Salve (greeting)

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Salve is a Roman greeting. It is an interjection, a playful expression. There exists a subtle difference between "Salve" and "Buon giorno" (Good morning). One cannot say "salve" to a superior or to a senior, as one is confidential with him. "Salve" is the second person of the imperative of the verb "salvere", which means "being well", "being in good health". In the case of more people, one uses the second person of the plural imperative, "salvete". Examples: "Salve Piemonte" (Carducci); "Salve regina, mater misericordiae".

Salve was a common greeting in Latin during the Roman Empire period. "Salve" addresses a person whereas "Salvete" addresses a group. Other common Latin greetings, like "civis", were common responses. Its usage carries on in modern Italian today.