<\/p>\n\n
Learning grammar and vocabulary is essential, but it is not always enough to hold a spontaneous conversation. Italians constantly use short phrases to react, agree, buy time or show interest in what someone is saying.<\/p>\n\n
These everyday Italian expressions<\/strong> are not necessarily proverbs or idioms. They are short phrases such as allora<\/em>, va bene<\/em>, magari<\/em> and fammi sapere<\/em> that make conversations sound more natural.<\/p>\n\n If you are looking for phrases whose meaning cannot be understood literally, read my article on Italian idioms and expressions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Here are 30 expressions you will hear all the time in Italy.<\/p>\n\n It can mean \u201cHow lovely!\u201d, \u201cThat\u2019s great!\u201d or \u201cHow nice!\u201d. Use it to react enthusiastically to good news or a positive experience.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Domani parto per la Sicilia.<\/em> \u2014 I\u2019m leaving for Sicily tomorrow. <\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n Use it to express disappointment or regret. Depending on the context, it can mean \u201cWhat a shame!\u201d or \u201cThat\u2019s too bad!\u201d.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Non posso venire alla festa.<\/em> \u2014 I can\u2019t come to the party. It means \u201cReally?\u201d or \u201cIs that true?\u201d. Your intonation can convey surprise, curiosity or even disbelief.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Ho incontrato Laura Pausini.<\/em> \u2014 I met Laura Pausini. It corresponds to \u201cThank goodness!\u201d or \u201cWhat a relief!\u201d. Use it when a situation turns out better than expected or when you receive reassuring news.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Non abbiamo perso il treno.<\/em> \u2014 We didn\u2019t miss the train. This is a very common expression whose meaning changes with the context. It can be used in reply to thanks and mean \u201cYou\u2019re welcome!\u201d or \u201cDon\u2019t mention it!\u201d.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Grazie per il tuo aiuto.<\/em> It can also show that something is not a problem:<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Scusa per il ritardo.<\/em> \u2014 Sorry I\u2019m late. This word can express a wish and mean \u201cIf only!\u201d or \u201cI wish!\u201d. As a reply, it can also show enthusiasm about a suggestion.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Ti piacerebbe vivere in Italia?<\/em> \u2014 Would you like to live in Italy? This is one of the most common expressions in Italian. It can mean \u201cOkay\u201d, \u201cAll right\u201d or \u201cThat\u2019s fine\u201d.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Ci vediamo alle otto?<\/em> \u2014 Shall we meet at eight? It also means \u201cOkay\u201d or \u201cAgreed\u201d, although it can sound slightly more explicit than va bene<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Prima finiamo il lavoro e poi usciamo.<\/em> \u2014 Let\u2019s finish the work first and then go out. It means \u201cYou\u2019re right\u201d. When speaking formally to someone, use Ha ragione<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Dovremmo partire prima per evitare il traffico.<\/em> \u2014 We should leave earlier to avoid the traffic. It means \u201cIt depends\u201d and can be used as a complete answer. You can also add the preposition da<\/em> to say what something depends on.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 \u00c8 difficile imparare l\u2019italiano?<\/em> \u2014 Is it difficult to learn Italian? This expression downplays a problem, mistake or apology. It means \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter\u201d or \u201cNo worries\u201d.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Ho dimenticato di portare il libro.<\/em> \u2014 I forgot to bring the book. This is a colloquial way to introduce an impression or suspicion. It can mean \u201cI think\u2026\u201d, \u201cIt looks like\u2026\u201d or \u201cI have a feeling that\u2026\u201d.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Mi sa che oggi piover\u00e0.<\/em><\/p>\n\n \u2014 I think it\u2019s going to rain today.<\/p>\n\n Do not translate it literally: in this expression, sapere<\/em> does not retain its usual meaning of \u201cto know\u201d.<\/p>\n\n Allora<\/em> can mean \u201cthen\u201d, but Italians also use it to start a conversation, return to a topic or prompt someone to answer.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Allora, cosa facciamo stasera?<\/em><\/p>\n\n \u2014 So, what are we doing tonight?<\/p>\n\n Its precise meaning depends heavily on intonation.<\/p>\n\n Use it to explain an idea more clearly, correct it or rephrase it. It can correspond to \u201cthat is\u201d, \u201cin other words\u201d or \u201cI mean\u201d.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Non voglio uscire. Cio\u00e8, vorrei restare a casa e riposarmi.<\/em><\/p>\n\n \u2014 I don\u2019t want to go out. I mean, I\u2019d like to stay home and rest.<\/p>\n\n This word can summarise an explanation, express impatience or suggest that something was not entirely satisfactory.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Com\u2019\u00e8 andato l\u2019esame?<\/em> \u2014 How did the exam go? It means \u201cActually\u201d or \u201cIn fact\u201d. Use it to correct information or introduce an idea that contrasts with what was said before.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Pensavo che Marco fosse romano, ma in realt\u00e0 \u00e8 napoletano.<\/em><\/p>\n\n \u2014 I thought Marco was from Rome, but he is actually from Naples.<\/p>\n\n It means \u201cLet me think\u201d. It is useful when you need a few seconds before answering.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Qual \u00e8 il tuo film italiano preferito?<\/em> \u2014 What\u2019s your favourite Italian film? It literally means \u201cLet\u2019s see\u201d, but in conversation it can also buy time or avoid giving a definite answer.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Vieni con noi domenica?<\/em> \u2014 Are you coming with us on Sunday? To discover more ways to organise your speech, see my list of Italian connectors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n This is one of the most versatile words in spoken Italian. It can mean \u201cCome on!\u201d, \u201cGo on!\u201d or even \u201cNo way!\u201d.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Dai, vieni con noi!<\/em><\/p>\n\n \u2014 Come on, join us!<\/p>\n\n With a different intonation, it can also express disbelief:<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Ho vinto mille euro.<\/em> \u2014 I won a thousand euros. Use it to encourage someone. Depending on the context, it can mean \u201cCome on!\u201d or \u201cYou can do it!\u201d.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Forza, manca poco!<\/em><\/p>\n\n \u2014 Come on, you\u2019re nearly there!<\/p>\n\n You will also hear it constantly in sport: Forza Italia!<\/em>, Forza Roma!<\/em> and Forza Ferrari!<\/em><\/p>\n\n Use it to reassure someone. The ending must agree with the gender of the person you are addressing.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Scusa, ho fatto un po\u2019 di confusione.<\/em> \u2014 Sorry, I got a bit confused. It means \u201cDon\u2019t worry\u201d. In formal situations, use Non si preoccupi<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Forse arriver\u00f2 con qualche minuto di ritardo.<\/em> \u2014 I may be a few minutes late. Use it to encourage someone who is going through a difficult time or facing something challenging.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Domani ho un esame molto difficile.<\/em> \u2014 I have a very difficult exam tomorrow. It means \u201cYou can do it!\u201d or \u201cYou\u2019ve got this!\u201d. The verb changes with the person: ce la faccio<\/em>, ce la fai<\/em>, ce la facciamo<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Non riesco a finire questo esercizio.<\/em> \u2014 I can\u2019t finish this exercise. Use it to ask the reason for something. It is similar to \u201cHow come?\u201d or \u201cWhy?\u201d. It often sounds more curious and less confrontational than a simple perch\u00e9?<\/em><\/p>\n\n \u2014 Oggi non vai al lavoro?<\/em> \u2014 Aren\u2019t you going to work today? It means \u201cIn what sense?\u201d or \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d. It lets you ask for clarification without bringing the conversation to a halt.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Questo lavoro non fa per me.<\/em> \u2014 This job isn\u2019t for me. It means \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d or \u201cWhat\u2019s your opinion?\u201d. The pronoun ne<\/em> refers to the topic being discussed.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Vorrei trasferirmi a Bologna. Che ne pensi?<\/em><\/p>\n\n \u2014 I\u2019d like to move to Bologna. What do you think?<\/p>\n\n This is a natural and slightly more emphatic way to say \u201cI have no idea\u201d.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 A che ora arriva Paolo?<\/em> \u2014 What time is Paolo arriving? It means \u201cLet me know\u201d or \u201cKeep me posted\u201d. Use it when you expect someone to tell you about a decision or update.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Non so ancora se posso venire.<\/em> \u2014 I don\u2019t know yet whether I can come. Use it to make a suggestion naturally. Depending on the context, it can mean \u201cDo you feel like\u2026?\u201d or \u201cWould you like\u2026?\u201d.<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Ti va di prendere un caff\u00e8?<\/em><\/p>\n\n \u2014 Do you feel like having a coffee?<\/p>\n\n After ti va<\/em>, you can use a noun or the preposition di<\/em> followed by an infinitive:<\/p>\n\n Here are some of these expressions in a conversation:<\/p>\n\n \u2014 Allora, ti va di bere qualcosa dopo il lavoro?<\/em> In English:<\/p>\n\n \u2014 So, do you feel like having a drink after work? Learning expressions through a dialogue helps you understand not only their meaning, but also the situations and intonation in which they are used.<\/p>\n\n Do not try to memorise all thirty expressions at once. Choose five that would be useful in your conversations and create a personal sentence with each one.<\/p>\n\n You can also:<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n In spoken Italian, intonation can considerably change the intention of expressions such as dai<\/em>, allora<\/em>, figurati<\/em> and magari<\/em>. Listening to and using them in context is therefore far more effective than studying only their translations.<\/p>\n\n An everyday expression is a common phrase with a communicative function, such as va bene<\/em>, fammi sapere<\/em> or che ne pensi?<\/em> An idiom is a combination of words whose meaning cannot always be understood literally.<\/p>\n\n Most of them belong to informal or neutral conversations. Some must be adapted in formal situations: for example, Non ti preoccupare<\/em> becomes Non si preoccupi<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n Depending on the intonation, dai<\/em> can encourage, urge, invite or express surprise. It can correspond to \u201cCome on\u201d, \u201cGo on\u201d, \u201cYou can do it\u201d or \u201cNo way\u201d.<\/p>\n\n Magari<\/em> can express a wish and mean \u201cIf only\u201d or \u201cI wish\u201d. As a reply to a suggestion, it can also show enthusiasm and mean \u201cI\u2019d love to\u201d.<\/p>\n\n To begin with, va bene<\/em>, non fa niente<\/em>, come mai?<\/em>, fammi sapere<\/em>, ti va?<\/em> and non ne ho idea<\/em> are especially useful. You will hear all of them very frequently in real conversations.<\/p>\n\n Knowing these expressions will help you understand Italians better, react more quickly and prevent your conversations from sounding like a string of literally translated sentences.<\/p>\n\n However, for expressions such as magari<\/em>, dai<\/em> and figurati<\/em> to become spontaneous, you need to hear and use them in real conversations.<\/p>\n\n You can practise spoken Italian in my one-to-one online Italian lessons<\/a> or join my online Italian group courses<\/a>, where we work on conversation, grammar and vocabulary through real communicative situations.<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Discover 30 everyday Italian expressions with translations, examples and a dialogue to help you speak and react more naturally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":13793,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grammatica-en","category-italian-language-study"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nItalian expressions for reacting<\/h2>\n\n
1. Che bello!<\/h3>\n\n
2. Che peccato!<\/h3>\n\n
3. Davvero?<\/h3>\n\n
4. Meno male!<\/h3>\n\n
5. Figurati!<\/h3>\n\n
6. Magari!<\/h3>\n\n
Expressions for agreeing or giving an opinion<\/h2>\n\n
7. Va bene<\/h3>\n\n
8. D\u2019accordo<\/h3>\n\n
9. Hai ragione<\/h3>\n\n
10. Dipende<\/h3>\n\n
11. Non fa niente<\/h3>\n\n
12. Mi sa che\u2026<\/h3>\n\n
Words for organising a conversation in Italian<\/h2>\n\n
13. Allora\u2026<\/h3>\n\n
14. Cio\u00e8\u2026<\/h3>\n\n
15. Insomma\u2026<\/h3>\n\n
16. In realt\u00e0\u2026<\/h3>\n\n
17. Fammi pensare\u2026<\/h3>\n\n
18. Vediamo\u2026<\/h3>\n\n
Italian expressions for encouraging someone<\/h2>\n\n
19. Dai!<\/h3>\n\n
20. Forza!<\/h3>\n\n
21. Tranquillo! \/ Tranquilla!<\/h3>\n\n
22. Non ti preoccupare<\/h3>\n\n
23. Coraggio!<\/h3>\n\n
24. Ce la fai!<\/h3>\n\n
Expressions for keeping a conversation going<\/h2>\n\n
25. Come mai?<\/h3>\n\n
26. In che senso?<\/h3>\n\n
27. Che ne pensi?<\/h3>\n\n
28. Non ne ho idea<\/h3>\n\n
29. Fammi sapere<\/h3>\n\n
30. Ti va?<\/h3>\n\n
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Dialogue using everyday Italian expressions<\/h2>\n\n
How to learn Italian expressions effectively<\/h2>\n\n
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Frequently asked questions about everyday Italian expressions<\/h2>\n\n
What is the difference between an everyday expression and an idiom?<\/h3>\n\n
Are these expressions formal or informal?<\/h3>\n\n
What does dai mean in Italian?<\/h3>\n\n
What does magari mean?<\/h3>\n\n
Which expressions should I learn first?<\/h3>\n\n
Learn to speak Italian more naturally<\/h2>\n\n