How to Close a Formal Italian Email: Sincerely, Best Regards, and More
Learn to end formal Italian emails correctly with phrases like 'Cordiali saluti' and 'Distinti saluti'. Master register, punctuation, and common pitfalls for professional communication.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Italian formal correspondence, the closing formula is not just a polite sign-off—it signals your awareness of hierarchy, distance, and professional courtesy. Unlike English, where 'Sincerely' and 'Best regards' are largely interchangeable, Italian offers a range of closings whose appropriateness depends on the recipient's role, your relationship, and the level of formality. This lesson focuses exclusively on email endings: the phrases themselves, their punctuation, the placement of your name, and the subtle differences that separate a natural-sounding message from one that reads like a translation. You will learn to choose the right closing for different professional contexts and avoid common errors that can make your email seem abrupt or overly familiar.
By the end, you can…
- select the appropriate formal closing for an Italian email based on the recipient and context.
- correctly format the closing section, including punctuation and placement of my name.
- distinguish between common closings like 'Cordiali saluti' and 'Distinti saluti' and use them accurately.
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Cordiali saluti
Best regards / Kind regards
kor-DYAH-lee sah-LOO-tee
The most common formal closing, suitable for most professional emails when you have a neutral or slightly friendly relationship. It is safe and widely accepted.
Distinti saluti
Sincerely / Yours faithfully
dee-STEEN-tee sah-LOO-tee
More formal and distant than 'Cordiali saluti'. Use when writing to someone you do not know personally, or in very official contexts.
Cordiali saluti e buon lavoro
Best regards and good work
kor-DYAH-lee sah-LOO-tee eh bwon lah-VOH-roh
A friendly variant that adds a wish for the recipient's work. Appropriate when you are collaborating or when the recipient is a colleague.
In attesa di un Suo riscontro, porgo cordiali saluti
Awaiting your reply, I send best regards
een aht-TEH-zah dee oon SWOH ree-SKON-toh, POR-goh kor-DYAH-lee sah-LOO-tee
A longer, more formal closing that explicitly mentions waiting for a response. Use when you expect a reply and want to be polite but clear.
Resto a disposizione per qualsiasi chiarimento. Cordiali saluti
I remain available for any clarification. Best regards
REH-stoh ah dee-spo-zee-TSYOH-neh per kwal-SEE-ah-zee kyahr-ee-MEN-toh. kor-DYAH-lee sah-LOO-tee
Combines availability with a closing. Common in customer service or when offering further help.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Formal Italian closings often consist of a fixed phrase, sometimes preceded by a participial or prepositional clause. The core closing is usually two words: an adjective + 'saluti'. For example, 'Cordiali saluti' (kind regards) or 'Distinti saluti' (distinguished regards). You can add a sentence before the closing to express anticipation or availability, as in 'In attesa di un Suo riscontro, porgo cordiali saluti'. Note that 'porgo' (I extend) is a formal verb often used in this context. The closing is typically followed by a comma, then your full name on the next line. Do not translate 'Sincerely' literally as 'Sinceramente'—that is not used as a closing in Italian.
When to use it
Choose 'Cordiali saluti' for most business emails where you have a neutral or professional relationship. Use 'Distinti saluti' when writing to a superior, an official, or someone you have never met, especially in legal or bureaucratic contexts. If you are on friendly terms with a colleague, 'Cordiali saluti' or 'Un cordiale saluto' (singular) works well. Avoid 'Saluti' alone—it can sound brusque. For follow-up emails, 'In attesa di un Suo riscontro, porgo cordiali saluti' is appropriate. Always match the closing to the level of formality you used in the greeting; if you started with 'Gentile Dottor Rossi', a formal closing is expected.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Gentile Dottoressa Bianchi, Le invio in allegato il rapporto richiesto. Resto a disposizione per qualsiasi chiarimento. Cordiali saluti, Marco Rossi
Dear Dr. Bianchi, I am sending you the requested report attached. I remain available for any clarification. Best regards, Marco RossiJEN-tee-leh dot-toh-REHS-sah BYAHN-kee, leh een-VYOH een ahl-LEH-gah-toh eel rahp-POR-toh ree-KYEH-stoh. REH-stoh ah dee-spo-zee-TSYOH-neh per kwal-SEE-ah-zee kyahr-ee-MEN-toh. kor-DYAH-lee sah-LOO-tee, MAR-koh ROHS-seeGentile Signor Rossi, La ringrazio per l'invio tempestivo. Procederò alla revisione e Le farò sapere. Distinti saluti, Elena Bianchi
Dear Mr. Rossi, thank you for the prompt sending. I will proceed with the review and let you know. Sincerely, Elena BianchiJEN-tee-leh SEE-nyor ROHS-see, lah reen-GRAH-tsyoh per leen-VYOH tem-peh-STEE-voh. proh-cheh-deh-ROH ahl-lah reh-vee-ZYOH-neh eh leh fah-ROH sah-PEH-reh. dee-STEEN-tee sah-LOO-tee, EH-leh-nah BYAHN-keeLa ringrazio per la disponibilità. In attesa di un Suo riscontro, porgo cordiali saluti. Marco Rossi
Thank you for your availability. Awaiting your reply, I send best regards. Marco Rossilah reen-GRAH-tsyoh per lah dee-spo-nee-bee-lee-TAH. een aht-TEH-zah dee oon SWOH ree-SKON-toh, POR-goh kor-DYAH-lee sah-LOO-tee. MAR-koh ROHS-seePerfetto, La contatterò la prossima settimana. Cordiali saluti e buon lavoro. Elena Bianchi
Perfect, I will contact you next week. Best regards and good work. Elena Bianchiper-FEHT-toh, lah kon-taht-teh-ROH lah PROHS-see-mah seht-tee-MAH-nah. kor-DYAH-lee sah-LOO-tee eh bwon lah-VOH-roh. EH-leh-nah BYAHN-keeA little context goes a long way
In Italian formal emails, the closing is often preceded by a comma and followed by your full name on the next line. Unlike English, 'Sincerely' is not translated as 'Sinceramente'; that would sound odd. Also, 'Distinti saluti' can feel colder than 'Cordiali saluti', so reserve it for very formal or first-contact situations. 'Cordiali saluti' is the default across Italy; regional differences are minor and mostly concern the warmth of any added wishes, not the choice of closing itself. Avoid overly familiar closings like 'A presto' unless you know the recipient well.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Sinceramente' as a direct translation of 'Sincerely' at the end of an email.
Try this instead: 'Sinceramente' is not used as a closing in Italian. It can mean 'sincerely' in other contexts, but for email closings, use 'Cordiali saluti' or 'Distinti saluti'. For example, write 'Cordiali saluti, Luca Bianchi' instead of 'Sinceramente, Luca Bianchi'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are writing a formal email to a potential client you have never met. Which closing is most appropriate: 'Cordiali saluti' or 'Distinti saluti'?
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Distinti saluti
'Distinti saluti' is more formal and distant, suitable for first contact with someone you do not know. 'Cordiali saluti' is also acceptable but slightly less formal; both can work depending on the tone of the rest of the email.
2How would you write 'Awaiting your reply, best regards' in Italian?
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In attesa di un Suo riscontro, porgo cordiali saluti
This phrase combines a formal anticipatory clause with the closing. Note the use of the possessive 'Suo' (capitalized) for formal 'your', and 'porgo' as a formal verb. A simpler alternative is 'In attesa di un Suo riscontro, cordiali saluti'.
3True or false: In Italian formal emails, you should put a comma after the closing phrase and then your name on the next line.
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True
Yes, the standard format is: closing phrase, comma, then your full name on the next line. For example: 'Cordiali saluti,' then 'Marco Rossi'. This mirrors common Italian letter-writing conventions.
Choose 'Cordiali saluti' for most formal emails, 'Distinti saluti' for very formal or first-contact situations, and avoid literal translations like 'Sinceramente'. Always follow the closing with a comma and your full name on the next line.
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