Welcome to our Italian grammar course for beginners! Today we`re going to talk about introducing yourself.
Introducing yourself in Italian is a great way to start a conversation and make a good impression. In Italian, as in many other languages, there are two main ways to introduce yourself: formally and informally. The choice between the two depends on the level of familiarity and the relationship between you and the person you are addressing.
Informal introductions are used with family, friends, peers, or people of a similar age or social status. In these situations, it`s common to use the informal second person singular pronoun "tu" (you) to address the person. Informal introductions are more relaxed and friendly.
Formal introductions are used when you talk to someone you don`t know well or who holds a position of authority or seniority. They are also appropriate when speaking to older people, customers, or in professional settings. In formal introductions, you use the third person singular (lei) and show respect and politeness in your language. If you are unsure, it`s safer to start with formal introductions until the other person indicates that you can switch to the informal.
Let`s explore how to introduce yourself formally and informally.
You can listen to all phrases in Italian used in the article online by pressing the Play button:
Start with a greeting
Informally:
Use the informal
"Ciao" (Hello/Hi)
to greet the person.
This is a friendly and informal way to greet someone.
Formally:
Use
"Buongiorno" (Good morning/Good day)
or
"Buonasera" (Good evening)
instead of the informal "Ciao."
State Your Name
Use the next phrase:
Mi chiamo John / Mary (My name is John / Mary).
This way is OK for formal and informal greetings.
Optional: Add a Nice to Meet You
Informally:
Use the informal second person singular pronoun "tu" (you) to refer to the person you are addressing, and the second person singular form of the verb when talking about the person:
Piacere di conoscerti (Nice to meet you).
Formally:
Don`t forget to use the formal third-person singular pronoun "lei" (she) to refer to the person you are addressing, and the third-person singular form of the verb when talking about the person.
Piacere di conoscerla (Nice to meet you).
Say Goodbye
When you finish the conversation, don`t forget to say goodbye before leaving.
Informally:
Ciao! (Goodbye!/Bye!)
In addition to "ciao," there are a few other informal ways to say goodbye in Italian:
A presto! (See you soon!); A dopo! (See you later!); Ci vediamo! (We`ll see each other!).
Formally:
Arrivederci! (Goodbye!)
Examples
Example of a simple informal introduction:
Ciao! (Hi!); Mi chiamo Giovanni (My name is Giovanni); Piacere di conoscerti! (Nice to meet you!); Ciao! (Goodbye!/Bye!)
Example of a simple formal introduction:
Buongiorno, Signor Mancini (Good morning, Mrs. Mancini); Mi chiamo Giovanni (My name is Giovanni); Piacere di conoscerla! (Nice to meet you!); Arrivederci! (Goodbye!)
Additionally, if you want to share more information about yourself, you can add details such as your nationality, occupation, or where you are from:
Sono americano/a (I am American); Lavoro come traduttore (I work as a translator); Vengo dagli Stati Uniti (I come from the USA).
Don`t forget to maintain a friendly and positive tone while introducing yourself. Italians appreciate the use of greetings and polite phrases, so don`t hesitate to add "Grazie" (Thank you) and "Per favore" (Please) when appropriate.
Remember that both formal and informal language play a significant role in Italian communication and culture. Practice saying these phrases aloud, and you`ll be ready to start conversations and make new friends in Italian-speaking settings. Good luck and happy learning!