Italian Phrase
Ciao, piacere di conoscerti.
Meaning
A friendly, informal way to say “Nice to meet you”. It combines a casual greeting (Ciao) with the polite expression of pleasure at meeting the other person.
When to use
Use this phrase the first time you meet someone in an informal setting – classmates, coworkers you’re on a first‑name basis with, or anyone you’d address with “tu”. It’s not appropriate in very formal business or academic introductions; in those cases opt for “Piacere di conoscerla” or “Salve, è un piacere conoscerla”.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ciaopiacerediconoscerti
Ciao
An informal greeting that works for both “hello” and “good‑bye”. Use it with friends, peers, or anyone you’d address with “tu”.
piacere
Literally “pleasure”. In the construction “piacere di + infinitive” it means “nice to …”. It is a noun, not a verb.
di
The preposition that links “piacere” with the infinitive verb that follows.
conoscerti
The infinitive “conoscere” (to meet/know) with the clitic pronoun “ti” attached, meaning “to meet you”. The pronoun is placed after the verb in the infinitive form.
🗨In Conversation
Ciao, piacere di conoscerti.
Hi, nice to meet you.
Ciao! Il piacere è mio.
Hi! The pleasure is mine.
✕Common Mistakes
Ciao, piacere di conoscerte.
The infinitive must be “conoscere” and the clitic pronoun “ti” is attached after the verb: “conoscerti”.
Ciao, piacere di conoscerla.
Use the formal pronoun “la” only when speaking to someone you’d address with “Lei”. In an informal setting it should be “conoscerti”.
↔Alternatives
Piacere di conoscerti.
Nice to meet you.
È un piacere conoscerti.
It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Molto piacere.
Very nice to meet you.
Cultural Tip
In Italy the first meeting often includes a handshake in the north and a light cheek kiss (bacio) in the south, but only after a brief exchange of greetings. “Ciao” is strictly informal; if you’re unsure about the level of formality, start with “Salve” or “Buongiorno” and switch to “Ciao” once the other person does. Also, remember that the pronoun changes with formality: “conoscerla” for “you” (formal) and “conoscerti” for “you” (informal).