Please and Thank You in Italian: Grazie, Prego, Per Favore, Scusi
A0 · Lesson 03 · Polite words
Seven tiny words that make every Italian waiter like you a little more.
Quick answer
Please and thank you in Italian are per favore and grazie (thanks a lot: grazie mille), and you’re welcome is prego. Sorry / excuse me is scusa with friends and scusi with everyone else. Yes and no are sì and no.
Thank you in Italian: grazie, grazie mille
The word you will say most in Italy. Learn it as a block.
Grazie!
GRAH-tsee-eh
Thank you! / Thanks!
EveryoneAny timeGrazie mille!
GRAH-tsee-eh MEEL-leh
Thanks a lot! Literally “a thousand thanks”.
EveryoneAny time💡 In simple words
Grazie has three sounds: gra · zi · e. Say the final e!
Good news: grazie works with everyone, friends and strangers. No hug test needed.
You’re welcome: prego
Prego!
PREH-goh
You’re welcome!
EveryoneAny timeSomeone says grazie, you answer prego. It is a ping-pong: Grazie! – Prego! You will also hear prego from waiters and shop assistants in other moments: it is a very busy little word. For now, one job is enough: you’re welcome.
Please in Italian: per favore
Per favore
pehr fah-VOH-reh
Please
EveryoneAny timeAdd it to anything
Un caffè, per favore!
oon kahf-FEH, pehr fah-VOH-reh · A coffee, please!
Swap the word: cappuccino gelato menù
Scusa or scusi? Sorry and excuse me
One idea, two words. The hug test is back.
Scusa!
SKOO-zah
Sorry! / Excuse me! To a friend or family.
InformalScusi!
SKOO-zee
Sorry! / Excuse me! To a stranger, a waiter, a shopkeeper.
Polite💡 In simple words
Would you hug this person? → Scusa!
Would you shake hands? → Scusi!
Use it to say sorry (you step on someone’s foot) and to get attention (you call the waiter): Scusi!
Sì and no (with grazie, of course)
Sì
SEE
Yes. Note the little accent on the ì.
No
NOH
No. A short, clean “o”, not “noh-oo”.
The polite combo
Sì, grazie!
SEE, GRAH-tsee-eh · Yes, thank you!
Swap the word: No, grazie! (No, thank you!)
Bowl empty. More food? Sì, grazie! Broccoli? No, grazie.
In real life: please and thank you in Italian at the café
you
Scusi! Un caffè, per favore.
Excuse me! A coffee, please.
Luca
waiter
Sì! … Ecco.
Yes! … Here you are.
you
Grazie mille!
Thanks a lot!
Luca
waiter
Prego!
You’re welcome!
Four lines, five polite words. That’s a perfect Italian coffee.
Common mistakes English speakers make
Saying thanks: Grats-ee → GRAH-tsee-eh
Grazie has three sounds. Don’t swallow the final e.
Calling a waiter you don’t know: Scusa! → Scusi!
Scusa is for friends. A stranger gets scusi.
Someone thanks you: Grazie! → Prego!
Grazie is the serve, prego is the return.
Did you know? Three ways to say please
🙏 Per favore
The everyday one. Use it everywhere and you will always be right.
🎩 Per piacere, per cortesia
You will also hear per piacere (pehr pyah-CHEH-reh) and per cortesia (pehr kor-teh-ZEE-ah). Same meaning: Italian has no single word for “please” in every situation.
Tip: you only need to say one of them. Per favore is perfect.
I wanted to say grazie mille. But my mouth was full. So I said it with my tail. A thousand wags.
Step 8 · Practice
🍕 Your turn
Start with a quick warm-up, then press Check. Want more? Open the extra exercises below. Mistakes are part of it. No pressure.
Warm-up · 5 questions
Choose the Italian word.
1. Thank you
2. Please
3. You’re welcome
4. Yes
5. Thanks a lot
See more exercises · 39 questions ▾Hide the extra exercises ▴
1 · Scusa or scusi?
Hug or handshake? Choose.
1. You bump into your sister.
2. You call a waiter.
3. You step on a stranger’s foot on the bus.
4. You are late to meet your best friend.
5. You need to pass an elderly lady in a narrow street.
6. You spill wine on your roommate’s shirt.
7. You call the shop assistant.
8. You interrupt the hotel receptionist.
2 · What’s the answer?
Choose the best reply.
1. “Grazie!”
2. “Grazie mille!”
3. The waiter offers you water. You want it.
4. The waiter offers you more bread. You are full.
5. Someone holds the door for you.
6. You order an ice cream.
7. You need the waiter’s attention.
8. A stranger finds your lost wallet. You are VERY grateful.
3 · Right or wrong?
Is it right?
1. “Grazie” to the bus driver
2. “Prego” means “please” when you order.
3. “Scusa” to your brother
4. “Scusa” to a police officer
5. “Grazie” has three sounds: gra · zi · e.
6. “Grazie mille” literally means “a thousand thanks”.
7. Grazie is only for friends.
8. “Sì” (yes) has an accent on the i.
4 · Complete the mini-dialogue
Choose the missing word.
1. – Un cappuccino, ___! – Sì!
2. – Grazie! – ___!
3. – Acqua? – No, ___!
4. – ___! Il menù, per favore. (to a waiter)
5. – Ecco il caffè! – Grazie ___!
6. – Un gelato? – ___, grazie! (you want it)
5 · Write it in Italian
Type it. Capital letters and punctuation don’t matter. An apostrophe counts as an accent (si’ = sì).
1. Thank you!
2. Thanks a lot!
3. You’re welcome!
4. Please
5. Excuse me! (to a waiter)
6. Sorry! (to your friend)
7. No, thank you!
8. Yes, thank you!
9. A coffee, please! (un caffè)
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Ci vediamo la prossima settimana! – Sì, alla prossima lezione! Ciao!
See you next week! – Yes, see you at the next lesson! Bye!
Written by Luciana
Native Italian teacher, CEDILS certified, 10,000+ lessons since 2020.
