Ways to say it
| Italian | Note |
|---|---|
| sparisci! | colloquial |
| vai! | |
| vattene! |
These phrases are used to tell someone to go away.
What does it mean word for word?
The form vattene! is a combination of the verb andare (to go) and the pronominal particle te ne, literally meaning "get yourself away from here!"
Which one should you use?
The form vai! simply means "go!" The form sparisci! is more aggressive, literally translating to "disappear!", which makes it a closer equivalent to the English "get lost!" Do not confuse these commands with the verb perdersi, which refers to the physical act of losing one's way or getting lost in a location.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form sparisci! is considered colloquial.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both sparisci! and vattene! are the second-person singular imperative forms. sparisci! comes from the verb sparire, while vattene! comes from the pronominal verb andarsene.
Did you know?
- While sparisci! means 'disappear', Italians often accompany this command with a sharp flick of the wrist or a waving motion to physically push the person away.
- The word sparisci! is shared with the terminology of magic, as sparire is the same verb used to describe a magician making a rabbit disappear.
- In a playful or ironic context, sparisci! can be used between close friends or romantic partners, acting more as a 'get out of here' than a genuine order to leave.
Examples in context
- Mi scuso, ma potrebbe andarsene, per favore?I'm sorry, but could you please go away?
- Sparisci!Disappear!
- Sparisci! Non voglio vederti più.Get lost! I don't want to see you anymore.
- Sparisci! Lasciami in pace.Get lost! Leave me alone.
Example conversation
Martina is very angry with Francesco during an argument.
- MartinaBasta con le tue scuse!Enough with your excuses!
- FrancescoMa io volevo solo spiegare…But I only wanted to explain…
- MartinaSparisci! Non dire una parola.Get lost! Don't say a word.
- FrancescoVa bene, me ne vado.Fine, I'm leaving.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “get lost” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
