A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Great to see you" in Italian
Express genuine delight at encountering someone you know in Italy.
Che piacere vederti!
keh pleh-CHAIR-eh veh-DAIR-teecasual
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you bump into a friend or acquaintance unexpectedly, or when someone arrives for a planned meeting. It conveys a warm, personal feeling of happiness to see them.
Alternatives
- Che bello vederti!Slightly more informal, emphasizing 'how nice'.
- Felice di vederti!A bit more direct, meaning 'happy to see you'.
Ways to get it wrong
Don't say 'Molto piacere!'
'Molto piacere!' means 'Nice to meet you' for the first time, not 'great to see you again'.
Watch the 'c' sound
The 'c' in 'piacere' is soft like 'ch' in 'cheese', not hard like 'k'.
A small cultural note
Italians are generally warm and expressive, so showing genuine pleasure at seeing someone is very common and appreciated.
Frequently asked
how to say great to see you to a stranger in italian
For a stranger, you'd use a more general greeting like 'Piacere di conoscerla' (formal) or 'Piacere di conoscerti' (informal) if you're being introduced.
Is 'Che piacere vederti' too informal for a boss?
Yes, this phrase uses 'vederti' which is the informal 'you'. For a boss or someone you use 'Lei' with, you'd say 'Che piacere vederLa!'.
What's the difference between 'vederti' and 'vederLa'?
'vederti' is used when speaking to someone you know well and address with 'tu'. 'vederLa' is the formal version, used when addressing someone with 'Lei'.
