a presto
/a‿pˈprɛs.to/
The Italian phrase for "so long" is a presto.
a presto is a casual way to say goodbye when you expect to see the person again soon.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition a meaning "to" and the adverb presto meaning "soon".
Which one should you use?
While a presto implies seeing someone again soon, arrivederci is a more formal way to say goodbye that does not necessarily imply a specific timeframe for the next meeting. For other informal contexts, you might use ciao to mean both "hi" and "bye" or a dopo to mean "see you later" or "until later".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /a‿pˈprɛs.to/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word presto is shared with the world of classical music, where it indicates a very fast tempo.
- In Italy, a presto is often accompanied by a light wave or a double cheek kiss, depending on the level of intimacy between the speakers.
- The word presto originates from the Late Latin word praestō, which meant 'at hand' or 'ready'.
Examples in context
- Grazie per tutto, a presto!Thanks for everything, see you soon!
- Ci vediamo dopo, a presto.We'll see each other later, see you soon.
- Ciao a tutti, a presto!Bye everyone, see you soon!
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are leaving a coffee shop after meeting up.
- MatteoÈ stato un piacere vederti, Giulia.It was a pleasure to see you, Giulia.
- GiuliaAnch'io! A presto, Matteo.Me too! See you soon, Matteo.
- MatteoSì, ci sentiamo domani.Yes, we'll talk tomorrow.
- GiuliaVa bene, a presto!Alright, see you soon!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry a presto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, presto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
