How to say please, thank you and sorry in Italian
Grazie mille
“Thanks a lot”
When: Any time someone helps you or hands you something
The moment
You are lost near Termini station in Rome and need to stop a passer-by to ask for help, then thank them for it. Getting off the crowded bus afterwards, you bump into someone and have to apologise.
A1 · Unit 1 · First words
The lines
Thanking warmly
"Grazie mille" is warmer than a bare "grazie" and covers everything from directions to your change. Italians answer it with "Di niente" or "Prego".
Grazie mille
“Thanks a lot”
When to use it: Any time someone helps you or hands you something
What you’ll hear back: Di niente. (Don't mention it.)
Stopping a stranger
To interrupt someone politely, open with "Scusi, un'informazione?" before you ask anything. Say "Scusa" instead with someone your own age.
Scusi, un'informazione?
“Excuse me, can I ask you something?”
When to use it: Stopping someone in the street to ask something
What you’ll hear back: Mi dica. (Go ahead.)
Words for this scene
| Italian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| per favore | pehr fah-VOH-reh | please |
Un caffè, per favore. A coffee, please. Tip: It goes at the end, after whatever you are asking for. | ||
| Prego | PREH-goh | You're welcome |
Prego, si accomodi. Please, have a seat. Tip: Also means "go ahead" and "after you" — Italy's all-purpose word. | ||
| Mi dispiace | mee dees-PYAH-cheh | I'm sorry |
Mi dispiace, è colpa mia. I'm sorry, it's my fault. Tip: Save it for real apologies; a small bump needs only "scusi". | ||
Your objective
Get someone’s attention politely, ask them for help with one thing, and thank them.
- excuse me
- what you need
- thank you
Lines that get it done
- Scusi, un'informazione?
- Un caffè, per favore. · A coffee, please.
- Grazie mille
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You want to stop a stranger in the street to ask something. What do you open with?
- Scusi, un'informazione?
- Grazie mille.
- Prego, si accomodi.
- Mi dispiace.
Show the answer
Scusi, un'informazione?
"Scusi, un'informazione?" is the standard polite way to flag down a stranger in Italy.
2. The barista hands you your change and you say "Grazie mille." What do you most likely hear back?
- Di niente.
- Per favore.
- Mi dispiace.
- Un'informazione.
Show the answer
Di niente.
"Di niente" and "prego" both mean "don't mention it" and are the usual replies to thanks.
3. You turn up twenty minutes late to meet a friend. What do you say?
- Mi dispiace!
- Per favore.
- Prego.
- Grazie mille.
Show the answer
Mi dispiace!
"Mi dispiace" is a real apology for something you actually did.