A1 · First conversations
Italian Greetings and Introductions
By the end, you can greet someone, say your name, ask the other person’s name, and close the conversation politely.
Core phrases
| Italian | Pronunciation / note | Natural English |
|---|---|---|
| Ciao | Hello / Hi | |
| Buongiorno | Good morning / Good day | |
| Buonasera | Good evening | |
| Come ti chiami? | What is your name? (informal) | |
| Mi chiamo … | My name is … | |
| Piacere | Nice to meet you | |
| Come stai? | How are you? (informal) | |
| Bene, grazie. | Fine, thank you. |
Notice the pattern
Use ti / stai with friends and peers. In more formal situations, use Come si chiama? and Come sta?.
Italian often changes the verb and pronoun choice to show an informal or formal relationship.
Model dialogue
Read this short first meeting aloud. Replace the name phrase with your own name.
A: Ciao
B: Ciao
A: Come ti chiami?
B: Mi chiamo …
A: Piacere
A: Come stai?
B: Bene, grazie.
Practice
- Match Ciao with its natural English meaning.
- Complete the name-giving line with the phrase from the table.
- Choose the positive answer to “How are you?”
- Choose the best opening phrase for the model dialogue.
- Complete the name question with the core phrase from the table.
- Put four moves in order: greet, give your name, ask a name, close politely.
Check your answers
- 1 → Hello / Hi
- 2 → Mi chiamo …
- 3 → Bene, grazie.
- 4 → Ciao
- 5 → Come ti chiami?
- 6: Answers vary; include a greeting, name, question, and polite close.
Create your four-line introduction
Write and say four lines: greet the person, give your name, ask their name, and finish with a polite meeting phrase. Choose the level of formality that fits the situation.