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292 discussions from all categories
Have a seat / make yourself comfortable
See you soon — “a presto” is the standard Italian farewell when you expect to see the person again in the near future. Warmer and more personal than the neutral…
Wow! / goodness! / darn! An exclamation of surprise, admiration or mild frustration — "accidenti!" ranges from "wow!" to "oh man!" depending on tone.
Boring / tedious — adjective meaning 'boring', 'tedious', or 'annoying'.
Hi / hello / bye — the universal informal Italian greeting and farewell. One word for both "hello" and "goodbye".
Exact / exactly — used to confirm something is correct.
Excuse me / may I pass? The politeness word Italians say when entering a room, squeezing past someone, or boarding a crowded bus.
Exactly / precisely / that's exactly the point / just so — the Italian word of emphatic agreement that pins down a shared thought. Literally "on point".
That's why / that explains it — phrase meaning 'that is why', used to conclude an explanation.
Easy — adjective meaning 'easy', 'simple', or 'not difficult'. One of the most common Italian adjectives.
Wow! / my goodness! / good heavens! A mild, old-fashioned exclamation of surprise or admiration — "accipicchia!" is the gentle, family-friendly "wow!".
Quiet! / shh! / be quiet! "Zitto!" is the sharp command for silence; the adjective "zitto" means "silent / quiet".
Magnificent / wonderful — adjective of high praise for something beautiful or excellent.
Be careful / pay attention — imperative phrase telling someone (informal) to be careful or watch out.
This morning
Are you kidding? / you must be joking! "Scherzi?" is the incredulous reaction when someone says something unbelievable or absurd.
Well... / so... / um... The hesitation word that buys time, softens an answer, or opens a thought — "beh" is the Italian verbal throat-clearing.
