In English, I have signed my letters and emails so many different ways.
Among my favorites are:
— Best – For more formal emails
— With gratitude – For emails directed to friends or colleagues
— With so much love – For close friends & family
Of course, the list could go on depending on the situation, but what can you say in Italian?
Just like in English, there are a lot of options, so I figured I would drill it down to the most common for formal & informal situations.
Let’s start with formal (because it’s better to get stuffy things out of the way first).
When you are sending an email to a stranger, a boss, or someone you want to use the formal, Lei, form with, here are 5 ways you can sign your name:
— In attesa di una Vostra cortese risposta, porgo i miei cordiali saluti – In wait of your courteous response, I give my cordial regards
(This is super formal and what I used when signing an email to the segreteria at the University of Perugia.)
— La ringrazio – I thank you
— Cari saluti – Warm regards
— Distinti saluti – Best regards
— Cordialità – Cordially (often used in offices)
When you want to sign off to a friend, you can say:
— Un abbraccio – A hug
Alternatively: Un abbraccio grosso – a big hug, tanti abbracci – a lot of hugs, abbracci – hugs
— Un bacio – A kiss
Alternatively: Un bacione – a big kiss, tanti baci – a lot of kisses, bacio – kiss, bacioni – big kisses
While this may seem romantic, between friends it’s quite normal and shouldn’t be misconstrued as a romantic advance. ;]
— Stammi bene! – Take care!
— Spero veramente di rivederti presto! – I really hope to see you again soon!
— A presto – Talk to you soon
— A più tardi – Later
— Un salute/ Un salutone – A salute /A huge salute
(This sounds weird in English, but I think the best comparison would be something like “Best”.)
When you want to sign off to someone you really love + are close to, you can say:
— Con affetto – With affection
— Con amore – With love
— Con tutto il mio cuore – With all my heart
— Ti penso sempre – I’m always thinking of you
— Mi mancherai – I’ll miss you
— Sei sempre nel mio cuore/nei miei pensieri – You’re always in my heart/in my thoughts
— Tuo/ Tua… – Yours…
What about you? What ways have you signed your letters and emails to Italian friends?
cordiali saluti (più formale)
e
baci e abbracci (per amici)
Tante belle cose.
Glad you liked it! 😀
I am really sorry to hear about Cher and feel for her. She must take whatever time she needs to feel grounded again.
Why do I like the iceberg project – it is very practical , like the email s- how to sign off in different ways. I picked up “Ringrazio” from it and when trying to buy a railway ticket recently from Frlorence to Bologna – I asked if I got a lower price because i was over 60. The very jolly chap looked me up and down and smiled and said “rigrazio ma no”. He thought it very funny and I was reminded today
There’s a typo in the translation of “best regards”: it should read “distinti saluti”, not “distini saluti”.
Thank you! Fixed!
I’d say for un salute, it could also be explained salute is also Italian “cheers!” So, its like when you’d sign off a letter,Cheers, or kinda how armies would sign off saying “Hails”as a gesture of celebratory/commrodory like goodbye, long live the king, good save the queen, heil Hitler, heil Satan etc. So its like saying that for each other or towards the person your writing/ talking to (btw it has nothing to do with Nazi or Satanists those are just examples).
Anywho, Science bless you, Salute!
Hi,
I suppose it should be “un saluto” instead of “salute”.
Grazie!
My friend in Salerno signs with Abbraccione. Or she uses T.V.B. (Ti voglio bene), my favorite.
Thanks for this very timely lesson – I am leaving tomorrow for 12 days in Italy, and had to request reservations at a couple of museums or tours.
It was great to be able to close with the proper Italian form.
Awesome glad to hear that!!
Thank you Cher! This helped me in a email from Portugal to Italy! 🙂
prego!