a dopo
/a ˈdo.po/word by word
The English phrase "hasta luego" in Italian is a dopo.
The Italian phrase a dopo is a casual way to say goodbye when you expect to see the person again soon.
Which one should you use?
While a dopo implies seeing someone later the same day, a presto is used when you expect to see someone again soon, but not necessarily within the same day.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of a dopo is /a ˈdo.po/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the Spanish phrase hasta luego when they intend to use the Italian equivalent a dopo.
Did you know?
- If you tell a colleague a dopo before leaving for a weekend trip, you might sound like you are making a bold prediction that you will actually see them later that same Sunday.
- The word dopo is derived from the Vulgar Latin phrase dē post, which literally combines a preposition meaning 'down from' and 'after'.
- While a dopo is used for the same day, Italians often use the phrase ci vediamo, which means 'we see each other', as a general way to say goodbye when no specific plan exists.
Examples in context
- Ci vediamo tra poco, a dopo!See you in a bit, see you later!
- Vado in palestra, a dopo.I'm going to the gym, see you later.
- Ho un impegno, a dopo!I have an appointment, see you later!
Example conversation
Martina and Alessandro are leaving a coffee shop to meet again later in the afternoon.
- MartinaIl caffè era ottimo, Alessandro.The coffee was great, Alessandro.
- AlessandroSì, ci vediamo alle sei.Yes, see you at six.
- MartinaPerfetto, a dopo!Perfect, see you later!
- AlessandroA dopo, Martina.See you later, Martina.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry a dopo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (a, dopo) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, dopo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
