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N.B.: We use a written accent mark to help students identify word stress and open/closed vowels even though Standard Italian may not require it.


Courtesy Espressions

This list includes courtesy formulas of everyday usage, plus a few that are becoming obsolete. These expressions can be used in formal and informal situations. The main difference is in the use of the subjunctive and the third person or the second person plural for formal expressions, and the use of the imperative with the second person singular for informal situations. The equivalent English expressions are only indicative and are not necessarily used in the same cases.

Italian Expression

Answer

English Expression

Answer

Buon procedimento

-

Enjoy your stay

-

Buona permanenza

-

Enjoy your stay

-

Buone cose

Grazie altrettanto

All the best

Same to you

Ci mancherebbe altro

Don’t mention it

Come non detto

-

Don't mention it

-

Con comodo

-

Take your time

-

Con piacere

-

My pleasure

-

Disturbo se ... apro la finestra?

1. Faccia pure
2. Tutt'altro
3. Ci mancherebbe altro

Does it bother you if ... I open the window?

1. Do as you please
2. On the contrary
3. Don't mention it

Disturbo?

Niente affatto

May I?

Sure

Fa lo stesso

-

Doesn't matter

-

Faccia pure

-

Be my guest

-

Gradisce (un caffè, un bicchierino...)?

-

Would you like (a cup of coffe, a drink)?

-

Grazie

Prego

Thanks, Thank you

Don't mention it

Grazie altrettanto

-

Thank you!

-

I miei rispetti

-

My best to...

-

Le pare (Ma Le pare. ma ti pare)

-

Don't mention it

-

Le spiace se... fumo?

-

Do you mind my... smoking?

-

Neanche a dirlo

-

Don't mention it

-

Non c'è di che

-

Don't mention it
Never mind

-

Non fa niente

-

Never mind

-

Non importa

-

Never mind

-

Non si disturbi

-

Don't bother

-

Non si incomodi

-

Don't bother

-

Omaggi

-

My respect

-

Ossequi

-

My respect

-

Per cortesia

-

Please

-

Per favore

-

Please

-

Per niente

-

Not at all

-

Per piacere

-

Please

-

Permette?

1 Si accomodi, prego
2 Faccia pure

May I come in?

Please come in. Please. Do as you please. Be my guest

Piacere

Piacere mio

Pleasure

My pleasure

Posso aiutarLa

-

May I help you?

-

Posso entrare

Prego, si accomodi

May I come in?

Please come in. Please. <TD

Posso?

-

May I come in?

-

Prego

-

Please come in

-

Scusi

-

I beg your pardon. Sorry.

-

Senza complimenti

-

Don't be shy

-

Si figuri

-

Don't mention it

-

Si può

-

May I come in?

-


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