13 Ways to say “Go away! / Get lost!” in Italian

Sometimes a polite No, grazie (No, thanks) just isn’t enough. Maybe it’s a street vendor who refuses to give up, a pushy scammer trying to sell you a “luxury” bag, or that one guy at the café who somehow mistakes your silence for interest. Whatever the case, you need a more effective way to make someone disappear. And if you’re in Italy, why not do it like the locals?

So, here are 13 ways to tell someone to go away in Italian. Some are classic, some colorful, and one (#8) will definitely surprise you. For each, I’ll give you the informal, formal, and plural versions, so you’ll always know exactly what to say.

1. Vai via!

(Go away)

Vai via! is the simplest, most direct way possible to tell someone to leave. It comes from the verb andare (to go) in its imperative form, plus via (away). If you don’t want to sound too harsh, just add a friendly per favore (please), and you’ll soften the tone.

For instance, you had an argument with your partner, you’re upset and need some space. You can say:

Variations:

• You might also hear Va’ via (with an apostrophe, not an accent!), which is more colloquial but means exactly the same 
• Formal:: Vada via!
• Plural: Andate via! 

2. Vattene 

(Get lost)

If you need to be a little firmer, go with Vattene. It’s a bit stronger, but perfect for those moments when you really need someone to back off.

Vattene comes from the pronominal verb andarsene (to leave, to go away). Here’s how it’s put together:

• va (go), the imperative form of andare (to go)
• te (you), the reflexive pronoun for “yourself.” Normally, it’s ti, but when followed by another pronoun, i changes to e.
• ne (from here/this place), a particle that always stays the same.

Imagine you’re in a hurry, and someone won’t stop bothering you. You’re getting frustrated, so you say:

Among friends, Vattene! can be used in a lighthearted way when someone says something crazy or hard to believe, a bit like saying “Oh, get outta here!” or “No way!” in English). For instance:

Variations:

• You might also hear it as Vattene, va!: same meaning, just a bit more emphasis
• Formal: Se ne vada! 
• Plural: Andatevene!

3. Lasciami in pace

(Leave me alone)

When someone won’t leave you alone and you’re done being polite, this is what you say. It’s simple but firm, and gets the message across. Here’s how it’s built:

• lascia (leave), the imperative form of lasciare (to leave)
• mi (me), the pronoun for “myself,” indicating who needs to be left alone; this can change depending on the situation, like lasciaci (leave us) or lasciala (leave her)
• in pace (in peace)

Lasciami in pace can be used when someone is seriously getting on your nerves and you need to put an end to it, but it’s also said in more chill situations. Like when kids are messing around with each other, or when you’re tired of someone’s endless chatter.

For example, if you’re walking around a touristy area and a street vendor keeps pestering you with souvenirs you’re not interested in, you can say:

Variations:

• Formal: Mi lasci in pace!
• Plural: Lasciatemi in pace!

4. Sparisci

(Disappear)

Sparisci is pretty harsh, and if someone says it to you, you’ve definitely pushed them too far. It’s the kind of thing you’d shout when someone is really getting on your nerves, especially in those “I can’t take it anymore” moments. 

Italian moms often use this expression when they’re about to lose it. Like when you’ve spent the whole day causing chaos, then you spill sauce on her favourite tablecloth, and that’s when she finally says:

Variations:

• Formal: Sparisca!
• Plural: Sparite!

5. Levati di torno! 

(Scram!)

This is a direct but not overly aggressive wayto tell someone to get lost in Italian. It’s the kind of thing you’d say when someone is annoying you, standing too close, or just being a pain.

This expression is made up of three parts:

• leva, the imperative form of levare (to remove, to take away)
• ti, the pronoun for “you,” referring to the person you’re speaking to (so, the one who needs to get lost)
• di torno, which literally means “from around here” or “out of the way.” You might also hear di mezzo (lit., move out of the middle) or dai piedi (lit, from my feet)

Say you’re at a café, finally sitting down to enjoy an espresso, but someone immediately comes over trying to sell you a tour. After repeated attempts, you shake your head and say:

Variations:

• Formal: Si levi di torno
• Plural: Levatevi di torno

6. Quella è la porta 

(That’s the door) 

Quella è la porta is exactly what it sounds like: a not-so-subtle way of telling someone to leave. And yes, it’s typically delivered with a dramatic hand gesture pointing right at the door. Here’s the classic way it’s used:

Variations:

Quella è la porta works in every situation, whether you’re speaking casually, formally, or to a group.

7. Pedala!

(Beat it!)

Literally, pedala means “pedal!” as in, hop on your bike and start cycling. But in everyday Italian, we often use figuratively to tell someone to get lost in a playful, lighthearted way. It’s like saying “Move along!” in English: firm but definitely not aggressive.

It may be not as common as other expressions on this list, but it’s definitely worth knowing. And if there’s one group of people who love using it, it’s Italian parents! You’ll hear it whenever their kids start pushing their luck:

Variations:

You won’t really hear pedala in a formal or professional setting (telling your boss to “pedal” might not end well!). But if you’re hanging out with friends or chatting with kids, you can use the plural form pedalate!

8. Smamma!

(Scram!)

This slangy gem comes from the Neapolitan word smammà, which means “to wean.” It gives the feeling of someone who’s being difficult and needs to be pushed away, kind of like how a baby is taken off the mother’s breast when they’re too old for it. It’s not really offensive, but it’s definitely not something you’d say if you want to keep someone around for a chat! 

For example, imagine it’s closing time at a bar, and a customer keeps asking for more drinks. The frustrated owner might say:

Variations:

Formal: Since smamma is pure slang, you wouldn’t use it with the polite Lei. 

Plural: Smammate!

Smammare is not just for telling others to go away; you can also use it when you feel it’s best to leave a situation, for instance: 

9. Sloggia!

(Go away)

Sloggia is another super casual (and slightly rude) way to tell someone to get lost. But it’s not like just saying go away. It’s more about telling someone to leave a spot they’ve settled into, like your chair, your space. It makes sense because it comes from the word alloggiare, which means “to stay” or “to lodge,” and the added s- makes it more like “to go away.”

This expression is mostly used by younger people. For example, if you walk into class and someone’s sitting in your usual seat, you might say:

But just so you know, this isn’t something you say to random people who are just annoying you. It’s more for when someone is in your space.

Variations:

• Formal: This isn’t a word you’d use in polite conversation.
• Plural: Sloggiate! 

10. Vai a farti un giro

(Go away)

Vai a farti un giro literally means “Go take a walk,” but it’s not as innocent as it sounds. You’d use this when someone’s in your way so much that it’s really stopping you from getting things done. 

Say you’re deep in concentration, trying to assemble that new IKEA wardrobe (why are there so many screws?!), and your partner – bless their heart – keeps offering advice that’s just wrong. That’s when you can say:

It’s not exactly rude, but it totally gives the “for the love of Gove, step away” message.

Variations:

–  You could also hear Vai a fare un giro, without the pronoun ti (yourself)

• Formal: Vada a fare un giro! 
• Plural: Andate a fare un giro!

11. Levati dalle scatole / Togliti dalle scatole

(Get out of my way)

These phrases literally mean “remove yourself from the boxes,” which sound quite odd, I know. But this is one of those Italian expressions that doesn’t make sense if you translate it word-for-word; and only clicks when you hear it used in the right context. 

It’s a way of telling someone to back off, especially if they’re being annoying or causing problems. For instance, imagine you’re working on something important, and someone keeps bringing drama or negativity. You’re done with it, so you might say:

Variations: 

• If you’re really annoyed and don’t mind getting a little bolder, you could switch scatole (boxes) with a certain body part, like Levati dalle palle (Get off my balls) or Levati dai coglioni (same meaning but stronger tone).
• Polite: Si levi dalle scatole!  
• Plural: Levatevi dalle scatole!

12. Pussa via!

(Shoo! / Scram!)

Ever had an annoying pigeon eyeing your sandwich a little too closely? In Italian, there’s a fun way to tell animals to bak off: Pussa via!  Like when you’re dealing with a cat that refuses to take no for an answer:

Just remember: while this expression is perfect for animals, using it with people might sound a bit rude – unless you say it with a playful tone! 

13. Sciò sciò

(Shoo! / Scram!) 

Sciò sciò! (or just Sciò) is another fun, casual way to tell animals to go away. It comes from Neapolitan culture, where Sciò sciò is a sort of “good luck” figure that ward off bad energy. It’s essentially the verbal version of waving something annoying away, whether it’s a furry friend or an energetic kid. 

For instance, if your friend’s dog is eyeing your food, you could say:

Valentina Nicastro

Valentina Nicastro is a travel writer in love with her home country, Italy. Having travelled widely around the globe, she realised there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put the passport aside for a while. When she is not immersed in documenting Italy, you’ll find her donning her communication consultant hat, weaving words as a content writer and bridging linguistic divides as a translator.