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Italian Sentence Structure

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By OptiLingo • 5 minute read

Learn how to write sentences in Italian and use direct objects, indirect objects and prepositions

Understanding grammar will help you on your way to foreign language fluency . When learning the Italian language , generally speaking, Italian sentence structure is almost identical to English sentence structure. Word order is commonly: Subject – Verb – Direct Object :

I eat apples. Io mangio le mele.

However, when you add an adjective, it does follow the noun (the apple red, instead of the red apple).

I eat red apples. Io mangio le mele rosse

Additionally, the word order with Italian grammar is quite flexible. For example, in English it is perfectly acceptable to say:

Tomorrow , I’m going to work. Domani vado a lavoro. I’m going to work tomorrow. Vado a lavoro domani.

Word order is a function of what information is more important and bears additional stress. Italian allows you to use fewer words, depending on the order you use.

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Forming Questions

Like English, Italian lets users choose how they want to ask questions, depending on where the speaker wants to put the emphasis. There are three ways of conveying the meaning of a question and the desired focus for the answer to that question.

1) Use of inflection 2) Use of question phrase 3) Switching subject and verb order

Use of Inflection

The easiest way to form a question in Italian doesn’t even require you to change anything other than your inflection . You can say the sentence exactly as you would if you were stating it, then raise your voice at the end to indicate it is a question.

Can you help us? Puoi aiutarci? You speak Italian? Parli italiano?

Use of Question Phrase

Just like English, adding question words to the beginning of a sentence is a simple way of creating a sentence.

The following are some of the most common Italian questions words:

Another way to turn a sentence into a question is adding a question phrase at the end of a sentence. The most common is the phrase “vero?” or “non è vero?”. It’s the same thing as adding in English phrases like “don’t you?”, “haven’t?” or “isn’t it?”.

You speak English, don’t you? Parli inglese, vero? This is the right way, isn’t it? Questo è il modo giusto, vero?

Switching Subject and Verb Order

The last way to form a sentence is switching the order of the subject and verb. Place the verb first, and make the subject second to form a question.

Does your sister arrive? Arriva tua sorella? Has my father called? Ha chiamato mio padre?

Changing Pronouns and Adjectives

Though you may expect it to change, the use of “who” and “whom” does not change based on gender. “Chi” is equivalent to who, which is gender neutral because you don’t know the answer when you ask it.

Who is there? Chi è là? To whom did you give the book? A chi hai dato il libro?

When you need to ask “whose”, add “è” or “sono” after “chi” to express the possessive form of “who” and “whom”.

Whose book is that? Di chi è quel libro? Whose books are these? Di chi sono questi libri?

Useful Question Phrases

It may be helpful to simply memorize a few phrases for general common questions. This will not only help you start talking a little faster, it will give you more concrete examples of the way to express phrases that you will likely need.

How much does it cost? Quanto costa? How do you get to town? Come si arriva in città? When does the train arrive? Quando arriva il treno? Why are you upset? Perché sei turbato?

The Italian language makes it incredibly easy to form a negative sentence. Adding “non” before a verb in Italian makes the sentence have a negative meaning.

I want to eat. Voglio mangiare. I do not want to eat. Non voglio mangiare. I did walk far. Ho camminato lontano. I did not walk far. Non ho camminato lontano.

For sentences where there is a pronoun before the verb, add “non” before the pronoun instead of before the verb.

She didn’t find it. Non l’ha trovato. Can’t you call me a taxi? Non mi può chiamare un taxi?

There are other words in English that can indicate a negative meaning. These tend to be more specialized words, like “never“ and “nobody”. Instead of adding a single specialized word, Italian keeps “non“ and adds another word following the verb or pronoun.

Nothing non… niente Never non… mai No longer non… più Neither…nor non… né… né

There was nothing in the cabinet. Non c’era niente nell’armadio. She never came back. Non è mai tornata. The cat was no longer inside. Il gatto non era più dentro. We visited neither Rome nor Paris. Non abbiamo visitato né Roma né Parigi.

Some of these actually provide a double negative, which is still considered negative in Italian. The direct translation for “non vedo niente“ is“not [I] see nothing” but it is equivalent to “I see nothing” in English.

The exception to that is the specialized word “nessuno”, referring to people “nobody” and “no one”. When this word is used as subject you don’t add “non”.

No one was in the room. Nessuno era in camera. Nobody came. Nessuno è venuto.

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How to Start and End a Letter or Email in Italian

Letters, although less used today, and emails are both useful ways to communicate and to inform others about specific situations. You can use them for informal reasons, such as catching up with an old friend. Or they can be used to reach out to a company about a potential job offer, or to discuss work projects with clients or co-workers.

In this digital world, emails are becoming more and more indispensable for a wide range of activities that otherwise couldn’t be carried out. This is why it is really important to know how to write them and to not be unprepared when having to compose one. This is especially true in Italy, where people have maintained a certain formal style that at times may seem a bit antiquated.

How to start a letter or email in Italian

It is no secret that depending on the recipient, the structure of the email or letter’s content changes. More precisely, we must pay special attention to the words and expressions used when the receiver is someone you don’t know or the situation requires more polished and formal language.

When it comes to writing an informal email, you are allowed to use everyday language in Italian. For instance, in an informal setting, you can start a letter or email in Italian in the following way:

Cara / Carissima Giulia,

Dear / Dearest Giulia,

You always put the comma at the end of the name and start a new paragraph where you generally write an introduction – not that different from English in this case. It gets harder when you must write to people with the highest qualifications or who belong to specific professional categories. In actual fact, in Italian you may put the abbreviation of the job qualification before the name. Let’s see how it really works.

First of all, in formal situations Caro and Carissimo are substituted by Gentile or Egregio in the following way:

Gentile / Egregio Sig. Francesco Pio,

Dear Mr. Francesco Pio ,

However, when the receiver has an acknowledged title, you can show politeness by substituting Signor ( Mister ) or Signora ( Mrs ) with their qualifications or professional occupation.

Here is a list of the abbreviations used instead of Sig. ( Signore ) or Sig.ra ( Signora ):

• Dott. / Dott.ssa (Anyone who has graduated from higher education or works as a doctor),
• Prof./ Prof.ssa (professor, mostly high school and university),
• Pres. (High school or university dean),
• Avv. (Lawyer),
• Geom. (Surveyor),
• Ing. (Engineer),
• Arch. (Architect),
• Rag. (Accountant),

There are many possible abbreviations, but these are enough to get you started. Remember, however, that if you don’t know what someone’s profession is in Italian, Signore and Signora work fine as well.

After you have addressed the recipient, you can move on to the body text.

How to write the body of a letter or email in Italian

First of all, it is considered more polite to start an email introducing the content with formal structures such as:

• Con la presente le comunico quanto segue… (I hereby inform you as follows …)
• In riferimento alla sua/vostra richiesta… (In reference to your request …)
• In riferimento a quanto in oggetto… (In reference to this subject matter …)
• Come da accordi… (As per agreement …)
• Le invio in allegato… (Please find attached…)
• In risposta alla sua/vostra mail in data…le/vi confermo/sottoscrivo che… (In response to your email dated…I can confirm that…)
• La/Vi contatto in merito al colloquio telefonico per… (I am contacting you with regards to the phone interview to…)
• Con la presente siamo a formalizzare… (We hereby formilize that…)

These are some forms you can use to start your formal letter or email in Italian. It is always be best to start by giving the reason you are writing this email and briefly introducing yourself to help the receiver understand who is he or she is talking to.

It goes without saying that the main part of the email should be located in the second and third paragraph. Here is where you can write the meaningful content and object of the e-mail. In this specific part, you don’t really need to follow a precise structure. However, it is recommended that you keep a polite and formal tone from start to finish.

Things are pretty different when it comes to writing an informal letter or email. In this case, remember that in Italian emails, people tend to get straight to the point without too many frills.

In English, by comparison, you can leave some initial space for a preamble, a parenthesis where you ask after the receiver. Indeed, the following formula is often used: I hope you’re doing well / I hope this e-mail finds you well .

These ways to introduce an email can be also used in Italian, but in general, they are omitted. Nevertheless, if you’d like to start the letter with these expressions, you can feel free to use the following wording:

• Spero tu stia bene, (I hope you’re well)
• Come stai? (How are you?)
• Spero vada tutto bene, (I hope everything is well)

At the end of the day, it’s your choice to opt for a more long-winded and structured email or to go straight to the point. Italians will accept either formula without any qualms.

How to end an email in Italian

There are different ways to end an Italian letter or email according to the degree of formality with which it is written. For example, an informal letter can simply end as follows:

• Ti abbraccio forte (a big hug)
• Un abbraccio (a hug)
• Saluti (Greetings or goodbye)
• Buona continuazione (lit. “Good continuation” – it means “good luck / continue to enjoy whatever you are doing)
• A presto (See you soon)

The forms adopted to end a formal letter in Italian are quite different. Depending on both the degree of formality and the language ability of the author, they can have an infinite variety of shades. Let’s have a look at some of the most used ones and their very literal translations into English!

• Cordiali Saluti / Un Cordiale Saluto (Kind regards)
• Grazie e Cordiali Saluti, (Thank you and kind regards)
• Distinti Saluti, (Best regards / Yours sincerely)
• Le porgo i miei distinti saluti, (I offer you my most cordial greetings)
• La prego di voler gradire i miei più distinti saluti. (Would you please accept my most cordial greetings)
• In attesa di una Sua risposta, Le porgo i miei più cordiali saluti. (Waiting for your response, I offer you my most cordial greetings)
• Ringraziando anticipatamente per la sempre cortese collaborazione porgo cordiali/distinti saluti. (Thanking you beforehand for your continued courteous collaboration, I offer you cordial greetings)
• Ringraziando per la cortese attenzione che vorrà accordarmi porgo cordiali/distinti saluti. (Thanking you for the courteous attention that you will grant me, best regards)
• In attesa di riscontro, resto a disposizione per chiarimenti e porgo cordiali saluti. (I await your reply, I am available for any further information and I offer you cordial greetings)

With these tips, you should be able to write an email or letter so complete and efficient that you may even give the impression of being an Italian native speaker! And don’t forget that in Italy the P.S., Post Scriptum, is often used at the end of the letter to add something that has nothing to do with the main content or to share some information that you forget to include in the email.

About the author: Fabio Guarino As a Linguist and Language Specialist, working as a Freelance Content Writer and SEO Marketer allows me to combine my passions and interests with my career. My favourite thing about working with languages is playing with words. And this is something I’ve always dreamed about since I started to wander the globe and study languages.

Fabio Guarino is a Linguist and Language Specialist who operates as a Freelance Content Writer and SEO Marketer. He considers himself fortunate to be able to blend his passion for his native language, Italian, along with English and Spanish, with his career.

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Italian Sentence Structure

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The correct way to structure a sentence in Italian

Jun asks: “ how do i structure sentences in italian “.

Let's start from this assumption…

The first thing we want to address here is the fact that you are better off not worrying too much about the sentence structure in Italian and go with the general idea that Italian and English use a very similar structure, in most cases.

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Both Italian and English are S V O languages. That is: Subject + Verb + Object

Of course you should remember that in Italian the subject is omitted in most cases and that Italian tends to use definite articles before the Object a lot more often than English does, but at the core, they are more similar than different.

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When is the structure different then?

When pronouns are involved in Italian, you have to remember that these go right before the verb !

My name is Manu

Technically speaking that “MI”, which means “myself” is already the Object of the sentence, but we prefer to just think of it as being part of the verb, so we don't get confused!

Alex loves me

Here the difference between English and Italian stands out, since to Object is clearly in the “wrong” place! But that's because pronouns (direct, indirect and reflexive) always go right before the verb .

Take it as a fact of life. A rule . The norm.

Alex does not love me

When making the sentence negative things look even more weird , but again, what's happening is simply that the pronoun must go before the verb . And as usual the NON goes before the verb … so nothing too weird here, really!

Remember that in Italian we do not have words like DO, DOES, DID used in English to create questions, negative or emphatic sentences.

What happens in longer sentences?

Generally speaking, we'll have the same word order as English. Or better, the same order for the blocks of words that make up the sentence.

DOMANI VADO A FIRENZE PER UNA MOSTRA Tomorrow I'm going to Florence to see an exhibition

Here we have the following “blocks” (groups of words that must remain together):

– DOMANI – VADO A FIRENZE – PER VEDERE UNA MOSTRA

While the previous sentence represents the most standard way of expressing our concept, in Italian we can freely shuffle the blocks around to confer a slightly different meaning .

We can say, for example:

VADO A FIRENZE PER VEDERE UNA MOSTRA DOMANI

By putting the DOMANI at the end of the sentence, we are stressing the WHEN we are doing something, rather than the WHAT we are doing (expressed in the first example above).

DOMANI VAI A FIRENZE PER VEDERE UNA MOSTRA Tomorrow you are going to Florence to see an exhibition

DOMANI VAI A FIRENZE PER VEDERE UNA MOSTRA? Tomorrow are you going to Florence to see an exhibition?

This last sentence often confuses you, since the structure in English would be different when we are asking a question .

But we can, in spoken English, do the same thing as in Italian, that is, asking a question using exactly the same structure as the statement, but raise our pitch: Tomorrow you are going to Florence to see an exhibition (right)?

You see? Same structure as in Italian ! No verb inversion, no DO's or DOES or DID's! 😉

Also remember that, in most cases, in Italian adjectives FOLLOW the noun they are describing.

QUESTO È UN LIBRO INTERESSANTE This is an interesting book

It's tricky in questions…

The time when you really have to be alert and think about sentence structure in Italian should be when you're asking questions .

This is because questions do have a different structure from English . Let's have a look:

QUANDO ARRIVA IL BUS? When does the bus arrive?

As you can see in Italian we start with the Question Word (just like in English) but then we put the verb, with the subject coming in last .

QUANTO COSTA QUESTO LIBRO? How much does this book cost?

PERCHÉ È TRISTE MARIA? Why is Maria sad?

Once again, Italian follows the structure:

QUESTION WORD + VERB + SUBJECT ….?

I'll be honest with you. That is not the best question you could ask. Languages do their own thing , no point in going crazy trying to understand why. Let's just get familiar with the “ exception ” and start using it!

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The secret to structuring questions

When using “ Question Words ” you must use this structure: QUESTION WORD + VERB + SUBJECT …?

Question Words include:

• QUANDO = When
• DOVE = Where
• PERCHÉ = Why
• QUANTO = How much
• CHE COSA / CHE / COSA = What
• QUALE = Which

Just remember to have the verb immediately follow these words and throw the subject of your sentence after the verb , if you need to specify a subject.

Check out these other lessons

How to say SO in italian

How to use the Particle / Pronoun NE (Part 4 of 4)

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50+ Basic Italian Words to Start Mastering the Language

An interactive lesson guiding you from key takeaways to expert insights. Comes with Q&A, useful vocabulary, interactive audio, quizzes and games.

• Beginner Italian tips

Key Takeaways

Readers will learn essential Italian words and phrases to start their language journey, along with effective tips for memorizing and practicing new vocabulary.

• Mastering basic Italian words can enhance your travel experiences and interactions with locals.
• Italians use around 2,000 essential words in daily conversations, making it easier to start speaking.
• Practice common greetings like buongiorno (good morning) and buonasera (good evening) to show respect and interest.
• Learn words in context rather than isolated groups for better retention and practical use.
• Engage in conversations, even with yourself, to practice and reinforce new vocabulary.

Quick facts

Why learn basic italian words before visiting italy, how many words do italians use daily, what’s a simple way to start learning italian, why is learning italian greetings important, how can four basic italian words help a traveler, what’s a mistake beginners make when learning new vocabulary, how can personal interests aid in learning italian, how can you practice italian if you have no one to talk to, what’s the benefit of using audio lessons for learning italian, what’s an easy way to build confidence in speaking italian, audio images.

Why Should I Learn Basic Italian Words?

Are you planning to go to Italy? Do you love Italian food and want to be able to follow Italian recipes? Or maybe you are just curious about this beautiful language ?

Regardless of your aim, mastering basic Italian phrases allows deeper interactions with locals, and transforms a simple learning process into a rich cultural immersion .

Having a vocabulary starter pack in foreign languages often helped me make deeper connections and authentic interactions with people from different cultures, making simple exchanges more memorable and personal.

However, you don’t need to memorize all the Italian terms to start speaking Italian.

The truth is, Italians often use a “selected database” of about 6,500 words for most of their daily conversations , which includes about 2,000 essential words that are used every day.

This means that if you want to speak Italian, you can learn the basic Italian words and then combine such words to compose simple Italian phrases and express basic thoughts.

Italian for Beginners

Whether you want to learn Italian for traveling or just for leisure, learning basic Italian words will help you get started.

To begin your Italian learning adventure, it’s essential to start with the basics. Familiarize yourself with common Italian phrases and words that form the foundation of the language.

A good start might be greetings: a simple buongiorno (good morning) or buonasera  (good evening) can significantly enrich your interactions.

This cultural norm underscores the importance of courtesy in Italian society, enhancing your experience.

By mastering basic Italian phrases, not only do you show respect, but you also open up new experiences. Speaking Italian allows deeper interactions with locals, transforming a simple exchange into a rich cultural immersion.

Whenever a non-Italian person approaches me with a polite greeting I really feel and appreciate their attempt to respect the culture and show interest.

I find it very kind and I try to do it as often as I can in other languages myself!

Are you ready to learn some exciting Italian words for beginners?

• “Ciao”  (hello or goodbye): it is used in both formal and informal situations. You can use it to greet your friends, family, or even strangers on the street.
• “Grazie”  (thank you): it is always a good idea to be polite and show your appreciation when someone does something for you.
• “Mangiare”  (to eat): if you are a foodie, then you must learn some food-related Italian words . Take notes, and learn pranzare (to have lunch) and cenare  (to have dinner).
• “Dove” (where): if you are planning a trip to Italy , then it is important to know how to ask for places.

So, I will show you that with only four words you can already find a solution in case you are hungry and have no idea where to go!

“ Ciao, dove mangiare? Grazie! ”

It might not be fully grammatical, but I promise you that most Italians will help you if you ask politely, especially if they see you are putting effort in interacting with them!

Let me drive you through other important basic words!

50+ Basic Italian Words for Beginners

Write these basic words in a notebook that you’ll carry with you. It may help you when you want to communicate with Italian speakers .

How can I Learn Basic Italian Words?

Learning new words in a foreign language always seems to be a struggle.

Several times I tried to memorize new vocabulary using flashcards, writing the new words down, and at the end of the day, it seemed that I had learned nothing.

So, how can I make the most of my study sessions and learn effectively ? Here are my tips for memorizing new words in Italian:

Learn a few Words per Session

A common mistake that beginner language learners make when they approach a new language is trying to learn everything at once.

My advice is to divide words into clusters and learn them in separate groups.

Be careful though! You should learn new vocabulary in context , not in topic groups. By this I mean that you do not need to learn all the words about food, all the words about clothes, or all the words about animals.

Will you be needing every single term of each topic group? I’ll answer for you: no.

For me, it works better when I learn words in the context where they are used.

Learn the Words you are Interested in

The most direct consequence of what I said a few lines before, is that you should start learning words you are interested in.

Let’s say you are passionate about cooking. What is more entertaining than learning Italian words by reading food blogs, Italian recipes, or food-related magazines?

Whatever is your passion or interest, try to integrate it into your study. It will make your learning process much more engaging and smoother !

You can read an article in Italian about a topic you’re interested in. Choose beginner-friendly articles , which don’t have complex phrases or grammar patterns.

Underline the words you don’t know or the sentences you don’t understand, write them down in a notebook, and look for their meaning in a dictionary.

You’ll be surprised by how easy it is to memorize new words if they’re related to a topic you enjoy.

Engage in Conversations to Practice

It will sound crazy, but I promise you that having conversations with yourself is very useful for practicing new words.

Whenever I want to practice my vocabulary in a foreign language and I have nobody to talk to, I talk to myself!

You can do it whenever you want. Under the shower, while cooking, or working out. The dangerous part of this practice is that you do not receive direct feedback, but I am confident that you will go back to your notes whenever you feel you need it.

Consider Joining a Course

Last but not least, entrust old but gold methods: language courses .

Audio lessons are one of the most powerful tools to learn new vocabulary. Research proves that learning through speech and repetition is effective, mimicking the way we picked up our first language as kids.

In case you feel too crazy having conversations with yourself, try conversing with an AI tutor .

With real-time audio feedback and easy-to-follow bilingual transcripts , you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’re not just learning, but actually conversing in Italian.

Italian Sentences for Beginners

Now that you have learned the most common basic Italian words, you can try and put them into sentences to create easy yet useful phrases.

These sentences often focus on fundamental vocabulary and straightforward grammar, enabling learners to grasp essential communication skills.

Sono felice.

I am happy.

Mi piace il gelato.

I like ice cream.

Dove abiti?

Where do you live?

Che ore sono?

What time is it?

Grazie mille!

Thank you very much!

Per favore.

Buon compleanno!

Happy birthday!

Buona notte!

Good night!

I love you.

Non capisco.

I don’t understand.

Parli inglese?

Do you speak English?

Quanto costa?

How much does it cost?

Vorrei un caffè, per favore.

I would like a coffee, please.

How beautiful/nice!

Whether it’s simple greetings, everyday expressions, or basic questions, these introductory Italian sentences lay the groundwork for building confidence and proficiency in the language.

With each new word, beginners unlock a vibrant mosaic of Italian vocabulary, enabling them to engage in meaningful Italian conversations and embrace the richness of the Italian language.

Would you be brave enough to test your Italian skills now?

Your Italian Journey Begins Here

Are you ready to embark on a journey to learn Italian basics? Well, buckle up because it’s going to be an exciting ride!

Learning basic Italian words is your first step towards a deeper understanding of Italy’s vibrant heritage.

Whether you’re planning to travel, enjoy Italian cuisine more authentically, or simply engage with locals in their native tongue, mastering these essentials transforms simple interactions into memorable experiences.

Start learning Italian now and enhance every aspect of your Italian adventures! Use the resources I mentioned, and don’t hesitate to practice daily!

Test your knowledge in 10 quick questions

Match the phrases, memory game.

Buongiorno!

Good morning!

Dove si trova il bagno?

Where is the bathroom?

Mi piace questo.

I like this.

Può aiutarmi, per favore?

Can you help me, please?

What is the most basic greeting in Italy?

Ciao is the most common greeting, and it works for both saying hello and goodbye in informal situations.

How many Italian words do I need to know?

Italians typically get by in everyday conversations using around 6,500 words. This includes a core set of 2,000 words they use daily.

One Response

Wow, this is exactly what I needed! Grazie mille! ☺️

Marco Rossi: Great list! Can’t wait to start learning these words. Grazie!

Lisa Johnson: Thank you for sharing! I’ve always wanted to learn Italian, and this is a perfect starting point. Grazie tanto!

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The History of the Word “Ciao” & Why You Shouldn’t Say it in Italy

I’m out of town taking care of a post-surgery mother, so I decided to republish an older piece this week. Here’s a blast from the past, in case you missed it when it was published originally in 2014! I’ll be back to new articles next week when I get home.

Ciao Bella – by Chris Brown (creative commons)

We’re led to believe that we’ve got a handle on the Italian language before we even get off the plane in Rome. I’m guilty of this – I used to tell my Italian students they would never starve, having ordered many a meal at an Italian restaurant before. But the truth is that although some Italian words won’t sound so foreign to your ear, there are cultural nuances in the language that you can’t know unless you know the culture.

Take, for instance, the word ciao . It can mean “hello” and “goodbye.” It’s crossed borders, becoming a greeting used all over the world. And yet? You really shouldn’t be saying it when you go to Italy.

I know, right? Let me explain.

Ciao: A Brief History

Ciao – by Martins Krastins (creative commons)

The word ciao (pronounced CHOW) is, today, thought of as very much Italian, but its origins are in the Venetian dialect. (That dialect has proven to be a rich source of words we use in English, too, but that’s a subject for another article.) In the Venetian dialect, the phrase s-ciào vostro means “I am your slave” – and over time, the phrase was abbreviated to simply s-ciào , while retaining the same meaning. Although the connotation even among Venetians was more akin to “I’m at your service,” or “holler if you need me,” that old phrase eventually morphed into the word still used in Italian for “slave” – schiavo (pronounced sk|YA|vo).

Because of this history, Italians – even those who aren’t Venetian and can’t speak or understand the Venetian dialect – seem to instinctively know that ciao isn’t an innocuous greeting to be thrown around to anyone you meet. They’ve been brought up thinking it’s incredibly informal – too informal – and not to be used in polite company. You’ll find this to be especially true with older generations.

What does this mean for you, the traveler? It means that if you want to offer a polite greeting to a shop owner, a waiter, or just someone you pass in the street, you’ll need to have an alternative to ciao .

Other Ways to Say Hello/Goodbye (Besides Ciao)

Sadly, the all-purpose application of ciao – being used for both hellos and goodbyes – doesn’t apply to any of the alternatives. For these options, it depends usually on what time of day it is.

• salve – My personal favorite stand-in for ciao is salve (pronounced SAL|veh), which means a polite but not overly formal “hello.” It’s short, it’s easy to pronounce, and it doesn’t matter what time of day it is – you can greet someone with salve day or night. The only issue here is that it’s only a greeting, it’s not a form of “goodbye” – it only works for “hello.”
• buongiorno – This translates as “good day,” so it’s used anytime before the late afternoon or evening, and it works as a “hello” and a “goodbye.” It’s pronounced bwon|JOR|no. (Note that although it’s technically okay to say “buongiorno” as a goodbye, it’s more accurate among Italians to say “buona giornata” when parting.)
• buon pomeriggio – If you want to get really fancy with your time-of-day greetings, pull a buon pomeriggio out of the hat. It’s “good afternoon,” used roughly from after lunch until evening. This one also works as a “hello” and “goodbye.” It’s pronounced bwon pom|eh|REE|jo.
• buona sera – Buona sera is “good evening,” used in the evenings, and it also serves as both “hello” and “goodbye.” It’s pronounced bwon|ah SEH|rah. (As with “buongiorno,” though it’s technically also a goodbye, it’s more accurate to say “buona serata” when parting.)
• arrivederci – You’ve probably heard arrivederci (pronounced ah|ree|veh|DEHR|chee) before, but this is also the informal version of a more formal greeting (and when you don’t know someone, it’s best to always default to the formal). If someone is already familiar to you and has used arrivederci on you, then by all means use it back. This one only means “goodbye,” however – not “hello.”
• arrivederLa – The formal version of arrivederci is arrivederLa (pronounced ah|ree|veh|DEHR|la) – and yes, the L is supposed to be capitalized in the middle of the word. Like arrivederci , this one is also only a “goodbye.”

For the record, I usually go with salve or whichever of the buongiorno / buona sera options is appropriate for the time of day.

But I heard an Italian say ciao…

Ciao – by harmon (creative commons)

Here’s the thing – you’re going to hear ciao being said all the time when you’re in Italy, and then you’re going to wonder why I made such a fuss about it. If you’re paying attention, though, you’re likely to notice that the people using it with one another are very familiar – they’re not casually passing in the street or exchanging money for goods – and they’re typically in the same peer group. An Italian teenager who waves goodbye to her friends with a ciao and a couple of cheek kisses will still turn around and use one of the other options listed above on a stranger or an elder.

Italian is a living language, and some of this is changing. It may not be too far in the future when ciao is perfectly acceptable and carries none of its former “slave” connotations. Even if that happens, however, Italian remains one of the languages that has a formal and informal version, and it’s never a good idea to start with the informal. I’ve gotten more than a few unappreciative looks from Italians to whom I said ciao before I realized what was going on.

Will you make mistakes? Sure. We all do. And if you can avoid it, if you can say salve instead of ciao , you might end up on an Italian’s good side, getting compliments on your language skills along with extra big smiles. They genuinely appreciate it when we try – and succeed – with their language, and there’s nothing like that look of gratitude.

42 responses to “The History of the Word “Ciao” & Why You Shouldn’t Say it in Italy”

As a student of Italian in Australia I enjoyed your explanation of Ciao and the origins- As I am coming to Italy in both July and again in September with other students, I will certainly be aware of situations of when and where to use ciao and will make sure I am more polite when addressing strangers – Thankyou

You’re welcome, Pamela! I’m glad it was useful. As I said in the article, I typically default to “salve” as a greeting most of the time.

Of course we are very tolerant with tourists who use “ciao” in wrong ways: we are aware that it is one of the most known italian words in the world. It is true that we would never even say “ciao” to our dentist, or even to our mother in law, if they don’t use it with us first. If someone answers to your “ciao” with a cold “buongiorno” he could be thinking: “we are not brothers, we are not friends, who *** are you?”. We could say that you can use “ciao” when there are not (more) social barriers between you and your interlocutor. But sometimes it can be roughly used to underline them: your boss may salute you with a “ciao”, but you are supposed to answer “buongiorno” o “arrivederci”. This means “I can say ciao to you as I would do with a kid or a servant, but you can’t do the same”. All this is quite strange if you think of the venetian original word, that meant so much respect. Anyway in small villages of Salento (south of Puglia region) you will receive a “ciao” by strangers in the street. It’s weird, but it makes you feel safe and at home. Very nice blog! Ciao! 🙂

Thank you so much for the comment! I think for foreign visitors, the confusion is in not knowing the layers of social levels and when it would be okay to use “ciao” and when it wouldn’t. We know the layers are there, but we don’t always know what they are. So it’s just safer to start with something like “salve” and avoid the cold “buongiorno,” I think! 🙂

That’s interesting to hear that “ciao” is used so regularly with strangers in Salento. I wonder if that’s true of other more rural places in Italy?

I ‘m not sure, but I believe that in every other rural place of Italy they are much more formal. In Salento they also regularly use the familiar “tu” instead of “lei” o “voi” at first glance in streets and shops. This is quite uncommon: it is considered impolite in the rest of Italy.

How interesting, that they also use the “tu” as a default. I’ve not yet been to Salento, now I’m even more curious about it!

Ciao vs. chow. Which came first? How could 2 countries thousands of miles apart come up with the same word that sounds the same and basically means the same thing????

Well, “chow” is just the English phonetic spelling of the Italian word. The correct spelling is still the Italian one. 🙂

Maybe he meant to type chao? Because in the US, chow is definitely food (with a humorous hint) or to eat food like “Chow down on on this burrito”.

I thought “chow”(in English) meant food? Not Hello/Goodbye…

It depends on context. I’ve seen people write “chow” when they meant “ciao” in English, but usually “chow” does mean food.

Ohio is an informal ‘Good Morning’ in Japanese. Or a US State.

I’m sure there are dozens of these coincidences in languages around the world.

Hehehe, well, really at least where i am from Firenze (Florence), we use alot of dialect, and ciao is pretty common espacially as teenagers, altough what you say is true, that’s really lost in old italian, ‘Salve’ is what i would say if i entered a shop, but if i entered my friend’s home i would say ciao if i am comfortable with him. I am actually a little bit ashamed of my Italian, its not very “high class” and i don’t use much Jargon, but if you google ‘accento di un carabiniere’ you will hear the polite way to speak Italian, anyway nice article and i apolagise in advance if i misspell some words.

Thank you for your comment! I agree, I say “ciao” with people I know – but I’ve learned to start with “salve” with strangers. 🙂 I like the tip about “accento di un carabiniere” – I’ll have to try that!

Hello, as a native speaker even if I agree with your translation I’d like to offer a tip. even if is true that you can use buongiorno e buona sera for both, hello and goodbye, they sound quite strange. As goodbye, better to use buona giornata and buona serata instead.

Thank you for the insight, Elisa! I’ll have to update my article. 🙂

It’s even a bit trickier than that. I live in Salento, Puglia. I have a large group of friends with whom I use the familiar form ‘tu’ ‘te’ or ‘ti’ all the time. At the end of the evening’s exertions, when you drive your friend(s) back home or vice versa, we usually say “buona notte” because it’s understood that the evening is over and everyone’s going to bed, no more carousing etc. Often it’s combined with a ‘ciao’ just for good measure: “Ciao! Buona notte!”

If instead, you take leave of some friends mid evening, so they are very likely not calling it quits and going home to beddy-bye, and are instead going to continue their evening elsewhere, then buona serata is perfect – “have a good evening”. I totally agree that in this context “buona sera”, though correct, is frigidly formal. (say it to the waiters in a restaurant, or the staff at a theater, any one with whom you are NOT informal, as you leave.)

Hope this adds some clarity, but …

Yes, the language is so much more nuanced when you get beyond simple exchanges as a short-term visitor! I’m sure every language is that way, though. Thanks for the additional input, Will!

Any more language hints?

Ha! Plenty. I just haven’t gotten around to writing about them yet. 🙂

If you definitely know their evening hasn’t finished, say “buona serata” when waving goodbye, as it implies they’ll be doing other things after leaving you.

Also I lived in Salento and yes they do sound rough and uncultured to Italian years with their unwarranted familiarity. If you’re a foreigner just follow the local mores, or if in doubt go formal.

Agreed, my default is formal, until I learn otherwise. Better safe (and polite!) than sorry. 🙂 Thanks for the comment!

I like your explanation of the history of the word ciao, although the translation really is “hi” and “bye.” Knowing this, it is apparent why one would not use such an informal phrase with someone one does not know well, such as a shopkeeper, taxi driver, etc.

Thanks for the note! In the US, though, “hi” and “bye” are commonly used whether you know someone or not, so a more detailed explanation was called for. 🙂

Lovely explanation. And a very interesting conversations following in the comments. Thank you very much. Coming to Italy in October – can’t wait!

Thanks for the note, Sheryl, & I agree – I loved the contributions in the comments. Thoughtful readers are so wonderful. 🙂

Thanks for the derivation. I learned pretty quickly that “Ciao” was only used with friends/family, but no one ever mentioned the background of the word. Another expression to take one’s leave that I’ve heard a lot is, “Buon proseguimento della giornata,” or “di serata” or “di vacanza” or “di lavoro”…

Wow, those options are mouthfuls, aren’t they? 🙂 Thanks for the note!

thanks for the explanations. a great topic for any of us visiting Italy, until the customs change.

You’re most welcome, Marty!

I leave tonight for a month’s stay in Italy, and this one page has given me invaluable information on how to conduct myself while I’m there. Thank you so much!! I’ll be there for the 3-day San Trifone Festival in Bari. Does anyone have any experience with that celebration?

Thanks so much for your note, Christine! I love hearing stuff like this. 🙂 Have a wonderful trip!

Thank you! Leaving in early March for 9 days in Italy. This is helpful.

You’re welcome, I’m glad it’s useful! Have a great trip.

It all depends on whether the rapport is dominantly casual or formal – simple as that. No, not so simple. In some places, like a great deal of the South, familiarity often comes fairly quickly- (the first evening one meets someone. Among coevals maybe within the initial conversation! But some Southerners – more rigid, or with more pronounced bourgeois origins, might take exception to that. And the North is generally different, but again, many exceptions. It takes practice, intuition, and resiliency for those inevitable mistakes.

I’ll never forget the anecdote a British friend told me about a midday visit to a bar/trattoria in a tiny remote town lost in the mountainous North. The taciturn owner had barely acknowledged him when he entered and it soon became clear that he had no special regard for foreigners. And of course my friend, at that time not even a novice in Italian, but a very nice guy, greeted him with a loud, cheery “Ciao!”. The guy looked him straight in the eyes, without the slightest hint of kindness, and repeated back, slowly, strongly, wonderingly “Ciao!??” as though he were inquiring “Who the f@ç# do you think you are??”

Cracking up right now picturing it.

Don’t be in any way discouraged. The vast majority will welcome you and forgive any gaffes. Here’s a tip: go ahead and correct yourself, if you think you may have just made a mistake “Excuse me, maybe I should say ‘buona serata’ instead?” You will sound at once intelligent, sensitive and attuned.

I can imagine the look on the barkeep’s face. 🙂 And yes, this is why I always suggest people default to the formal.

In 1962 on an auto stop trip the driver of a lovely Lancia told us ciao was derived from service. Thanks confirming and explaining it! I never knew whether to believe him.

What a fun anecdote! Thanks for sharing it.

Please never say “Salve”! Take a decision: or ciao or Buongiorno (or Buona sera). Ciao!

I’ve had the exact opposite advice on multiple occasions – especially about not saying “ciao.”

A Vietnamese word for hello and good bye is CHAO, which also pronounce the same as CIAO.

Do you have any clue about this coincidence? Vietnamese history is about 3000 years old.

Oh, how fascinating! I have no idea why the words would sound the same. I know Vietnam and France have a historical connection, but I don’t know about any connection between Italy and Vietnam.

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StoryLearning

Learn A Language Through Stories

84 Incredible Italian Idioms For Every Occasion

Everyone knows popular idioms in their own language — they are a dime a dozen – and as you learn Italian , you'll see that Italian idioms are no exception . But what idioms really are, exactly, is a little more difficult to say. 

The word idiom comes from the latin idioma (which itself, in turn,  comes from ancient Greek) and means “ a peculiarity, property, a peculiar phraseology.” (It’s the same word in Italian, by the way)

So basically, idioms can help in expressing something specific you want to say easily and simply, without beating around the bush. You can use idioms by themselves, or as part of a sentence.

“It’s raining cats and dogs,” for instance, works fine by itself, while “the best of both worlds” or for something to “get out of hand” needs words around it to make sense. Like in English, this is also the case for Italian. So far, so good.

So what are Italian idioms like? They can’t just be a translated version of the English ones, you must be thinking. But there are actually a large number of Italian idioms that are just that, and then of course there are a whole lot of language-specific ones.

This article is all about showing you the most popular, frequently used idioms in Italy, so you can incorporate them into your language learning and speech. 

By the way, if you want to learn Italian fast and have fun, my top recommendation for language learners is my Uncovered courses, which teach you through StoryLearning®.  Click here  to find out more about Italian Uncovered and try out the method for free.

Get Ready To Discover 84 Common Italian Idioms

All Italian idioms listed below will have short explanation, an example sentence in which the idiom is translated literally, and another sentence, in brackets, meant to explain the meaning if it’s unclear, often with a similar English idiom.

This is so you know how to use these Italian idioms, but also what they really mean word for word. Here goes nothing. 

1. In Bocca Al Lupo

Literally meaning in the mouth of the wolf, this translates to “good luck” in Italian. You use it by itself, when you want to tell someone you’re rooting for them. 

• Oggi devo fare l’esame di matematica.
• In bocca al lupo!  
• – I have to take a maths exam today. 
• In the mouth of the wolf! 
• [Good Luck!]

2. Costa Un'occhio Della Testa

This is a great one for when you want to say something is too expensive. Literally meaning “an eye off of the head,” it is not clear from where else one would be able to take an eye, but it makes a great visual point. 

• Quella macchina ti costerà un occhio della testa.
• That car is going to cost you an eye from the head. 
• [That car is going to cost you an arm and a leg.]

3. Buono Come Il Pane

This one is cute — it means “good like bread,” and is most often used in connection to a person. Some people are as great as bread, really. 

• Matteo è buono come il pane. 
• Matteo is good like bread. 
• [Matteo is a great guy.] 

4. A Mali Estremi, Estremi Rimedi 

There is a similar saying in English which goes “desperate times call for desperate measures” and means the same thing. 

• Ho chiuso la macchina con le chiavi dentro! A mali estremi, estremi rimedi… sono costretta a rompere il finestrino.
• I closed the car with the keys inside! To bad extremes, extreme remedies… I am forced to break the window.
• [I closed the car with the keys inside! Desperate times require desperate measures… I am forced to break the window.]

5. Perdersi In Un Bicchier d’Acqua

Literally “to lose yourself in a glass of water”, this Italian idiom means to make a big deal out of a rather small problem, or to panic unnecessarily. 

• Vedrai che risolveremo tutto, non perderti in un bicchier d’aqua!
• You’ll see we will solve everything, don’t lose yourself in a glass of water!
• [You’ll see we will solve everything, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.]

6. Conosco I Miei Polli 

A very popular idiom, this is often transliterated by Italians to the English “I know my chicken” as a joke. This means that you know about something, or someone, so well that you know what is going to happen or what they will do. 

• Ti faccio una pasta perché avrai sicuramente fame. 
• Ma come lo sapevi? 
• Conosco i miei polli!
• I’ll make you some pasta because I’m sure you’ll be hungry.
• How did you know? 
• I know my chickens! 
• [I know you like the back of my hand.]

7. Non Avere Peli Sulla Lingua

”To not have hair on one’s tongue” is said about people who don’t beat around the bush and always say exactly what they mean. 

• Carla non ha peli sulla lingua — dice quello che pensa. 
• Carla doesn’t have hairs on her tongue — she says what she thinks. 
• [Carla speaks her mind.]

8. Tra L’incudine E Il Martello 

The Italian version of “being stuck between a rock and a hard place,” it can be used in any place you’d use the English idiom, like this:

• Non so cosa fare, mi trovo tra l ’ incudine e il martello.  
• I don’t know what to do, I find myself between the anvil and the hammer. 
• [I don’t know what to do, I find myself between the devil and the deep sea.]

9. Hai Voluto La Bicicletta? Allora, Pedala! 

Great to tell someone to both “be careful what they wish for” and “sleep in the bed they made”, this expression is sort of a playful chastisement. 

• Sei stato tu a voler venire qui. Hai voluto la bicicletta? Allora, pedala! 
• You were the one who wanted to come here. You wanted a bike? So now, pedal! 
• [You were the one who wanted to come here. You made your bed, now lie in it.]

10. Pane Al Pane E Vino Al Vino

Wonderfully intuitive and easy to understand, this often used idiom means to see, and say, things as they are. 

• Luciana non ha nessun problema a dire pane al pane e vino al vino.
• Luciana  doesn’t have any problems with saying bread to bread and wine to wine. 
• [Luciana doesn’t have any problems with being candid.]

11. Avere Il Sale In Zucca

“To have salt in a pumpkin” is a strange idiom from Roman times, when people used to conserve their valuable, expensive salt inside everyone’s favourite autumn vegetable. Today as back then, not to have it in there means to have little common sense. 

• Hai fatto una stupidaggine, tu non hai sale in zucca. 
• You did a stupid thing, you don’t have much salt in (the) pumpkin. 
• [You did a stupid thing, you’re not the brightest bulb in the box.]

12. Ti Sta A Pennello

…means that something “suits someone like a glove”, or looks very good on them. 

• Che bello quel vestito, ti sta a pennello! 
• What a pretty dress, it suits you to a (paint) brush! 
• [What a pretty dress, it suits you to a t.] 

13. Rompere Il Ghiaccio 

Translated as “to break the ice” it means the same exact thing and is used the same as the English idiom. 

• Ho detto una barzelletta perché volevo rompere il ghiaccio. 
• I told a joke because I wanted to break the ice. 

14. Sputa Il Rospo!

To spit the rospo , or “ toad ” in English, is something like “to spill the beans,” but it’s mostly used when the thing about to be said is unpleasant, embarrassing or otherwise negative. 

• Devo dirti un segreto, ma ti prego, non arrabbiarti. 
• Dai, sputa il rospo!
• I have to tell you a secret, but please don’t get angry. 
• Come on, spit the toad! 
• [Come on, spit it out!]

15. Con Le Mani Nel Sacco

When you catch someone with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar, you’d say this in Italian: 

• Digli la verità, ti ho colto con le mani nel sacco! 
• Tell her the truth, I caught you with your hands in the sack! 
• [Tell her the truth, I caught you with your hands in the cookie jar!] 

16. Come Viene Viene

Very similar to the English “let’s see how it goes,” this idiom is quite iconic for the Italian style of leaving things be as they are, or improvising. 

• La mia focaccia non ha una ricetta – come viene viene. 
• My focaccia doesn’t have a recipe — however it comes (out), it comes (out). 
• [My focaccia doesn’t have a recipe — let’s see how it turns out.]

17. Morto Un Papa Se Ne Fa Un Altro 

Some Italian sayings are so uniquely Italian that you can’t really find a corresponding one in English. Like this next one, which is about the pope and has nothing to do with a father, or papá in Italian, and means that absolutely no one is irreplaceable: 

• Non lavora più con noi. Va bene, morto un papa se ne fa un altro. 
• She doesn’t work with us any more. Fine, (if) one pope dies you make another. 
• [She doesn’t work with us any more. Fine, if one door closes, another one opens.]

18. L’Abito Non Fa Il Monaco

In English, a perhaps lesser-known translation of this saying also means that “it’s not the clothes that make a man”, i.e. that appearances are not what’s important. 

• L’abito non fa il monaco. 
• It’s not the cowl that makes a monk. 
• [Clothes do not make the man.]

19. Cadere Dalle Nuvole 

Everyone has had the feeling — you think everything is going swell, only to suddenly see or understand something only you didn’t, up to that point. This is also an existing expression in English: 

• Laura mi ha lasciato. Dice che non mi ama più…sono caduto dalle nuvole. 
• Laura has left me. She says she no longer loves me…I have fallen from the clouds. 
• [Laura has left me. She says she no longer loves me…what a slap in the face.] 

20. Ogni Morte Di Papa 

Another saying that mentions the pope — there seems to be something about the highest office of the catholic church to make Italians creative with their Italian idioms. This one means “once in a blue moon,” since being pope ordinarily a lifetime position that changes pretty rarely — a blue moon happens a lot more often, in fact. 

• Quante volte viene a trovarti?  
• Ogni morte di papa. 
• How often does she come visit you? Every death of the pope.
• [Once in a blue moon.] 

21. Ogni Due Per Tre

Reportedly of Spanish origin, this one is the opposite of the previous entry, meaning something happens very often. 

• Dice bugie ogni due per tre. 
• He tells lies every two for three. 
• [Two out of three things he says are untrue.]

22. Tale Madre/Padre Tale Figlio/a

If you want to say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree to an Italian person, you’d say: 

• Francesco ha i tuoi stessi occhi. Tale padre, tale figlio. 
• Francesco has your same eyes. Like father, like son. 

23. Tutto Fa Brodo 

Food related Italian idioms abound in Italy, and this one is no exception. You would use it anytime you’d want to say “might as well” or “what’s the harm.” 

• Posso invitarti a cena? 
• Tutto fa brodo, a questo punto. 
• Can I invite you to dinner? 
• Everything makes broth, at this point. 
• [Sure, why not.]

24. Un Pezzo Grosso 

“A big chunk” is a big chunk whether it comes to pie, money, or change. But in Italian, it means something a little different: a big shot. 

• Non so se è vero, però ho sentito che si è fidanzata con un pezzo grosso. 
• I don’t know if it’s true, but I heard she got engaged to (/is dating a) big shot. 

25. Cervello Di Gallina 

It’s a known fact that chickens aren’t very smart. So in Italian as well as in English, saying that someone is “chicken-brained” isn’t too flattering.  This entry does just that, with the small difference that gallina actually means “hen.”

• Ho dimenticato il mio cellulare di nuovo. Che cervello di gallina che ho!
• I forgot my cell phone again. What a hen-brain I’ve got! 
• [I forgot my cell phone again. What a scatterbrain I am!]

26. Avere Il Braccio Corto

No use denying it: nobody likes a cheapskate. In Italy, those people are recognized by a telling and strange bit of anatomy: 

• Sicuramente non chiedo a Francesco, che ha il braccino corto .
• Surely I won’t ask Francesco, who has a short [little] arm.
• [Surely I won’t ask Francesco, who is a cheapskate.]

27. Non Vedo L’Ora!

When you haven’t seen an Italian friend in a while and are on the phone with them discussing when to meet, this is what you’d tell them to let them know you're looking forward to it: 

• Sarà bellissimo rivederti, non vedo l’ora! 
• It will be great to see you again, I can’t see the hour! 
• [It will be great to see you again, I can't wait!]

28. Che Palle!

Charming and not entirely safe for work, this idiom is one of the funnier, less serious ones. Strangely, an idiom that references testicles is not really taboo to use in a work environment, for instance. 

• Dobbiamo stare qui per tutto il giorno.
• We have to stay here the whole day. 
• What balls! 
• [What a pain (in the backside)!]

29. Stare Con Le Mani In Mano

One of the simple Italian idioms that are quite literal in their meaning, this one is for those times you’re standing around doing absolutely nothing, or want to complain about someone else being the opposite of useful:

• Ma guarda questo, sta con le mani in mano a far niente.
• Well look at that one, standing with his hands in his hand doing nothing.  
• [Well look at that guy, standing there not lifting a finger.]

30. Non Ci Piove

What an expression to say that there’s no doubt has to do with rain, we don’t know, but it is charming and funny to say. When you want to say that there are no two ways about something, try this: 

• Hai commesso un errore gravissimo, su questo non ci piove.
• You have made a big mistake, on this it doesn’t rain. 
• [You have made a big mistake, that’s for sure.]

31. Piove Sul Bagnato

Another idiom with a rain theme, this one is more logical and self explanatory, with a very similar version in English, “when it rains it pours,” meaning that bad things seldom come alone: 

• Mi hanno ritirato la patente, e poi qualcuno mi ha rubato la macchina… piove sul bagnato. 
• I had my drivers license taken away and then someone stole my car…it’s raining on wet [things]. 
• [I had my drivers license taken away and then someone stole my car… bad things come in threes.]

32. Acqua In Bocca!

Staying on the larger topic of Italian idioms about water, to have “water in (your) mouth” in Italy means to keep something to yourself. This would be easier to do with a mouthful of water to hold on to, you’ll have to agree. 

• Devo dirti una cosa, ma per favore, acqua in bocca! 
• I have to tell you something, but please, water in the mouth! 
• [I have to tell you something, but please, keep it to yourself.]

33. Avere Un Diavolo Per Capello

In stressful, difficult times, there is no better Italian idiom to use than this one, which illustrates perfectly what it feels like to be beside yourself with anger. 

• Sono arrabbiatissima, ho un diavolo per capello.
• I am very angry, I have one devil for each hair. 
• [I am so angry, I’m seeing red.]

34. Cavallo Di Battaglia

This one is pretty easy: you use it anytime you want to say about something that it is your area of expertise, or more specifically that something is your best work. You can say this about someone else too, of course. 

• Quel film è il cavallo di battaglia del regista.  
• That movie is the director’s battle horse. 

35. Tirare Un Pacco/Dare Buca

…is what flakes do in Italy. When you get stood up, this is a great way to make the story sound funnier than it feels. 

• Mi sa che Laura mi ha tirato un pacco.
• Ti ha dato buca? Mi dispiace. 
• I feel like Laura threw me a parcel.
• She gave you a hole? I’m sorry. 
• [I feel like Laura has stood me up. 
• She flaked out? I’m sorry.] 

36. Rompere Le Scatole

An old, tongue-in-cheek expression that is the child-friendly origin of a number of more popular, adult Italian idioms, intended to show how much someone is annoying you. 

• Mamma, non voglio andare a casa! 
• Piertro, non rompermi le scatole. 
• Mum I don’t want to go home!
• Pietro, don’t break my boxes. 
• [Pietro, don’t get on my nerves.] 

37. Prendere Lucciole Per Lanterne 

This idiom can be used when you feel like someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes or if you think someone is just not getting something, misunderstanding you. 

• Non sarò un gran genio, ma non sono neanche il tipo che prende lucciole per lanterne.
• I may not be a great genius, but I’m also not the type to take candles for lanterns. 
• [I may not be a great genius, but I’m also not the type to be clueless/easily tricked.]

38. Mani In Pasta

An idiom that has a similar corresponding phrase in English: “to have ones fingers in the pie,” this can also be used to say that you're busy with something else at a given moment. 

• Quella donna ha le mani in pasta ovunque. 
• That woman has her hands in the dough everywhere.
• [That woman always intervenes in other people’s matters.]

39. Cadere L’Occhio

In its literal translation the meaning seems obvious, since there is a similar expression in English – use it when something “catches your eye.” 

• Visto che mi ci cade l’occhio, uno di voi due potrebbe spiegarmi cosa fa qui questo cane? 
• Seeing as my eye is falling on it, could one of you two explain to me what this dog is doing here? 
• [Since it has caught my eye, could one of you two explain to me what this dog is doing here?]

40. Fare (Qualcuno) A Polpette

“To make meatballs of someone” is as self-explanatory as it sounds like a retro mafia threat. Great one to use if you’re looking for a not-so-subtle effect. 

• Se mai ti vedrò parlare con mia figlia, ti faccio a polpette. 
• If I ever see you talking to my daughter, I will make you into meatballs. 
• [If I ever see you talking to my daughter, I’ll make mincemeat out of you.]

41. Mettere Lo Zampino

This one is all about meddling in other people’s affairs, or putting your nose where it doesn’t belong, even if the image is cuter somehow. 

• E' qualcosa che non ti riguarda, non mettere lo zampino.
• This is something that doesn’t concern you, don’t put your [little ] paw [in it]. 
• [This is something that doesn’t concern you, don’t put your nose into other people’s business.]

42.Carta Canta

This is an idiom that emphasizes the importance of setting things down on paper, because like Lenin said, trust is good but control is better. An antique version of the idiom below is verba volant, scripta manent — words fly, scripture stays. 

• Non ci serve un contratto, sai che puoi fidarti di me! 
• Lo so, ma carta canta. 
• We don’t need a contract, you know you can trust me!
• I know, but paper sings. 
• [I know, but it's better to write things down.] 

43. Sei Un Coniglio 

While bunnies are cute, being one in the eyes of another person usually doesn’t mean anything too flattering. When someone tells you this in Italy, what they really mean is that you are a chicken.

• Patrizia, per certe cose, ha molto coraggio, per altre è un coniglio.
• In certain situations, Patrizia has a lot of courage, in others she is a rabbit. 
• [In certain situations, Patrizia has a lot of courage, in others she is a wallflower.] 

44. Mandare All’aria

Intuitive in its meaning, this idiom sounds somewhat like “throwing caution to the wind”, but the meaning is not quite that. Instead, it’s about messing something up, squandering it, or throwing it away. 

• Cara, non puoi mandare all'aria tutta la tua vita per lui. 
• Darling, you can’t throw your whole life away because of him. 

45. Da Che Pulpito Viene La Predica! 

Remember this one for when people want to give you unwanted advice they themselves couldn’t follow. Much like saying “you’re a fine one to talk,” but somehow more dramatic. 

• Secondo me devi lasciarlo immediatamente. 
• Senti da che pulpito viene la predica! 
• I think you have to leave him immediately. 
• Listen from which pulpit the lecture is coming from!
• [Look at that, the pot calling the kettle black.] 

46. Fare Le Ore Piccole 

Those familiar with the Sinatra record In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning will understand the point of this idiom, which is to stay up late. 

• Sono stanchissimo perché ieri ho fatto le ore piccole.
• I am very tired because yesterday, I made small hours. 
• [I am very tired because yesterday, I painted the town (red).]

47. Un Ago In Un Pagliaio 

Another one of those Italian idioms with a literal English translation, you’ll recognise this one if you’ve ever searched for something you were unlikely to find. 

• Trovare Maria sarà come cercare un ago in un pagliaio, ma forse saremo fortunati.
• To find Maria will be like looking for a needle in a haystack, but maybe we will have some luck. 

48. Cavare Un Ragno Dal Buco

Similar to the previous item on this list, this idiom is closer in meaning to “squeezing blood from a stone”, as in something that is not only difficult, but seems impossible — especially used to say you can’t get someone to tell you what you want to know. 

• Mi sa che non caveremo un ragno dal buco con Giulia.
• It seems to me like we won’t dig a spider out of the hole with Giulia. 
• [It seems to me like we won’t squeeze blood from a stone with Giulia.]

49. Buio Pesto 

Unusual, just as “pitch black” is an unusual way to refer to darkness if you really think about it. Note that pesto in this context has nothing to do with the green, basil pasta sauce. 

• Io non vado nella cantina, è buio pesto laggiù!
• I’m not going to the cellar, it’s pitch black down there! 

50. Piovere A Catinelle 

A great way to describe heavy rain, this is the equivalent of: “it’s raining cats and dogs” — another great, nonsensical idiom. Catinelle are shallow basins, and it’s not clear why those things would be used to describe heavy rain, since you can’t fit much water in them. Oh well. 

• Non posso uscire, sta piovendo a catinelle!
• I can’t come out, it’s raining basins! 
• [I can’t come out, its coming down in buckets!]

51.Dai Tempo Al Tempo 

A wise thing to say when faced with a problem of bleak outlook, to tell someone to “wait and see” is almost never the wrong advice.

• Non mi ha richiamato, sto disperando. 
• Dai tempo al tempo, e vedrai che le cose si sistemeranno. 
• He didn’t call back, I am getting desperate. 
• Give time to time and you will see, things will work themselves out. 
• [Let it be for a while and you will see, things will work themselves out.]

52. Ho Fatto Tombola

While the word tombola literally means “raffle,” it is used in the context of getting a good deal, or hitting the jackpot. 

• Direi che hai fatto tombola, allora! 
• I would say you’ve made raffles, then! 
• [I’d say you’ve made a bargain, then!]

53. Vai A Farti Benedire!

Benediction is serious business in Italy, a strongly religious nation. Still, it’s hardly blasphemous to tell someone to get one if you want them to get out of your sight. 

• Non voglio vederti più. Vai a farti benedire! 
• I don’t want to see you any more. Go get yourself blessed!
• [I don’t want to see you any more. Beat it!]

54. Stare Sullo Stomaco 

According to Italians, when someone gets on your nerves, it feels like a meal that’s heavy in your stomach. So about that bothersome guy at work you’d say: 

• Bruno è cosi fastidioso… mi sta sullo stomaco. 
• Bruno is so annoying… he gets on my stomach. 
• [Bruno is so annoying…he rubs me the wrong way.]

55. Morire Dal Ridere, Morire Di Sonno, Morire Di Fame, Morire Dal Caldo/Freddo

There are many things you can figuratively die from according to Italian idioms. If something is too funny, a place too cold or a day too long, you can always add some drama by saying it is killing you. For added effect, say you’re dying of it right now, like this: 

• Sto morendo di fame!
• I am dying of hunger. 

or like this:

• Lei è divertente da morire. 
• She is funny, to die for.

56. Matto Da Legare/Matto Come Un Cavallo 

Italians think nutty people ought to be tied down — figuratively, of course. So if you’re talking about someone who is mad as a hatter, that’s what you should say. Alternatively, you can compare them to a horse, which is strange because horses are not really known to be crazy. 

• Quel tipo è matto da legare.
• That guy is fit to be tied.
• [That guy is nuts.]
• Ma sei matto come un cavallo, tu. 
• You are mad as a horse. 
• [You are mad as a hare.]

57. Farfalle Nello Stomaco 

Another one of those Italian idioms that's just a literal translation of the English one about being in love, it still sounds so much better like this, just because it’s Italian. 

• Ieri ho incontrato il mio nuovo vicino… ho le farfalle nello stomaco. 
• Yesterday I met my new neighbour… I’ve got butterflies in my stomach. 

58. Ridotto All’Osso 

Down to the bone is similar to ridotto all’osso , in that it means that something is reduced to the bare minimum. 

• Il mio stipendio è stato ridotto all’osso. 
• My salary has been reduced down to the bone. 

59. Arrampicarsi Sugli Specchi 

This is an interesting idiom because it has several, related but distinct meanings. You can use it to say you are trying something that seems impossible, like the “spider in the hole” example above.

Or to say that someone has opinions that are not based on fact or truth, or that someone is trying to justify a wrong argument to defend a bad thing. A little like “clutching at straws.”

• Questo non è vero, adesso non cercare ad arrampicarti sugli specchi. 
• That is not true, now don’t try to climb up on mirrors.
• [That is not true, you're grasping at straws.]

60. Stare Sulle Spine

An almost literal translation of the English “on pins and needles,” this idiom means the exact same thing, as well, meaning that you can’t wait for something — usually it’s to be told information, rather than looking forward to a holiday. 

• Dai, non farmi stare sulle spine. 
• Come on, don’t make me stand on needles. 
• [Come on, I’m on pins and needles.]

61. Lacrime Di Coccodrillo 

Like quite a few of the Italian idioms in this list, including the previous one, this idiom has an English equivalent, too. 

• Non devi fidarti delle sue lacrime di coccodrillo. 
• You can’t trust her crocodile tears.  

62. Leccarsi I Baffi

When something is finger-licking-good, Italians lick their mustaches. Men, but also women and children. It’s just something to say.  

• Questa è una cena da leccarsi i baffi!
• This is a dinner to lick your mustache over! 
• [This is a dinner to lick your fingers over.]

63. A Quattro Palmenti 

This idiom is mostly used in connection with eating, meaning that someone is really stuffing their face, getting a massive amount of food down: 

• Ieri da Mario ho mangiato a quattro palmenti. 
• Yesterday at Mario’s, I ate to four millstones. 
• [Yesterday at Mario’s, I ate like a pig.]

64. (Essere) Un Asino

To be a donkey requires no explanation — unless you’re a donkey. 

• Vincenzo, sei veramente un asino. 
• Vincenzo, you really are a donkey. 
• [Vincenzo, you really are a fool.]

65. A Perdifiato

This is what you say when something takes your breath away, literally. Like running a marathon, say, or running around like a headless chicken, as they say, to meet a deadline. 

• La maratona è domani.
• Allora corri a perdifiato!
• The marathon is tomorrow. 
• So run until you lose your breath!

66. Buon Viso A Cattivo Gioco

A close English translation of this idiom would be to “grin and bear it,” meaning that you’ve got to smile even though you may not feel like you have reason to. 

• Sapevo che era una bugia, però ho dovuto far buon viso a cattivo gioco.
• I knew it was a lie, but I had to make a nice face to a mean game. 
• [I knew it was a lie, but I had to sit there and pretend it wasn’t.] 

67. Non (Essere) Tutto Un Chilo

Similar to calling someone un asino, a donkey, this idiom is a not-all-too-nice way of letting someone know you think they may have a screw loose. Theories abound as to why not being “one whole kilogram” would suggest that, but no definitive conclusion has been reached. 

• Federica, non vorrei offenderti, ma tu proprio non sei tutta un chilo. 
• Federica, I wouldn’t want to offend you, but you really are not all of a kilo. 
• [Federica, I wound’t want to offend you, but you really have a screw loose.]

68. O La Va O La Spacca!

Near-impossible to translate literally, this idiom is for those hail Mary moments, those times you feel like it's now or never. It’s also the name of a famous Italian TV show .

• Senti, lo devi fare per forza, qua o la va o la spacca. 
• Listen, you have got to do it, here it’s make or break. 

69. Pieno Come Un Uovo

Eggs are pretty full, if you think about it. Sure, if it weren’t for this idiom, you probably wouldn’t, but that may kind of be the point. Use this idiom when you want to say a place is packed, or that something else (like your stomach) is totally full. 

• Sono tornata, il posto era pieno come un uovo.
• I came back, the place was full like an egg. 

70. Ad Occhi Chiusi

You’d use this figure of speech the same way you do its English sibling: when you want to say that you can do something “in your sleep,” or with your “right hand tied behind your back.”

• Potrei guidare questa macchina anche con gli occhi chiusi.
• I could drive this car with [my] eyes closed. 

71. Piangere Sul Latte Versato 

Another of those Italian idioms present the same exact way in the English language, this one is often said wrongly as “crying over spoiled milk,” which can be excused since in both ways, the meaning stays the same, which is: what’s done is done. Still, correctly, it looks like this: 

• La cena era stata un disastro, ma non volevamo pensarci. Era inutile piangere sul latte versato.
• The dinner had been a disaster, but we didn’t want to think about. It was useless crying over spilled milk. 

72. All’Impazzata 

Everyone knows what it’s like when your heart starts racing, whether it’s over something exciting or nerve-racking. Turns out Italians do, too. 

• Ogni volta che la vedo, il cuore mi batte all’impazzata. 
• Sarai inamorato.. 
• Each time I see her, my heart beats like crazy. 
• You must be in love. 

73. Liscio Come L’Olio

Italians love olive oil, so it’s only expected that there should be an idiom related to it. Well, it’s actually related to oil more generally, but hey. In this case, it means something went well, without a hitch. 

• Sorprendentemente, il matrimonio è andato tutto liscio come l’olio.
• Surprisingly, the wedding went off sleek like oil. 
• [Surprisingly, the wedding went as planned.]

74. A Gonfie Vele 

And we will stay on track with this next idiom, of similarly positive meaning: full speed ahead. 

• Mi aspetto che l'appuntamento stasera vada a gonfie vele.
• I expect that the date tonight will go with inflated sails. 
• [I expect that the date tonight will go swimmingly.] 

75. Due Pesi E Due Misure

This is a handy phrase for when you want to tell someone they are unfairly using a double standard. 

• Lei può fare tutto mentre a me non permette niente… questi sono due pesi e due misure.
• She can do everything while she doesn't allow me to do anything… this is a double standard/double yardstick. 

76. Prendere Due Piccioni Con Una Fava

“To kill two birds with one stone” surely sounds familiar. This is basically that saying, but a little more specific in terms of the bird and the tool.  

• Come mai sei venuto a portarmi queste cose personalmente?
• Ero vicino e pensavo di prendere due piccioni con una fava.
• How come you came to bring me these things personally? 
• I was nearby and thought I’d take two pigeons with one (fava) bean. 

77. Ho Il Cuore In Gola!

This is a familiar feeling to most people: you’re about to do something exciting or scary, your ears get hot and your heart rises up into your throat.  

• Ieri ho dovuto parlare di fronte a tantissima gente, avevo il cuore in gola.
• Yesterday I had to speak in front of a lot of people, I had my heart in my throat. 

78. Testa Di Legno 

This idiom is to be used when you are frustrated with someone’s stubbornness, their inability or unwillingness to understand your point. 

• Ma perché non capisci quello che ti dico, testa di legno! 
• Why don’t you understand what I am telling you, head of wood! 
• [Why don’t you understand what I am telling you, you’re stubborn as a mule!]

79. A Gambe Levate

Sometimes there are situations in which you can do nothing but run like hell. This is an idiom for those times. 

• Ci hanno visto, dobbiamo correre a gambe levate! 
• They saw us, we have to run with legs up! 
• [They saw us, we have to run like hell.]

80. Fare Il Punto Della Situazione

Occasionally, you’ve got to take stock of a given situation and look at what you’ve got. To suggest doing so, you’d say: 

• Questo mi sembra il momento giusto per fare il punto della situazione.
• This seems to me to be the right moment to make a point of the situation. 
• [This seems to me to be the right moment to sum things up.]

81. Che Ne So

Mostly used in situations where you’d like to make a point of not knowing something, “what do I know” often has an element of “what do I care.” Use it sparingly, in situations like this: 

• A che ora arriverà tua madre? 
• What time will your mother arrive?
• What do I know… 

82. Un Colpo Grosso 

Un colpo grosso mostly has a positive connotation, as in some major good thing that happens, a big deal. 

• Lo so che sarebbe veramente stato un colpo grosso per te.
• I know it would really have been a big deal for you. 

83. Metterci Una Vita!

To take a lifetime to do something is mostly too long, but sometimes, this idiom can be used in a way that says “I’ll do something even if it takes me a lifetime.” Otherwise, you’d use it like this: 

• Dai, siamo già in ritardo, adesso non metterci una vita! 
• Come on, we’re already late, now don’t take a life[time]! 

84. Avere Una Cotta

Just like having a crush, but in a more Italian sort of way. This isn’t an Italian idiom that can be translated word for word, so we used the word “crush” in the example below, even if the word isn’t the same. 

• A quanto pare, mi sembra che sei tu ad avere una cotta per lui. 
• For what it’s worth, it seems to me like it’s you who has a crush on him. 

Italian Idioms For Every Occasion

So there you have it: 84 Italian idioms to sprinkle into your Italian conversations to impress your Italian friends or family.

While a list of Italian idioms like this one is a great starting point, to really start learning and using these idioms, you'll need to immerse yourself in italian.

Try to spot these Italian idioms and others when you're in daily contact with the language, whether that's by reading Italian blogs , watching Italian movies and YouTubers or listening to Italian podcasts .

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Most Important Coordinating Conjunctions in Italian and More

Without conjunctions, we would be talking like robots, putting together a sequence of detached sentences. You might not realize this, but conjunctions are a very important part of our language. They have the important job of coordinating and linking phrases.

So, let’s discover and practice the most commonly used conjunctions in Italian (including coordinating conjunctions in Italian), because these little bricks in your sentences will help you connect your Italian phrases and make your Italian conversation flow. And this is exactly what you’ll need to speak Italian like a pro! (See how I used conjunctions to link the last three sentences?) 🙂

As you can see, even the most simple Italian conjunctions can make a huge difference.

But before learning Italian conjunctions, let’s take a more detailed look at what a conjunction is.

Table of Contents

• What is a Conjunction?
• Italian Conjunctions to Correlate Similar Thoughts
• Italian Conjunctions to Express Condition
• Italian Conjunctions to Express Cause
• Italian Conjunctions to Express Opposition
• Italian Conjunctions to Express Purpose
• Italian Conjunctions to Express Time
• Italian Conjunctions to Explain
• Italian Conjunctions to Express a Conclusion
• ItalianPod101: Your Guide to Italian Grammar & Culture

1. What is a Conjunction?

Conjunctions serve as connectors to link together two or more sentences or groups of words. They are invariable, meaning that they don’t change—and this is good, because you won’t have to worry about the agreement of feminine, masculine , singular, or plural.

There are two types of Italian conjunctions:

• Italian coordinating conjunctions, which put together two or more elements of the same importance
• Italian subordinating conjunctions, which put together two or more elements establishing a dependence

For example, take Vado in pizzeria e poi al cinema (meaning “I go to a pizzeria and then to the movies,” when translated). In this sentence, e poi (and then) are two coordinating conjunctions.

But if I say, Vado in pizzeria perché ho fame (or “I go to the pizzeria because I am hungry,” when translated), this is a subordinative conjunction, because going to the pizzeria depends on the fact that I am hungry (in this case, it’s the cause).

Now, are you ready to learn Italian conjunctions? We thought so! Without further ado, here’s our Italian conjunctions list!

2. Italian Conjunctions to Correlate Similar Thoughts

Let’s start with some basic Italian conjunctions: those that correlate similar thoughts.

E : This is the very first conjunction you’ll learn when you start studying Italian. E means “and,” and it’s impossible to do without because you use it to link two or more words in a sentence:

“I eat bread and cheese.” ( Mangio pane e formaggio .)

It can also link two sentences/verbs:

“I went to the movies and I saw a nice Italian film.” ( Sono andato al cinema e ho visto un bel film italiano .)

Whenever you write in Italian, pay attention to the difference between e to connect parts of your phrases and the third person verb è ( it is ) that needs the accent. This is a very common mistake that many young Italian students make, and nonetheless it’s a red pen mistake! To help you remember, here’s a little filastrocca (nursery rhyme):

E senza accento lega, È con accento spiega.

“ E with no accent binds, È with an accent explains.”

Take a look at this Italian conjunctions chart to see how other common and useful correlative Italian conjunctions work:

3. Italian Conjunctions to Express Condition

Se non piove, vado al mare. ( If it doesn’t rain, I’ll go to the beach.)

This is a very common sentence structure that you’ll often need when you want to talk about a hypothetical situation. To do so, you’ll need to use another one of the most common Italian conjunctions, se (if), which is used to introduce a hypothetical sentence.

What does “hypothetical” mean? Simply that you’re stating a doubt, or a possibility (either realistic or impossible) that could occur. The difference between being realistic or not is actually very important in Italian, since what tenses you’ll use in your sentence depend on this.

Look at the example in the table to see the difference. Do you want to know more about Italian verbs and tenses ?

4. Italian Conjunctions to Express Cause

Oggi vado al mare perché c’è il sole (Today I go to the beach since it is sunny.)

Perché (since; because) is one of the most useful Italian conjunctions to know and use, because it explains the reason or the cause behind some action.

Other conjunctions to express cause are poiché, siccome , and visto che . They are synonyms of perché and also mean “since.” Notice how, unlike perché , they can be at the beginning of a sentence.

• Poiché non mi chiami, vado da sola. ( Since you didn’t call me, I’ll go by myself.)
• Siccome piove, non vado al mare. ( Since it’s raining, I won’t go to the beach.)
• Visto che sei italiano, devi sapere fare la pizza! ( Since you’re Italian, you must know how to make pizza!)

Sono Italiano ma non so fare la pizza! La mangio solamente… (I’m Italian, but I can’t make pizza. I only eat it… )

Another difference is that perché is also used to ask a question: Perché non vai al mare? (Why don’t you go to the beach?).

So you see that while in English there are two separate words for it ( why and because ), depending on whether it’s a question or an answer/explanation, in Italian, they’re the same word: perché . And don’t forget to put the acute accent on the é at the end of perch é !

Perché? Perché sì! (Why? Just because!)

5. Italian Conjunctions to Express Opposition

These conjunctions in Italian are the perfect tool when you want to make an excuse for some action. So obviously, they’re very useful to help you politely decline an invitation, an opinion you don’t agree with, or a second helping of lasagna from your friend’s grandma…

The most common conjunctions to express opposition are ma or però (both mean “but” when translated):

• Mi piacerebbe andare al mare, ma oggi devo studiare. (I would love to go to the beach, but today I have to study.)
• Capisco il tuo punto di vista, però non sono d’accordo. (I understand your point of view, but I don’t agree.)
• La lasagna è buonissima, ma sono proprio sazio! (The lasagna is fantastic, but I am really full!)

6. Italian Conjunctions to Express Purpose

Affinché, così , and perché all mean “so that.”

Whenever you want to express the purpose of an action that you stated in the main sentence, use conjunctions such as per, affinché, cosí , or perché , which all mean “so that.” For most of these, you need to pay extra attention because they require the use of the congiuntivo (the subjunctive tense).

• Ti chiamo perché tu capisca la situazione. (I’m calling you so that you understand the situation.)
• Scrivo l’esercizio affinché tu possa correggerlo. (I’ll write down the exercise so that you can correct it.)
• Lo spiego di nuovo cosí che voi comprendiate. (I’ll explain it again so that you’ll all understand.)

When the two sentences (main and subordinate) have the same subject, you can use the simpler conjunction per without the subjunctive. I bet you loved that…!

Ti chiamo (io) per spiegarti (io) la situazione. (I call you to explain the situation.)

If you want to know more about this type of sentence, check out this lesson on our website.

7. Italian Conjunctions to Express Time

Quando? and Per quanto tempo? mean “When?” and “For how long?” respectively. Whenever you need to answer those questions, you’ll be using conjunctions to express time .

Guardo la clessidra mentre il tempo passa (I watch the hourglass, while time goes by).

The most common of Italian conjunction words for this is definitely quando (when). And you must have heard the old and very famous Italian song ‘60 Quando, Quando, Quando by Tony Renis. Can you sing along ?

• Mentre (While) Non parlare mentre mangi. (Don’t talk while you eat.)
• Quando (When) Esco sempre quando nevica. (I always go out when it’s snowing.)
• Appena/Non appena (As soon as) Ti chiamo (non) appena ho finito. (I’ll call you as soon as I’m done.) Notice how appena/non appena have exactly the same meaning.
• Prima di/che (Before) Bevo un bicchiere d’acqua prima di dormire. (I drink a glass of water before I go to sleep.) Ti voglio parlare prima che tu esca. (I want to talk to you before you leave.)
• Dopo di/che (After) Esco solo dopo avere finito i compiti. (I only go out after I finish my homework.) Esco solo dopo che hai finito i compiti. (I only go out after you finish your homework.)

8. Italian Conjunctions to Explain

How many times have you said something in Italian and then realized your idea wasn’t clear enough? In that case, these conjunctions to explain will come in quite handy! The most common in Italian are cioè (that is) and infatti (in fact).

• Mi piace l’entomologia, cioè lo studio degli insetti. “I like entomology, that is the study of insects.)
• Ha nevicato tutta la notte, infatti stamattina fuori è tutto bianco! (It snowed all night, in fact this morning it was all white outside!)

Have you noticed how much young Italians say cioè (that is)? Since the 70s, it’s become very common in spoken Italian as a way to take time to think about what you want to say. This is similar to “well…” in English at the start of a sentence. Some younger kids use it all the time! In fact, Cioè has even become the name of a very famous Italian teen magazine!

Cioè… non ho capito la domanda. (Well… I didn’t get the question.)

You might have also noticed how often Italians answer a question with infatti (in fact). In this case, it’s not used to explain the previous sentence, but simply to answer a question. It’s a way to reinforce your sì (yes), as in “Yes, absolutely/That’s right!”

          – C’é un bel sole, non ho voglia di stare a casa!           – Infatti!

          – “It’s nice and sunny, I don’t feel like staying home.”           – “That’s right!”

Cioè… Allora… Quindi… (That is… So…). You’ll hear these words a lot from young Italians!

9. Italian Conjunctions to Express a Conclusion

And finally, to conclude, what could be more appropriate than talking about conjunctions to express a conclusion? So here we go. The most common Italian conjunctions to express a conclusion are allora (then), quindi (so), and dunque (therefore).

• Non vuoi andare al cinema, allora cosa vuoi fare? (You don’t want to go to the movies, then what do you want to do?)
• Sono tornata a casa tardi, quindi mia madre si è preoccupata. (I came home late, so my mom got worried.)
• Voglio imparare l’Italiano, dunque studio con ItalianPod101.com ! (I want to learn Italian, therefore I study with ItalianPod101.com !)

Even though these conjunctions serve mainly to conclude a sentence, you’ll often hear Italians start their sentences with them. In this case, they have the same function as cioè … (that is). They merely earn you some time while you think of what you’re about to say.

10. ItalianPod101: Your Guide to Italian Grammar & Culture

You’ll have lots of fun playing with Italian conjunctions because they’re the glue that allows you to bring your Italian conversation and writing to the next level. In Italian grammar, conjunctions really are that essential! So, try and use these conjunctions as much as possible, and keep having fun with ItalianPod101.com .

Which of these conjunctions do you plan on putting to use soon? Are there any you’re struggling with? Let us know in the comments!

Until next time, keep practicing, because your hard work is going to pay off and you’ll be speaking Italian like a native before you know it!

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Basic Italian Greetings: Formal and Informal Ways to Greet in Italian

September 19, 2018 10:00 am

Greetings are the very first words we utter when we meet someone. And when you’re meeting for the very first time, knowing how to greet properly helps you make a great first impression! Here in this article, we’ll be talking about basic Italian greetings. Learn how to say hello and other greetings in Italian whether for formal or informal situations.

Let’s begin!

How to say “Hello” in Italian

You’re probably already familiar with “ciao”, but it’s not the only way to say hello in Italian. In fact, some situations call for other more appropriate ways of saying hello. Let’s take a look at the different ways to say hello!

Ciao means both hi and goodbye. Cool, right? Fewer words to memorize. But wait! Contrary to what some people think, you can’t really use ciao with everyone and at all times.

Think of it as like saying hi in English--it’s not very appropriate to say it in highly formal situations. But when you’re with friends or family or in a casual setting, feel free to say ciao!

In some cases, Italians can even say it over and over at the end of conversations, like “ciao ciao ciao ciao ciao!”

You can also say “ Ciao a tutti !” (hi to all!)  and “ Ciao ragazzi! ” (hi guys!) when addressing a group of people. It means, “hi everyone!” or “bye everyone” depending on the context.

This might be somewhat uncommon to hear for non-Italians, but if you find yourself in a situation where you are among people you are not really familiar with, “salve ” is the proper way to say hello.

Italian greetings for different times of the day

While ciao and salve can be used any time of the day, you also need to learn how to greet people during specific times of the day. Time-specific greetings are considered even more formal than salve but you can still use it in casual situations among your friends.

How to say “Good morning” or “good day” in Italian

Buongiorno.

In the morning until early afternoon, you say, buongiorno as a way of greeting. Take note that though the word is made up of two words buon (good) and giorno (day), it’s spelled as a single word.

How to say “Good afternoon” in Italian

Buon pomeriggio.

When it’s past noon, you can still hear Italians say buongiorno , but the more accurate greeting would be buon pomeriggio which you’re likely to encounter in places like Bologna.

How to say “Good evening” in Italian

It might seem a bit early to greet someone a good evening when work resumes in the afternoon--or even at four in the afternoon--but that is the case in Italy.

You could also say buonasera to say goodbye, but “buona serata!” (have a good evening!) works just as well.

How to say “Good night” in Italian

How to say “how are you” in italian.

Of course, greetings don’t end the moment you say hello or good day. You always have to follow it up with some form of “how are you?” Let’s take a look at the formal and informal ways to say it in Italian.

Come sta? - How are you? (formal)

The polite way to ask someone how they’re doing is “come sta”.

Come stai? - How are you? (informal)

When you’re among friends or family, you can say come stai? Instead of come sta? Sta and stai come from the Italian verb stare which means “to stay” and stai is the informal tu form.

Come va? - How's it going? (informal)

Another informal way to ask how someone is doing, when you’re with people close to you, you say “come va?”

Ways to respond to “how are you?” in Italian

Now let’s talk about how to respond when someone asks how you’re doing.

There you have it, now you know how to greet someone in Italian. Learn more Italian words and phrases by reading and listening to Italian short stories. Check it out below!

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• Practice reading and listening with 90+ minutes of audio 
• Learn 1,000+ new Italian vocabulary effortlessly!

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Love this very well put together literature vocabulary stories everyday life. My congratulations to all responsible i am going to italy soon to marry and stay i have been learning italian by texting to mybetter half this is most helpful next to italian notices from embassy. Take ❤ ciao gratzie

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40 Italian Idioms

Do you want to really sound like an Italian?

If so, it’s time to take on Italian culture and unique native speech with Italian idioms.

Idioms are words and expressions that are figurative in nature, but whose meanings are readily understood by speakers of the language.

This post will introduce you to 40 Italian idioms, getting you started on this important facet of Italian fluency.

• 1. In bocca al lupo (In the mouth of the wolf)
• 2. Buono come il pane (Good as bread)
• 3. L’erba del vicino è sempre più verde (Neighbor’s grass is always greener)
• 4. A mali estremi, estremi rimedi (To extreme evils, extreme remedies)
• 5. Affogare in un bicchier d’acqua (To drown in a glass of water)
• 6. L’amore domina senza regole (Love rules without rules)
• 7. I frutti proibiti sono i più dolci (Forbidden fruit is sweetest)
• 8. Conosco i miei polli (I know my chickens)
• 9. Minestra riscaldata (Reheated soup)
• 10. Non avere peli sulla lingua (Not to have hair on your tongue)
• 11. Trovarsi fra l’incudine e il martello (To be between the anvil and the hammer)
• 12. Hai voluto la bicicletta? Allora, pedala! (You wanted a bike? Now, pedal!)
• 13. Diciamo pane al pane e vino al vino (Let’s say bread for bread and wine for wine)
• 14. Ha molto sale in zucca (Has a lot of salt in his gourd)
• 15. È tutto pepe! (He is all pepper)
• 16. Ti sta a pennello (Fits you like a paintbrush)
• 17. Fare troppi atti in commedia (To make too many acts in a comedy)
• 18. Rompere il ghiaccio (To break the ice)
• 19. Sputa il rospo (Spit the toad)
• 20. Colto con le mani nel sacco (Caught with his hands in the bag)
• 21. Morto un papa, se ne fa un altro (One pope dies, another will be made)
• 22. Togliti dai piedi! (Take yourself out of my feet)
• 23. Alla come viene, viene (It comes out as it comes out)
• 24. Attaccare il cappello (To hang up one’s hat)
• 25. L’abito non fa il monaco (The dress does not make the monk)
• 26. Caduto dalle nuvole (Fallen from the clouds)
• 27. Mal comune, mezzo gaudio (Common bad, half rejoice)
• 28. Farsene un baffo (To make a mustache of it)
• 29. Ogni morte di papa (Every death of a pope)
• 30. Tale madre, tale figlia/Tale padre, tale figlio (Such mother, such daughter/Such father, such son)
• 31. Tutto fa brodo (Everything makes broth, soup)
• 32. Un pezzo grosso (A big piece)
• 33. Calare le brache (To pull down one’s pants)
• 34. Avere un cervello di gallina (To have a hen’s brain)
• 35. Cane non mangia cane (Dog does not eat dog)
• 36. Avere le braccine corte (To have short arms)
• 37. Cornuto (Horned)
• 38. Raro come una mosca bianca (Rare as a white fly)
• 39. Non vedo l’ora (I don’t see the hour)
• 40. Che palle! (What balls)

Why Learning Italian Idioms Is a Must for Learners of the Language

And one more thing....

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1.  In bocca al lupo  (In the mouth of the wolf)

This is the equivalent of “break a leg.” Use this instead of  “Buona fortuna”  (Good luck).

There’s an Italian superstition that if you wish somebody good luck, bad things will happen instead.

But then the response should never be “Grazie,” instead, you would say  “Crepi il lupo,”  (May the wolf die).

2.  Buono come il pane  (Good as bread)

This will be the first of our food-related idioms, and I’m telling you that there will definitely be more on this list.

“Buono come il pane”  (Good as bread) is used to describe a person with a heart of gold.

He or she is somebody who’s generally known for being kind and generous, generally has the qualities of a good person.

You use “Buono come il pane”  as a blanket description of a good person, when you really don’t have anything else to say about him or her.

3.  L’erba del vicino è sempre più verde  (Neighbor’s grass is always greener)

You may have already guessed the English equivalent of this one: The grass is always greener on the other side.

The fact that it has an English equivalent suggests that this sentiment is part of human nature, a universal expression of discontent.

4.  A mali estremi, estremi rimedi  (To extreme evils, extreme remedies)

 This one means “desperate times call for desperate measures.” 

There’s not much more explanation needed for this as it is used anytime you normally would say the English version.

5.  Affogare in un bicchier d’acqua  (To drown in a glass of water)

To drown in a glass of water is to be easily overwhelmed with little problems.

For example, a not-so-bright fellow running around in circles, or a little girl who wails like it’s the end of the world because she lost her favorite hairpin could be said to be drowning in a glass of water.

6.  L’amore domina senza regole  (Love rules without rules)

Italy is known for its romantic aura, so it makes sense to have an idiom or two that surrounds love. This has a similar idea to “all is fair in love and war.”

So watch out when you visit Italia . You just might fall in love with the place, the pizza and the people.

7.  I frutti proibiti sono i più dolci  (Forbidden fruit is sweetest)

It seems that the more you’re prohibited from having something, the more that something becomes more appealing than ever.

You want what you can’t have, and “I frutti proibiti sono i più dolci”  is the Italian recognition of this basic human irony. 

8.  Conosco i miei polli  (I know my chickens)

Ever tried showing a toddler he’s not building his Legos right?

You know what happens? He defiantly snatches the blocks from your hand, as if saying, “Leave me alone! I know what I’m doing. I can handle this.”

“Conosco i miei polli”  is said in that same spirit.

So if Italians want to express something like, “I know what I’m talking about” they utter this idiom with an air of quiet confidence.

9.  Minestra riscaldata  (Reheated soup)

Italian boy meets Italian girl. The two fall in love.

The relationship has its ups and downs. Both fight to make it work.

They grow apart, and the relationship ultimately disintegrates.

Months after, they meet and try to rekindle the bond.

“Minestra riscaldata”  is that state of reviving a relationship gone sour. It’s just never the same.

The expression doesn’t just apply to romantic partners; it can also be appropriate to describe the bond between friends, business partners, etc.

10.  Non avere peli sulla lingua  (Not to have hair on your tongue)

This Italian idiom means to be straightforward and speak one’s mind, regardless of the possibility of upsetting or insulting someone.

In short, you’re not mincing any words. You simply say what needs to be heard. 

11.  Trovarsi fra l’incudine e il martello  (To be between the anvil and the hammer)

This happens when you’re left with a bad choice alongside another equally horrible option—like a lazy teenager made to choose between cleaning his car or cleaning his room.

This is a damned if you do, damned if you don’t kind of situation.

12.  Hai voluto la bicicletta? Allora, pedala!  (You wanted a bike? Now, pedal!)

Italy has fully embraced its biking culture, so it’s no wonder that the language has reflected this love affair with the bicycle in one of its idioms.

“You’ve made your bed, now lie in it” is its closest equivalent English idiom. Both have to do with gracefully facing the consequences of one’s actions or decisions.

13.  Diciamo pane al pane e vino al vino  (Let’s say bread for bread and wine for wine)

Remember what we said a few idioms back about someone who doesn’t have hair on their tongue? The one who’s a straight shooter, yeah?

They’ll probably be saying,  “Diciamo pane al pane e vino al vino.”

Or, if we go by the English equivalent, “Let’s call a spade a spade.” 

14.  Ha molto sale in zucca  (Has a lot of salt in his gourd)

To “lose one’s gourd” is to be crazy or to lose one’s mind.

“Ha molto sale in zucca”  refers to a person who has a good head—someone not only bright, but one who possesses a lot of good sense.

15.  È tutto pepe!  (He is all pepper)

“ È tutto pepe!”   is used to describe somebody full of life—someone with a vibrant personality and a sunny disposition that lifts everyone’s spirits.

So if you hear this said of you, take it as a high compliment.

16.  Ti sta a pennello  (Fits you like a paintbrush)

Speaking of compliments, if you hear this one in one of Italy’s premier fashion stores it means the person assisting you is working on commission.

Seriously though, it means the dress or whatever it is you’re trying on fits you perfectly. (It fits you so perfectly it looks like it’s been painted onto your body.)

17.  Fare troppi atti in commedia  (To make too many acts in a comedy)

To have too many acts in a comedy means someone is trying to accomplish too many things at once.

In English, you could say the person is “wearing too many hats” or has “hands/fingers in too many pies.”

18.  Rompere il ghiaccio  (To break the ice)

This one means exactly what it means in English.

“Rompere il ghiaccio”  is to obliterate awkwardness between people in social situations, especially for those who have just recently met.

19.  Sputa il rospo  (Spit the toad)

This means “speak up.” To remember it, you could imagine releasing a toad from your mouth and letting it freely speak about the beauty and wonders of from whence it came.

20.  Colto con le mani nel sacco  (Caught with his hands in the bag)

This one is comparable to the English idiom, “caught red-handed” or “caught with one’s hands in the cookie jar.”

These idioms refer to someone who got caught stealing cash or something else, often helping themselves to the detriment of others.

21.  Morto un papa, se ne fa un altro  (One pope dies, another will be made)

This Italian idiom is used to signify how life goes on even after the worst of tragedies.

Your Italian boyfriend broke up with you? Don’t worry, there are plenty of fish in the sea.

If even the pope isn’t indispensable, the loss of something or someone shouldn’t stop your world from turning. Life goes on, as it always has.

22.  Togliti dai piedi!  (Take yourself out of my feet)

Let’s say you’re peacefully walking the streets of Milan and somebody suddenly snatches your wallet.

You decide to get some much-needed exercise and pursue the offender through the major thoroughfares of a foreign city.

You would shout,  “Togliti dai piedi!”  as you gave chase. It means “Get out of my way!” 

23.  Alla come viene, viene  (It comes out as it comes out)

This means “It is what it is.” The expression gives the sense that a thing is done in a shoddy, slapdash manner.

24.  Attaccare il cappello  (To hang up one’s hat)

In English, we have expressions like “hang up one’s gloves” or “hang up one’s boots.” They all mean to retire, or quit doing something.

The Italian “Attaccarre il cappello”  not only means quitting in general, but has the added sense of quitting by virtue of marrying somebody rich (usually a man marrying a rich woman). 

25.  L’abito non fa il monaco  (The dress does not make the monk)

Everyone knows that “clothes don’t make the man.” We shouldn’t judge anybody on looks, we shouldn’t “judge a book by its cover.”

26.  Caduto dalle nuvole  (Fallen from the clouds)

This means to be completely taken by surprise, usually from news of something that’s negative in nature.

“Taken aback” captures some of the same meaning, as in “She was taken aback when she heard that I lost the baby.”

27.  Mal comune, mezzo gaudio  (Common bad, half rejoice)

Misery does love company. To put it in a more positive way, “a trouble shared is a trouble halved.”

28.  Farsene un baffo  (To make a mustache of it)

To make a mustache out of something means to treat something as insignificant, or not bothersome or burdensome at all.

So you don’t make a fuss about it.

29.  Ogni morte di papa  (Every death of a pope)

Italians revere the Pope, but they do have an expression for saying “once in a blue moon” that’s based on his demise.

It’s “ogni morte di papa.”  These fellows often reach a ripe old age before checking out. (Seems like being close to God does have its perks.)

So really, the death of a pope doesn’t come very often, making the idiomatic expression a fitting description.

30.  Tale madre, tale figlia/Tale padre, tale figlio (Such mother, such daughter/Such father, such son)

Like mother, like daughter. Like father, like son.

Such is life. Soon enough, you’ll embody your folks’ spirits—hovering over others, asking them if they’ve eaten, just like Mom. 

31.  Tutto fa brodo  (Everything makes broth, soup)

This Italian expression means every little thing counts.

Everything contributes something to the whole—whether it be a lone euro tossed into a donation basket, 10 minutes of quality time spent with your young daughter or a simple smile for a stranger.

32.  Un pezzo grosso  (A big piece)

From little things we go to big things.

“Un pezzo grosso”  is synonymous to the English idiom “big shot,” usually referring to somebody of high importance or someone who wields strong influence over the whole.

For example, the Italian prime minister is “un pezzo grosso”  of the whole Italian political system. In fact, the biggest of them all.

33.  Calare le brache  (To pull down one’s pants)

“Calare le brache”  means to chicken out and surrender. 

You may not master Italian in a week or two, but it’s no reason to give up. Keep your store open and your pants up!

34.  Avere u n cervello di gallina  (To have a hen’s brain)

A person who acts stupidly, has low intelligence or has poor judgment is said to have a hen’s brain.

It comes from the belief that the bigger the size of the brain, the more intelligent the animal.

And judging from the size of its head, one can clearly say that a hen (or bird) does have a small brain.

35.  Cane non mangia cane  (Dog does not eat dog)

This one is the complete opposite of the English “It’s a dog-eat-dog world.”

The Italian version holds a more optimistic view of the world. Yes, there’s “honor among thieves.”

There’s a line that cannot be crossed, there’s a code of conduct that governs even the most sinister of people.

36.  Avere le braccine corte  (To have short arms)

We all have that one family member or friend that is always trying to get out of paying for anything.

The expression refers to a cheap person who never seems to have the arm length or strength to reach for his wallet.

37.  Cornuto  (Horned)

This idiom refers to someone cheating on someone else. The offending party may be evil and deserve to wear the “horns,” but actually, the one wearing the “horns” is actually the one being cheated on.

The expression usually comes with a hand gesture  for which the index finger and the pinky are held up, like during rock concerts.

38.  Raro come una mosca bianca  (Rare as a white fly)

Have you ever seen a white fly?

39.  Non vedo l’ora  (I don’t see the hour)

This Italian idiom means you just absolutely cannot wait for something. You can’t think or see straight from excitement.

Be it your Italian vacation, your Italian girlfriend coming for a visit or that Italian cheese recipe bubbling in the oven.

40.  Che palle!  (What balls)

This is a (strong but) widely-used Italian expression that could be translated as “Dang!” or “Sucks!”

Use it to express annoyance or irritation at a situation or person. 

Anybody can pick up an Italian app and learn the meaning of individual words. But it takes a certain finesse to comprehend the full expression.

Idioms are creative ways of saying something with spice and punch.  

If you are able to understand Italian idioms, you will better understand speakers and their worldview.

Finally, it’s important to note that there’s a story or history to idioms.  They have origins and provenance, even if native speakers don’t remember them.

Idioms are little peeks into the history, beliefs and traditions of the language that they carry.

The best way to pick up on these idioms is by hearing them used by native speakers.

One useful resource is FluentU . On this immersive language learning program you can access hundreds of videos that will have native speakers using idioms in natural contexts. 

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Now that you know 40 more Italian idioms, you are one step closer to sounding like a native!

Keep learning and you’ll soon know even more!

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Learn Italian with funny commericals, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU helps you get comfortable with everyday Italian by combining all the benefits of complete immersion and native-level conversations with interactive subtitles . Tap on any word to instantly see an image, in-context definition, example sentences and other videos in which the word is used.

Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and review words and phrases with convenient audio clips under Vocab .

Once you've watched a video, you can use FluentU's quizzes to actively practice all the vocabulary in that video. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

FluentU will even keep track of all the Italian words you’re learning, and give you extra practice with difficult words. Plus, it'll tell you exactly when it's time for review. Now that's a 100% personalized experience !

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