An Italian Would Never Say That

With a big smile you greet your classmates in that total-immersion language course in Firenze you're taking (or friends at an art exhibit opening in Rome, or long-lost family members you've tracked down in Sicily) with: "Ciao, tutti!" and the air goes out of the room. That's because an Italian would never say that.

It's natural to want to ingratiate yourself with those around you. And you want to practice your Italian. But there are Italian grammar usage errors that are oft repeated by native English speakers, and this is a frequent one. As pointed out by a community member of the forums (she's a native Italian with a degree in linguistics, no less!), the correct term is: "Ciao a tutti!" or more formally "Buongiorno a tutti" (hello or good morning to everyone).