Subject pronouns
| io | I |
| tu | you (informal, singular) |
| lui / lei | he / she |
| Lei | you (formal, singular) — grammatically "she," capitalized to disambiguate |
| noi | we |
| voi | you (plural) — no formal/informal split at the plural in modern Italian |
| loro | they |
Formal plural Loro exists but is archaic (luxury restaurant/hotel staff only). Literary egli/ella/essi/esse — recognize only, don't use.
Formal or informal?
| Lei (formal) | tu (informal) |
|---|---|
| Comune, questura, officials | Friends, people your age, socially |
| Shopkeepers, waiters (default) | Children |
| Anyone older, first meeting | Once they've used tu with you |
Default to Lei with strangers. Let others invite you to tu.
Greetings
| Italian | When | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Buongiorno | Morning – mid-afternoon | Always safe |
| Buonasera | Evening | Always safe |
| Salve | Any time, unsure of formality | Neutral default |
| Ciao | Any time | Informal only |
| Arrivederci | Goodbye | Always safe |
| Ci vediamo | See you | Informal |
Introducing yourself
| Mi chiamo Andrea. | My name is Andrea. |
| Sono Andrea. | I'm Andrea. |
| Piacere. | Nice to meet you. |
| Come si chiama? | What's your name? (Lei) |
| Come ti chiami? | What's your name? (tu) |
Pronunciation reminder
Every vowel has one consistent sound. Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable: bu·on·GIOR·no.