If you love romantic Italian music or movies, you have likely come across the expression mi manchi, which means “I miss you” in Italian. While it looks like an exact translation, this Italian expression doesn’t work in the same way as its English counterpart. Also, native speakers usually don’t stop there and often enrich it with words that add warmth and depth to their feelings.
In this article, we’ll look at the idiomatic expressions Italians actually use when they miss a friend, a partner, a pet, or anyone they love, to express this sweet, nostalgic feeling.
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Saying ‘I miss you’ in Italian with the verb mancare
The verb mancare (to miss) is key to most Italian expressions for “I miss you.” Like all Italian verbs, mancare must be conjugated and match the number (singular or plural) of the noun it refers to, and this is where the two languages differ.
While the English “I miss you” focuses on who feels the absence, in the Italian expression mi manchi, the verb refers to who/what is missed. The person feeling the emotion is then expressed with an Italian indirect object pronoun*, much like saying: “You are missing to me.”
- Mi manchi (tu). = You are missing to me. → I miss you. (singular)
- Mi manca mio marito. = My husband is missing to me. → I miss my husband.
- Mi mancate (voi). = You are missing to me. → I miss you. (plural)
All these examples are in the present tense, but of course, you can express the feeling using other Italian verb tenses as well.
- Mi sei mancato tanto. = I missed you a lot. (passato prossimo)
- È una sfortuna che tu debba andare a New York. Mi mancherai! = It is unfortunate that you have to go to New York. I will miss you! (futuro semplice)
- Mi mancavano le nostre chiacchierate. = I missed our chats. (imperfetto)
*Learn more about Italian pronouns and how to use them.
Now that you understand how the verb mancare works, let’s look at the most common expressions built around it, starting, of course, with the classic mi manchi.
1. Mi manchi (I miss you)
Mi manchi is the most straightforward way to say “I miss you” in Italian, and a widespread, all-purpose expression used with partners, friends, and family. It works as a standalone, or you can express the subject to reinforce the meaning, like pairing it with a nickname meaning “my love” in Italian:
- Mi manchi. = I miss you.
- Mi manchi, amore mio. = I miss you, my love.
- Mi manchi, tesoro. = I miss you, sweetheart.
- Mi manchi, mamma. = I miss you, Mom.
- Quanto mi manchi, amica mia! = How much I miss you, my dear friend!
Tip: Music is a great way to practice Italian, like singing along to Andrea Bocelli’s Mi Manchi.
2. Mi manchi tanto/molto (I miss you so much/very much/a lot)
Adverbs of quantity work very well with mi manchi as they can make the expression feel more complete. The most common are tanto and molto. The first one sounds a bit warmer, but you can choose whichever feels more natural to you, as they are basically interchangeable.
- Mi manchi tanto. = I miss you so much.
- Mi manchi molto. = I miss you a lot.
You will also hear Italians using superlativi (superlatives), which you create by adding “-issimo” to the adverb’s root:
- Mi manchi tantissimo. = I miss you so, so much.
- Mi manchi moltissimo. = I miss you very, very much.
To reinforce the feeling even more, try doubling the adverbs with davvero (really/for real) and così (so).
- Mi manchi davvero tanto. = I really miss you a lot.
- Mi manchi così tanto! = I miss you so much!
3. Mi manchi un sacco (I miss you a lot)
More informal and playful, the widespread slang expression mi manchi un sacco literally means “I miss you a sack full” and is a friendly way to tell someone you miss them a lot. It’s very informal, so it’s more common among close friends and younger people.
- Da quando sei partito/a, mi manchi un sacco. = I miss you a lot since you left. (m/f)
- Mi mancate un sacco. = I miss you all a lot.
- Mi manca un sacco l’Italia. = I miss Italy a lot.
Note: You can use un sacco (a lot) with many Italian expressions. It works with “liking,” “having fun,” and more: Mi piaci un sacco (I like you a lot), mi diverto un sacco (I have a lot of fun), lavoro un sacco (I work a lot).
4. Mi manchi un casino (I miss you a ton)
Similar to the previous one, mi manchi un casino also means “I miss you a ton/so much”. In Italian slang, un casino literally translates as “a big mess,” “a ton,” or “so freaking much” in English.
You can safely use it with close friends, partners, and anyone you speak to informally, but avoid it in polite contexts because it can sound a bit crude.
- Mi manchi un casino, tesoro. = I miss you a ton, sweetheart.
- Mi mancate un casino, ragazze. = I miss you a ton, girls.
5. Mi manchi da morire (I miss you terribly)
All the phrases you’ve learned so far can be romantic or platonic. So, how do you say “I miss you” in Italian when you really want to express love and a strong sense of longing?
Use the more dramatic mi manchi da morire, which means “I miss you terribly” and literally translates as “I miss you so much I could die.” This expression has a very emotional and theatrical—classic Italian style.
- Mi manchi da morire, torna presto. = I miss you terribly. Come back soon.
- Penso sempre a voi, mi mancate da morire. = I always think of you all, I miss you terribly.
6. Mi manchi da impazzire (I miss you like crazy)
Also very romantic and suitable for long-distance relationships, mi manchi da impazzire corresponds to the English “I miss you like crazy.” It expresses intense emotion, but feels lighter and less dark than mi manchi da morire.
- Amore, mi manchi da impazzire. = My love, I miss you like crazy.
Tip: Words with double consonants can be hard to get right. TruAccent can help you practice and improve your Italian pronunciation.
7. Mi manchi come l’aria (I miss you like air)
Sometimes saying mi manchi is like saying “I need you” or “I love you” in Italian, and that’s the case with the poetic expression mi manchi come l’aria, literally “I miss you like air.” This phrase is deeply romantic and more literary than conversational, so you’ll find it mostly in songs, poems, or very emotional messages.
- E ancora manchi come l’aria…E manchi prima al cuore, poi alle mani. = And I still miss you the way I need air…It starts in my heart and reaches all the way to my hands.
8. Sento la tua mancanza (I feel your absence)
Sento la tua mancanza is a more neutral, slightly more formal way to say “I miss you” in Italian. Instead of using the verb mancare (to miss), this structure uses the noun mancanza (absence), combined with the verb sentire (to feel).
It’s common in written messages, in more serious conversations, or when you want to express the feeling in a calm, heartfelt way.
- Quando non ci sei, sento la tua mancanza. = When you’re not here, I miss you.
- Sento molto la vostra mancanza. = I miss you all very much.
Other ways to say ‘I miss you’ (without using mancare)
Sometimes Italians express the feeling of missing someone without using the verb mancare at all. These expressions don’t translate literally as “I miss you,” but they naturally convey the same emotion.
9. Vorrei che fossi qui (I wish you were here)
As a tender expression, vorrei che fossi qui (I wish you were here) can sound totally platonic or slightly romantic in Italian. It’s common in messages, long-distance relationships, or when you’re traveling to show love and that you miss a person’s presence.
- Vorrei che fossi qui con me. = I wish you were here with me.
- L’Italia è bellissima: vorrei tanto che fossi qui. = Italy is beautiful: I wish you were here so much.
10. Ti penso spesso/ho pensato tanto a te (I think of you often/I’ve been thinking a lot about you)
These two phrases show care and affection, without sounding dramatic or too sentimental. They work with friends, partners, and family members.
- Ti penso spesso. = I think of you often.
- Ho pensato tanto a te oggi. = I thought about you a lot today.
- Sei sempre nei miei pensieri. = You’re always in my thoughts.
11. Non posso stare senza di te (I can’t be without you)
More intense and romantic, this expression communicates emotional dependence in a loving way, so better reserve it for a partner. It has slight variations using the verbs stare (to stay), sapere (to know how), and potere (to can), all very common and interchangeable.
- Non posso stare senza di te. = I can’t be without you.
- Non so a stare senza te. = I don’t know how to be without you.
- Sai che non riesco stare senza di te. = You know I can’t stand being without you.
- Non posso più stare senza te. = I can’t stand being without you anymore.
12. Ho nostalgia di te (I long for you)
Ho nostalgia di te is a softer, more poetic way to say you miss someone. It sounds less casual, more elegant, and more intimate than most other expressions, because it conveys a sentimental sadness rather than a strong need for the other person.
- Ho nostalgia di te/noi. = I long for you/us. or I miss you/us.
- Ho nostalgia di casa. = I feel homesick.
13. Mi sento solo/a senza di te (I feel lonely without you)
Another expression that focuses directly on the emotion itself is Mi sento solo/a senza di te (I feel lonely without you.) It highlights the sense of loneliness caused by someone’s absence. It’s perfect in romantic relationships, but you can also use it with close friends or family members you’re deeply attached to.
- Mi sento solo senza di te. = I feel lonely without you. (m)
- Mi sento sola senza di te. = I feel lonely without you. (f)
14. Non vedo l’ora di vederti (I can’t wait to see you)
Literally, “not being able to see the time”: non vedere l’ora is a widespread Italian idiom that means you’re eagerly waiting for something or looking forward to it. You can use a sentence like non vedo l’ora di vederti or rivederti (I can’t wait to see you/meet you again) to close written messages or cards.
- Non vedo l’ora di vederti. = I can’t wait to see you.
- Non vedo l’ora di rivedervi. = I can’t wait to see you all again.
Key takeaway for telling someone you miss them in Italian
Being able to express your feelings is one of the most important steps when learning Italian, and telling a friend, a long-distance partner, or faraway family members that you miss them makes your words feel even more meaningful. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Most “I miss you” phrases in Italian use the verb mancare (to miss), which conjugates according to who is being missed.
- Use indirect object pronouns to indicate the person feeling the missing, like mi (to me), ci (to us), etc.
- Add warmth or emphasis with adverbs or slang, but save the dramatic expressions for a partner and avoid slang in any relationship that’s more formal (like in-laws).
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