Lasciare and partire both mean "to leave." So, what's the difference, if any? 

Actually, there is a big difference, especially in grammatical terms. Lasciare is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object. You leave a place, a thing, a person. Other meanings are: "to abandon," "to leave behind," "to let," "to let go," or "to allow."

Tanto anche se mi cacciano non mi importa, mia madre vuole che lasci Milano.

In any case, if they kick me out, I don't care. My mother wants me to leave Milan.

Captions 5-6, La compagnia del cigno EP 6 - Part 10

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When forming compound tenses, the auxiliary verb avere (to have) is used. 

Tu hai finalmente lasciato quel tuo inutile fidanzato, e tua madre ed io ne siamo stati felici per te.

You finally left that useless boyfriend of yours and your mother and I were happy about that for you.

Captions 65-67, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1 EP6 Buio - Part 11

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When you want someone to get off your back, either physically or figuratively, lasciare is a good verb to use.

Ma come ti... -Guarda che ti posso pagare... -Lasciami!... -te l'ho detto. Lasciami!

But how... -Look, I can pay you... -Let me go!... -I told you. Let me go!

Captions 24-25, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP5 Misericordia - Part 28

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But this expression can be expanded, too: 

Ma come ti sei vestita? -Ehi, lasciami stare.

But how did you dress? -Hey, leave me be.

But how did you dress? -Hey, leave me alone. 

Captions 40-41, La compagnia del cigno EP 5 - Part 15

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Lasciatemi stare!

Let (plural) me be!

Caption 13, La compagnia del cigno EP 6 - Part 10

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Here's another common way to say "leave me alone."  

Lasciami in pace.

Leave me alone (literally, "leave me in peace"). 

Caption 80, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 30

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Of course, in English, when we say "leave me alone," we don't mean literally "alone," we mean, "stop bothering me," or "get off my back." 

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Attenzione!  We can also use the reflexive form of lasciare: lasciarsi, which can either mean to let yourself do something, as in the following example:

La gente quando mangia, si lascia andare, non tiene difese e io la guardo.

When people eat, they let themselves go, they let their guard down and I observe them.

Captions 35-36, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP2 Rabbia - Part 4

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Note that when we use the reflexive form lasciarsi, we use the auxiliary essere (to be).

Da quando a Cappellini era morta la moglie, si era lasciato andare in un modo decisamente eccessivo.

Since Cappellini's wife died, he had let himself go in such a way [that was] decidedly excessive.

Captions 10-12, Provaci ancora prof! S2E3 Dietro la porta - Part 16

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We can use lasciarsi reciprocally, as when a couple breaks up. 

No, ci siamo lasciati.

No, we broke up.

Caption 91, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP3 La terza vittima - Part 4

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Partire, on the other hand, is an intransitive verb. No direct object here. 

Devo partire con lei.

I have to leave with her.

Caption 7, La compagnia del cigno EP 6 - Part 10

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Purtroppo martedì noi partiamo per Londra.

Unfortunately, on Tuesday we leave for London.

Caption 11, Sposami EP 3 - Part 6

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We use the verb partire to mean "to start," as in a car not starting:

Problemi, prof? -E sì, non parte.

Problems, Prof? -Yes, it [the car] won't start.

Captions 53-54, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 3

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But we also use it when we want to start doing something, such as a race, a competition, a discussion, or when we start rehearsing a musical piece together. 

Partiamo con gli assaggi dei vostri arancini.

We'll begin with tasting your rice balls.

Caption 2, JAMS S1 EP4 - Part 3

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We hope you have a better idea about the difference between lasciare and partire. This is a partial picture, as both of these verbs are used in various situations, with nuanced meanings. Write to us with your questions or comments. We love to hear from you: [email protected].

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In the final segment of Com'è umano lui, a biopic about Paolo Villaggio, Maura tells Paolo about a phone call from Rizzoli. Here is the exchange:

Ha chiamato a casa Rizzoli. -Chi, l'editore? -No, quello del tonno. -Ah, che voleva? -Paolo, ma è ovvio che ha chiamato l'editore. Ma perché ci dovrebbe chiamare quello del tonno, scusami? Tu sei un tonno.

Rizzoli called at home. -Who, the publisher? -No, the tuna one. -Ah, what did he want? -Paolo, but it's obvious that the publisher called. But why should the tuna one be calling us, excuse me? You are a tunafish.

Captions 63-69, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 30

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Maura is answering Paolo's first question, "Chi, l'editore?" Rizzoli is the name of an important publishing company, perhaps, at one time, the best known of them. Most Italians have heard of Rizzoli Libri (Rizzoli books). Maura's answer is sarcastic because she thinks it should be obvious, so she says, No, quello del tonno (no, the tuna one). Why does she say this? Because Rizzoli is also a very well-known producer of canned fish. Particularly appreciated are their anchovies in olive oil, but Maura mentions their tuna. And then she calls him a tuna. 

Readers might not have caught the connection, so here is a photo taken of a jar of tuna, bought at the supermarket. 

Paolo clearly doesn't get the sarcasm at the beginning (or is pretending not to) and asks what they want. So she has to explain, she means the publishing house and then calls him a tuna. 

Paolo Villaggio has written books (for Rizzoli) and appeared in movies. Below are some Wikipedia links about the actor and author. 

Here is an article in Italian.

Here's the same article in English. 

We hope you enjoyed the film! Let us know at [email protected] or in the comments section of the video page.