Introducing yourself in Italian

Your first conversation in Italian will almost certainly be a greeting and an introduction. The phrases are short and they repeat, so a little practice goes a long way. This page covers greetings, names, origins, work and the phrases that close a first meeting. If you are unsure which form of "you" to use, read tu vs Lei first.

Greetings

Italian greetings depend on the time of day and how well you know the person.

Buongiorno is the standard greeting until about the middle of the afternoon, and buonasera takes over after that. Ciao is for friends, family and people your own age. Saying ciao to a stranger or an older person sounds too casual, so use buongiorno or buonasera instead. Italians also greet shopkeepers on entering and say arrivederci or buona giornata on leaving.

Saying your name

Mi chiamo means "I call myself". The reply to piacere is often piacere mio ("the pleasure is mine") or simply piacere again. Italians usually shake hands when they meet for the first time, and friends often exchange two kisses on the cheek.

Where you are from and where you live

Nationalities are adjectives and they have no capital letter: sono americano, sono americana. Adjectives ending in -e, such as finlandese or francese, do not change for gender. Use di with a city (sono di Torino) and da with a country (vengo dall'Irlanda).

Work and study

Italian drops the article when you give your job after essere: sono medico, sono insegnante. With fare you add the article: faccio il medico.

Talking about your Italian

Italians are usually delighted when a visitor tries their language, and they will often slow down or simplify if you ask.

A short dialogue

Practice

Next, learn how to order at a restaurant.