Italian Farewells After a Visit: Buon Soggiorno, Buon Divertimento, and More
Learn to say goodbye warmly in Italian after visiting someone's home, and wish others a pleasant stay or a great time with phrases like buon soggiorno, buon divertimento, and divertiti.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you leave an Italian home, a simple ciao may feel too abrupt. This lesson teaches you how to thank your host, suggest meeting again, and wish someone a good stay or a great time. You will learn the difference between buon soggiorno (for a stay), buon divertimento (for an enjoyable activity), and divertiti (telling a friend to have fun). By the end, you will be able to handle farewells naturally and appropriately.
By the end, you can…
- thank a host and suggest meeting again when leaving their home.
- wish someone a pleasant stay or a good time using the correct Italian phrase.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Grazie di tutto, è stata una bella serata.
Thanks for everything, it was a lovely evening.
GRAH-tseh dee TOOT-toh, eh STAH-tah OO-nah BEL-lah seh-RAH-tah
A warm, general thank-you when leaving a dinner or gathering. Use with friends or acquaintances.
Grazie per l'ospitalità, ci vediamo presto!
Thanks for your hospitality, see you soon!
GRAH-tseh pehr loh-spee-tah-lee-TAH, chee veh-DYAH-moh PREH-stoh
Slightly more formal; good for someone you don't know very well. 'Ci vediamo presto' means 'see you soon'.
Buon soggiorno!
Enjoy your stay!
bwohn sohj-JOHR-noh
Wish this to someone who is staying in a place for a period, e.g., a guest at a hotel or a friend visiting your city. Not for a brief evening.
Buon divertimento!
Have fun! / Enjoy yourself!
bwohn dee-vehr-tee-MEN-toh
Use when someone is about to do something enjoyable, like going to a party, a concert, or a trip. It works for both short and long activities.
Divertiti!
Have fun! (informal, to one person)
dee-vehr-TEE-tee
Informal imperative of divertirsi. Use with friends, family, or people you address with tu. For formal, use si diverta.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To wish someone a good experience, Italian often uses buon or buona plus a noun: buon soggiorno (good stay), buon divertimento (good fun), buona permanenza (good stay, more formal). For 'have the best time', you can say divertiti (have fun) or buon divertimento. If you want to be emphatic, use divertiti un sacco (have a ton of fun) or buon divertimento, davvero! (have fun, really!). Note that buon tempo is not used for 'have a good time'; it usually refers to good weather. Instead, use buon divertimento or divertiti.
When to use it
Use buon soggiorno or buona permanenza when someone is staying somewhere for days or weeks, like a hotel or a relative's house. Buona permanenza is slightly more formal and common in southern Italy. Use buon divertimento or divertiti when someone is about to do something fun, such as going to a party, a concert, or a day trip. Divertiti is for one person you know well; for a group, say divertitevi. For formal situations, use si diverta. When leaving a host's home, combine thanks with a farewell: Grazie di tutto, è stata una bella serata. Ci vediamo presto!
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Grazie di tutto, è stata una bella serata. Ci vediamo presto!
Thanks for everything, it was a lovely evening. See you soon!GRAH-tseh dee TOOT-toh, eh STAH-tah OO-nah BEL-lah seh-RAH-tah. chee veh-DYAH-moh PREH-stohGrazie a te per essere venuto! Buon rientro a casa.
Thanks to you for coming! Have a safe trip home.GRAH-tseh ah teh pehr ES-seh-reh veh-NOO-toh! bwohn ree-EN-troh ah KAH-zahGrazie! Domani parto per Firenze, quindi buon soggiorno a te se rimani qui.
Thanks! Tomorrow I'm leaving for Florence, so enjoy your stay if you're staying here.GRAH-tseh! doh-MAH-nee PAR-toh pehr fee-REHN-tseh, KWEEN-dee bwohn sohj-JOHR-noh ah teh seh ree-MAH-nee kweeGrazie! Divertiti a Firenze!
Thanks! Have fun in Florence!GRAH-tseh! dee-vehr-TEE-tee ah fee-REHN-tsehA little context goes a long way
In Italy, farewells among friends often include a double cheek kiss, but this is less common in professional or formal contexts. Buon soggiorno is standard for hotel guests and visitors, while buona permanenza is more formal and used in southern regions. Divertiti is informal; use si diverta with strangers or elders. When leaving a host's home, it's polite to thank them for the evening and mention seeing them again soon.
One thing to watch for
Using 'buon tempo' to mean 'have a good time'.
Try this instead: In Italian, 'buon tempo' usually refers to good weather, not enjoyment. To wish someone a good time, say 'buon divertimento' or 'divertiti'. For example, 'Buon divertimento alla festa!' (Have fun at the party!) is correct, while 'Buon tempo alla festa!' would sound odd.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you wish a friend a pleasant stay in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Buon soggiorno!
Buon soggiorno is the standard phrase for wishing someone a pleasant stay. Buona permanenza is also correct but more formal.
2What do you say to a friend who is going to a concert?
Show a sample answer
Divertiti! or Buon divertimento!
Both are correct. Divertiti is informal and direct; buon divertimento is also informal and widely used.
3How do you thank your host and suggest meeting again?
Show a sample answer
Grazie di tutto, ci vediamo presto!
This combines thanks with a suggestion to meet again. You could also say 'Grazie per l'ospitalità, ci vediamo presto!' which is slightly more formal.
Use buon soggiorno for a stay, buon divertimento or divertiti for fun activities, and always thank your host with grazie di tutto or grazie per l'ospitalità before saying ci vediamo presto.
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