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When learning Italian, it’s essential to know the most comment phrases and expressions that are widely used by natives in everyday conversations. These are the basis for engaging in a polite and effective conversation. When it comes to variety in ways of expressing yourself, Italian is rich in colourful phrases that will elevate your speech and make you sound more like a native!
As proof of this, not only are there several ways to express gratitude, but also there are countless ways to respond! It’s just as important to know how to express your willingness and pleasure to help someone, as it is to say “grazie” (thank you). That is why you should definitely master the most common words and expressions to say things like “No problem!”, and “You’re very welcome” in Italian, plus how to use them in different contexts.
In this guide, you’ll learn 10 ways to say “you’re welcome” in Italian like a native speaker! Pronti? (Ready?)… Cominciamo! (Let’s get started!)
1. Prego
Pronunciation:preh-goh Usage: formal/ informal Example:Grazie per il tuo aiuto! – Prego! (Thank you for your help! – You’re welcome!)
“Prego” is certainly the most popular and frequently used expression and directly translates to the English “you’re welcome”. It’s a standard answer used in response to “grazie”. “Prego” in Italian can be used both in formal and informal situations. This means that you might hear native speakers use it in a variety of interactions: with friends, family members, elderly people, doctors… Basically, any type of exchange regardless of the degree of formality required by the situation.
However, you’ll be surprised to see that this versatile little word has many other meanings! Eccoli qua (here they are):
5 ways you can use “Prego”
1. Prego also translates to “please” and is a polite word that you can use:
When you hold the door for someone. For instance: Prego, dopo di Lei. (Please, after you.)
When you invite someone to sit down. For instance: Prego, si sieda. (Please, have a seat.)
Notice how here “prego” is used in formal contexts and therefore you must use the “Lei” form (that is, the formal “you”) to address someone.
With the same meaning but in a different (much more informal) context you might hear the expression “Ti prego”, which translates to “Please”, “I implore you”, “I’m begging you”. For example:
Papà, posso usare la tua macchina? Ti prego! (Dad, can I use your car? Pleeeease!)
2. Another situation where you might hear “prego” is from a waiter/waitress or a salesperson when walking in a bar or restaurant or shop. If they greet you with “Buongiorno, prego?” they’re asking “How may I help you?” or (in the case of the bar/ restaurant) “Are you ready to order?”. So don’t look so shocked, they’re not telling you “you’re welcome”, they’re actually starting a conversation with you 😉
3. The next meaning of “prego” we’re going to look at is when it means “Go ahead!”, which is used as an invitation to speak or give permission to do something after being asked a request. For example,:
(Video) More than PREGO: how to say "you're welcome" in Italian
Posso chiederle una cosa? – Certo, prego. (May I ask you something? – Sure, go ahead).
In this context, the usage of “prego” is quite formal.
4. “Prego” is also the first person singular of the verb “pregare”, to pray. “Io prego” or just “prego” therefore both mean, “I pray”.
5. And finally, this little but powerful word can be used as a sort of question that you ask when you want the other person to repeat what they’ve just said. As in “Pardon?”, “Sorry?”, “What was that?”, “Sorry, I didn’t get that”. If your Italian friend is telling you in very fast Italian what their day was like, at some point you might need to stop them and ask to repeat: Prego?
Saying “Prego!” is the main expression you learn to say “you’re welcome”, but there are so many other, more colourful variations you can use! Keep reading to learn all about them 😉
But first, here is a little task for you! Read the following sentences and try to understand which meaning “prego” has in each of them, and translate it into English.
You’ll find the answers at the end of the guide!
Prego Signori, da questa parte.
Grazie, sei davvero gentile. – Prego!
Buongiorno, prego! – Salve, vorrei un cappuccino e un cornetto, per favore.
Sono una persona molto religiosa, prego tutti i giorni.
Ieri ho cucinato i paccheri al salmone. – Prego?
Posso usare il telefono? – Prego!
2. Di niente / Di nulla!
Pronunciation:dee nyehn-teh / dee nool-lah! Usage: formal/ informal Example:Grazie per la cena! – Di nulla! (Thank you for dinner! – It was nothing!)
These phrases literally mean “of nothing” (“niente” and “nulla” are synonyms that translate to “nothing”) and they are interchangeable. They’re frequently used and quite neutral, that is, like “prego”, you can use them in both formal and informal contexts. You can use them to express your willingness to help or do something by saying that there was no inconvenience caused.
3. Ci mancherebbe (altro)
Pronunciation:chee man-keh-reb-beh (al-troh) Usage: formal/ informal Example: Grazie, sei un tesoro! – Ci mancherebbe altro! (Thank you, you’re a sweetheart! – Don’t even mention it!)
This highly idiomatic expression would translate literally as “there would miss (something else)”, which sounds a bit odd in English but it is a popular (albeit less common than “prego” and “di nulla/niente”) way Italians use to say “you’re welcome”. It comes from the verb “mancare” (to miss) but its actual meaning has nothing to do with that. You could translate it as “Don’t even mention it”, “You’re very welcome” or “It was a pleasure”.
“Ci mancherebbe (altro)” is very emphatic and fits in both formal and informal contexts. The word “altro” (another/different) doesn’t add anything special to the phrase, so both versions are accepted.
4. Ma ti pare?
Pronunciation:mah tee pah-reh? Usage: informal Example: Grazie mille, ti devo un favore! – Ma ti pare? (Thank you so much, I owe you one! – Don’t mention it/ No worries!)
The next phrase to say “you’re welcome” in Italian is also very idiomatic, meaning, it can’t be translated literally. It is actually quite hard to find a proper translation in English for this one. How come? Because sometimes Italians use typical expressions whose meaning is clear only to native speakers because they’re part of the common usage – but to foreigners, they don’t make any sense! “Ma ti pare?” is one of them!In English, it would translate to something like “but does it seem to you?”, because it derives from the verb “parere” (to seem).
(Video) Different ways of saying "You're welcome" in ITALIAN
Unlike the previous examples, this expression is mainly used in informal contexts, that is, with friends, peers, and close acquaintances. It fits those situations where a person expresses extreme gratitude and another one responds to it with a high level of enthusiasm for being able to be of assistance or help.
5. Figurati! / Si figuri!
Pronunciation: fee-goo-rah-tee! / see fee-goo-ree! Usage: informal/ formal Example: Grazie del regalo. – Figurati! (Thanks for the present. – My pleasure/ Anytime/ Don’t mention it!)
The next two expressions used in Italian to say “you’re welcome” come from the verb “figurarsi” (to imagine, to figure), but once again they are used figurativamente (figuratively). No pun intended 😉
The informal version, “figurati”, is a much friendlier way to say “prego” and conveys the idea of “my pleasure”, “happy to help”, “anytime”. For instance, if you give your Italian friend a present, you can reply to their “grazie!” with a “figurati!”.
On the other hand, the formal version, “si figuri”, is also friendly but at the same time very polite. For example:
La ringrazio per il Suo tempo. – Si figuri. (Thank you for your time. – You’re welcome/ My pleasure.)
Like “prego”, “figurati” can have different meanings too, depending on the situation where it’s used. Take a look at the following sentences:
Pensi che lo chiamerò? Figurati! (You think I’m going to call him? No way!)
Non viaggia mai nel suo Paese, figurati all’estero. (She never travels in her own country, let alone abroad.)
6. Ma scherzi!
Pronunciation: mah skehr-tsee! Usage: informal Example:Grazie per avermi aiutato! – Ma scherzi! (Thanks for helping me! – Don’t mention it/ Of course!)
The phrase “Ma scherzi!” (uttered in a tone between a question and an exclamation) is very similar to “Ma ti pare?”, which means it’s used mostly in informal contexts. It’s a very enthusiastic and emphatic way to express your pleasure to help or do something for someone, such as a friend. The literal translation in English would be “but you are joking!”, although it’s used to mean “of course!”, or “don’t mention it!”.
7. Nessun problema
Pronunciation:nes-soon proh-bleh-mah Usage: formal/ informal Example: Grazie per il consiglio. – Nessun problema! (Thank you for the advice. – No problem!)
The next one is another common phrase Italians use to say “you’re welcome”. Unlike some of the previous expressions we’ve seen so far, the meaning of “nessun problema” can be literally translated to “no problem”. It conveys the idea that giving help or assistance to someone didn’t cause you any inconvenience. This phrase is actually the shortened form of “non c’è nessun problema”, meaning “there’s no problem”.
Attenzione! (Careful!) If you’re a beginner in Italian you would probably translate the English “no problem” with “no problema” in Italian, which is a very common mistake. However, the word “no” in Italian is not used in these kinds of expressions, but only as a reply to a question. Check my guide to see the most deadly mistakes Italian beginners make!
8. Piacere mio / È stato un piacere
Pronunciation:pee-ah-cheh-reh mee-oh / eh stah-toh oon pee-ah-cheh-reh Usage: formal Example: Grazie per essere venuti. – È stato un piacere (Thank you all for coming. – It was a pleasure.)
(Video) How to say 'you're welcome' in Italian - with Memrise
Another way to say “you’re welcome” in Italian is with “piacere mio” (my pleasure) or its variation “è stato un piacere” (it was a pleasure), which conveys the idea of you enjoying assisting or doing something for someone, as in “I don’t/ didn’t mind helping, in fact, I am/ was happy to!”.
Remember that “è stato un piacere” refers to the past, so it’s only really appropriate to use it when the act of helping has already taken place.
These expressions are both quite formal, so you won’t hear them very often in informal contexts, such as among friends.
9. Assolutamente
Pronunciation: ah-ssoh-loo-tah-mehn-teh Usage: informal Example:Grazie per avermi invitato. – Assolutamente. (Thanks for inviting me. – Absolutely)
This word is used to say “you’re welcome” in Italian. It is quite informal and translates to the English word “absolutely”, which can be used as an adverb in other kinds of sentences too. For example:
Non è assolutamente vero! (This is absolutely not true!)
10. Non c’è di che
Pronunciation:nohn cheh dee keh Usage: formal Example: Grazie per l’informazione. – Non c’è di che (Thank you for the information. – Anytime/ Don’t mention it.)
Last but not least is “Non c’è di che”, a more colourful way to say “you’re welcome” in Italian. “Non c’è di che” is very idiomatic and therefore impossible to translate directly into English (literally, it means something like “there isn’t of what”). It is quite formal and very polite.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve learned all the common ways Italians say “you’re welcome”, go, and be creative! Next time your Italian friends express their gratitude, practice these alternative expressions to add variety to your speech (and remember, try not to use “prego” all the time!).
Notice how many of the phrases above are used figuratively and not literally. It might be hard at first to know when to use these idiomatic expressions but the more you practice and immerse yourself in the language, the sooner you’ll master them and you’ll sound like a real native speaker!
P.S. Here are the answers from the exercises in the first section where you learned about “Prego”.
Here is the meaning of “prego” alongside each sentence:
Prego Signori, da questa parte. (Meaning: Please)
Grazie, sei davvero gentile. – Prego! (Meaning: You’re welcome)
Buongiorno, prego! – Salve, vorrei un cappuccino e un cornetto, per favore. (Meaning: What can I get you? / Ready to order?)
Sono una persona molto religiosa, prego tutti i giorni. (Meaning: I pray)
Ieri ho cucinato i paccheri al salmone. – Prego? (Meaning: What was that? / Sorry?)
Posso usare il telefono? – Prego! (Meaning: Go ahead)
Now you know all the ways to “you’re welcome”, watch these videos to learn how to say “thank you” and “please” in Italian like a native!
(Video) 14 Different Ways to Say PREGO in ITALIAN - Speak Italian like a Native (Intermediate Italian)
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(Video) 15 Italian Greetings: How to Say Hello in Italian 🇮🇹[Italian for Beginners]
The response to grazie that you're most likely to use or hear is prego (you're welcome), or you could say di niente (not at all). For greater emphasis you can use s'immagini or si figuri in the formal form, and figurati informally (don't mention it).
If you are asked “come stai?” or “come va?” and you are fine, then the best way to answer is “bene”. If you feel extremely good, you can also say “molto bene.”
The word prego actually comes from the first-person singular of the Italian verb pregare, which means to pray. Nowadays, of course, it acquired its own meaning, and it is used both in formal and informal situations to say “you're welcome” in Italian.
It basically is an automatism and it is considered the cornerstone of basic politeness. If someone says “grazie” to you and you don't reply “prego,” you might be considered rude, so watch out for that!
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Allora (so, then, well) is one of those filler words that's highly useful when thinking of what to say in Italian. It buys you a little time and tells the listener you're thinking things over, especially when used by itself, or to introduce a sentence.
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Literally translated it means, “I love you,” but not in the same way as the romantic “t'amo” version. Ti voglio bene implies unconditional, selfless love and literally means “I want you to be well.” Often abbreviated as “TVB,” it's used as a salutation in Italy to those who mean the most to you.
The Italian phrase, molte grazie, is pretty much what it sounds like. Molte means “many,” so this is the Italian version of “many thanks” that you might hear in various languages and is typically employed for informal exchanges.
Italians have a peculiar way of answering the phone: unlike the English language, Italians don't say “ciao” (hello), but rather “Pronto” – ready, as in “ready to speak”.
bête noire (plural bêtes noires) An anathema; someone or something which is particularly disliked or avoided; an object of aversion, the bane of one's existence. quotations ▼
Mi scusi: Excuse me. Mi dispiace: I am sorry. Vorrei un biglietto di sola andata per Roma: I'd like a one-way ticket to Rome. Quanto costa?: How much is it?
If you'd like to say “very good” in Italian, you'd generally say “molto bene.” That said, there are some common informal and/or slang expressions that convey the same idea: benissimo. che bello.
Pronounced: Moo-cho Goo-stow. This phrase means “nice to meet you.” It is obviously used when you're meeting someone for the first time. It can be used in the beginning and the end of the conversation.
How do Italians say b****? The Italian word for b**** is "puttana". You can use it in various swearing expressions, such as "porca puttana" or "andare a puttane" (which means that something goes bad or is failing).
Stugots is Italian mob slang lingo - Italian term that refers to the male genetalia. It is used to describe an idiot or a jerk. Stugots is also the name of Tony Sopranos boat on the HBO series The Sopranos.
It's Italian-American slang for a companion or an associate. It can also be used in reference to a close friend or buddy, or just someone of Italian descent. It can also be used to refer to a mentor, advisor, protector – or even a godfather.
You can research this topic all day long and find that Italian-Americans connote “gravy” to mean a sauce with meat in it. But Italian chefs will tell you that is what's called a Ragu. Linguistically speaking “sauce” is probably a more accurate term, as it comes from the Italian word “salsa” – which means “topping”.
This dish was mainly prepared on Sundays, the sauce used on pasta and meat served as a second course. One historian described a Sugo using tomatoes in 1857 that was being served in taverns in Naples. Read more at Grand Voyage Italy… Like us on Facebook to receive more travel, culture and food & wine news.
Widely used in Italian-American cuisine, it is known as alla marinara in Italy, where it is typically made with tomatoes, basil, and oregano, but also sometimes olives, capers, and salted anchovies. It is used for spaghetti and vermicelli, but also with meat or fish.
You can respond with the exact same word: Ciao. While they can all be categorized as greetings, there's a lot more to each greeting that simply “hello.”
Italian greetings are usually warm and rather formal. The common greeting is a handshake with direct eye contact and a smile. If the greeting is between a man and a woman, the woman generally extends her hand first. People avoid shaking hands over the top of other people's hands.
When used on its own, capito is the past participle of the verb capire and it just means 'got it' or 'understood'. This is usually used when you agree to do something, such as following an order at work.
In Italian, adjectives must agree in gender and quantity. So the basic form molto becomes molte when used with grazie to become molte grazie (thank you very much). If you really want to add emphasis, you can add an -issime to the end of molte.
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