30 essential Italian social-glue phrases with pronunciation guides.
Click listen to hear each phrase with native-quality pronunciation.
Hi / Bye (informal)
Lit. "I am your slave (historical, from Venetian 's-ciào')"
A1informalexclamation
Ciao, come stai? — Hi, how are you?
Good morning / Good day
Lit. "Good day"
A1formalexclamation
Buongiorno, signora. Come sta? — Good morning, ma'am. How are you?
Good evening
Lit. "Good evening"
A1formalexclamation
Buonasera a tutti! — Good evening, everyone!
How are you? (informal / formal)
Lit. "How do you stay?"
A1neutralquestion-phrase
Ciao Marco, come stai? Tutto bene? — Hi Marco, how are you? All good?
Nice to meet you / Pleasure
Lit. "Pleasure"
A1neutralexclamation
Sono Marco. Piacere! — I'm Marco. Nice to meet you!
Don't mention it / No problem
Lit. "Imagine yourself"
A2neutralexpression
— Grazie mille! — Figurati, di niente! — — Thanks a lot! — Don't mention it!
Good luck!
Lit. "In the mouth of the wolf!"
A2informalidiom
Domani hai l'esame? In bocca al lupo! — You have the exam tomorrow? Good luck!
Oh my! / Wow!
Lit. "My mother!"
A1informalexclamation
Mamma mia, che caldo oggi! — Oh my, it's so hot today!
I don't know / I have no idea / Who knows
Lit. "(interjection, no literal meaning)"
A2informalfiller
— Che facciamo stasera? — Boh, non so. — — What are we doing tonight? — Dunno, no idea.
Come on! / Really?! / Let's go!
Lit. "Give!"
A2informalexclamation
Dai, andiamo! Siamo in ritardo. — Come on, let's go! We're late.
How nice! / How beautiful!
Lit. "What beautiful!"
A1informalexclamation
Hai comprato una casa nuova? Che bello! — You bought a new house? How nice!
No way! / Get out of here!
Lit. "But go!"
B1informalexclamation
— Ho vinto alla lotteria! — Ma va! Davvero? — — I won the lottery! — No way! Really?
See you!
Lit. "We see each other!"
A1informalexpression
Devo andare. Ci vediamo domani! — I have to go. See you tomorrow!
Hello (semi-formal)
Lit. "Be well (from Latin 'salvē')"
A1neutralexclamation
Salve, cercavo un paio di scarpe nere. — Hello, I was looking for a pair of black shoes.
Best wishes! / Happy birthday! / Congratulations!
Lit. "Wishes!"
A1neutralexclamation
È il tuo compleanno? Tanti auguri! — It's your birthday? Happy birthday!
Not at all! / Nonsense!
Lit. "But what!"
B1informalexclamation
— Sei arrabbiato? — Macché, sto benissimo! — — Are you angry? — Not at all, I'm doing great!
Lucky you!
Lit. "Blessed you!"
A2informalexclamation
Vai in vacanza due settimane? Beato te! — You're going on vacation for two weeks? Lucky you!
What do you think? / How about it?
Lit. "What of it do you say?"
A2informalquestion-phrase
Andiamo al mare questo weekend, che ne dici? — Let's go to the beach this weekend, what do you think?
You're welcome / Don't mention it
Lit. "There is not of what"
A2neutralexpression
— Ti ringrazio! — Non c'è di che. — — Thank you! — You're welcome.
Make sure you…! / Please don't forget!
Lit. "I recommend myself!"
B1informalexclamation
Stasera niente tardi, mi raccomando! — No staying up late tonight, please!
For heaven's sake! / God forbid!
Lit. "For charity!"
B1informalexclamation
Mettere il parmigiano sul pesce? Per carità! — Putting parmesan on fish? God forbid!
How should I know!
Lit. "What of it I know!"
B1informalexclamation
— Perché è in ritardo? — Che ne so! — — Why is he late? — How should I know!
Take care!
Lit. "Stay well to me!"
A2informalexpression
Ci sentiamo presto. Stammi bene! — We'll talk soon. Take care!
How disgusting! / Gross!
Lit. "What disgust!"
A2informalexclamation
Hai visto quel ragno? Che schifo! — Did you see that spider? Gross!
Everything OK? / All good?
Lit. "Everything in place?"
A2informalquestion-phrase
Ehi, tutto a posto? Hai una faccia strana. — Hey, everything OK? You look weird.
Tell me! / Go ahead! / What's up?
Lit. "Tell me!"
A2informalexclamation
— Posso chiederti una cosa? — Certo, dimmi! — — Can I ask you something? — Sure, go ahead!
It doesn't matter / Never mind
Lit. "It does nothing"
A2informalexpression
— Scusa per il ritardo! — Fa niente, tranquillo. — — Sorry for being late! — Never mind, no worries.
Cheers! (when toasting)
Lit. "(onomatopoeia of glasses clinking)"
A1informalexclamation
Alziamo i bicchieri — cin cin! — Let's raise our glasses — cheers!
What a pity! / What a shame!
Lit. "What sin!"
A2neutralexclamation
Non puoi venire alla festa? Che peccato! — You can't come to the party? What a shame!
Thank goodness! / What a relief!
Lit. "Less bad!"
A2neutralexclamation
L'esame è andato bene! Meno male! — The exam went well! Thank goodness!