How did you meet the people in the group?
'Conosciuto' = co-no-SCIU-to, stress on third syllable. 'Ragazzi' = ra-GAZ-zi.
Use this when you meet someone in an existing social group and are curious about their connections. It is a natural conversation opener that shows interest in the person's social history and your shared network.
'Conoscere' in the passato prossimo ('ho conosciuto') means 'to meet for the first time'. Note: in the present tense, 'conosco' means 'I know'. This distinction is crucial — 'conoscere' (to know/meet) vs 'sapere' (to know a fact).
Da quanto conosci Luca?
How long have you known Luca?
Asking about duration of an existing friendship
Siete amici di vecchia data?
Are you long-standing friends?
'Di vecchia data' = of old date — an idiom for long-standing relationships
Vi siete conosciuti al lavoro?
Did you meet at work?
Offering a context guess — also encourages the story
Italian friendships formed in university or during formative years tend to be extremely durable. Long-term friend groups ('i vecchi amici') are a cornerstone of Italian social life. These groups often holiday together, celebrate life events together, and maintain WhatsApp groups for decades.