The first step in any conversation is a simple greeting. In Italian, the most famous greeting is one you've probably heard before. It’s a versatile word used for both “hello” and “goodbye.”

Ciao is considered an informal greeting. You'd use it with friends, family, and people your own age. It's warm and friendly, perfect for casual situations.

What if you're in a more formal setting, like entering a shop or meeting someone older? In these cases, it’s better to use greetings that are tied to the time of day.

For the morning and most of the afternoon, you can use Buongiorno.

As evening approaches, typically after 4 or 5 PM, you should switch to Buonasera.

After greetings, the next step is introducing yourself. To state your name, you use the phrase Mi chiamo..., which literally means “I call myself...”

To ask for someone else's name in a polite way, you can use the question Come si chiama?

Let's see how a simple introduction might look.

Politeness is important in any language. Three words will carry you a long way in Italy: please, thank you, and you're welcome.

The response to Grazie is almost always Prego.

Ready to test what you've learned? Let's try a few questions.

Great work. These simple phrases are the foundation for every future conversation you'll have in Italian.