What do 'Arriving' and 'Departing' mean?
'Arrivo' — ar-RI-vo. 'Partenza' — par-TEN-tsa. The 'z' in 'partenza' is like 'ts'.
Know these two words to read departure and arrival boards at airports, train stations, and ferry ports. They appear on all Italian transport information displays.
'In arrivo' means arriving (in the process of arriving). 'In partenza' means departing. These are gerund constructions using 'in + present participle' — a formal way Italian expresses ongoing actions in formal/official contexts. In everyday speech: 'sta arrivando' (it's arriving) and 'sta partendo' (it's departing).
Il volo è in arrivo?
Is the flight arriving?
Check whether the flight has landed.
Dov'è il tabellone delle partenze?
Where is the departures board?
Find the correct board at the terminal.
Il treno è in partenza dal binario tre.
The train is departing from platform three.
Announcement format you will hear.
Italian train station departure boards alternate between showing departures and arrivals on the same screens. 'Partenze' shows trains leaving; 'Arrivi' shows trains coming in. Both include the track number (binario) — confirmed only 15–30 minutes before departure on long-distance services.