Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| arrivederci | /ar.ri.veˈder.t͡ʃi/ |
| addio | /adˈdi.o/ |
| arrivederla | /ar.ri.veˈder.la/ |
| ciao | /ˈt͡ʃa.o/ |
Italian uses different words for goodbye depending on the situation. Arrivederci is a common way to say goodbye or see you again. Ciao is used both while parting and as a casual greeting. For more casual interactions among friends, you might use ci vediamo to say see you, a presto to say see you soon or a dopo to say see you later.
Which one should you use?
While both arrivederci and addio mean goodbye, arrivederci implies a possibility of meeting again, whereas addio often implies a permanent or long-term farewell.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For even higher levels of formality, specifically when addressing someone with the polite 'Lei' form, you should use arrivederla. In contrast, ciao is used for both 'hello' and 'goodbye' in informal settings among friends and family. Finally, addio is a formal way of saying goodbye reserved for permanent farewells or serious situations.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of arrivederci is /ar.ri.veˈder.tʃi/. It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- The casual greeting ciao actually stems from an old Venetian expression meaning 'I am your slave', which functioned as a way of saying 'I am at your service'.
Examples in context
- Addio e buona fortuna.Goodbye and good luck.This sentence is useful for wishing someone good luck while saying goodbye with addio.Tatoeba #1272293 by Guybrush88, translation #434818 by lukaszpp
- Disse addio sotto voce.He quietly said goodbye.This sentence shows how someone can use the noun form addio to describe saying goodbye quietly.Tatoeba #3350697 by bailujia, translation #922238 by zvaigzne
- Arrivederci, Bob e Nora.Goodbye, Bob and Nora.This sentence is a way to say goodbye to multiple people using arrivederci.Tatoeba #1098118 by Guybrush88, translation #1098113 by cntrational
- 56 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco is leaving a business meeting with Chiara.
- FrancescoÈ stato un piacere, arrivederci!It was a pleasure, goodbye!
- ChiaraAltrettanto, arrivederci Francesco.Likewise, goodbye Francesco.
- FrancescoCi vediamo la prossima settimana.I will see you next week.
- ChiaraA presto, buona giornata!See you soon, have a nice day!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries arrivederci, addio, arrivederla, ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries addio, arrivederci, arrivederla, ciao, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
