Italian Phrase
Ciao, chi sei?
Meaning
Literally “Hi, who are you?” It is a casual way to ask someone’s identity, usually when you meet a stranger in an informal setting. The tone can be friendly or, if said abruptly, a little blunt.
When to use
Use this phrase when you meet someone for the first time in a relaxed environment – a party, a campus, a café, or when a friend introduces you to a new acquaintance. Avoid it in formal contexts (e.g., business meetings) where a more polite formulation is expected.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ciao,chisei?
Ciao
An informal greeting meaning both “hello” and “goodbye”. Use it with friends, peers, or people your own age.
chi
Interrogative pronoun meaning “who”. It always appears at the beginning of a question.
sei
Second‑person singular present of the verb *essere* (to be). It matches the informal “you” (tu).
Word order
Italian questions often follow the pattern interrogative pronoun + verb, without needing a question mark in spoken language.
🗨In Conversation
Ciao, chi sei?
Hi, who are you?
Sono Marco, piacere di conoscerti.
I’m Marco, nice to meet you.
✕Common Mistakes
Ciao, chi è?
“Chi è?” uses the third‑person verb *è* and sounds like you’re asking about an object or a third party, not directly addressing the person.
Ciao, chi è Lei?
When speaking formally you must use the third‑person form *È* (Lei) instead of *sei* (tu).
Ciao, chi sei tu?
Adding “tu” is redundant because *sei* already indicates the second person; it can sound overly emphatic.
↔Alternatives
Ciao, come ti chiami?
Hi, what’s your name?
Salve, chi è?
Hello, who is it? (formal)
Ehi, chi sei tu?
Hey, who are you?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, “Ciao” is reserved for people you already know or for very informal situations. If you’re unsure about the level of familiarity, start with “Buongiorno” or “Salve”. Asking “Chi sei?” can feel a bit direct; many Italians prefer “Come ti chiami?” (What’s your name?) when they want to learn someone’s identity politely.