What's the pronunciation of "Ciao"?

[rehte]

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]

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]

Thank you very much!
It is not like a traditional English word.

[Anglika]

"Chow"

It isn't English. It is Italian.

[CJ 4 life]

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]

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?

[dancewnd!]

the correct pronounciation is /t∫aυ/.... it is used especially in informal conversation...

[CJ 4 life]

Originally Posted by dancewnd!

the correct pronounciation is /t∫aυ/.... it is used especially in informal conversation...

Incorrect again! The final sound is a closed "o", not a "u"!!!

Originally Posted by Anglika

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

I don't know, never heard an American (or Brit) pronounce it.