I am reading a giallo that is partly set in Sardinia. One of the characters uses the expression "a mellus biri". I think that "mellus" must mean something like "good", or "better". So does "biri" have something to do with seeing? In other words "may we see each other in good (or better?) times", or some such?

M

Hi Marian,
I'm posting a great site for translating single words into loads of different languages including many italian dialects, a Logos, multilingual e-translation portal (some of the entries also include a sound file with a voice pronouncing the word).
According to them you seem to be quite right: mellus means "meglio", "better" and biri is the verb "vedere", "see".
"a si biri" means arrivederci (a se vedere*) so it's very very possible that "a mellus biri" means "arrivederci in tempi migliori" or "see you in better times".

Thanks, Giulia!

M