Italian · A2 (Elementary)
Greetings in Italian: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Italian words for greetings are Buongiorno, signore/signora (Good morning, sir/madam), Prego (You're welcome / Go ahead) and Come sta? (How are you? (formal)). The full Italian greetings phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Italian vocabulary for greetings, with example sentences and English translations. This is A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Italian to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key greetings vocabulary
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Buongiorno, signore/signora | Good morning, sir/madam |
| Prego | You're welcome / Go ahead |
| Come sta? | How are you? (formal) |
| Molto bene, grazie | Very well, thank you |
| Le presento | May I introduce you to (formal) |
| Lieto/a di conoscerla | Pleased to meet you (formal) |
| Permesso | May I? / Excuse me (entering a room) |
| Ecco il mio biglietto | Here is my card |
| Buona giornata | Have a good day |
| È un piacere | It's a pleasure |
Example sentences
Grazie. — Prego.
Thank you. — You're welcome.
Come sta? Molto bene, grazie.
How are you? Very well, thank you.
Le presento la mia collega, Laura.
May I introduce my colleague, Laura.
Lieto di conoscerla, signor Ferrari.
Pleased to meet you, Mr Ferrari.
Ecco il mio biglietto da visita.
Here is my business card.
È un piacere conoscerla.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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