In Italian partire means:
- Departing—particularly in the context of travel or a major move from one place to another. Partire is used for long-distance or formal departures, often involving a journey.
- Leaving using a means of transport—even for shorter trips, partire is appropriate if you’re using some form of transport (e.g., car, bus, train, plane) and this is mentioned or implied.
In this blog, we’re addressing a common mistake: translating the English verb “to leave” as partire. Many students incorrectly use partire in sentences like these:
Parto dall’ufficio alle 5. (incorrect)
Correction: Lascio l’ufficio alle 5. (I leave the office at 5.)
Parto da casa verso le 5.30. (incorrect)
Correction: Esco da casa verso le 5.30. (I leave the house around 5:30.)
Devo partire dalla lezione mezz’ora prima. (incorrect)
Correction: Devo lasciare la lezione mezz’ora prima. (I need to leave the lesson half an hour early.)
The mistake here is translating “to leave” as partire. This is because partire has a more specific, restrictive, meaning in Italian, which makes it sound odd in the above contexts.
As mentioned partire means:
- Departing/Leaving— in terms of travel or a significant relocation. Partire is typically used for long-distance or more formal departures, often associated with a journey.
- Traveling via a mode of transport—even for shorter journeys. Partire works well if you’re using a specific form of transport (e.g., car, bus, train, plane) and this is specified.
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1. Partire
The verb partire can have a number of meanings: to leave, to depart, to start, or to take off.
While some of these meanings are straightforward, confusion arises because, in Italian, partire refers specifically to formally departing or setting off. It usually implies a journey or a significant movement.
Examples of Correct Usage of “Partire”
Departing for/from a place:
Partire per un viaggio in giro per la Nuova Zelanda.
(To leave for a trip around New Zealand.)
Partire dall’Italia per un giro intorno al mondo.
(To leave Italy for a trip around the world.)
Setting off on a journey:
Partiamo per le vacanze domani mattina.
(We leave tomorrow morning for our holidays.)
Departing using a means of transport:
C’era un traffico terribile! Siamo partiti (in macchina) alle 5 e arrivati al cinema alle 6.15!
(There was terrible traffic! We left (by car) at 5 and arrived at the cinema at 6:15!)
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Why “I leave the office” is not translated as “Parto dall’ufficio”
Now it should be clearer why we don’t use partire for leaving a regular place like an office or home.
Although “leave” and partire both mean to depart, in Italian, partire suggests a more significant or long-distance journey. In English, “leave” can simply mean to exit a place as part of your daily routine. Translating “I leave the office” as parto dall’ufficio sounds odd in Italian because partire implies that you are setting off on a journey.
In this case, the correct translations would be:
Lascio l’ufficio (I leave the office)
Esco dall’ufficio (I leave the office)
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Related Verbs You Should Know
Here are some similar verbs, each with some of its specific meanings:
Lasciare
1. To leave a place such as the office, to depart from.
Example: Oggi lascio l’ufficio alle 3.
2. To leave permanently
Example: Lasciare il lavoro – to leave a job.
3. To stop holding, gripping something
Example: lascia la presa – loosen your grip.
4. To leave behind
Example: Ho lasciato le chiavi a casa – I left the keys at home.
5. To break up with someone
Example: Lia lascia Marco – Lia is breaking up with Marco.
6. To stop doing an activity such as a sport
Example: Lascio il tennis e mi dedico al nuoto – I’m stopping tennis to take up swimming.
Uscire
1. Uscire means to go out from an enclosed space, to leave a place
Example: Oggi non sei uscita di casa – Today you didn’t leave the house.
2. To go out/ to hang out
Example: Uscire con gli amici – to go out/hang out with friends.
Andarsene
1. Andarsene means to go away, to leave, to go somewhere else and this is usually done in order to leave a difficult or unpleasant situation.
Here are some examples: I miei genitori erano soffocanti così me ne sono andato di casa. (my parents were overbearing so I left home).
Please note that this is a pronominal verb so it is conjugated in a special way. To read more about this and 7 other most common pronominal verbs, read the full blog here.
Now, hopefully you’ve learned how to properly use partire. Well done! However, if you still have some doubts, sign up for our newsletter, as a subscriber you’ll have a chance to discuss your doubts with me.
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