How to Say Goodbye in Italian
Goodbye in Italian is arrivederci in polite or neutral situations and ciao with friends and family. When you expect to see the person soon, say a presto (“see you soon”), and keep addio for a final farewell. Arrivederci is pronounced ar-ree-veh-DEHR-chee and ciao sounds like “chow”.
The table below puts the phrases in this guide side by side, and each one has its own section with examples further down.
Goodbye in Italian at a Glance
| Italian | English | When to use it |
| Ciao | Bye | Informal, with people you know well |
| Arrivederci | Goodbye | Polite, neutral, shops and work |
| Arrivederla | Goodbye (formal) | One person you address with Lei |
| A presto | See you soon | You expect to meet again soon |
| A dopo / A più tardi | See you later | Same day |
| A domani | See you tomorrow | Casual and professional |
| Ci vediamo | See you | Informal, no fixed date |
| Ci sentiamo | We’ll talk | Informal, by phone or message |
| Alla prossima | Until next time | Informal |
| Buona giornata / Buona serata | Have a good day / evening | Polite, when leaving |
| Buonanotte | Good night | Last goodbye of the night |
| Addio | Farewell | Final and dramatic |
Ciao
Ciao is the most informal and versatile way to say both “hello” and “goodbye” in Italian. It is commonly used among friends, family, or people within the same age group.
If you’re in a casual setting, especially with people you’re familiar with, ciao is always a safe choice. This word is particularly useful because it works in almost any casual context.
Ciao, ci vediamo domani!
Bye, see you tomorrow!
My advice is that, since it’s so informal, you should avoid using it in formal settings, like with your boss or in professional contexts.
Arrivederci
Arrivederci is a more formal way to say “goodbye” and is commonly used in polite or semi-formal settings. It’s perfect for situations where you want to show respect.
I really like its structure, because it is a sort of contracted form of a rivederci, literally “to when we see each other again”.
It is basically composed of the preposition a, the verb vedere (to see) and the reciprocal pronoun ci (us), together with the reiterative prefix ri-, used to convey the meaning of “again”.
Arrivederci, è stato un piacere conoscerti.
Goodbye, it was a pleasure to meet you.
For more formal occasions, such as addressing a superior or older person, I usually say arrivederla, which is a more respectful variation that makes use of the formal Lei as direct pronoun.
Addio
Addio is a dramatic and emotional way to say goodbye, reserved for situations where you don’t expect to see the person ever again.
The word addio comes from the phrase a Dio, which literally means “to God”. It was historically used as a farewell expression that implied entrusting the person to God’s care.
Today, it’s less common in everyday conversation but still used in literature and emotional farewells.
Addio, mio caro amico.
Farewell, my dear friend.
Addio is also a noun, as in un addio (“a farewell”) and addio al celibato (“bachelor party”). And Italians use it jokingly to say goodbye to something they have just lost, without any drama at all.
Se piove tutto il weekend, addio gita al mare!
If it rains all weekend, goodbye beach trip!
A Presto
A presto is a friendly and casual way to say “see you soon”, literally composed of the preposition a and the adverb presto (soon). It is perfect for when you expect to meet the person again in the near future.
A presto!
See you soon!
Because a presto promises another meeting, use it when you really expect one. For a vaguer goodbye, ci vediamo (below) is the safer choice.
A Domani
When you know you’ll be seeing someone the next day, you can say a domani, which translates to “see you tomorrow”. This phrase is useful for both casual and professional settings when you’re confident about the next meeting.
A domani!
See you tomorrow!
As you might have understood already, as long as you use the preposition a followed by an adverb of time, you can tell your interlocutor you’re meeting somewhere in the future!
A domenica!
See you on Sunday!
A Dopo and A Più Tardi
When you will see the person again on the same day, use a dopo (“see you later”) or a più tardi (“see you later on”). They follow the same pattern as a presto and a domani: the preposition a plus a word about time. If you want to go deeper on those words, read my guide to Italian adverbs of time.
Devo andare in ufficio, a dopo!
I have to go to the office, see you later!
Ti chiamo stasera, a più tardi!
I’ll call you tonight, see you later!
Buona Giornata / Buona Serata
Sometimes, saying goodbye also involves wishing someone well for the rest of the day or evening. Buona giornata means “have a good day” and buona serata means “have a good evening”.
These two words never fail as part of my vocabulary, especially whenever I go somewhere where waiters are working, like a restaurant or a coffee shop, or also just a clothing shop.
Buona giornata!
Have a good day!
Buona serata!
Have a good evening!
Buonanotte
Buonanotte means “good night” and is used only when you say goodbye, either because someone is going to bed or because the evening is over. It is not a greeting: you never say it when you arrive. Between friends and family it is often shortened to a casual ’notte.
Io vado a dormire, buonanotte!
I’m going to sleep, good night!
Buonanotte, a domani!
Good night, see you tomorrow!
Ci Vediamo
Ci vediamo is a casual and friendly way to say “see you” or “see you around”. It’s perfect for informal interactions with friends, colleagues, or family members.
It doesn’t specify exactly when you’ll meet again, which makes it versatile for general goodbyes.
Ci vediamo!
See you!
Ci Sentiamo
Ci sentiamo literally means “we hear each other”, and Italians use it when they plan to speak again by phone or message rather than meet in person. It is the natural way to end a call or a chat with a friend.
Ok, ci sentiamo domani!
Ok, we’ll talk tomorrow!
Ci sentiamo presto, ciao!
We’ll talk soon, bye!
Alla Prossima
Alla prossima is another informal way to say goodbye, meaning “until next time”. It’s commonly used when you don’t know exactly when you’ll meet the person again but you’re sure it will happen.
Whenever I hear this expression, I think of my dad. It is so versatile that he uses any time!
Alla prossima!
Until next time!
Goodbye in Emails and Messages
In writing, Italians close with a set phrase. Cordiali saluti (“kind regards”) is the standard for work emails, and distinti saluti (“yours sincerely”) is a little more formal. With friends, un abbraccio (“a hug”) or a simple a presto is common. My guide to writing an email in Italian shows where these closings go.
Grazie per la disponibilità. Cordiali saluti
Thank you for your availability. Kind regards
Ci sentiamo presto. Un abbraccio!
We’ll talk soon. A hug!
Common Mistakes When Saying Goodbye in Italian
- Using addio for an ordinary goodbye. It sounds as if you will never see the person again. Say arrivederci or a presto instead.
- Using ciao with your boss or a stranger. It is friendly and informal, so switch to arrivederci or buona giornata.
- Saying arrivederci when you arrive. Ciao works for both hello and goodbye, but arrivederci is only for leaving.
- Promising too much with a presto. Use it when a new meeting is really likely.
Context and Formality Matter
Italian offers a variety of ways to say goodbye, each suited for different situations, levels of formality, and relationships.
Each of these phrases has its place depending on the context and the level of formality required. For close friends or family, casual goodbyes like ciao or ci vediamo work well.
In professional or more formal settings, it’s better to use arrivederci or buona giornata. And when you want to signal a final goodbye, addio delivers a more emotional, lasting message.
For now, between me and you, a simple a presto works perfectly!
