Arrivederci, ciao, a presto…These common ways to say “goodbye” in Italian might seem confusing at first. However, each of them serves a specific function and helps you navigate Italian conversations smoothly.
In Italy, greetings and farewells do more than open or close a conversation: they set the mood and add subtle meaning. And that’s why an Italian goodbye changes based on formality and whether you’ll see the person again soon or not. Don’t worry; once you know the context, using these expressions becomes very easy.
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Arrivederci vs. ciao: The most common ways to say ‘goodbye’
The first two Italian greetings to learn are arrivederci and ciao. These are the most common ways to say “goodbye” in Italian, and understanding the difference between them will already take you a long way.
- Arrivederci. = Goodbye.
- Ciao. = Hello./Goodbye.
Arrivederci
Arrivederci is the standard, polite way to say “goodbye” in Italian, and it literally means “until we meet again.”
It sounds quite formal, so you can use it at work, when leaving a store, or whenever you’re speaking to someone you don’t know well.
- Ecco il resto. Torna presto a trovarci. = Here’s your change. Come back soon.
- Grazie. Arrivederci. = Thank you. Goodbye.
- Anche io spero di vederla presto! Arrivederci! = I also hope to see you soon! Goodbye!
Ciao
Ciao means “bye” and is the informal counterpart of arrivederci. Use it with friends, family, people younger than you, or anyone you know well.
- Ora vado. Ti chiamo appena arrivo. = I’m heading out. I’ll call you as soon as I get there.
- Okay, ciao. = Okay, bye.
One of the great things about ciao is that it means both “hello” and “goodbye,” depending on the context. That makes it one of the easiest Italian words to remember and use.
More casual and formal ways to say ‘goodbye’ in Italian
Arrivederci and ciao will help you handle most everyday conversations. But if you want to sound like a native, there are other Italian goodbye expressions that work better in specific situations, and that’s where things get interesting.
The difference between formal and informal goodbyes isn’t always strict in Italian. Many expressions can work in both settings. What really changes the tone is how you build the rest of the sentence, for example, whether you use the formal or informal version of “you.”
Everyday informal Italian goodbyes
This group includes expressions that suggest you’ll see or hear from the person again, either at a specific time or sometime in the future.
- Ciao. = As mentioned, it’s the standard informal goodbye in Italian.
- Ci vediamo. = See you.
- Ci sentiamo. = Talk to you soon.
- Ti saluto. = I say goodbye./I’m off.
In addition to these, Italian also uses expressions formed with the following pattern:
- a (Italian preposition “to/until”) + a future time expression (adverbs of time or nouns like the days of the week)
They are basically the equivalents of “see you soon” or “see you later” in Italian, but don’t require a verb, and they are very common as goodbyes when you know you’ll see the person again. Some examples are:
- A dopo. = See you later.
- A domani. = See you tomorrow.
- A tra poco. = See you in a bit.
- A presto. = See you soon.
- A lunedì. = See you on Monday.
The following chart shows some common informal Italian goodbye phrases you’re likely to hear.
| Italian Sentence | English Translation |
| Ora esco. A dopo. | I’m heading out. See you later. |
| Si è fatto tardi. A domani. | It’s getting late. See you tomorrow. |
| Scendo al supermercato. A tra poco. | I’m running down to the store. See you in a bit. |
| È stato bello vederti. Alla prossima! | It was nice seeing you. Until next time! |
| Ci vediamo là! | See you there! |
| Grazie per il passaggio. Ci sentiamo. | Thanks for the ride. Talk to you soon. |
| Ne parliamo più tardi. Ti saluto. | We’ll talk about it later. Bye for now. |
| Ti devo proprio salutare. | I must say goodbye now. (It expresses urgency) |
Professional and formal Italian goodbyes
Formal goodbyes often include greetings like “good evening” or “have a good day” in Italian. It’s also common to use verbs like sperare or augurarsi (to hope/wish) to sound instantly more polite.
Here are the most common examples of a formal “goodbye” in Italian:
- Arrivederci. = As mentioned above, the standard formal/semiformal expression.
- Arrivederla. = Goodbye. (very formal)
- A risentirla. = I look forward to speaking with you again. (phone conversations or emails)
- La saluto. = I say goodbye./I’m off.
- Buona giornata. = Have a good/nice day. (not to be confused with buongiorno, which means “good morning” in Italian)
- Buona mattinata. = Have a great morning.
- Buona serata. = Have a good/nice evening. (Use it when you leave in the late afternoon, as the opposite of buonasera, which is used when arriving somewhere.)
- Buonanotte. = Good night./Sleep well. (Remember that “good night” in Italian is only used when someone is going to sleep.)
- Buon proseguimento. = Enjoy the rest of your day.
- Cordiali saluti. = Best regards. (written goodbye for formal letters, emails, or messages)
Italian phrases for a more personalised goodbye
Depending on your situation and how comfortable you are with the Italian language, you might want to personalize your goodbye a little more. Here are some typical formal Italian farewell sentences you can try:
| Italian Sentence | English Translation |
| Grazie e arrivederci! | Thank you and goodbye! |
| Spero di vederla presto! | I hope to see you soon! |
| Spero di sentirla presto. | I hope to speak with you soon. |
| La ringrazio per la chiamata. A risentirla. | Thank you for the call. I look forward to speaking with you again. |
| La devo proprio salutare ora. | I must say goodbye now. |
| Buona giornata anche a lei, signora. | Have a nice day too, ma’am. |
| Grazie per il passaggio. Buona mattinata. | Thanks for the ride. Have a great morning. |
| Buonanotte. | Sleep well. |
| La riunione è finita. Buona serata a tutti. | The meeting is over. Have a good evening, everyone. |
| Noi torniamo a casa. Buon proseguimento. | We’re going home. Enjoy the rest of your day. |
| Rimango a disposizione. Cordiali saluti. | I remain at your disposal. Kind regards. |
Slang and regional Italian goodbyes
The expressions we’ve covered so far are more than enough to help you master the most common ways to say “goodbye” in Italian. But if you really want to understand native speakers in every situation, you should also be ready to hear Italian slang or regional variations.
Here are a few examples:
- Saluti. = Regards.
- Quick interactions used when someone is leaving and wants to acknowledge everyone at once.
- Ciao ciao. = Bye bye.
- Sometimes pronounced quickly and roughly, like CHAH CHAH.
- Ci si becca./Ci becchiamo. = Catch you later.
- Very casual slang used among younger people.
- Fai il bravo./Fai la brava./Fate i bravi. = Be good. (m/f/pl)
- Often said to children, close friends, or partners.
- Stammi bene. = Take good care of yourself.
- It’s also used in dialects, such as the Neapolitan stàtte buòno.
- Sabbinirica. = Goodbye (Sicilian dialect).
- A traditional expression among older Sicilian speakers.
- Ci vediamo in giro. = See you around.
- Very common in spoken Italian.
Remember: these expressions are very informal and often regional. If you’re just starting to learn Italian, think of them as something to recognize so you’re not caught off guard, but use them carefully until you feel confident about the context.
Frequently asked questions about goodbyes in Italian
Still have questions about how to say “goodbye” in Italian? Here are some quick answers to the most common doubts learners have.
Do Italians say ciao for goodbye?
Yes. Italians use ciao both as a greeting and as a farewell. However, it’s appropriate only in informal situations and with people you know well. It’s not suitable in formal or professional contexts.
Why shouldn’t I say addio as ‘goodbye’ in Italian?
While addio means “goodbye” in Italian, it is rarely used in everyday conversation because it sounds very dramatic, almost like something you would hear in a 19th-century novel like Wuthering Heights.
Italians only say it in very emotional situations, when they know they will never see someone again. For example, it may be used as a farewell upon someone’s passing or, figuratively, to acknowledge the end of a lifestyle, situation, or relationship. It can also be used in a heated argument to imply you never want to see that person again.
What are four ways to say ‘goodbye’ in Italian?
Three basic Italian goodbyes you’ll use all the time are:
• Ciao, for informal situations.
• Arrivederci, for formal and semi-formal settings.
• Preposition a (to) + time expression. Example: a tra poco (see you in a bit), a domani (see you tomorrow), or a dopo (see you later).
• Buon/buona (good) + time of the day. Example: buona giornata (have a nice day), buona serata (have a nice evening).
Do Italians say ciao twice?
Yes. Sometimes very short words can sound a bit abrupt in Italian, especially in greetings and farewells. That’s why you’ll often hear Italians say ciao ciao (bye-bye) or combine two goodbyes, like: Ciao, a dopo. (Bye, see you later.)
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