How do you say Goodbye in Italian?
The most common way to say “goodbye” in Italian is Arrivederci. Here are the main options, when to use each, and how to pronounce them.
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Arrivederci
ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee
The standard goodbye, polite with anyone.
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Ciao
CHOW
Hi and bye, with friends, family and people your own age.
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A presto
ah PREH-stoh
“See you soon.”
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Ci vediamo
chee veh-DYAH-moh
“See you.” Informal and very common.
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ArrivederLa
ah-ree-veh-DEHR-lah
Very formal: to a customer, or anyone you address as Lei.
Use it in a sentence
- Goodbye, and thank you!Arrivederci, e grazie!
- Bye, see you tomorrow!Ciao, a domani!
- Goodbye, see you soon.Arrivederci, a presto.
- Bye, have a good evening!Ciao, buona serata!
Good to know
Arrivederci means “until we see each other again”. It is right with strangers, in shops and with colleagues.
Ciao is both hello and goodbye, but only with people you would call tu. In a shop, arrivederci is the safer choice.
Addio is a final farewell, for someone you will never see again. It is not an everyday goodbye.
Goodbyes tied to the time of day: buona giornata (have a good day), buona serata (have a good evening), buonanotte (good night).