How to Say Goodbye in Italian: 16 Farewells for Every Situation

The Short Answer

The most common way to say goodbye in Italian is Arrivederci (ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee). It works in shops, restaurants, offices, and on the street -- virtually anywhere you need a polite, universally understood farewell. Among friends, Ciao doubles as both hello and goodbye, making it the go-to casual option.

Italian is spoken by approximately 85 million people worldwide across Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, and Vatican City, according to Ethnologue's 2024 data. The language's farewell system is surprisingly layered: a single wrong choice (say, Addio when you mean Arrivederci) can turn a friendly departure into a dramatic scene worthy of Italian opera. Understanding these distinctions is part of mastering bella figura, the Italian art of making a good impression.

"Italian farewells are never simply about leaving. They encode the relationship, the expected future, and the emotional register of the moment, all in a single word or phrase."

(Tullio De Mauro, Storia linguistica dell'Italia unita, Laterza, 2014)

This guide covers 16 essential Italian farewells organized by category: universal, casual, formal, time-specific, good-luck, and regional expressions. Each includes pronunciation, formality level, an example sentence, and cultural context.

Quick Reference: Italian Farewells at a Glance

Universal Farewells

These goodbyes are understood everywhere Italian is spoken. The Accademia della Crusca, Italy's oldest linguistic authority, recognizes them as core standard Italian.

Arrivederci

Arrivederci is built from a (until) + rivederci (we see each other again). It strikes the perfect balance between warmth and formality, which is why it is the farewell Italians reach for in most everyday situations: leaving a shop, ending a business call, or saying goodbye to acquaintances.

Unlike Ciao, which requires an existing level of familiarity, Arrivederci is safe with anyone. It is the goodbye equivalent of Buongiorno: universally appropriate and never offensive.

ArrivederLa

The distinction between Arrivederci and ArrivederLa is one that separates tourists from culturally fluent speakers. While Arrivederci uses ci (us/each other), ArrivederLa substitutes the formal pronoun La (you, formal). According to the Treccani dictionary, ArrivederLa signals maximum deference.

Use it when speaking to someone you would address as Lei: a university professor, a doctor in a formal consultation, a judge, or an elderly person you do not know well. In everyday commerce (buying bread, paying a restaurant bill) Arrivederci is sufficient.

Addio

Addio comes from a Dio (to God), originally a prayer entrusting the departing person to God's care. Over centuries it narrowed to mean a permanent or near-permanent goodbye. It carries heavy emotional weight.

You will encounter Addio constantly in Italian opera (Verdi's La Traviata features one of the most famous Addio arias in history), in classic literature, and in films dealing with loss and separation. In real life, Italians almost never use it. Saying Addio to a colleague leaving the office would imply they are never coming back, possibly ever. Reserve it for truly final partings or deliberate dramatic effect.

Casual Farewells

Among friends, family, and peers, Italians prefer warm, informal farewells that often promise a future meeting.

Ciao

Ciao is remarkable as one of the few words in any language that functions equally as a greeting and a farewell. Its origin in the Venetian s'ciavo (from schiavo vostro, "your slave") has long since been forgotten; today it simply radiates casual friendliness.

As a goodbye, Ciao is the most natural choice among friends. You will hear it repeated (Ciao, ciao!) at the end of nearly every informal parting in Italy. On phone calls between friends, the sign-off often becomes a cascade: Ciao... ciao ciao... ciao!

A presto

A presto is the optimistic farewell; it says not just goodbye, but "we will see each other again soon." It works beautifully paired with other goodbyes: Ciao, a presto! or Arrivederci, a presto! It carries a genuine warmth that Italians value in their social exchanges.

A domani

This is the farewell of routine and habit. Colleagues use it leaving the office, students at the end of the school day, and regulars at the bar after their morning espresso. Its specificity (tomorrow, not some vague future) gives it a grounded, everyday feel.

A dopo

A dopo is the short-term farewell. Use it when you are leaving but expect to return or see the person again within the same day. It carries less emotional weight than A presto; it is simply practical and common.

Ci vediamo

Ci vediamo is wonderfully flexible. You can use it alone as a general "see you," or attach a specific time: Ci vediamo domani (see you tomorrow), Ci vediamo alle otto (see you at eight), Ci vediamo al bar (see you at the bar). It is one of the most practical farewells in colloquial Italian.

Ci sentiamo

Where Ci vediamo promises a face-to-face meeting, Ci sentiamo promises communication: a call, a text, an email. It is the natural sign-off for phone conversations and the perfect farewell when making plans that still need coordination.

Time-Specific Farewells

These farewells wish the departing person a good remainder of the day, evening, or night.

Buona giornata

This is the daytime farewell equivalent of the greeting Buongiorno. The distinction matters: Buongiorno greets someone upon arrival, while Buona giornata wishes them well upon departure. Shopkeepers use it constantly; Grazie, buona giornata! is the standard farewell after a transaction.

Buona serata

Buona serata follows the same logic as Buona giornata but for the evening hours. Use it when leaving a dinner, exiting a restaurant in the evening, or saying goodbye to someone who is heading out for their evening plans.

Buonanotte

Unlike Buonasera, which can serve as both a greeting and a farewell, Buonanotte is exclusively a farewell. It signals the end of the evening; someone is going to bed, or the night is wrapping up. Between parents and children or partners, it carries real tenderness: Buonanotte, tesoro (Good night, treasure).

Good-Luck and Well-Wishing Farewells

Italian has a rich tradition of farewell expressions that carry wishes of luck, health, or blessings.

In bocca al lupo

This is one of the most distinctive Italian expressions. Its origins are debated (the Accademia della Crusca has documented multiple theories, from hunting traditions to motherly wolf imagery) but its usage is clear: you say it before someone faces a challenge, and they must respond Crepi! (may it die).

The superstition around the response is taken seriously. Saying Grazie instead of Crepi will draw gentle (or not-so-gentle) correction from any Italian within earshot. In recent years, some Italians have started saying Viva il lupo! (long live the wolf) as an animal-friendly alternative, though traditionalists consider this equally bad luck.

Stammi bene

Stammi bene is more affectionate than a simple Stai bene (stay well) because of the mi, meaning "for me." It implies the speaker cares personally about the other person's wellbeing. Use it when parting for a longer period or with someone you genuinely care about.

Tanti auguri

Most learners encounter Tanti auguri only as "happy birthday," but it is far more versatile. As a farewell, it wishes someone the best for whatever lies ahead: a new job, a move to another city, a new phase of life. It works as a parting blessing.

Regional Farewell Traditions

Italy's regional diversity shapes how people part ways. According to linguist Tullio De Mauro, standard Italian only became most Italians' daily language in the late 20th century, and regional habits still run deep.

In Naples and across Campania, farewells are infused with warmth and volume. A Neapolitan goodbye between friends might include Ciao, bello!, a hug, two kisses, Stammi bene!, a wave, and then another shouted Ciao! from across the street. The Sicilian tradition is similarly effusive, often adding blessings: Che Dio ti benedica (May God bless you) from older generations.

In the north, the Milanese style is more contained. A handshake, a single Ciao, and a nod may be all that is exchanged, even between good friends. This is not coldness -- it is simply a different cultural register.

How to Respond to Italian Farewells

Matching Farewell Responses

Practice With Real Italian Content

Reading about farewells gives you knowledge, but hearing them in natural conversation is what makes them instinctive. Italian cinema -- from the operatic drama of Visconti to the street-level comedy of modern Roman films -- is filled with every shade of goodbye, from whispered Addio to shouted Ciao ciao! across a crowded piazza.

Wordy lets you watch Italian movies and shows with interactive subtitles. Tap any farewell to see its meaning, pronunciation, formality level, and cultural context in real time. You absorb natural intonation, gesture, and timing -- things a word list alone cannot teach.

For more Italian content, explore our blog for guides on everything from greetings to slang, including the best movies to learn Italian. You can also visit our Italian learning page to start practicing with authentic content today.