10 phrases to say bye in Italian with utmost grace and elegance

Learning to say bye in Italian is not an easy task. Italian is a social code language. When deciding how to moderate your speech, it is critical to consider your audience, and saying goodbye in Italian is especially dependent on your audience.

In this guide, we will teach you how to say goodbye in Italian and how to practice these important phrases. But before heading towards phrases, let us explore the resources that you can use to learn Italian.

To use podcasts as a learning tool, you do not need to be fluent in Italian. Simply watching how the host interacts with guests and listeners will provide insight into common Italian goodbye phrases.

Beginners should start with the Coffee Break Italian podcast. It is a podcast about the Italian language and culture that includes lessons and dialogues. The first episode teaches you how to say hello and goodbye in Italian. Furthermore, all of the episodes can be useful for practicing salutations. Listen to and imitate the host as he greets and goodbye to the listeners.

Podcast Italiano (Italian Podcast) provides fully immersive Italian episodes for more advanced learners. The podcast is still geared toward beginners, so while it is entirely in Italian, the dialogue is slower. The hosts discuss the most recent news in Italian. Pay close attention to how they say goodbye at the end of each brief podcast. Make a list of the goodbye expressions you hear.

You can learn several Italian greetings by watching different Italian videos on YouTube, Italian series and TV shows, etc. Now let’s move towards some phrases to say bye in Italian.

Ciao (Bye)

In Italian, ciao means “hello” and “goodbye.” It is a colloquial term that should not be used with strangers. When you leave your friends at a bar or your colleagues after a long day at work, you can say ciao.

You can also say “Ciao a tutti” (“Bye, everyone”) when leaving a group of friends or family members. You can also use ciao to end phone calls with friends and family. For example, if you are finally saying goodbye to your mother after a long phone call, you can say, “Ciao mamma!” (“Bye, mom!”). Because you can’t give a real kiss over the phone, you can say “Un bacio” (“A kiss”).

Arrivederci (Goodbye)

Arrivederci literally translates to “until we meet again.” In casual or familial settings, it may sound a little overdramatic. It can, however, be used in formal or commercial settings. On business calls, you can also say arrivederci.

If you are on a conference call with colleagues from all over the world, you can say “Grazie a tutti, arrivederci.” This is formal, polite language.

A presto (See you soon)

In Italian, presto means “soon” or “early.” The phrase “a presto” means “see you soon.” Because Italians take these salutations literally, only use this phrase when you really mean it.

For example, when leaving work and saying goodbye to coworkers you will see again soon, you could say, “A presto!”

You can learn Italian online with italki. italki is a well-established online language learning platform with a large number of Italian tutors. All you are required to do is to book your lesson plans. Here, you will also find the availability of a free trial to experience the lesson structure and style.

A Dopo (Later)

In Italian, dopo means “after.” When saying goodbye, “A dopo” means “later,” as in “see you later”. Use this phrase only if you intend to see the person later. Otherwise, your audience will be confused. For example, if you call a friend to confirm plans to meet later in the day, you can end the call with “A dopo.”

A tra poco (In a bit)

A tra poco means “in a little while.” It is often used interchangeably with a dopo. Perhaps you’re on your phone, late for an appointment with a friend. You can say, “Sono quasi là… a tra poco!” (“I’m almost there… see you in a minute!”)

Ci vediamo (See you)

The word ci vediamo is derived from the reflexive verb vedersi (to see oneself). It translates as “we see each other.” You can use it in conjunction with the phrases above to say:

• Ci vediamo presto (see you soon)
• Ci vediamo dopo (see you later)
• Ci vediamo tra poco (see you in a bit)

Alla prossima (Until next time)

This is a fairly informal way to end a conversation with someone you see on a regular basis. If you have a weekly cricket match with a friend, you might end your game with “Alla prossima.”

Fai il bravo (Be good)

Bravo means “good” in Italian. Fare il bravo is the verb phrase for “to be good.” Parents often like to tell their children (even adult children) “Fai il bravo!” (“Be good!”) in place of a formal goodbye.

When using this phrase, keep your intended audience in mind. The gender of the audience influences how bravo is used. When speaking to a single man, you say il bravo. When speaking to a single woman, you say la brava. When speaking to a mixed-gender group, say fate I bravi, and when speaking to a group of women, say fate le brave.

There are also three forms of “you” in Italian. There is a singular informal (tu), singular formal (lei), and plural (voi).

Fai il/la bravo/a (Be good! — if you are speaking to one person that is your friend or family member.)

Fate i/le bravi/e (Be good! — if you are speaking to more than one person.)

Addio (Farewell)

Addio is intended for serious situations in which you will most likely never see the person with whom you are conversing again. Addio is a word similar to “farewell” in English.

Buona giornata/Buona serata (Have a nice day/Have a nice evening)

The most common way to say goodbye in Italian is to say buona giornata (good day) or buona serata (good night) (have a nice evening).

When deciding which salutation to use, keep the time of day in mind. You can say good morning if it is before 2:00 p.m. You say buona serata if it is after 2:00 p.m.

This is used in place of or in addition to arrivederci. For example, if you have bought something from the local grocery store, you may say upon exiting the store, “Grazie, buona giornata” (“Thank you, have a nice day”).

Conclusion

We understand it is difficult to speak Italian for beginners, but there are several tips that you can use. The correct words for goodbye will come naturally once you are thrust into a new social situation in Italy, but practicing ahead of time always helps.

Consult books, movies, and different Italian content to learn different phrases and their contextual use. For example, there are several ways to say I love you in Italian. All you are required to come up with the right phrase at the right time.

As far as saying bye in Italian is concerned, remember your audience and that most Italian goodbyes take forever!