How to say goodbye in Italian in 60 reliable ways [real life & email]

With every hello, there inevitably comes a goodbye. So, if you plan on striking up a conversation with a native Italian speaker anytime soon, it’s wise to have some exit strategies in mind.

There are so many different ways to say goodbye in Italian, it can actually be a bit overwhelming at first. But don’t panic. Say goodbye to your fears, we’re here to help!

In this post, we’ll show you how to say goodbye in Italian, and how to appropriately end a conversation face-to-face, on the phone, or via email. Which expression you use will depend a lot on whether the situation is formal, informal, or professional.

Learning different ways to say goodbye in Italian and how to use them correctly will go a long way. It’ll help you understand native speakers better, sound more natural when speaking Italian, and manage social situations with ease. Ready to level up in your conversational basics? Let’s get started!

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Ready to learn many different ways to say bye in Italian? Download this free poster. Let’s go!

How to say goodbye in Italian

There are several different ways to say goodbye in Italian. Let’s start with the most basic ones. You can use these phrases and expressions in everyday situations, which include conversations with friends, family members, long-time work colleagues, close coworkers, and people you know well and can be casual with.

We’ve gathered some of the most common phrases to say goodbye like a native speaker would in the table below. Take some time to have a look at them, read through the list, and try to pronounce them out loud to practice your pronunciation.

How to say goodbye in Italian formally

Different situations call for different levels of formality, and it’s crucial to use the correct greeting depending on who you’re talking to. Choosing the right ending for every situation is not only a sign of fluency, it also helps avoid awkward gaffes, nervous gaps of silence, or unnecessary offense. For example, in English you would never in a million years say “gotta run” or “I’m outta here” after a job interview or a meeting with senior management. The same is true in Italian.

When leaving a business meeting, finishing a job interview, communicating with corporate clients, or ending a conversation with strangers, you need to use more formal language to keep a professional tone and sound respectful. If you have to err on the side of formality, use the example words and expressions below to appropriately end a conversation in Italian.

How to say goodbye in Italian slang

Slang ways to say goodbye in Italian are overly informal, and tend to be used only by certain groups of people, such as teenagers and youngsters. Use these expressions only with close friends and people you know very, very well.

Even if you don’t use them, knowing a handful of slang expressions to say bye in Italian will allow you to fully understand what is being said around you, since you’ll probably come across them when in Italy. Check out other fun and general Italian slang terms to add to your vocab here.

How to sign off in an email in Italian

Finding the right tone to close an email is not as easy as it may seem. What works for a friend in a personal message won’t work in professional correspondence, application-related emails, or when emailing your university professor.

Knowing how to sign off in an appropriate way is very important. Check out the table below for a list of email sign-offs in Italian, with notes about pronunciation and context.

The dos and don’ts of saying goodbye in Italian

In Italy, there’s a whole set of customs and unwritten rules that should be followed if you want to fit in and avoid awkward moments, offense, embarrassment, and weird looks.

1. Eye contact

First and foremost, Italians place a lot of importance on eye contact. In Italy, looking away when saying goodbye may be perceived as a sign of aloofness or disinterest. Upon leave-taking, then, look directly in their eyes and smile when saying goodbye.

This will create a pleasant connection between you and the person you’re talking to, whether you’re at work, chatting with your neighbor over the garden fence, or making small talk during an elevator ride or when standing in the grocery checkout line.

2. Air-kissing

When in Italy, expect some cheek kissing, hugging and back slapping as well. Air-kissing as a form of saying goodbye in casual social environments is the norm here in the Bel Paese.

I know, I know. Cheek-to-cheek kissing is one of the social traditions with the highest potential for embarrassment for non-Italians, who are generally not accustomed to this type of greeting. There is actually a high chance of accidentally bumping heads, bashing noses, and kissing someone on the mouth. Ewww. We’ve all been there!

The general rule is to give two to three light kisses, one on each side, starting with the left cheek and then moving to the right one. In Italy, it’s a common practice to say goodbye to both new acquaintances and people you have known for quite a long time with air-kissing on alternating sides, starting with the left cheek.

Your mouth shouldn’t touch the other person’s cheek, though. This is why they are called air kisses. Avoid planting your lips on the other person, then. Simply lean in, lightly touch your left cheek to theirs, move to the right side, and you’ll be fine.

Don’t know what to do with the rest of your body? If you’re saying goodbye to someone you know very well, a warm hug is totally fine. For less familiar relations, just place one or both hands on the other person’s shoulders. Don’t stand at a distance with your arms at your sides. It may be perceived as a sign of unfriendliness.

As mentioned previously, cheek kissing is usually reserved for informal gatherings. At work, in formal or commercial settings, and at business and networking events, don’t go in for the kiss unless the other person initiates it first.

Alla prossima!

And that’s all for today. If you feel that all these words, expressions, and rules of thumb to follow are quite formidable, don’t worry. We know there’s quite a lot to take in here, but it’s really not all that complicated.

With some practice you’ll be saying bye in Italian like a pro in no time. As with any component of language learning, practice makes perfect!

If you loved this article and love learning Italian, find more fun and free Italian vocabulary lessons on our Italian blog. Arrivederci!

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