Grazie: Thank you. This, along with the corresponding reply ‘prego’, is one of the first words learnt by students of Italian. Let’s take a closer look at these words and some of the many colloquial variations that you will hear:
Grazie, plural of grazia, meaning ‘essere riconoscente’ (to be grateful), comes from the verb ringraziare (to thank). Here below are some common expressions of thanks:
| grazie |
thank you |
| grazie infinite |
thank you very much |
| grazie mille / mille grazie |
a thousand thanks |
| grazie tante / tante grazie |
many thanks |
| grazie di cuore |
thank you from my heart |
| grazie di tutto |
thanks for everything |
| ti ringrazio |
I thank you (singular informal) |
| la ringrazio |
I thank you (singular formal) |
| vi ringrazio |
I thank you (plural)
|
Prego, first person singular of the verb pregare (to pray), literally ‘I pray’, is commonly translated as ‘you’re welcome’. Here are some common ways of replying to ‘grazie’:
| prego |
you’re welcome |
| ma ti pare |
you’re welcome |
| di nulla |
(it was) nothing |
| di niente |
(it was) nothing |
| ma di che |
but what for |
| non c’è di che |
there’s no need to thank me |
| non dirlo neanche |
don’t even mention it |
| figurati |
think nothing of it |
| ci mancherebbe altro |
think nothing of it |
Comments:
Vince:
Salve Serena:
This is very helpful. I found that I know a few of these phrases but the others, even if very common, I will not recognize. It’s just so easy to use the few phrases we know. It really helps my Italian reading to see all these variations at one time. Thanks.
Vince
Jeannet:
Grazie Serena, as always.
Only a question about ‘bienvenuto’ and
‘ma ti pare’, in which situation is it to prefer to use the phrase “ma ti pare”
Saluti da Jeannet
Serena:
@Jeannet Salve Jeannet!
Allora, ‘ma ti pare’ is a friendly form to say ‘prego’.
‘Benvenuto’ (and not ‘bienvenuto’) is a literal translation of ‘welcome’, and it’s only used when you welcome somebody to a place, such as ‘benvenuto a casa mia’ (welcome to my house), or ‘benvenuta in Italia’ (welcome to Italy). Notice that it changes from masculine to feminine, singular and plural, depending if you are speaking to a man or a woman, or to a couple.
We don’t use ‘benvenuto’ as a replay to ‘grazie’.
Saluti da Serena
Rafael Chaves:
Hi Serene, the new layout is terrific!!! Congratulations from Brazil!!
Ci vediamo!!!
Aidan:
Salve Serena,
Ti ringrazio per tutto il lavoro che hai fatto nel tuo blog. Mi piace molto.
Il nuovo layout sembra buono . Tuttavia sembra che ci sono pochi problemi con la navigazione nella pagina. Mi piacerebbe anche la capacità di andare per le diverse categorie quali “grammatica”, ecc.
Saluti da Aidan
Serena:
@Aidan Ti ringrazio Aidan, hai raggione, infatti non avevo notato neanche io la mancanza delle categorie. Parlerò subito col capo, e vediamo se possiamo risolvere questo piccolo problema.
A presto, Serena
Jeannet:
Salve Serena,
‘Grazie’ e re’benvenuto’ sul il tuo blog! ; )
Jeannet
Jeannet:
Salve Serena,
The new version ‘Italian blog’is’chiaro e tondo’; at the same time I would like to be able to place aside as resource under this blog: Serena blog’grammar’ – apart from culture.
Quando lo è possibile grazie tante.
Jeannet
Jeannet:
Salve Serena,
The new version of the side ‘è chiaro e tondo’. I should like to be able to put aside a section ‘grammar’ apart from the section ‘culture’.
Quando questo è posibile, molto grazie.
Jeannet