Meaning
Dismissing someone.
Cultural Background
The use of 'va via' as a command is often accompanied by a specific hand gesture: the 'shooing' motion with the palm facing inward. In the South, you might hear 'Vattinn'' (dialect version of Vattene), which is a much more colorful and intense version of 'va via'. Young Italians often use 'va via' ironically when a friend says something unbelievable, similar to 'get out of here!' in English. In Neorealist films, 'va via' is often used to show the harsh reality of social displacement and people being told to move on.
The 'Stain' Trick
Remember 'va via' for cleaning. If a stain is gone, it 'went away'.
Watch the Tone
Saying 'va' via' with a sharp tone is a command; saying 'va via' softly is just a description.
Meaning
Dismissing someone.
The 'Stain' Trick
Remember 'va via' for cleaning. If a stain is gone, it 'went away'.
Watch the Tone
Saying 'va' via' with a sharp tone is a command; saying 'va via' softly is just a description.
Add 'subito'
Add 'subito' (immediately) to 'va via' to sound like a native who is really annoyed: 'Va' via subito!'
The Hand Wave
Always use the 'shooing' hand gesture if you want to be truly Italian when saying this.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'andare via'.
Marco è stanco e _________ (he goes away) a casa.
Marco is 3rd person singular, so we use 'va'.
Which sentence is a command to tell someone to leave?
Choose the correct dismissal:
'Va' via!' is the imperative form used for commands.
Match the sentence to the situation.
Sentence: 'È andata via la luce.'
'Luce' means light/electricity in this context.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Vuoi restare a cena?' B: 'No, grazie, _________ subito.'
The speaker is talking about themselves (1st person).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Va Via vs. Vattene
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMarco è stanco e _________ (he goes away) a casa.
Marco is 3rd person singular, so we use 'va'.
Choose the correct dismissal:
'Va' via!' is the imperative form used for commands.
Sentence: 'È andata via la luce.'
'Luce' means light/electricity in this context.
A: 'Vuoi restare a cena?' B: 'No, grazie, _________ subito.'
The speaker is talking about themselves (1st person).
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt depends. As a description ('He is leaving'), it's neutral. As a command ('Go away!'), it can be very rude depending on your tone and relationship.
'Vattene' is much stronger and more emotional. 'Va via' is a simpler, more direct command.
Yes, it's very common to say 'Il treno va via' to mean it's departing.
Technically, it should be 'Va' via' with an apostrophe, but many people just write 'Va via' in texts.
In this context, 'via' acts as an adverb meaning 'away', though its origin is indeed the word for 'street'.
Yes, it means 'I am leaving you' or 'I am moving away from you'.
Rarely as a command. As a description of movement, it's fine, but 'partire' or 'allontanarsi' are more formal.
You change the verb to plural: 'Vanno via'.
Sometimes, euphemistically, 'andarsene' is used for death, but 'va via' is less common for this.
Yes, a shooing motion with the hand, pushing the air away from you.
Yes! 'L'odore va via' means the smell is disappearing.
No, 'go out' is 'uscire'. 'Va via' is 'go away'.
Related Phrases
andarsene
similarTo go away (more emphatic)
partire
similarTo depart / To leave for a trip
uscire
similarTo go out
sparire
similarTo disappear
mollare
contrastTo let go / To quit
allontanarsi
specialized formTo move away / To distance oneself
