The most common way to say “you’re welcome” in Italian is prego, a word you’ll hear all the time in Italy. However, while prego is a perfect option, it’s not always the most natural choice in real conversations. Italians respond to gratitude in different ways, depending on the context, tone, and level of formality.
Learning these phrases will expand your vocabulary and help you feel more confident in an Italian restaurant, at a farmers’ market, or when interacting with native speakers. Here’s how to say “you’re welcome” in Italian in real-life situations, from casual replies to more formal expressions.
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Prego
Once you know how to say “thank you” in Italian, learning the word prego is the natural next step. It’s your go-to word for saying “you’re welcome” in Italian, since it is quite neutral and works in both formal and informal contexts.
- Grazie. = Thank you.
- Prego. = You’re welcome.
However, since it’s just one word, it can sound slightly brief or detached in conversation. For this reason, you’ll often hear prego combined with other expressions to make the response warmer.
- Prego. Grazie a te/a lei. = You’re welcome. Thank you. (informal/formal, with emphasis on “you”)
You can also pair it with other sentences meaning “you’re welcome” to reinforce the message, such as:
- Prego, non c’è di che. = You’re welcome. It’s nothing!
- Prego, figurati! = You’re welcome. Don’t even mention it.
Important: The Italian word prego has several meanings besides “you’re welcome.” It’s also the first-person singular of pregare (to pray), and it’s commonly used to mean “come in,” “go ahead,” or “after you.” Hear it in action in the famous song Grazie, Prego, Scusi from Adriano Celentano.
Di niente/di nulla
Of all the Italian phrases meaning “you’re welcome,” di nienteand di nulla are used almost as often as prego. They both literally mean “of nothing” and are the counterparts of “it’s nothing” in English.
- Grazie per avere chiamato. = Thank you for calling me.
- Di nulla! = You’re welcome.
These expressions are interchangeable and work well in formal and informal contexts, especially when you want to emphasize that helping someone or doing something was no trouble at all.
Non c’è di che
Another way to say “you’re welcome” in Italian is non c’è di che, an idiomatic expression that doesn’t translate word for word into English. It conveys the idea of “it’s nothing,” but it sounds warmer and slightly polished.
- Grazie per essere venuto presto! = Thank you for coming so soon!
- Non c’è di che. = You’re welcome.
This is how you reply to someone thanking you in Italian, especially in professional and semi-formal settings.
Figurati/si figuri
Figurati (informal) and si figuri (formal) come from the reflexive verb figurarsi, which means “to imagine.” When used as a response to “thank you,” they convey something close to “don’t mention it,” “no problem,” or “anytime.”
- Grazie per avermi accompagnato in aeroporto. = Thank you for taking me to the airport.
- Figurati. = Anytime.
- Va bene, la Sua prenotazione è stata annullata. Grazie per avere chiamato. = Okay, I have cancelled your reservation. Thank you for calling.
- Si figuri. Grazie a Lei. = You’re welcome. Thank you.
Because Italian distinguishes between formal and informal “you,” choosing the right one takes a bit of practice with Italian pronouns (figurati and sifiguri). But once you get comfortable with figurati and si figuri, they will make you sound a lot more natural in everyday conversation.
Ci mancherebbe/ci mancherebbe altro
A slightly more expressive way to say “you’re welcome” in Italian is ci mancherebbe or ci mancherebbe altro. These phrases are commonly used with the meaning of “absolutely,” “of course,” or “it was the least I could do.”
- Grazie per avermi aspettato. = Thank you for waiting for me.
- Ci mancherebbe altro. = Of course./It was the least I could do.
They fit both formal and informal situations, but they sound more emphatic than the other options. Tone matters, though: depending on how it’s said, ci mancherebbe can also sound slightly sarcastic.
Tip: Mancherebbe sounds a bit like a tongue twister at first, so you may need some time to train your Italian accent.
Nessun problema
Nessun problema is easy to remember for English speakers because it directly translates to “no problem.” Italians use it informally when someone thanks them for something that may have required extra effort or caused a bit of inconvenience.
- Grazie per avermi sostituito al lavoro. = Thank you for covering my shift.
- Nessun problema. = No problem.
Remember that there are different ways to say “no” in Italian, and the word no is only used to answer direct yes-or-no questions. A very common mistake is to say “no problema,” but in this case, you must use nessun (none).
È stato un piacere
Another phrase you can use, especially in formal or semi-formal situations, is è stato un piacere (it was my pleasure). This reply adds a polite, positive tone to the interaction and is also appropriate in professional settings, after providing assistance.
- Grazie per i pomodori. Sei una buona vicina! = Thank you for the tomatoes. You are a good neighbor!
- È stato un piacere = It was my pleasure.
Use it every time someone thanks you for something you have done, and you want to sound courteous.
Non dirlo nemmeno/non lo dica nemmeno
Non dirlo nemmeno is the exact translation of “don’t even say it.” It’s typically used among friends or family and implies that helping was completely natural given your relationship.
- Grazie per essere venuti in ospedale. = Thank you for coming to the hospital.
- Non dirlo nemmeno. = Don’t even mention it.
If you’re speaking in a formal context, like with your mother-in-law or father-in-law, use the form non lo dica nemmeno (formal “you”) instead.
Casual replies to ‘thank you’ in Italian
There are also more casual, almost slang Italian expressions that rely heavily on tone, and you can use with friends, family, or people your own age:
- Ma ti pare! = Of course!/Are you kidding?
- Ma scherzi! = Are you joking?!
- E di che? = What for?/No need!
- Ma che! = Oh, please!
- Tranquillo/a. = Don’t worry.
- Quando vuoi. = Anytime.
Key takeaways for saying ‘you’re welcome’ in Italian
If you want to sound natural when replying to someone who thanks you, and when you learn Italian in general, understanding context and tone matters more than memorizing a single expression. Remember:
- There are many ways to say “you’re welcome” in Italian: the best choice depends on how formal the situation is.
- Neutral replies like prego work in almost any context, but warmer expressions are more common in everyday conversations.
- Italian distinguishes between formal and informal “you,” so pay attention to pronouns and verb forms when choosing expressions like figurati/si figuri or non dirlo nemmeno/non lo dica nemmeno.
- Some expressions can sound ironic depending on tone and body language, so listening and observing native speakers makes a big difference.
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