Italians say goodbye with informal words like "Ciao" (Hi/Bye) or "Ci vediamo" (See you), and more formal phrases like "Arrivederci" (Goodbye/Until we see each other again) or "ArrivederLa" (very formal), often paired with time-specific wishes like "Buona giornata" (Have a good day) or "Buona serata" (Have a good evening), depending on who they're speaking to and the situation.
Ciao is the most informal and popular way to say bye in Italian, and it is used both in person and on the phone. You can say ciao to your friends, classmates, or family members.
Use the spoken farewell expressions: ciao, a presto, ci vediamo. Italians use affectionate sign-offs: un bacio (a kiss), un abbraccio (a hug), baci e abbracci (kisses and hugs)
Very Italian things to say range from classic interjections like "Mamma mia!" (expression of shock/surprise) and slang like "Dai!" (Come on!) to useful phrases such as "Non vedo l'ora!" (I can't wait!) and cultural expressions like "In bocca al lupo!" (Good luck!), showing passion, community, and a zest for life, often with dramatic hand gestures.
In contemporary Italian usage, ciao is interchangeable for both an informal hello and goodbye, much like aloha in Hawaiian, salām in Arabic, shalom in Hebrew and annyeong in Korean.
"Ciao bella" (hello beautiful) is a very common Italian phrase that can be flirtatious but is often just a friendly, warm, or even generic compliment, like "sweetie" or "lovely," used by strangers, friends, or service workers, depending on context, tone, and who's saying it; while some find it a bit cheesy or overly familiar on the street, others see it as a simple way to brighten someone's day, so its "flirtatiousness" really depends on the situation and your perception.
Prego! – You're welcome! K: Here's our first example of prego. It means “you're welcome”, as a response to grazie.
"Chi dorme non piglia pesci"
Translation: "Those who sleep don't catch fish" Meaning: The early bird catches the worm. This is one of my favorites and one of the most common Italian sayings!
"So, Tutto Pepe means 'all pepper.' And it's slang - it's a saying they use in Italy to describe someone that is very outgoing. It means you're very lively, outgoing and charming.
"Fangool" (or Va fangool) is a heavily slang, often playful-sounding, Italian-American corruption of the Italian phrase "Va' a fare in culo," which directly translates to a vulgar "go f*** yourself" or "go stick it up your ass," used to express strong anger, dismissal, or contempt. It's a colorful expression of telling someone to get lost or that you don't care about their opinion, similar to "get out of my sight!".
Perfect – Also known as an OK gesture (👌).
Moving on to other ways to say hello in Italian, if you want to greet a group of friends, you can also say Ciao a tutti which means “Hello everybody”.
Sei la cosa più bella che mi sia mai capitata- You're the best thing that ever happened to me. Mi sono innamorato di te- I'm in love with you. Voglio passare il resto della mia vita con te- I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
Veni, vidi, vici. (“I came, I saw, I conquered.”) In Italian, it's: Venni, vidi, vinsi. This is probably the oldest and most memorable of all the popular Italian quotes, and it comes from ancient Italian times (and more precisely, from ancient Rome).
The best farewell message is personal, expressing gratitude and well wishes, balancing sadness at their departure with excitement for their future, and often includes a promise to stay in touch, like: "It's been a privilege working with you, and we'll miss your [positive quality/contribution]. Best of luck on your next adventure, and please keep in touch!" or a simple, heartfelt, "Wishing you all the best in your new chapter – you'll be missed!".
The most common way to say “thank you” in Italian is “grazie.” Among all the ways you can express gratitude, this is the most basic one.
gigione m (plural gigioni, feminine gigiona) ham (actor with a showy or exaggerated style) presumptuous person, conceited person.
Tutto,Tutti = all, whole, every
It means “all,” “whole,” or “every” when it's used as an adjective to modify a noun. In this case, it modifies its endings to match the nouns it's referring to.
"Fazool" (or fasul, fasùl) is Italian-American slang, derived from Sicilian/Neapolitan dialects, meaning beans, and it refers to the classic dish Pasta e Fagioli (pasta and beans). It's a variation of the Italian word fagioli, brought to the U.S. by immigrants, and became famous through songs like "Pastafazoola".
Top 10 most common Italian words pronounced by fluent Italian speakers
un cretino; una cretina.
Grazie (thanks/thank you)
Grazie is the most popular and straightforward way to express gratitude in Italian. It's polite, quick, and expected in everyday interactions. It literally means “thanks,” but it's also used to convey “thank you.”
Grazie (thank you) Prego (You're welcome)