Italians are known around the world as a warm and friendly people. But they may side-eye you if you violate their unspoken rules, such as food–drink pairings, fashion choices, and social etiquette. For example, greetings are extremely important in Italy anytime you interact with someone or even just encounter them on the street. This is in stark contrast to Switzerland — a country famous for its directness — where greetings between strangers aren’t mandatory, and exchanges tend to get straight to the point.
When in Italy, definitely greet people when you meet them — in a shop, bar, restaurant, or hotel, and yes, also when passing them on the street. A proper greeting does not need to be effusive, a simple “salve” (polite form of hello) or “buongiorno” (good day) will do, paired with a smile and brief eye contact. In the early evening when the light starts to wane, “buongiorno” changes to “buona sera,” meaning good evening. In theory, you could also say “buon pomeriggio” (good afternoon) between lunch and dinner, but it’s a much less common expression.
Then there’s the most famous Italian greeting of them all: “ciao!” This is actually a very informal greeting. Therefore, you should only use “ciao” with family or good friends if you want to abide by Italian social etiquette.
Italian expressions for goodbye and thank you
