9 Italian Expressions You'll Hear Every Day (and What They Really Mean)

If you've ever visited Italy, you've probably noticed that native speakers don't always sound like your textbook. Everyday conversations are full of short expressions that can be confusing if you try to translate them literally.

Below, you'll find nine common Italian expressions that you shouldn't always translate word for word. Instead, learn them as complete expressions without looking for a precise meaning in your language! 

1. Ci sentiamo 📞👋

Ci sentiamo doesn't literally mean you'll hear from each other.
Italians use it as a friendly way to end a conversation, meaning "Let's keep in touch" or "Talk to you soon."

Example:

“Ciao, è stato un piacere!”
“Sì, ci sentiamo!”

“Bye, it was nice meeting you”
“Definitely! Talk to you soon!”

2. Vediamo...🤔
You'll often hear vediamo when someone isn't ready to say yes or no. Depending on the situation, it can mean "we'll see," "maybe," or "I'll think about it." 

Example:
“Vieni con noi sabato?”
“Vediamo.”

“Are you coming with us on Saturday?”
“We'll see.”

3. Magari 🤩
Magari is one of those words you can't translate with a single English equivalent. In everyday conversation, it often means "I wish!" or "I'd love to!" 

Example:
“Ti piacerebbe vivere in Italia?”
“Magari!”

“Would you like to live in Italy?”
“I'd love to! / I wish!”

4. Dai! 💪 🔥
Dai! is one of the most common words you'll hear in Italy. Depending on the situation, it can mean "Come on!", "Let's go!",  "No way!", or even “Hurry up!”.
The meaning depends entirely on how it's said. 

Example:
"Dai, sbrigati, siamo in ritardo!”

“Come on, hurry up, we're late!”

“Ho vinto mille euro!”
“Dai, davvero?”

“I won a thousand euros!”
“No way! Really?”

5. Ci sta 👍👌
If an Italian says ci sta, they're basically saying "Sounds good!" or "Why not?" It's an informal expression you'll hear in everyday conversations. 

Example:
“Ordiniamo una pizza?”
“Ci sta.”

“Shall we order a pizza?”
“Sounds good!”

6. Va be' 🤷
You'll hear va be' all the time in Italy. People use it when something doesn't go as planned and there's nothing they can do about it. It's basically the Italian way of saying "Oh well” or “Whatever”

Example:
“Ho perso il treno.”
“Va be', prenderai il prossimo.”

“I missed the train.”
“Oh well, you'll catch the next one.”

7. Figurati 😊🫶
If someone thanks you in Italy, probably you would hear figurati. It's a friendly, informal way of saying "You're welcome" or "No problem", and its meaning is similar to “Don’t worry about it”. 

Example:
“Grazie per l'aiuto!”
“Figurati!”

“Thanks for your help!”
“You're welcome!”

8. Boh 🙄🤷‍♀️
Boh is one of the shortest, and most iconic, words in Italian.
Italians use it all the time when they simply want to say “I don’t know”.

Example:
“Dov'è Marco?”
“Boh.”

“Where's Marco?”
“No idea”

9. Tranquillo 😌🧘
Get ready to hear tranquillo all the time! This word means much more than just "calm."
Italians use it constantly to reassure someone, whether they mean "Don't worry," "It's okay," or simply "No problem." 

Example:
“Scusa per il ritardo.”
“Tranquillo!”

“Sorry I'm late.”
“Don't worry!”

👩‍🏫Teacher's Tip 👩‍🏫

Once you start noticing these expressions, you'll hear them everywhere! Don't worry about translating them word for word. Instead, pay attention to when and how Italians use them in real conversations. The more you listen, the more natural they'll become and before long, you'll be using them yourself! 

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