
7.3

A respectful hello or goodbye said with a slight bow and hands pressed together

is informal and used casually rather than being respectful and formal
hoi
vsciao
  • UK
9.9

A friendly informal way to say hello

is used both to greet and to say goodbye in Italian social settings
hia
vsciao
  • UK
9.9

A friendly informal greeting to say hello

is used both to greet and to say farewell in Italian culture
alo
vsciao
  • Philippine
9.4

A short greeting people say when they answer the phone

is used casually in person for both greeting and saying farewell in Italy
chao
vsciao
  • Philippine
8.6

A casual way to say goodbye to someone

is informal and also used to greet people when meeting in Italy
hasta pasta
vsciao
  • Informal
9.9

A playful informal way people say goodbye as a joke

is informal too but used both to greet and to part in Italy
to say hooroo
vsciao
  • Australian
9.9

To say goodbye to someone in a friendly, informal way

is used informally in Italy for both meeting and parting situations
pip pip
vsciao
  • Archaic
9.9

A friendly old-fashioned British way to say goodbye

is a modern informal Italian greeting and farewell rather than old British use

Surface Forms

ciao singular
ciaos plural

Etymology

Ciao comes from an old Italian phrase that meant 'I am your slave' or 'at your service' and was a polite way to show you were ready to help. Over time this phrase shortened to ciao, which people now use as a friendly 'hello' or 'goodbye'.