arrivederci

Arrivederci is an Italian farewell phrase that literally means "until we see each other again." It is used to bid someone goodbye with the expectation of meeting again, unlike a final farewell.

Etymology: The word derives from the preposition a plus the verb rivedere (to see again), with the clitic ci referring to “us.” The phrase began as a two-word expression, a rivederci, and gradually fused into the single form arrivederci. The sense is of an ongoing goodbye rather than a permanent parting.

Usage: In everyday Italian, arrivederci is standard among friends, family, and colleagues in both informal and formal contexts. For formal address you may encounter ArrivederLa (addressing one person politely) or, for plural formal, ArrivederLe. In all cases, the meaning remains the same—“until we see each other again.” The literal form is typically used as a fixed closing rather than as a verb phrase in actual speech.

Related expressions include addio (a more final or permanent farewell) and more casual closings such as a presto or ci vediamo (we’ll see each other soon). Arrivederci is also common in Italian-language media and literature and is widely recognized by learners and speakers of many languages as a distinctly Italian way to say goodbye.

Overall, arrivederci functions as a courteous, non-final farewell that signals an expectation of future reunion, a nuance that distinguishes it from more permanent partings.