arrivederci
/ar.ri.veˈder.t͡ʃi/
In Italian, good bye is arrivederci.
Arrivederci is a common and general way to say goodbye that literally means "until we see each other again." It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Which one should you use?
Arrivederci is more formal or neutral than the informal ciao, which is used for both hello and goodbye among friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
While arrivederci is commonly used, the more strictly formal version used when addressing a single person with high respect is arrivederla.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ar.ri.veˈder.tʃi/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 4th syllable.
When do people say it?
For a friendly goodbye to someone you expect to meet soon, you might say Ci vediamo (see you) or the casual A presto (see you soon). For an informal "until next time," use Alla prossima. If you are leaving someone in the evening, you can use Buona serata to wish them a good evening.
Did you know?
- The Italian arrivederci shares a common linguistic root with the Russian до свида́ния and Bulgarian довиждане, as both stem from an ancient root meaning 'to see'.
- In Italy, saying ciao to a stranger or a superior can be perceived as overly familiar or even disrespectful, making arrivederci a safer social choice.
- Depending on the region in Italy, some speakers may use arrivederci even in informal settings where others would only use ciao.
Examples in context
- Va bene! Ci vediamo!Alright! See you!
- Arrivederci, a domani!Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
- Arrivederci a tutti, buona serata.Goodbye to everyone, have a good evening.
- Arrivederci, ci vediamo presto.Goodbye, we will see each other soon.
Example conversation
Martina and Francesco are leaving a coffee shop after a quick chat.
- MartinaGrazie per il caffè, Francesco.Thanks for the coffee, Francesco.
- FrancescoDi nulla, Martina. Arrivederci!You're welcome, Martina. Goodbye!
- MartinaArrivederci, a presto!Goodbye, see you soon!
- FrancescoA presto!See you soon!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry arrivederci, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arrivederci, CC BY-SA 4.0.
