The word ciao comes from the Venetian language's s-ci vo or s-ci o, Italian schiavo, slave. Originally it was used as a salutation (greetings, hello, good-bye) said by a servant to his boss, or mostly as a very formal greeting among the aristocracy when there was rank involved. Literally translated, the phrase sciao means, "I am your slave." From the times of its origin to now, it lost the s and became the more informal ciao, and became a very common greeting or good-bye among friends and relatives.