Hi! What's your name?
Stress 'CIAO' on the single syllable; 'chiami' = KYA-mee.
Use this when meeting someone your own age or younger in a casual setting. It works at parties, social events, or anywhere the atmosphere is relaxed. Avoid it in professional or formal contexts.
This is the most basic informal greeting combined with a request for the person's name. 'Come ti chiami?' literally means 'How do you call yourself?' and is the standard A1 way to ask someone's name. It sets a friendly, open tone immediately.
Ciao! E tu, come ti chiami?
Hi! And you, what's your name?
Used when you've already introduced yourself and are now asking theirs.
Ehi! Come ti chiami?
Hey! What's your name?
'Ehi' adds extra informality, common among young people.
Ciao! Non ci siamo mai presentati — come ti chiami?
Hi! We've never been introduced — what's your name?
Use when you've seen the person before but never formally met.
In Italy, informal meetings often include a kiss on both cheeks (starting with the left) between people who share a social circle, even on a first meeting if introduced through friends.