Polite expressions are some of the most valuable phrases you can pick up early on while you learn Italian. Simple Italian words like “please” and “thank you” can go a long way when speaking with locals, because politeness is deeply woven into the culture of Italy.
Per favore is the most common way to say “please” in Italian, but it doesn’t work in every situation where you’d use “please” in English. Learning a few more expressions will help you sound more natural, especially when you combine them with Italian greetings and other polite expressions.
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How do you say “please” in Italian? 7 ways
Here are seven common expressions to say “please” in the Italian language, along with tips on choosing the right one for each context.
1. Per favore
The word favore is an Italian cognate of the English “favor.” It originally referred to a benevolent act granted to someone, or a form of assistance from an external force (navigare con il vento a favore = to sail with the wind in your favor). Over time, per favore (as a favor) took on the fixed meaning of “please.”
- Puoi accompagnarmi all’aeroporto, per favore? = Can you take me to the airport, please?
- Il conto, per favore. = Check, please.
- Ma per favore! = Oh, please!
This simple expression is widely used and works in most everyday situations, from saying “Check, please.” in Italian to making polite requests in formal and informal settings.
2. Per piacere
Similar in meaning, per piacere translates to “for pleasure”: Think of it like the old English “as you please.” It’s interchangeable with per favore.
- Passami lo zucchero, per piacere. = Pass me the sugar, please.
- Per piacere, potrebbe spostare la macchina? = Could you please move the car?
3. Per cortesia
Per cortesia means “for courtesy.” Its meaning goes back to the literary idea of courtly love, when knights pledged loyalty and devotion to noble court ladies. So when you say per cortesia, you’re echoing that idea by praising the person doing the favor, instead of your benefit receiving it. This difference is subtle, but it makes the expression sound more polite than the others.
- Mi farebbe un caffè, per cortesia? = Would you make me a coffee, please?
- Per cortesia, potrei avere una bottiglia d’acqua? = May I have a bottle of water, please?
4. Ti prego/la prego/si prega
The verb pregare (to beg) might sound intense, but it’s common for insistent requests (usually after hearing a few too many “nos”).
- Mamma, me lo compri? Ti prego! = Mom, will you buy it for me? Please!
- Dai, accompagnami. Ti prego, ti prego, ti prego! = Come on, come with me. Please, please, please!
In formal conversation, it becomes la prego (with the formal pronoun):
- La prego, mi ascolti un attimo. = Please, listen to me for a moment. (La is a formal pronoun.)
And you’ll see si prega (impersonal form) in public notices:
- Si prega di non oltrepassare la linea gialla. = Please do not cross the yellow line.
5. Prego
This one’s tricky. Prego usually means “you’re welcome,” and it’s how you reply to someone saying “thank you” in Italian. But it can also mean “please” when you’re inviting someone to do something in formal situations. For example:
- When you hesitate to enter a shop that looks closed, the shopkeeper might say:
- Prego, entri pure. = Please, come in.
- When it’s finally your turn at a pharmacy or a public office, they will likely say:
- Prego, mi dica. = Please, tell me (how can I help you).
6. Cortesemente
Learning all these Italian expressions is like flipping through an Italian grammar book. And here you’ll discover that even Italian adverbs can mean “please”.
Cortesemente is an adverb that translates “courteously,” but it’s used as “please” in writing or when speaking respectfully to someone you don’t know well.
- Cortesemente, mi potrebbe passare una penna? = Could you please pass me a pen? (formal you)
You’ll also see it in written signs, combined with Italian verbs in the impersonal or infinitive form.
- Si prega cortesemente di chiudere la porta. = Please kindly close the door.
- Cortesemente, non sbattere la porta. = Please don’t slam the door.
7. Gentilmente
Gentilmente is another adverb that works the same, translating “kindly,” “politely,” and “please.” It feels slightly less formal than cortesemente and can convey a sense of urgency.
- Gentilmente, mi invii il documento entro domani. = Please, send me the document by tomorrow.
How to say “yes, please” in Italian
As a beginner Italian student, you want to learn as many expressions as possible, but if you are unsure, sticking with per favore or per piacere is usually a safe bet.
However, there’s one direct translation you should always avoid: saying “yes, please” as sì, per favore. Italians don’t say it that way. Instead, they say sì, grazie (yes, thank you).
- Vuoi un altro caffè? = Do you want another coffee?
- Sì, grazie. = Yes, please.
- No, grazie. = No, thank you.
>> Discover more ways to say “yes” in Italian!
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