Short answer: "goodbye" in Italian is Arrivederci, or Ciao depending on the situation.
Arrivederci, the core translation
The default way to say "goodbye" in Italian is Arrivederci. Pronounced roughly ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee.
When Italian speakers actually use it
"Ciao" is friendly bye; "Arrivederci" is polite bye.
Alternative: Ciao
Ciao is the other option Italian speakers reach for in this situation. It's not a synonym so much as a register shift, use the one that matches who you're talking to.
Practice this in a real Italian conversation
Reading a phrase and saying it out loud are two different skills. Skala's AI conversations let you drop "Arrivederci" into a real Italian exchange in your first 3-minute lesson, so it sticks the first time.
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FAQ
What's the most polite way to say "goodbye" in Italian?
Both Arrivederci and Ciao are polite. Pick based on who you're talking to: register, not translation, is what natives are tuning into.
How do I pronounce Arrivederci?
Roughly ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee. Recording yourself once and comparing to a native audio inside Skala closes the gap faster than reading pronunciation guides.