Courtesy Espressions
This list includes courtesy formulas of everyday usage, plus a few that are
becoming obsolete. These expressions can be used in formal and informal situations. The main difference is in the use of the subjunctive and the third person or the second person plural for formal expressions, and
the use of the imperative with the second person singular for informal situations. The equivalent English expressions are only indicative and are not necessarily used in the same cases.
| Italian Expression |
Answer |
Englisj Expression |
Answer |
| Buon proseguimento |
- |
Enjoy your stay |
- |
| Buona permanenza |
- |
Enjoy your stay |
- |
| Buone cose |
Grazie altrettanto |
All the best |
Same to you |
| Ci mancherebbe altro |
|
Don’t mention it |
|
| Come non detto |
- |
Don't mention it |
- |
| Con comodo |
- |
Take your time |
- |
| Con permesso |
Prego si accomodi |
May I? |
Please come in |
| Con piacere |
- |
My pleasure |
- |
| D'accordo |
|
All right |
|
| Disturbo se ... apro la finestra? |
1. Faccia pure
2. Tutt'altro
3. Ci mancherebbe altro |
Does it bother you if ... I open the window? |
1. Do as you please
2. On the contrary
3. Don't mention it |
| Disturbo? |
Niente affatto |
May I? |
Sure |
| Dovere |
|
My pleasure |
|
| Fa lo stesso |
- |
Doesn't matter |
- |
| Faccia pure |
- |
Be my guest |
- |
| Figurati |
|
Don't mention it |
|
| Gradisce (un caffè, un bicchierino...)? |
- |
Would you like (a cup of coffee, a drink)? |
- |
| Grazie |
Prego |
Thanks, Thank you |
Don't mention it |
| Grazie altrettanto |
- |
Thank you! |
- |
| I miei rispetti |
- |
My best to... |
- |
| Le pare (Ma Le pare. ma ti pare) |
- |
Don't mention it |
- |
| Le spiace se... fumo? |
- |
Do you mind my... smoking? |
- |
| Neanche a dirlo |
- |
Don't mention it |
- |
| Non c'è di che |
- |
Don't mention it
Never mind |
- |
| Non fa niente |
- |
Never mind |
- |
| Non importa |
- |
Never mind |
- |
| Non si disturbi |
- |
Don't bother |
- |
| Non si incomodi |
- |
Don't bother |
- |
| Omaggi |
- |
My respect |
- |
| Ossequi |
- |
My respect |
- |
| Per cortesia |
- |
Please |
- |
| Per favore |
- |
Please |
- |
| Per niente |
- |
Not at all |
- |
| Per piacere |
- |
Please |
- |
| Permette? |
1 Si accomodi, prego
2 Faccia pure |
May I come in? |
Please come in. Please. Do as you please. Be my guest |
| Piacere |
Piacere mio |
Pleasure |
My pleasure |
| Posso aiutarLa |
- |
May I help you? |
- |
| Posso entrare |
Prego, si accomodi |
May I come in? |
Please come in. Please. <TD |
| Posso? |
- |
May I come in? |
- |
| Prego |
- |
Please come in |
- |
| Scusi |
- |
I beg your pardon. Sorry. |
- |
| Senza complimenti |
- |
Don't be shy |
- |
| Si figuri |
- |
Don't mention it |
- |
| Si può |
- |
May I come in? |
- |
| Va bene |
|
OK |
|
