The Italian word arrivederci is a common expression that translates to “goodbye” or “see you later” in English. It is used in both formal and informal contexts to bid farewell, with the implication that the speaker hopes or expects to see the other person again in the future.
The word arrivederci is a combination of two parts: a rivederci, which breaks down as follows:
- a – a preposition meaning “to” or “until.”
- rivederci – a form of the verb rivedere, which means “to see again.” This itself is a combination of ri- (a prefix meaning “again”) and vedere (“to see”).
So, literally, arrivederci means “until we see each other again.”
In practice, arrivederci is widely used in Italian-speaking countries in much the same way English speakers would use “goodbye.” It can be used in a variety of settings, whether you’re leaving a friend’s house, ending a business meeting, or saying goodbye after a casual conversation. For even more formal situations, Italians might use arrivederla, which conveys a higher degree of respect, particularly toward someone you don’t know well or in professional environments.
In less formal settings, especially among friends, Italians might also use ciao to say goodbye, or a presto, which means “see you soon.”
The word arrivederci beautifully encapsulates a sense of hope or expectation that the farewell is not permanent, making it a warm and considerate way to part ways with someone.