Definition of ciao

The word "ciao" is a greeting and a farewell expression widely used in Italian and a few other European languages. It is derived from the phrase "chi avviso" or "ch'iao", which in medieval times was used by merchants to wish each other well and ask for news. The origin of "chi avviso" can be traced back to the Latin phrase "qui apparuerit" (who appeared), which was used as a greeting by knights in the Middle Ages. When the phrase was translated into Italian, it became "chi appariva", and later it was simplified into "chi avviso". The shortened form "ch'iao" evolved from "chi avviso" in the 13th century, and it was commonly used as a sign-off in letters and to indicate the end of a conversation. With time, "ch'iao" eventually became "ciao", which is now an informal way of saying hello, goodbye, and also a way of expressing fondness and warmth in Italian culture. The use of "ciao" has spread to other regional dialects and neighboring languages such as French, Spanish, and Portuguese, where it is often used interchangeably with similar expressions like "au revoir" and "adiós". In summary, "ciao" originated as a way for merchants to ask about news and wish each other well, and over time it has evolved into a versatile greeting and farewell expression used across Italy and some other parts of Europe.