The English verb 'to leave' is wonderfully versatile, but its Italian equivalents are much more specific. Instead of one catch-all, you'll choose between uscire, partire, andarsene, and lasciare, depending on whether you're exiting a place, departing for a journey, taking yourself off, or abandoning something.
01When do I use 'uscire'?
Uscire means to exit, to go out from a building, a room, a city, or any defined space. Think of it as passing from inside to outside. It often takes the preposition da (from).
| Italian | Meaning | Hear |
|---|---|---|
Esco di casa. /ˈɛsko di ˈkaza/ | I'm leaving the house. (I'm going out of the house.) | |
Quando usciamo? /ˈkwando uʃˈʃamo/ | When are we going out? | |
Siamo usciti dal cinema tardi. /ˈsjamo uʃˈʃiti dal ˈtʃinema ˈtardi/ | We left the cinema late. |
A quick exit
In Italy, it's common to say Esco un attimo ('I'm going out for a moment') when you're just stepping outside for a breath of fresh air or to run a quick errand, even if you'll be back in minutes. It signals a brief, temporary departure from an interior space.
02When do I use 'partire'?
Partire is about starting a journey, setting off, or departing from a place towards another. It implies a destination or a scheduled departure, often for travel. It takes the preposition per (for/to) or da (from).
| Italian | Meaning | Hear |
|---|---|---|
Il treno parte alle otto. /il ˈtrɛno ˈparte ˈalle ˈɔtto/ | The train leaves at eight. | |
Partiamo per Roma domani. /parˈtjamo per ˈroma doˈmani/ | We're leaving for Rome tomorrow. | |
Sono partito da Milano. /ˈsono parˈtito da miˈlano/ | I left from Milan. |
03When do I use 'andarsene'?
Andarsene is a reflexive verb that literally means 'to go oneself away from here/there'. It emphasizes the act of leaving, often with a sense of finality, annoyance, or personal decision. It's more about the action of removing oneself than the destination or the exit point. The '-ne' refers to 'from here/there'.
| Italian | Meaning | Hear |
|---|---|---|
Me ne vado! /me ne ˈvado/ | I'm leaving! (I'm taking myself away from here!) | |
Se ne sono andati presto. /se ne ˈsono anˈdati ˈprɛsto/ | They left early. (They took themselves off early.) | |
Non te ne andare! /non te ne anˈdare/ | Don't go away! |
- Vado via. → Me ne vado. While andare via is understood, andarsene is more natural and idiomatic for 'I'm leaving' in the sense of removing oneself.
- Lascio la festa. → Me ne vado dalla festa. Lasciare means to abandon something. Andarsene is for when you are leaving a place.
04What about 'lasciare'?
Lasciare is the most direct translation of 'to leave' when you're leaving something or someone behind. It means to abandon, to quit, or to allow something to remain. It's a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object.
You lasciare your keys, but you uscire from the house.
| Italian | Meaning | Hear |
|---|---|---|
Ho lasciato le chiavi a casa. /o lasˈʃato le ˈkjavi a ˈkaza/ | I left the keys at home. | |
Non lasciare la porta aperta. /non lasˈʃare la ˈpɔrta aˈpɛrta/ | Don't leave the door open. | |
Ha lasciato il lavoro. /a lasˈʃato il laˈvoro/ | He quit his job. |
Can I use 'andare via' instead of 'andarsene'?
What's the difference between 'uscire di casa' and 'partire da casa'?
Is 'lasciare' ever used for people?
Mastering these four verbs will make your Italian sound much more natural and precise. Pay attention to the context, and soon you'll be choosing the right 'leave' without a second thought!
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