What's the pronunciation of "Ciao"?

rehte · #1 (**permalink**) 15-Apr-2008, 07:23

How do you pronounce "Ciao"?
Some of my foreign colleagues use this word for greetings in their emails. What is its pronunciation? I am very puzzled.
Thanks.

shalstudent · #2 (**permalink**) 15-Apr-2008, 07:31

Its pronounced as "Chou".
"Ch" as in Channel and "Ou" as in "owl".
It is used either as a greeting or parting such as goodbye.

rehte · #3 (**permalink**) 17-Apr-2008, 01:43

Thank you very much!

It is not like a traditional English word.

Anglika · #4 (**permalink**) 17-Apr-2008, 10:20

"Chow"

It isn't English. It is Italian.

CJ 4 life · #5 (**permalink**) 18-Apr-2008, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalstudent

Its pronounced as "Chou".
"Ch" as in Channel and "Ou" as in "owl".
It is used either as a greeting or parting such as goodbye.

Absolutely incorrect. Its pronounciation includes 3 sounds. The first one is the "ch" of "channel", the second one is a "ah" as in the first part of the diphthong in "out", and the third one is a closed "o", like the first part of the diphthong in "know" (in American English of course). Just produce the three sounds one after the other.
I'm Italian, so I know this stuff.

Anglika · #6 (**permalink**) 18-Apr-2008, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ 4 life

Absolutely incorrect. Its pronunciation includes 3 sounds. The first one is the "ch" of "channel", the second one is a "ah" as in the first part of the diphthong in "out", and the third one is a closed "o", like the first part of the diphthong in "know" (in American English of course). Just produce the three sounds one after the other.
I'm Italian, so I know this stuff.

Ah - but will an American [or a Brit] pronounce it in this way?