arrivederci bello
/ar.ri.veˈder.t͡ʃi ˈbɛl.lo/word by word
In Italian, "goodbye handsome" is arrivederci bello.
This phrase is a way to say goodbye to a man while including a compliment about his physical appearance.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of arrivederci, which means "until we see each other again" and bello, which means "handsome" or "beautiful".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While arrivederci is a standard way to say goodbye, adding bello makes the phrase flirtatious or highly informal.
How do you pronounce it?
/ar.ri.veˈder.tʃi ˈbɛl.lo/. The word has 7 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- The word arrivederci is a linguistic relative of the Russian 'do svidaniya' and Bulgarian 'dovizhdane'. Both families of languages use a root meaning 'to see' to express the hope of meeting again.
- In Italy, calling a man bello during a goodbye can be purely flirtatious or, depending on the tone, a patronizing way to dismiss someone.
- Italian has a distinct word, bellissimo, which is the superlative form of bello. Using it instead of bello transforms the phrase from a casual compliment into an intense expression of admiration.
Examples in context
- Arrivederci bello, a presto!Goodbye handsome, see you soon!
Example conversation
Sofia is leaving the cafe after a date with Alessandro.
- AlessandroCiao Sofia, a presto!Bye Sofia, see you soon!
- SofiaSì, a presto. Arrivederci bello!Yes, see you soon. Goodbye handsome!
- AlessandroGrazie mille, sei molto carina.Thanks a lot, you are very sweet.
- SofiaA presto, Alessandro!See you soon, Alessandro!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (arrivederci, bello) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arrivederci, bello, CC BY-SA 4.0.
