Words and Phrases

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Italian spelling	English sound	translation
si	“syh“	yes
no	“noh“	no
forse	“fohrseh”	maybe
chissà	“kyssah“	who knows?

THANKS

Italian spelling	English sound	translation
grazie	“grahtsyeh”	thank you, thanks
molte grazie	“mohlteh grahtsyeh”	thanks a lot
grazie mille	“grahtsyeh myhlleh”	a thousand thanks
prego	“prehgoh”	you are welcome

The verb ringraziare (to thank) is also often used in expressions of thanks:

INFORMAL	ti ringrazio	= I thank you
FORMAL	la ringrazio	= I thank you
INFORMAL / FORMAL	vi ringrazio	= I thank you, plural person

It is always polite to answer prego when being thanked.

In Italian, thanks is used more sparingly than in English, usually only in situations
where there is a real reason for being thankful (doing a favour, lending a hand,
giving an information, etc.). You will seldom be thanked for something which you are expected
to do, like paying a bill, or similar duties.

PLEASE

Italian spelling	English sound	translation
per favore	“pehr fahvohreh”	please
per piacere	“pehr pyahchehreh”	please

Both expressions are equivalent.

They are used either at the beginning of the sentence or at the end.

EXCUSE ME / SORRY

Italian spelling	English sound	translation
scusi, …	“skwsy”	excuse me, …
mi scusi, …	“myh skwsy”	excuse me, …
chiedo scusa, …	“kyehdoh skwsah”	excuse me, …
scusi	“skwsy”	sorry
mi scusi	“myh skwsy”	sorry
mi dispiace	“myh dyspyahcheh”	I’m sorry

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