Dialogo facile: come stai e saluti in italiano
A1 Italian listening practice · Italian · Curated for beginners
What does “salutalo” mean in Italian?
In Italian, salutare is the one verb you use to say hello, to say goodbye, and to pass on a greeting to someone who isn’t there. So salutalo (saluta + lo, “him”) means “say hi to him for me” or “give him my regards.” It comes from salute, meaning health, so the original idea was wishing someone well. The same root sits behind salve, a friendly hello, and the toast salute, “to your health.”
When you hear that a friend is unwell, a natural reply is “Mi dispiace, salutalo” — “I’m sorry to hear that, say hi to him for me.” That is the moment in this short dialogue: Luca is at home and not feeling well, and the other speaker sends him a warm word through salutalo. The verb is built simply: take saluta (the “you” command, “greet”) and stick lo on the end for “him” — salutala would be “her,” salutali “them.” You can also stretch it: “Salutalo da parte mia” spells out “from me.” Standard across Italy. From Latin salutare, from salus (health), the same family as the English word salutation.