Italian Phrase
Te ne vai adesso?
Meaning
Literally “You are going away now?” – a friendly, informal way to ask someone if they are about to leave. It can convey surprise, curiosity, or a gentle reminder.
When to use
Use it in casual conversation with friends, family, or peers when you notice someone gathering their things or heading for the door. It’s too informal for a business meeting or with strangers.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tenevaiadesso?
Clitic pronoun "te"
"Te" is the unstressed object pronoun for second‑person singular, placed before the verb in informal questions.
"ne" (partitive/locative pronoun)
"Ne" replaces a phrase like "di te" or "da te" and means “away/from it”. In "te ne vai" it conveys the idea of “going away”.
Verb "andare" (present, 2nd person)
"Vai" is the present indicative of "andare" for "tu". In colloquial speech the clitics precede the verb.
Word order in questions
In informal spoken Italian the subject pronoun is omitted and the clitics stay before the verb, giving the pattern "Te ne vai?"
"Adesso" vs "subito"
"Adesso" means “now”. It can be swapped with "subito" for a slightly stronger sense of immediacy.
🗨In Conversation
Te ne vai adesso?
Are you leaving now?
Sì, devo andare a casa.
Yes, I have to go home.
✕Common Mistakes
Ti ne vai adesso?
"Ti" is the stressed form; in this construction the unstressed clitic "te" is required.
Te vai adesso?
The pronoun "ne" is essential to convey the idea of “going away”. Without it the sentence loses its idiomatic meaning.
Te ne vai ora?
"Ora" can be used, but "adesso" is the more natural choice in everyday speech; "ora" sounds slightly more formal.
↔Alternatives
Te ne vai?
Are you leaving?
Stai per andare via?
Are you about to go away?
Se ne va adesso?
Is he/she leaving now?
Vai via adesso?
Are you going away now?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, "te ne vai?" is a very informal, almost colloquial way to ask if someone is leaving. It’s perfect among peers but can sound abrupt with strangers or in formal settings. If you need a polite version, use "Se ne va?" for third‑person or "Sta per andare?" for a neutral tone. Also, Italians often add a friendly tone or a smile to soften the directness of the question.