Italian words for kids · Greetings & manners
How to say “hello” in Italian
Hello is usually the very first word a child uses in a new language, and the one they get to use most: with family, at the door, on a video call.
Hello in Italian
ciao
Sounds like ≈ CHOW
Good to know: Ciao is both hello and goodbye, and it's for family and friends. With adults you don't know, Italians say buongiorno instead.
Hear it in a song
Real lines from our Italian songs, with the English meaning shown in the app:
Piccoli insetti, piccoli insetti, ciao, ciao!
Little bugs, little bugs, hello, hello!
from Piccoli Insetti (Little Bugs)
Orso, orso, ciao!
Bear, bear, hello!
from Le Vocali (The Vowel Song)
Bene, bene! Ciao!
Good, good! Bye!
from Ciao, Come Stai? (Hi, How Are You?)
3 songs that teach it
“Hello” is one of the key words in these songs. Every line is shown in Italian with its English meaning.
Ciao, Come Stai?
Hi, How Are You? · Greetings · Free
- ciao · hello
- come stai? · how are you?
- bene · good
- giochiamo! · let's play!
Ciao, Natura
Hello, Nature · Nature · Premium
- sole · sun
- cielo · sky
- albero · tree
- fiore · flower
Ciao, Amico
Hi, Friend · Greetings · Free
- ciao · hello
- amico · friend
- come stai? · how are you?
- nome · name
Also sung in: Arrivederci, Amici, Uno, Due, Tre, Dieci Uccellini, Rosso Come una Mela, Gli Animali, Alla Fattoria, Animali della Giungla, La Mia Famiglia and 33 more.
Practice ideas for parents
- 1Make ciao the only way anyone says hello in your house for a week, including to the cat and to teddies.
- 2Wave at things on a walk (a bus, a dog, a tree) and say ciao to each one. Silly targets get the most giggles and the most repeats.
- 3When a video call starts, let your child be the one who opens with ciao.
Related Italian words
“Hello” in other languages
Sing it in Italian, free
The first unit, 6 greeting songs with lyrics and English translation, is free forever. No card needed. Premium unlocks all 134 songs.
About the pronunciation: the “sounds like” spellings are rough English approximations for parents (capital letters show the stressed syllable). Italianhas sounds English doesn't, so treat them as a starting point and let the songs be the model. Songs are original and produced with AI music tools. Ideas for using Italian songs with your family.