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Writing messages in Italian

Informal vs formal tone

In Italian, text messages and online communication vary greatly depending on the relationship:

Informal (friends, family):

• Formal greetings disappear entirely
• First names or nicknames are used
• Emojis and abbreviations are very common
• Grammar rules are sometimes relaxed

Formal (work, strangers):

• Gentile Signor/Signora... → Dear Mr./Mrs...
• Cordiali saluti → Kind regards
• Full sentences, no abbreviations

Common Italian text abbreviations

• cmq → comunque (anyway)
• tvb → ti voglio bene (I love you (platonic))
• nn → non (not / no)
• xché → perché (because / why)
• qnd → quando (when)
• msg → messaggio (message)
• risp → rispondi (reply)
• gg → giorni (days)
• sn → sono (I am)
• ke → che (that / what)

Message opening formulas

• Ciao! → Hi! (Informal)
• Ehi! → Hey! (Very informal)
• Buongiorno → Good morning (Formal)
• Salve → Hello (Neutral)

Message closing formulas

• A presto! → See you soon! (Informal)
• Ci vediamo! → See you! (Informal)
• Baci! → Kisses! (Informal (close friends))
• In bocca al lupo! → Good luck! (Informal (lit. "in the wolf's mouth"))
• A dopo! → See you later! (Informal)
• Cordiali saluti → Kind regards (Formal)

💬 Esempio: "Ciao! Ci vediamo domani alle 8? Baci" → "Hey! See you tomorrow at 8? Kisses"

💬 Esempio: "Cmq ci vediamo qnd vuoi, fammi sapere!" → "Anyway see you whenever you want, let me know!"

💬 Esempio: "Gentile Signora Rossi, Le scrivo per..." → "Dear Mrs. Rossi, I am writing to you about..."