arrivederci
/ar.ri.veˈder.t͡ʃi/
In Italian, the phrase for goodbye to a man is arrivederci.
arrivederci is a common formal way to say goodbye when you expect to see the person again. For even more formal written correspondence, such as letters or emails, you may use the closing Cordiali saluti, which means 'kind regards'.
Which one should you use?
While arrivederci is a standard formal way to say goodbye, arrivederla is a more highly formal version used specifically when addressing a single person with great respect, such as someone in a higher position or someone you do not know well. For a highly deferential formal goodbye to a single person, you can also use La saluto.
How does it change in a sentence?
arrivederci is grammatically gender-neutral. It can be used when saying goodbye to a man, a woman or a group of people.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ar.ri.veˈder.tʃi/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- The phrase arrivederci is a relative of the Russian до свида́ния and the Bulgarian довиждане because both come from an ancient root meaning 'to see'.
- While arrivederci is formal, using the very formal arrivederla can create a perceived social distance that might feel cold if the relationship has become friendly.
- In some professional Italian settings, a handshake is often accompanied by arrivederci and a slight nod of the head to signal the end of the interaction.
Examples in context
- Arrivederci, signore.Goodbye, sir.
- Arrivederci, dottore, a presto.Goodbye, doctor, see you soon.
- Sì, arrivederci e buona serata.Yes, goodbye and have a good evening.
Example conversation
Giulia is leaving a business meeting with Alessandro.
- GiuliaÈ stato un piacere, arrivederci.It was a pleasure, goodbye.
- AlessandroAnche per me. A presto!For me too. See you soon!
- GiuliaCi sentiamo lunedì. Arrivederci, Alessandro.We will talk Monday. Goodbye, Alessandro.
- AlessandroD'accordo, a lunedì!Agreed, until Monday!
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.
