Learn Italian: Salve, signora! Buongiorno! - "Hello, madam!" "Good morning!"

Salve is a polite but versatile way to say hello. It is more formal than ciao (which you use with friends and family) but slightly less formal than buongiorno. It is perfect for greeting someone you do not know well, like a shopkeeper or a signora.

Can I use signora by itself to say madam, or do I need to add a name?

You can definitely use it by itself! Just like madam or ma'am in English, signora is a polite way to address a woman directly when you are being respectful.

Does Buongiorno only mean good morning?

It literally means good day (buon + giorno). You can use it throughout the morning and usually well into the afternoon to say hello, until it gets late enough to switch to buonasera (good evening).

Is it normal to use two greetings in a row like Salve and Buongiorno?

Yes, Italians often double up on greetings! Saying Salve, buongiorno is a very common, friendly, and polite way to enter a shop, a clinic, or to greet someone in a professional setting.