If you need to learn Italian for a trip to Italy, or simply to impress your friends with your language skills, learning to say “you’re welcome” in Italian is a great way to start.
Plus, the Italian culture puts a lot of emphasis on being pleasant and showing good manners, so being able to respond to the word grazie (“thank you”) will surely make you sound (and feel!) like a native speaker.
Before you continue, if you still do not know how to thank someone in Italian, have a look at our guide on all the different ways to say thank you in Italian.
So, do you want to learn how to say “you’re welcome” in Italian? In this article, we will look at all the expressions Italian speakers use to say “you’re welcome”, from the most widely used to the formal ones.
Ready to go? Let’s start!
The Easiest Way to Say “You’re Welcome” in Italian
If you ask an Italian speaker how to say “you’re welcome”, the first word they will come up with will surely be prego.
- – Grazie mille! (Thank you very much!)
– Prego. (You’re welcome.)
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. You can use it to respond to grazie in all kinds of situations, with your family or your boss, with one person or in a big group.
Here is an example in a conversation:
- – Passami il sale, per favore.
– Eccoti!
– Grazie.
– Prego.– Pass me the salt, please.
– Here you are.
– Thanks!
– You’re welcome.
Other Uses of Prego
You will also hear the word prego in other contexts with a different meaning. For example, it is often used to politely invite someone to do something. In this case, it can be translated as “please”.
- Prego, si sieda.
Please, sit down.
Another context in which you might hear this word a lot is in restaurants and bars. Waiters often come to your table and just say prego to invite you to place your order.
- – Posso ordinare?
– Prego…– Can I order?
– Please, go ahead.
If you’re entering a building, or getting on or off a train, the person next to you might also say prego to invite you to go ahead. In this case, it is just the same as saying “after you”.
As you can see, most of the time this word has nothing to do with praying, although it does come from there:
- Io prego spesso prima di andare a dormire.
I often pray before going to sleep.
Different Ways to Say “You’re Welcome” in Italian
Sure, prego is by far the most common way to answer when someone is thanking you in Italian, but it is definitely not the only one!
Here are some of the other expressions you might hear from Italians. If you learn them and start using them in everyday conversation, you will definitely make a good impression and even sound like a native speaker.
Here are 7 more ways to say “you’re welcome” in Italian.
Di Niente / Di Nulla
This is the Italian equivalent of the Spanish “de nada”. It literally translates as “for nothing” and you can use it to somehow reduce the importance of what the person is thanking you for, and let them know it was no hassle for you at all.
Niente and nulla are completely interchangeable, so just pick the one you like best!
Here’s an example of how you’d use it:
- – Grazie mille per il tuo aiuto!
– Di niente, quando hai bisogno, chiamami.– Thank you so much for your help!
– It was no problem at all, call me when you need me.(Video) How to Say "You're Welcome" in Italian | Italian Lessons
Figurati – Si Figuri
This is a great expression, and you will hear it A LOT in Italian conversation. It is the same expression, in its informal and formal versions, and it stands for “Don’t mention it”.
- Figurati is the informal version (which uses tu – informal you), which you can use with friends and family, or people you have a closer relationship with.
- – Giacomo, grazie per essere andato a prendere Greta a scuola.
– Figurati, passavo proprio di lì quando mi hai chiamato.– Giacomo, thank you for picking Greta up from school.
– Don’t mention it, I was just around there when you called.
- – Giacomo, grazie per essere andato a prendere Greta a scuola.
- Si figuri is the formal version of the same expression (lei – formal you) and you can use it with older people, or in more official settings, like in a bank, or with your university professors.
- – Signora Grandi, grazie per il suo aiuto durante il progetto.
– Si figuri, ho solo fatto il mio dovere.– Mrs. Grandi, thank you for your help during the project.
– Don’t mention it, I just did my job.
- – Signora Grandi, grazie per il suo aiuto durante il progetto.
Non c’è di Che / E di Che?
These are also two very similar versions of the same expression. Non c’è di che literally means “there is nothing (to thank me for)” and e di che? Stands for “and what for?”.
Use these when you want the other person to know that you did what you did with pleasure, and they shouldn’t really be thanking you.
Both expressions (especially e di che?) are quite informal.
- – Alba, grazie mille!
– E di che?– Alba, thank you so much!
– And what for? (Don’t mention it!)
Non c’è Problema
This literally means “(there is) no problem” and it can be used in the same way as in English.
It is quite common to use it when someone is thanking you for a favor you helped them with.
- – Grazie per il tuo aiuto.
– Non c’è problema.– Thanks for your help!
– No problem.
Ci Mancherebbe Altro
This is one of my favorite expressions to say “you’re welcome in Italian”. It means something like “how could I have done otherwise?”.
Use it when the other person is very thankful, but you feel you were very happy to help, and in fact you couldn’t have done otherwise!
It can also be shortened to just ci mancherebbe!
- – Grazie per essere passata a salutarmi!
– Ci mancherebbe altro!– Thanks for passing by to say hello!
– Don’t mention it! (How could I have done otherwise?)
È Stato un Piacere
This literally means “it was a pleasure”, and it emphasizes the fact that we did not do whatever we’re being thanked for reluctantly, but that we really wanted to do it, and it gave us pleasure too.
It can be used both in formal and informal situations, and it certainly will make you leave a great and charming impression!
- – Grazie per avermi accompagnato a casa ieri sera.
– È stato un piacere!– Thanks for taking me home last night.
– It was my pleasure.
Grazie a te / a lei / a voi
Last but not least… Grazie a te is used when someone is thanking you, but you want to thank them back! In Italy, this is a very common way of saying “you’re welcome”.
Of course, you will need to change the personal pronoun depending on who you’re thanking.
You can say grazie a lei in formal situations, or grazie a voi if you are thanking more people at a time.
You can also start the sentence with a no to give it even more emphasis, like: “No, I am the one who should be thanking you!”
- – Grazie di tutto, arrivederci.
– No, grazie a voi. Buona serata!– Thank you for everything, goodbye.
– No, thank you. Have a great evening!
How to Say “You’re Welcome” in Italian: Final Tips
I really hope you will be able to practice with each one of these expressions to respond to an Italian grazie!
Sometimes, you will notice that Italian speakers even combine some of these expressions: listen to them carefully and try to repeat what they say… and don’ t be afraid to experiment and use them in all kinds of situations, too.
You will also notice that, a lot of the times, native speakers add a ma (literally “but”) to the beginning of these expressions. This particle is just used to give more emphasis to the expression, something like saying “you’re very welcome”.
- Ma figurati! / Ma ci mancherebbe altro!
Don’t even mention it!
Practice makes perfect! So, here are some of the most common combinations you might hear, in context:
- – Martino, grazie davvero per essere venuto a prendermi.
– Prego, non c’è di che.– Thank you, Martino, for coming to pick me up.
– You’re welcome, don’t mention it. - – Grazie a tutti per il vostro impegno nel progetto.
– Ci mancherebbe altro, grazie a voi!– Thanks everyone for your help with the project.
– Don’t mention it, thank you! - – Ti ringrazio per avermi detto la verità.
– Ma figurati, ci mancherebbe.– Thank you for telling me the truth.
– Don’t even say it, how could I do otherwise. - – Grazie Marco, non so cosa farei senza di te!
– Di nulla, non c’è problema.– Thank you Marco, what would I do without you!
– Don’t mention it, no problem.
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FAQs
What is the response to thank you in Italian? ›
How To Respond To Grazie In Italian? The most common answer for thank you is 'prego. ' It means 'you're welcome' and it's the first person singular of the present tense of the verb 'pregare' which means 'to pray.
What is the answer on Grazie? ›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).
How do you respond to molto bene? ›For example: Sto molto bene, grazie. = I'm very well, thanks. Molto bene, grazie.
How do you respond to Come Stai? ›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.”
What are two responses to Gracias? ›The response to gracias that you're most likely to use or hear is de nada (you're welcome), or you could say, if appropriate, a tí (thank you). For greater emphasis you can use no hay de qué (don't mention it).
What Prego means in Italian? ›/'preɡo/ (risposta / invito) please / you're welcome , after you , don't mention it. - “Grazie mille” – “prego” “Thank you so much” – “You're welcome” Prego, si accomodi!
What is Grazie tutti? ›English translation of Grazie a tutti in context
TRANSLATION. thank you all.
If you've just said Grazie to someone, they may reply with Prego literally meaning You're welcome or My pleasure.
How do you answer a Prego? ›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).
What is the meaning of Tutto Bene? ›Tutto bene. : –Is everything alright? –Everything's fine. informale.
What is Ti Voglio Bene? ›
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.
Can you say Ti Voglio Bene to your girlfriend? ›*Note: It is possible to use the phrase ti voglio bene towards a romantic partner but it is commonly reinforced with the adverb tanto and followed by a term of endearment such as amore mio (my love). Ti voglio tanto bene, amore mio! = I love you very much, my love!
Is it sto bene or sono bene? ›Keep in mind that sto is commonly used with adverbs, as in sto bene, “I am (doing) well.” Sono isn't. Sono can be used only with adjectives, as in sono italiana, “I am Italian.” Pretty interesting, right?
How do you answer di dove sei in Italian? ›To respond to either of these questions, you can simply say: Sono (first person of verb essere 'to be') + di (of) + Torino (city name).
What language is tutto bene? ›Tutto bene! is a fun way to help you speak and understand Italian in no time!
What is the response for Merci? ›The usual response to merci is de rien (You're welcome – literally, It's nothing) or il n'y a pas de quoi. In a more formal context, you could say Je vous en prie or Je t'en prie.
What can I say instead of de nada? ›This is the most common way to say You're welcome in Spanish. What can I say instead of De nada? You can also say Con gusto, A la orden, No es nada, and Por nada, depending on the situation.
What does por nada mean? ›English translation:for nothing/it's nothing (also...in vain) Explanation: Literally it means "for nothing", but it is also used like "it's nothing" as an answer to a thank you.
What does Scifo mean in Italian? ›Schifo is how you say 'disgust', which is exactly what you'll provoke in most Italians by drinking milky coffee after noon. It comes from an early Germanic word that meant 'to frighten' – the same that gave us the English word 'eschew'. In Italian it's most commonly used as an exclamation… Che schifo! How disgusting!
What does Ragu mean in Italian? ›[raˈɡu ] invariable masculine noun. (Cookery) meat sauce. spaghetti al ragù spaghetti with meat sauce.
What is allora? ›
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. Used by itself, it can express impatience: Allora!
What does Tutti Pazzi? ›We are officially changing our name to “ TUTTI PAZZI “ meaning, everybody's crazy!
What does molto bene mean Italian? ›very well fine, okay. (Translation of molto bene from the PASSWORD Italian–English Dictionary © 2014 K Dictionaries Ltd)
What is Tutti Italian? ›everybody, everyone [pronoun] every person.
Why do Italians say Grazia? ›You say grazie when someone is offering you something that you want to accept, but you also use it if you want to refuse. Unlike English, there is no difference such as Yes, please/ No thanks in Italian. Italians say grazie in any case, both if they want to accept or to refuse.
What does gula mean in Italian? ›sugar (sucrose from sugar cane or sugar beet and used to sweeten food and drink)
Why do Italians say Prego a lot? ›You are welcome
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!
The thing is, prego can also have other meanings depending on the context. It can be used to say “you're welcome” in Italian, to give permission, or to ask to repeat something. All these meanings of prego are somehow linked to the idea of wishing for something to happen.
What does si immagini mean? ›Next to "si figuri", which is the formal version (Lei), we also find "Si immagini!" (=no problem, you're welcome). This is an expression that isn't much used in day-to-day conversation, and is, in any case, used with the polite form (Lei).
Why is it called Prego? ›Prego (Italian for "You're welcome!") is a trade mark brand name pasta sauce of Campbell Soup Company. It was introduced internationally in 1981. U.S.
What is Tutto posto? ›
– Tutto a posto? – Perfetto, grazie. – Everything alright? – Great, thanks. You might hear Italians pronounce this last one more like “tutto posto” or “tutt'a posto”: that's fine in casual speech, but if you're writing be sure to spell out all three words.
What does Molto bello? ›[Italian] masc. Very Handsome.
What does Tutto Fresco mean in Italian? ›TUTTO FRESCO MEANS "EVERYTHING FRESH"
Is Tutto Bene Italian? ›Pictures bearing the slogan andrà tutto bene – everything will be alright – are all over Italian social media today as people seek to reassure each other and brighten up days spent at home under quarantine.
What does TI Chiamo mean? ›(That is, if you manage to remember it, of course!) The most common way to ask What is your name? in Italian is Come ti chiami? which literally translates as What do you call yourself?
What is Mi Chiamo? ›Mi chiamo (pronounced: mee kee-AH-moh) Use this phrase, which means **my name is followed by your name to introduce yourself to new people.
What do lovers call each other in Italian? ›In Italian, you say mio amato for men and mia amata for women. When talking about your beloved with someone else, you can refer to them as il mio lui (literally “my him”) if he is a man, and la mia lei (literally “my her”) if she is a woman.
How do you address a lover in Italian? ›- Caro/cara - dear.
- Tesoro – darling (translates literally to 'treasure')
- Amore – love.
- Stella/stellina – literally, 'star'
- Gioia – literally, 'joy'
- Angelo – angel, to express gratitude, i.e. grazie per l'aiuto, sei un angelo – thanks for your help, you're an angel.
- Amore mio – my love.
- Cuore mio – my heart.
- Tesoro mio – my darling.
- Baciami! ...
- Sei tutto per me – you're everything to me.
- Ti penso ogni giorno – I think about you every day.
...
with:
| ENGLISH | ITALIAN INFORMAL | ITALIAN FORMAL |
|---|---|---|
| Very well, thank you and you? | Molto bene grazie, e Lei? | Molto bene grazie, e tu? |
What is dove abiti in Italian? ›
– “Where do you live?” – Coffee Break Italian To Go Episode 3.
What does Bon Dia mean in Italian? ›“Good Day” in Italian – Buon dì
What does vu Cumpra mean in Italian? ›[vukumˈpra ] invariable masculine and feminine noun. (offensive, informal) non-EU street seller, usually of African origin.
What does un po di mean in Italian? ›Poco and un po' are two expressions that mean “a little / a bit” in Italian.
What does UN Po in Italian mean? ›adverb. a little slightly. any [adverb] at all; (even) by a small amount.
What's Parli Italiano mean? ›Italian Phrase: Parli italiano? (Do you speak Italian?) - Daily Italian Words.
What do you say in response to Merci? ›The usual response to merci is de rien (You're welcome – literally, It's nothing) or il n'y a pas de quoi. In a more formal context, you could say Je vous en prie or Je t'en prie.
Why do Italians say Prego after Grazie? ›It presumably is because of this original meaning (the verb “to pray”) that “prego” has become the instant reply to “grazie”, which means “thanks”. Once it presumably was an expression to wish someone well who had been nice to you, something like “I pray for your well-being”.
What do you say in response to Obrigado? ›“You're Welcome” in Portuguese: De nada
So when someone says obrigado or valeu to you, gives you their graças, or tells you that they want to agradecer you, what should your reply be? The most common way to say “you're welcome” is de nada; literally “of nothing”. You can also say por nada.
If you've just said Grazie to someone, they may reply with Prego literally meaning You're welcome or My pleasure.
What does Bitte Schon? ›
FWIW, "Bitte schön" is not "thank you" ("danke schön"), it means "(t)here you are", or "you're welcome", depending on context.
What is Mon Cheri? ›What does mon chéri mean? Mon chéri means “my dear” or “sweetheart” in French. It's an adorable term of endearment for a male person someone is fond of, romantically or platonically.
What does Merci Boku mean? ›: thank you very much.
Why do Italians say Alora? ›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.
What does Bem Hajam mean? ›Thank you for your comment and for reminding me of yet another way of saying “thank you”. Bem haja means something like “I hope you have it well”.
How do you respond to Desculpe? ›“Desculpe” (Deshculpeh) is the appropriate way to apologize when you have done something wrong. The response to “desculpe” is “Nao faz mal” (nah-fash-mal) which means “no problem”.
Is it valeu or obrigado? ›Thank You In Portuguese: informal situations
So even though they also say obrigado, it will be much more common hearing them use another word: valeu. Valeu can be used for both men and women. We can say that valeu corresponds to “thanks”, also used in informal situations.
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.
What is Grazie Ragazzi? ›Thank you, guys. Grazie, ragazzi, grazie. (Man) Thank you, guys.