Goodbye in Italian: 21 Ways, Meanings & Etiquette (2026)

TL;DR

The most common way to say goodbye in Italian is arrivederci (formal/neutral) or ciao (informal). Italian farewells follow strict formality rules: use ciao with friends and family, arrivederci with strangers and professionals, and never use addio unless you mean “farewell forever.” Time-of-day phrases like buona giornata and buonanotte add natural polish. This guide covers 20+ ways to say goodbye in Italian, with pronunciation, cultural context, and the mistakes learners make most often.

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The Quick Answer

“Goodbye” in Italian is arrivederci (ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee) in most situations. It’s polite, safe with strangers, and works in any context where you’re unsure about formality.

Among friends and family, ciao (CHOW) does the job. It works for both hello and goodbye, though only in informal settings.

That’s the short version. But Italian farewells are richer and more nuanced than a two-word answer suggests. The wrong goodbye can sound cold, presumptuous, or unintentionally dramatic. What follows is everything you need to get it right.

Informal Goodbyes: Casual, Everyday Italian

These are the farewells you’ll hear constantly among friends, family, and anyone on a first-name basis.

Ciao

Pronunciation: CHOWMeaning: Bye (also hi)Formality: Informal only

Ciao is the Swiss Army knife of Italian greetings. It works for both arriving and leaving, but exclusively in casual contexts. When parting, Italians often double it up: ciao ciao, similar to the English “bye-bye.” The doubling isn’t childish. A single ciao can actually sound a bit abrupt in Italian, so the repetition softens it.

Practitioners on Reddit’s r/italianlearning frequently stress that using ciao with someone you’ve never met, or with an elder, reads as overly familiar. It’s not rude exactly, but it signals a level of closeness that doesn’t exist yet.

Ciao Ciao

Pronunciation: CHOW CHOWMeaning: Bye-byeFormality: Very informal

The standard casual farewell in practice. On the phone, Italians sometimes compress this into a rapid-fire string: cià cià cià! It’s affectionate and breezy.

Ci Vediamo

Pronunciation: chee veh-dee-AH-moMeaning: See youFormality: Informal

Literally “we see each other.” This is one of the most natural farewells among friends. No specific time commitment, just the assumption you’ll cross paths again.

A Presto

Pronunciation: ah PREH-stoMeaning: See you soonFormality: Informal to neutral

Use this when you’re fairly confident you’ll see someone again in the near future. It also works well as an ending for phone calls and text messages.

A Dopo

Pronunciation: ah DOH-poMeaning: See you laterFormality: Informal

Carries a same-day implication. You’d say this to a coworker you’ll see after lunch or a friend you’re meeting up with that evening.

A Domani

Pronunciation: ah doh-MAH-neeMeaning: See you tomorrowFormality: Informal to neutral

When you know you’ll see someone the next day, this is the most natural choice. Common among classmates, colleagues, and daily regulars at a café.

Alla Prossima

Pronunciation: AHL-lah PROHS-see-mahMeaning: Until next timeFormality: Informal to neutral

A warm, open-ended farewell. It doesn’t pin down when you’ll meet again, just acknowledges that you will.

Ci Sentiamo

Pronunciation: chee sen-tee-AH-moMeaning: We’ll be in touch / Talk soonFormality: Informal

This one is particularly common for ending phone calls and messaging conversations. Literally “we hear each other,” it’s the Italian equivalent of “talk to you later.”

Ci Becchiamo

Pronunciation: chee bek-kee-AH-moMeaning: Catch you laterFormality: Very informal / slang

Younger Italians use this among close friends. It’s casual slang, not something you’d say to anyone over 50 unless you know them well.

If you’re learning multiple languages at once, notice how Italian informal goodbyes cluster around time references (presto, dopo, domani) while formal ones shift to different structures entirely.

Formal and Polite Goodbyes

When you’re speaking with strangers, professionals, elders, or anyone you’d address with the formal Lei (the Italian “you” that signals respect), these are the farewells to reach for.

Arrivederci

Pronunciation: ah-ree-veh-DEHR-cheeMeaning: Goodbye (literally “until we see each other again”)Formality: Formal to neutral

This is the default goodbye in Italian for most situations. It’s a compound word built from four parts: a (until) + ri (again) + vedere (to see) + ci (each other). That etymology makes it one of the most poetic everyday words in any language: you’re literally saying “until seeing each other again.”

Unlike ciao, arrivederci is never used as a greeting. It’s strictly a departure word.

Here’s a nuance that catches learners off guard: using arrivederci with close friends can actually sound distant, as if you’re pulling back from the relationship. Among people you’re comfortable with, ciao or ci vediamo is warmer.

ArrivederLa

Pronunciation: ah-ree-veh-DEHR-lahMeaning: Goodbye (extra formal)Formality: Very formal

The most formal way to say goodbye in Italian. The La at the end is the formal third-person pronoun (from Lei), replacing the communal ci. You’d use this when addressing doctors, lawyers, professors, or high-ranking officials. Think of it as the difference between “see you” and “I bid you farewell.”

La Saluto

Pronunciation: lah sah-LOO-tohMeaning: I bid you goodbyeFormality: Very formal

A polished, slightly old-fashioned farewell used in formal settings. You might hear it from a shopkeeper in a traditional establishment or during a formal meeting’s closing.

Buon Proseguimento

Pronunciation: bwon proh-seh-gwee-MEN-tohMeaning: Enjoy the rest of your day / Good continuationFormality: Formal to neutral

There’s no clean English equivalent. Literally “good continuation,” it’s used when someone is about to continue with an activity, a meal, or their day. It’s gracious and a bit more thoughtful than a standard goodbye.

Time-of-Day Goodbyes

Italian goodbyes shift with the clock. These phrases add a natural warmth that generic farewells lack.

Buona Giornata

Pronunciation: BWOH-nah jor-NAH-tahMeaning: Have a good dayFormality: Neutral

This is the departure version of buongiorno. A common learner mistake is confusing the two: buongiorno (good morning/good day) is what you say when arriving, while buona giornata is what you say when leaving. Mixing them up won’t cause offense, but it sounds slightly off to native ears.

Buona Serata

Pronunciation: BWOH-nah seh-RAH-tahMeaning: Have a good eveningFormality: Neutral

The evening counterpart to buona giornata. You’d use this when parting ways in the late afternoon or evening.

One interesting regional quirk: the switch from “afternoon” to “evening” greetings happens at different times depending on where you are. In Naples, people might start saying buonasera right after lunch. Northern Italians in Milan or Turin often wait until 5 PM or later. If you’re curious about similar regional variations in French farewells, check out our guide on goodbye in French.

Buonanotte

Pronunciation: BWOH-nah-NOT-tehMeaning: Good nightFormality: Neutral

Unlike English “good night,” which sometimes doubles as a greeting, buonanotte is used exclusively when parting. It’s reserved for late evening when someone is heading to bed or when you’re leaving a social situation at night. You would never walk into a room and say buonanotte.

Addio: The Farewell You Should Almost Never Use

The Word

Pronunciation: ahd-DEE-ohMeaning: Farewell (permanent, final)Formality: Dramatic

Addio comes from the phrase a Dio, literally “to God.” Historically, it meant entrusting someone to God’s care as you parted, perhaps for the last time. That gravity hasn’t faded. Saying addio implies you don’t expect to see the person again. It’s what you’d hear in a deathbed scene, a breakup, or a literary farewell.

The Learner Trap: Addio Is Not Adiós

This is where Spanish speakers and multi-language learners get burned. The Spanish adiós is a perfectly normal, everyday goodbye. You can say it to a cashier, a taxi driver, anyone. The Italian addio carries none of that casualness. Using addio at the end of a dinner party would be like saying “farewell, we shall never meet again” in English. People would stare.

One Italian learner community member put it bluntly: “Do not say addio lightly. It carries the weight of ‘farewell forever’ and can feel dramatic or sad in casual contexts.”

The Tuscan Exception

In Tuscany and parts of Trieste, addio is used casually as a standard goodbye. A contributor on Think in Italian recalled saying addio to a Tuscan friend who looked at him strangely, because there it’s a perfectly normal parting word. The lesson: observe local usage before assuming addio is always dramatic. But outside those regions, treat it as a word reserved for permanent separations.

Saying Goodbye in Italian Writing: Emails and Letters

Most guides focus on spoken Italian and ignore written farewells. That’s a gap, because choosing the wrong email sign-off in Italian can undermine an otherwise professional message.

Formal Written Goodbyes

Cordiali saluti (Kind regards) is the workhorse of Italian professional correspondence. It’s neutral, respectful, and appropriate for virtually any business email.

Distinti saluti (Best regards) is a step more formal, sometimes bordering on cold. Native Italian speakers on forums note that it can feel slightly standoffish compared to cordiali saluti, so save it for first-contact emails with unfamiliar recipients or official letters.

Informal Written Goodbyes

Un abbraccio (A hug) is a warm sign-off for friends and family. It’s affectionate without being over the top.

Baci e abbracci (Kisses and hugs) is reserved for close relationships. Using it with a casual acquaintance would feel too intimate.

A presto and ci vediamo work just as well in texts and casual emails as they do in speech.

One Key Cultural Difference

Italians do not typically sign off with “love” the way English speakers do. A discussion on WordReference forums confirms that writing the equivalent of “Love, Kathy” at the bottom of a message isn’t standard Italian practice. Stick with un abbraccio or con affetto (with affection) for warmth without the awkwardness.

Regional and Dialect Goodbyes

Italy’s regional diversity means that saying goodbye in Italian sounds different depending on where you are.

Naples and Southern Italy: Statte Bene

In Naples, you might hear statte bene or the standard Italian stammi bene, both meaning “take care” or “stay well.” Southern Italian farewells tend to be warmer and more extended, sometimes turning into full rituals: multiple cheek kisses, repeated ciao ciao ciao, blessings for the family, promises to call, invitations to return. None of this is performative. It reflects genuine warmth.

Sicily: Sabbinirica

Among older Sicilian speakers, Sabbinirica is a traditional farewell. It’s fading among younger generations but remains a living piece of the island’s linguistic heritage. The Sicilian dialect also uses stàtte buòno as a casual “take care.”

North vs. South

Northern Italians (Milan, Turin, Venice) lean toward briefer, more reserved goodbyes. A single ciao or arrivederci is sufficient. Southern Italians turn the farewell into a social event. Neither style is more correct. They reflect different cultural temperaments that have coexisted for centuries.

For a similar deep dive into regional farewell differences in Korean culture, see our guide on goodbye in Korean.

The Etymology of Ciao: From Slavery to Global Slang

The story behind ciao is one of the most fascinating in any language.

The word traces back to the Venetian dialect phrase s-ciào vostro, meaning “I am your slave.” This wasn’t literal slavery but a deeply deferential way of saying “I’m at your service,” common in Venice’s hierarchical social culture. Over time, the phrase was shortened to just s-ciào, then eventually ciao.

Despite its Venetian roots, ciao didn’t enter the official Italian language until the early 20th century. Before that, it was considered regional slang.

Today, ciao has been adopted by at least 38 languages worldwide, from Japanese to Somali. One popular theory credits Ernest Hemingway with introducing it to English-speaking audiences through his 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms. Whether Hemingway deserves full credit is debatable, but the word’s spread from a Venetian servant’s greeting to a global farewell is remarkable.

Body Language When Saying Goodbye in Italian

Words are only half the story. Italian farewell body language matters, and getting it wrong can lead to awkward moments.

The Double Cheek Kiss

The standard Italian farewell between people who know each other involves two air kisses while lightly touching cheeks. The critical technique: lean left first. Right cheek touches right cheek, then left to left. If you go the wrong direction, you risk accidentally kissing someone on the mouth. This happens to tourists more often than anyone admits.

The cheek kiss isn’t universal. You wouldn’t do it with a stranger or in a formal business setting. It’s reserved for friends, family, and social acquaintances.

Eye Contact

Maintaining eye contact during a farewell signals sincerity. Looking away or rushing through the goodbye can come across as dismissive, particularly in southern Italy where farewell rituals carry real emotional weight.

Don’t Skip the Goodbye

Skipping the goodbye entirely (just walking out) reads as cold in almost every Italian-speaking context. Even a quick arrivederci on your way out the door is vastly better than silence.

Retaining all these cultural nuances alongside vocabulary takes practice. Spaced repetition techniques can help lock farewell phrases into long-term memory so they come naturally when you need them.

Common Mistakes When Saying Goodbye in Italian

1. Using ciao with strangers or elders. It’s informal only. Default to arrivederci until someone invites you to use ciao by using it with you first.

2. Using addio casually. Unless you’re in Tuscany or deliberately being dramatic, addio signals a permanent farewell. It’s not a synonym for arrivederci.

3. Saying arrivederci to close friends. This can sound overly formal and even cold, as though you’re creating distance. Use ciao or ci vediamo instead.

4. Confusing buongiorno with buona giornata. Buongiorno is for arrivals. Buona giornata is for departures. They’re not interchangeable.

5. Skipping the goodbye altogether. Italians notice. A farewell, no matter how brief, is a basic social expectation. Walking out without one feels rude.

The Boss Asymmetry

One subtle dynamic worth knowing: in Italian workplaces, your boss might say ciao to you, but you’re expected to respond with arrivederci or buongiorno. As one commenter on an Italian culture blog explained, this asymmetry means “I can say ciao to you as I would do with a kid or a servant, but you can’t do the same.” It’s not malicious; it reflects the formality hierarchy that Italian professional culture still observes.

Memorizing phrases is one challenge; actually retaining them is another. A fun alternative to flashcard apps can make daily vocabulary practice feel less like a chore.

Quick Reference Table: Italian Goodbyes at a Glance

FAQ

What is the most common way to say goodbye in Italian?

Arrivederci is the safest and most widely used goodbye in Italian. It works with strangers, acquaintances, shopkeepers, and professionals. Among friends, ciao is more natural and far more common in daily life.

Can ciao be used for both hello and goodbye?

Yes, but only in informal settings. Ciao works as both a greeting and a farewell among friends, family, and people you’re on familiar terms with. Never use it with strangers, elders, or in professional contexts unless they use it first.

What’s the difference between arrivederci and arrivederLa?

Both mean goodbye, but arrivederLa is more formal. The difference is the pronoun: ci (each other, communal) versus La (formal “you,” from the Lei form). Use arrivederLa with doctors, lawyers, professors, or anyone you’d address with Lei.

How do you say goodbye on the phone in Italian?

The most common phone goodbyes are ci sentiamo (talk soon), a presto (see you soon), and the classic ciao ciao. Italians frequently compress the phone sign-off into a rapid string of truncated ciao’s.

Is addio the same as the Spanish adiós?

No. This is one of the biggest traps for multi-language learners. Spanish adiós is an everyday goodbye suitable for any situation. Italian addio implies a permanent, often emotional farewell. Using addio casually in Italian (outside Tuscany) would sound like you’re ending the relationship forever.

When should I use buona giornata vs. buongiorno?

Buongiorno is for greetings (arriving somewhere). Buona giornata is for farewells (leaving somewhere). Think of buona giornata as “have a good day” and buongiorno as “good morning/good day.”

Do Italians really kiss on the cheek when saying goodbye?

Among friends and social acquaintances, yes. The standard is two air kisses, leaning left first (right cheek to right cheek, then left to left). It’s not done with strangers or in formal business settings.

What’s the right goodbye for an Italian email?

For professional emails, use cordiali saluti (kind regards) or the more formal distinti saluti (best regards). For friends, un abbraccio (a hug) or simply a presto works well. Unlike English, Italians don’t typically sign off with “love.”

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