Italian greetings are used in different situations, depending on the time of day, the level of formality, and the relationship between the speakers.
Here are some examples of their use:
You can use it with your friends, family, or people you know well. For example: Ciao, come stai? (Hi, how are you?)
Salve is a more formal and polite way of saying hello or goodbye. You can use it with strangers, acquaintances, or people you respect. For example: Salve, mi chiamo Sara. (Hello, my name is Sara.)
Che piacere vederti! means: How nice to see you! You can use this when you meet someone you haven’t seen in a while or someone you are happy to see. For example: Che piacere vederti, amico mio! (How nice to see you, my friend!).
Buongiorno means good morning, good afternoon or good day. It is a formal and respectful way to greet someone in the morning or early afternoon. You can also use it to say goodbye. For example: Buongiorno, signora. (Good morning, ma’am.)
Buona sera means good evening or good night. It is a formal and respectful way to greet someone in the evening or at night. You can also use it to say goodbye. For example: Buona sera, signore. (Good evening, sir.)
Buona giornata means have a nice day. It is a friendly and cheerful way to wish someone a good day when you are parting. For example: Buona giornata, a presto! (Have a good day, see you soon!)
Buona serata means have a good evening. It is a friendly and cheerful way to wish someone a good evening when saying goodbye. For example: Buona serata, a domani! (Have a good evening, see you tomorrow!).
Buonanotte means good night. It is a warm and affectionate way to say goodbye to someone before going to sleep. For example: Buonanotte, sogni d’oro. (Good night, sweet dreams.)