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You may be surprised to learn that there are languages that do not have a word for “please”. Icelandic, for example, has a word for “thank you,” but no direct translation for “please”. Italian, however, is not one of them.<\/p>\n
As you will discover in this article, there are more ways to say “please” in Italian, and even two different ways of addressing people, depending on the level of formality between the speakers. Social etiquette is a big deal on the peninsula, so knowing how to navigate the conventions is the right way to avoid side glances.<\/p>\n
(But don’t fret, we’re also very forgiving and eager to help you learn our language in the best way possible!)<\/p>\n
Let’s dive right into Italian etiquette!<\/p>\n
You may already know how to translate “please” in Italian, since it’s one of the first things you learn as a beginner. There are two simple translations:<\/p>\n
You may be wondering what the difference is between the two. Well, there’s no difference other than your taste, because both expressions are completely interchangeable. Per favore<\/strong> means “for favor”, while per piacere<\/strong> means “for pleasure”. Examples:<\/p>\n These can be used in both informal and formal situations in spoken language. Per favore<\/em> and per piacere<\/em> can also be used in questions. Examples:<\/p>\n You can also use them at the end of a sentence in the form of a request. Examples:<\/p>\n A more formal translation of “please” in Italian is per cortesia<\/strong>, “out of courtesy”. Examples:<\/p>\n You can also translate “please” in Italian as prego<\/strong>. Prego is the most common translation for “you’re welcome,” but in this case it actually means “go ahead”. For example:<\/p>\n In instruction manuals and public announcements, it’s common to translate “please” with an impersonal third-person expression, si prega di<\/strong>, followed by an infinitive verb. Si prega di<\/em> literally means “one begs that”, from the verb pregare<\/strong>, “to pray, to beg”. We could translate it as “we beg you to”. For example:<\/p>\n In formal language, you can also find la preghiamo<\/strong>, “we beg you”. Example:<\/p>\n There are also ti prego<\/strong> and la prego<\/strong>, which are used in informal and formal speech, respectively, to say “I beg you,” as in:<\/p>\n Ti prego<\/em> and la prego<\/em> have a stronger emphasis and convey urgency. If you are begging a group of people, use vi prego<\/strong>:<\/p>\n In written formal communications, however, you are more likely to read cortesemente<\/strong>, an adverb meaning “kindly,” as in:<\/p>\n There are two ways to say “you” in Italian. You probably already know this, but this pronoun is used differently than in English, so it’s worth brushing up.<\/p>\n Tu<\/strong> is the informal translation of the “you” pronoun. You can use tu<\/em> with friends, children, relatives, co-workers, and your significant other.<\/p>\n Lei<\/strong> is the formal translation of “you”, and you use it with your boss at work, with shopkeepers, with older people you don’t know, and with other strangers.<\/p>\n That’s why you need to consider who you’re talking to when making a request. For example:<\/p>\n When you say “please” in Italian, you are often asking for something or needing help. When you’re in an informal situation, it’s common to use verbs in the present tense. For example:<\/p>\n However, when people say “please” in a formal setting, they often formulate their request using the conditional tense<\/strong>, along with changing the pronoun from tu<\/em> to Lei<\/em>. This also happens in English, where “can” becomes “could”.<\/p>\n Italians often don’t use “please” at all, especially in informal settings. Instead, we ask things with indirect requests and rely on verbal constructions such as:<\/p>\n Or also:<\/p>\n Another way to say “please” in Italian is to use the expression saresti\/sarebbe cos\u00ec gentile da\u2026?<\/strong> which translates as “would you be so kind as to\u2026?”. For example:<\/p>\n Another common request is mi faresti\/farebbe il favore di\u2026?<\/strong>, literally “would you do me the favor of\u2026?”. For example:<\/p>\n If all this seems too much and you are afraid of seeming rude, just stick to per favore<\/em> and per piacere<\/em> and you will never fail, even if you accidentally use an informal pronoun with a stranger.<\/p>\n You don’t use “please” to translate “yes, please”. You must say s\u00ec, grazie<\/strong>, which means “yes, thank you”. Examples:<\/p>\n To translate “no, thank you”, use no, grazie<\/strong>. Examples:<\/p>\n Fammi il favore<\/strong> and mi faccia il favore<\/strong> translate as “do me a favor,” but they are not used to say “please”. They translate as “give me a break”, so they are used ironically. They are often preceded by ma<\/strong>, “but”, and you can also say fammi il piacere \/ mi faccia il piacere<\/strong>. For example:<\/p>\n Fammi il favore\/piacere<\/em> is what you would use with a friend or family member. You would use mi faccia il favore\/piacere<\/em> with someone to whom you need to show a certain amount of respect, but of course I don’t recommend using this expression in a formal setting<\/strong>. It might come across as rude!<\/p>\n Con il favore di<\/strong> can be translated literally as “with the favor of”. It is often used in books to translate “under the cover of night”, such as:<\/p>\n We have seen how to say “please” in Italian. Now it’s time to learn what others can say.<\/p>\n Prego<\/strong> is the most common way to say “you’re welcome” in Italian and can be used in both informal and formal settings.<\/p>\n Di niente<\/strong> and di nulla<\/strong> can be used to translate “it was nothing”. Like prego<\/em>, they can be used in both informal and formal situations.<\/p>\n Non c’\u00e8 di che<\/strong> is the shortened form of non c’\u00e8 di che ringraziare<\/strong>, which literally means “there is nothing to say thanks for”. It can be translated as “don’t mention it”. It’s a bit more formal than the other two translations above, but it can still be used with friends and relatives.<\/p>\n Figurati<\/strong> and si figuri<\/strong> literally mean “imagine yourself”. You use figurati<\/em> in informal contexts, while you use si figuri<\/em> in formal settings. They translate as “don’t mention it”.<\/p>\n Here’s a quick rundown of some of the different words you can use to talk about saying “please” in Italian:<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Turn on the light, please.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Clear the table, please.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Can you get my bag, please?<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Can I speak to Mrs. Bianchi, please?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n<\/strong>The bill, please.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Please fill out this form.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>Per cortesia<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/strong>Would you please help me put these books away?<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Put some water in the pot, please.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Could you please bring me another fork?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>Prego<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/strong>Please have a seat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>Si prega di…<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/strong>Please keep your distance from the yellow line.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Please close the gate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Please hold the line.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Please don’t say anything.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Please let me talk to the doctor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Let’s go, I beg you all.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n<\/strong>I should be most grateful if you would let me know when…<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>Formal vs. informal<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/strong>Can you turn off the light? (informal)<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Can you turn off the light? (polite)<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Can you turn off the light? (plural)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>Verb tenses with “please” in Italian<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/strong>Can<\/em> you please help me?<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Can<\/em> you pass me the jam, please?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Could<\/em> you please help me?<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Could<\/em> you please pass me the jam?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>Indirect requests<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/strong>Would you mind closing the window? (informal)<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Would you mind calling Mr. Rossi? (formal)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Would you make me a cappuccino? (polite)<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Would you make me a decaf?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Would you be so kind as to pass me the salt?<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Mrs. Paoli, would you be so kind as to make me a coffee?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Mom, would you do me a favor and buy two ruled notebooks?<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Would you do me the favor of photocopying this paper?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>When not<\/em> to use “please” in Italian<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/strong>Would you like a cup of tea? – Yes, please.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Do you want some milk in your tea? – Yes, please.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Would you like some more tea? – No, thank you.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Would you like some cookies? – No, thanks, I’m good.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>Idiomatic expressions with “please” in Italian<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Fammi il favore! \/ Mi faccia il favore!<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/strong>You forgot to do your homework? Give me a break!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>Con il favore di<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/strong>The thief escapes under the cover of night.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>How to say “you’re welcome” in Italian<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Prego<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Di nulla\/niente<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Non c’\u00e8 di che<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Figurati \/ Si figuri<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Useful vocabulary for saying “please” in Italian<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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