6 Italian Filler Words You'll Hear Everywhere

If you've ever listened to Italians having a casual conversation, you've probably noticed they use lots of little words that seem to pop up all the time. These are called filler words: they're common in informal speech and help keep the conversation flowing.

Even though these words have their own meanings, Italians often use them simply to buy a second to think, organize their thoughts, or smoothly move from one idea to the next.
Once you start noticing them, you'll hear them everywhere!

Here are six Italian filler words you'll hear all the time in everyday conversations.

1. Allora

Get ready to hear allora all the time! It's probably the most common filler word in Italian. Depending on the situation, it can mean "so," "well," or simply introduce a new topic. 

Example:
“Allora, sei pronto?”

“So, are you ready?”

2. Cioè
Don't be surprised if Italians say cioè several times in the same conversation!
It's often used like "I mean" to explain, clarify, or rephrase what someone has just said. 

Example:
“È un ristorante piccolo, cioè, ci sono solo dieci tavoli.”

“It's a small restaurant, I mean, there are only ten tables.”

3. Ecco
Ecco is one of those little words that can mean lots of different things. Italians use it when handing someone something, finding what they were looking for, or suddenly remembering an idea. 

Example:
“Ecco le chiavi!”

“Here are the keys! / Here you go!”

4. Comunque
If a conversation suddenly changes direction, you'll probably hear comunque. It's the Italian equivalent of "anyway" and helps bring the conversation back on track or introduce a new point. 

Example:
“Comunque, devo andare a letto. Ci vediamo domani.”

“Anyway, I need to go to sleep. See you tomorrow.”

5. Mah
Mah is one of the easiest Italian words to learn and one of the most useful in order to understand when an Italian strongly doubts about something! In fact, Italians use it whenever they don't completely believe what they've just heard. 

Example:
“Arriverà in orario?”
“Mah…”

“Will he arrive on time?”
“Hmm... I doubt it!”

6. Praticamente
You'll hear praticamente a lot in spoken Italian. Even though it literally means "practically," it's often used just like "basically" to introduce an explanation, a summary or give yourself a second to think. 

Example:
“Praticamente, abbiamo perso il treno e siamo arrivati in ritardo.”

“Basically, we missed the train and arrived late.”

👩‍🏫Teacher's Tip 👩‍🏫

Here's a fun challenge: the next time you watch an Italian film, TV series, or YouTube video, try to spot these filler words. You'll be surprised by how often Italians use them! Once you start recognizing them, they'll quickly become part of your own Italian too. 

Still curious? Meet your Italian teacher to learn more filler words in Italian words!