Have a good evening!
'Serata' — se-RA-ta. Stress on the second syllable. 'Buona' — BUO-na. The 'uo' is a diphthong — say it smoothly.
Use in the late afternoon or evening when parting — from about 5pm onwards. One of a family of 'buona + time' goodbyes that are standard in Italian.
Italian has time-specific wellwishing goodbyes: 'buona giornata' (have a good day), 'buon pomeriggio' (good afternoon), 'buona serata' (good evening). 'Serata' refers to the evening as a period of time, while 'sera' is the start of the evening.
Buona giornata!
Have a good day!
Used in the morning or during the day when departing. Standard in shops and offices.
Buon pomeriggio!
Have a good afternoon!
Less common but correct — used departing in the afternoon (around 1-5pm)
Buona domenica!
Have a good Sunday!
Day-specific — Italians often specify the day in weekend goodbyes
'Saluta la famiglia' (say hello to the family) is one of Italy's most distinctive goodbye expressions — it acknowledges the person's family as part of the relationship. It signals warmth, community awareness, and the Italian value of family. Always well-received.