A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "How are you" in Italian
The essential Italian greeting to ask 'How are you?' to someone you know well. Use it often!
Come stai?
KOH-meh STAH-eecasual
Italian TTS · 0:01
This is your go-to for asking how someone is doing when you're on a first-name basis. Use it after 'Ciao' when meeting a friend, a colleague you're friendly with, or a shopkeeper you see regularly.
Alternatives
- Come va?More general, like 'How's it going?'
- Come sta?Use this when addressing someone formally (Lei).
Ways to get it wrong
Don't say 'Come sei?'
'Come sei?' means 'How are you?' but uses the verb 'to be' (essere) instead of 'to stay' (stare), which is incorrect for this meaning.
Pronounce 'stai' correctly
Make sure to clearly pronounce both syllables: STAH-ee. Don't rush it or run the sounds together.
A small cultural note
Italians are generally quite open about asking and answering 'How are you?' It's a genuine social lubricant, not just a polite formality.
Frequently asked
how to say how are you in italian formal
For a formal situation, use 'Come sta?' addressing the person with 'Lei'. This is for strangers, elders, or in professional settings where you'd use 'Lei'.
what to say after come stai
A common and polite response is 'Bene, grazie. E tu?' (Good, thanks. And you?). You can also say 'Tutto bene?' (All good?) or 'Non c'è male.' (Not bad.).
come stai vs come va
'Come stai?' asks about the person's well-being, while 'Come va?' is broader, asking about how things in general are going for them.
How do you say "hi, how are you?" in Italy?
You can say "Ciao, come stai?" for an informal greeting or "Salve, come sta?" for a more formal one.
What does "Come stai?" mean?
"Come stai?" is the informal way to ask "How are you?" in Italian.
How do you respond to "tutto bene?"
You can respond with "Tutto bene, grazie. E tu?" (All good, thanks. And you?) if you are speaking informally, or "Tutto bene, grazie. E Lei?" if speaking formally.
How are you in Italian formal?
The formal way to ask "How are you?" in Italian is "Come sta?".
