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.

[dOlier]

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

Yes!
At least this Hiberno-English speaker pronounces two vowels: ah oh

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by CJ 4 life

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.

Naturally, you're right. But you'll have as much hope of getting English people to say it that way as you would have getting them not to pronounce the 'i' in names like Giovanni and Giuseppe.