Yes, No, Maybe Sì, No, Forse 2

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Yes.	Sì.
	see.

No.	No.
	noh.

That’s right.	Esatto / Proprio così.
	eh-ZAH-toh / PROH-pree-oh koh-ZEE.

Both of these expressions are commonly used.

I think so.	Penso di sì.
	PEHN-soh dee see.

I agree.	Sono d’accordo.
	SOH-noh dahk-KOHR-doh.

So am I / Me too.	Anche io.
	AHN-keh ee-oh.

I see / I got it / I understand.	Capisco.
	kah-PEE-skoh.

All right, that’s okay.	Va bene.
	vah BEH-neh.

No problem.	Non c’è problema.
	nohn chay proh-BLEH-mah.

Really?	Davvero?
	dahv-VEH-roh?

Is that so?	È vero?
	eh VEH-roh?

In Italian, questions are not introduced by phrasings like “do you / did you,” etc.The only way to know if someone is asking you something, or to ask a question yourself, is with the tone of voice and non-verbal cues. Do not worry, you will catch on to it quickly!

Yeah, I know.	Sì, lo so.
	see, loh soh.

I guess so.	Credo di sì.
	KRAY-doh dee see.

It might be true.	Può essere vero.
	pwoh ehs-SEH-reh VEH-roh.

Maybe.	Forse / Può essere.
	FOHR-seh / pwoh ehs-SEH-reh.

Either expression can be used; you will hear both of them frequently in your travels.

Maybe not.	Forse no.
	FOHR-seh noh.

Because…	Perchè...
	pehr-KAY...

The Italian language has only one word to say “because” and “why”: perchè.

That’s not right.	Non va bene. / Non è giusto.
	nohn vah BEH-neh. / nohn eh JYOO-stoh.

I wonder.	Mi chiedo.
	mee KYEH-doh.

I don’t think so / I doubt it.	Credo di no / Dubito.
	KRAY-doh dee noh. / DOO-bee-toh.

I’m not sure.	Non sono sicuro/a.
	nohn SOH-noh see-KOO-roh/rah.

There is no way of knowing.	Non c’è modo di saperlo.
	nohn chay MOH-doh dee sah-PEHR-loh.

I can’t say for sure.	Non sono sicuro/a.
	nohn SOH-noh see-KOO-roh/rah.

But...	Ma…
	mah...

How come?	Come mai?
	KOH-meh mah-ee?

What’s the difference?	Che differenza c’è?
	keh deef-feh-REHN-tsah chay?

What do you mean?	Cosa vuoi dire?
	KOH-zah vwoy DEE-reh?

The real meaning of this question can be interpreted only through the posture and the general attitude of the person posing it: Italians can ask Cosa vuoi dire? in a very innocent way, but the same expression can also easily be used to provoke an argument, opening doubts on the true significance and purpose of what has just been said.

Is something wrong?	Qualcosa non va?
	kwahl-KOH-zah nohn vah?

Why not?	Perchè no?
	pehr-KAY noh?

Are you serious?	Sul serio? / Seriamente?
	sool SEH-ryoh? / seh-ryah-MEHN-teh?

Are you sure?	Sei sicuro/a?
	seh-ee see-KOO-roh/rah?

You don’t mean it? / You are joking?	Scherzi o dici sul serio?
	SKEHR-tsee oh DEE-chee sool SEH-ryoh?

This is a very common expression used in a variety of occasions, mainly colloquial, to ask someone if he/she is joking or very seriously standing behind his/her thoughts or positions on a specific issue. It can be generally interpreted in a neutral way. But if used in more formal talks, like at work, with your boss, or even in an everyday business transaction, this expression can be interpreted as a provocation or the beginning of an argument since you are casting doubts on the other person’s sincerity or real intentions.

Absolutely.	Assolutamente.
	ahs-soh-LOO-tah-MEHN-teh.

Definitely.	Senza dubbio.
	SEHN-tsah DOOB-byoh.

Literally,“Without a doubt.”

Of course.	Certo / Naturale.
	CHEHR-toh / nah-too-RAH-leh.

You better believe it!	Fai meglio a crederci!
	fah-ee MEH-lyoh ah kreh-DEHR-chee.

Note that the gl sound in meglio (better) does not exist in English pronunciation.To make this sound, pronounce the gl like the lli in “million.”

There it is.	Ecco. Eccolo / la / li / le.
	EHK-koh. EHK-koh-loh / lah / lee / leh.

Ecco is a good word to know and to learn to use in a versatile way just as the Italians do. It can be used when you present or show something: a job project just finished, a cake just baked, a gift, a person, an object.You can use the expression Eccomi to introduce your own arrival at an appointment.You can add one of the endings, lo / la / li / le—eccolo, eccola, eccoli, eccole: here he is / she is / they (masc.) are / they (fem.) are—when you want to introduce an object or a person.

That was good.	È stato bello.
	eh STAH-toh BEHL-loh.

The Italian language uses bello (beautiful) instead of buono (good) to express a very pleasant experience: a vacation, a book just read, a trip, an afternoon spent together.... This isn’t surprising considering the sense of aesthetic beauty that characterizes Italian culture in all its expressions, including the linguistic one.

Right on / Great!	Perfetto / Bene! / Bravo!
	pehr-FEHT-toh / BEH-neh! / BRAH-voh!

Although “great” is used very often in casual English, the Italian language uses the word perfetto or the word bene which means “good/well”: again the Italian culture’s sense of aesthetics is prevalent in the word choices. Perfetto refers to the ideal of perfect harmony. In fact, in Italian, you would almost never use the literal Italian equivalent of “great” (the word grande) unless in a sort of teasing, childlike way. An athlete’s performance, a soccer game, could possibly be grande …but most often you’d simply say Bravo!

You’re kidding me.	Mi prendi in giro.
	mee PREHN-dee een JEE-roh.

Try to remember this beautiful idomatic expression whose literal meaning is “you are taking me around in circles.” It is used abundantly, most of the time while smiling and in a very friendly way. Occasionally it can be used in an argument.

This is too good to be true.	È troppo bello per essere vero.
	eh TROHP-poh BEHL-loh pehr ehs-SEH-reh VEH-roh.

That’s wrong.	È sbagliato.
	eh sbah-LYAH-toh.

No way / Stop joking.	No, non scherzare.
	noh, nohn skehr-TSAH-reh.

That’s impossible.	È impossibile.
	eh eem-pohs-see-BEE-leh.

Forget it!	Scordatelo!
	skohr-dah-TEH-loh.

Bullshit!	Balle / Palle! / Stupidaggini!
	BAHL-leh / PAHL-leh! / STOO-pee-dah-DJEE-nee!

The first two words (balle or palle are actually the same word—the first consonant can change without affecting its meaning) are used in colloquial everyday language, referring to men’s testicles. Italians say Balle (or Palle) when someone says things almost impossible to believe. But if you want to “translate” the American term “bullshit” in a less rude and more polite way you can say Stupidaggini, which is the equivalent of “silly things.”

I don’t care (anything’s fine).	Non importa.
	nohn eem-POHR-tah. (vah BEH-neh TOOT-toh.)

It means nothing to me.	Non ha importanza per me.
	nohn ah eem-pohr-TAHN-tsah pehr meh.

I am not interested.	Non sono interessato / non mi interessa.
	nohn SOH-noh een-teh-rehs-SAH-toh / nohn mee een-teh-REHS-sah.

These two expressions can be used interchangeably.