In Italian culture, even a simple “How are you?” means more than a greeting. Learning to ask and answer this question isn’t just about speaking Italian correctly. It’s also about understanding the respect and sincerity behind the words.
It’s casual when friends ask each other “Come stai?”. But in formal situations, you’d use “Come sta?” instead. Each version has its own rules about when to use it. Understanding these greetings helps you see Italian society’s deeper values and norms. It’s critical for anyone who wants to connect with the Italian way of life.
Responding to “How Are You?” in Italian
When someone asks “How are you?” in Italian, it’s good to know how to reply. You can say “Bene, grazie!” which means “Good, thank you!” It’s simple and works well for everyday chats. If you’re talking to someone in a more formal setting, try “Sto molto bene, grazie. Lei come sta?” This is like saying “I am very well, thank you. How are you?” but with a polite twist, using “Lei” to show respect.
| Italian Phrase | English Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Sto bene, grazie | I’m good, thank you | [Stoh BEH-neh GRAH-tsyeh] |
| Non c’è male | Not bad | [Non cheh MAH-leh] |
| Molto bene, grazie | Very well, thank you | [MOHL-toh BEH-neh GRAH-tsyeh] |
| Così così | So-so | [Koh-ZEE koh-ZEE] |
| Sto benissimo | I’m very good | [Stoh beh-NEE-see-moh] |
| Non tanto bene | Not so good | [Non TAHN-toh BEH-neh] |
| Abbastanza bene | Pretty good | [Ahb-bah-STAHN-tsah BEH-neh] |
| Sono un po’ stanco | I’m a bit tired | [SOH-noh oon poh STAHN-koh] |
| Tutto a posto | Everything’s fine | [TOOT-toh ah POHS-toh] |
| Non mi posso lamentare | I can’t complain | [Non mee POHS-soh lah-men-TAH-reh] |
| Sto male | I’m not well | [Stoh MAH-leh] |
| Sono felice | I’m happy | [SOH-noh feh-LEE-cheh] |
| Sono tranquillo | I’m calm | [SOH-noh trahn-KWEEL-loh] |
| Ho avuto una giornata difficile | I had a tough day | [Oh ah-VOO-toh OO-nah jor-NAH-tah dee-fee-CHEE-leh] |
| Mi sento rilassato | I feel relaxed | [Mee SEN-toh ree-lahs-SAH-toh] |
| Mi sento stressato | I feel stressed | [Mee SEN-toh stress-SAH-toh] |
| Sto migliorando | I’m improving | [Stoh mee-lyor-AHN-doh] |
| Sto guarendo | I’m recovering | [Stoh gwah-REN-doh] |
| Sto passando un momento difficile | I’m going through a hard time | [Stoh pah-SAHN-doh oon moh-MEN-toh dee-fee-CHEE-leh] |
| Sono emozionato | I’m excited | [SOH-noh eh-moh-tsyo-NAH-toh] |
| Sono un po’ giù | I’m a bit down | [SOH-noh oon poh joo] |
| Sono pieno di energia | I’m full of energy | [SOH-noh PYEH-noh dee ehn-ehr-JEE-ah] |
| Mi sento positivo | I feel positive | [Mee SEN-toh poh-zee-TEE-voh] |
| Ho bisogno di riposo | I need rest | [Oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee ree-POH-soh] |
| Mi sento fortunato | I feel lucky | [Mee SEN-toh for-too-NAH-toh] |
| Sono pensieroso | I’m thoughtful | [SOH-noh pen-syeh-ROH-soh] |
| Tutto bene | Everything’s good | [TOOT-toh BEH-neh] |
| Mi sento un po’ nervoso | I feel a bit nervous | [Mee SEN-toh oon poh ner-VOH-soh] |
| Ho il morale alto | I’m in high spirits | [Oh eel moh-RAH-leh AHL-toh] |
| Sono pronto per affrontare la giornata | I’m ready to face the day | [SOH-noh PRON-toh pehr ahf-fron-TAH-reh lah jor-NAH-tah] |
With friends or family, you might want to keep it casual. You can say “Non c’è male” for “Not bad,” or “Così così” if you’re feeling so-so. These phrases let you share more about how you think without getting too heavy.
You may like this – How to Say “How Are You?” in French
Cultural Tips and Etiquette
In Italy, getting the hang of local manners can improve your interactions, be it social or business. It’s common to start with a firm handshake and direct eye contact when you meet someone. But as you get to know each other better, cheek kisses are typical, starting from the left side. Always use formal titles unless told otherwise, especially in business settings where showing respect is crucial.
Italians expect punctuality for formal gatherings, but are more relaxed about timing in social situations. Getting to know these customs shows respect and helps you fit in. Italians really appreciate it when foreigners try to speak a little Italian. It shows you’re interested and trying to connect with their culture.
Different ways to respond in Italian to “How Are You?”
| English | Italian (Singular) | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| I’m feeling great, thanks! | Sto benissimo, grazie! | ˈsstɔ ˈbbɛnissimo ˈɡrattsje | sto ben-ees-ee-mow grat-sie |
| Everything is great! | Alla grande! / Tutto alla grande! | alla ‘grande / ‘tutto alla ‘grande | ah-la-gran-deh / two-tow ah-la gran-deh |
| Amazing! (Literally: From God!) | Da dio! | da ‘ddio | da dee-oh |
| Just wonderful! (Literally: Like a fairytale!) | Da favola! | da ‘favola | da fa-vo-lah |
| I’m good, thanks! How are you? | Sto bene, grazie! È tu? / È Lei?* | ˈsstɔ ˈbɛne ˈɛ ttu / ˈɛˈllɛi̯ | sto beh-neh grat-sie / eh two |
| Not too bad thanks and yourself? | Non c’è male, grazie. È tu? / È Lei?* | ‘nnon tʃˈɛ ‘male ˈɛ ttu / ˈɛˈllɛi̯ | non che mah-leh grat-sie / eh two |
| All ok! / All good! | Tutto ok! / Tutto bene! | ‘tutto o’kɛi | two-tow ok / two-tow beh-neh |
| Everything’s good. | Tutto a posto! | ‘tutto a ˈpposto | two-tow ah po-sto |
| Things are going well. | Me la passo bene. | ‘me la ‘passo ˈbɛne | meh la pass-oh beh-neh |
| I’m getting by just fine. | Me la cavo. | ‘me la ‘kavo | meh la cah-vo |
| I’m a little tired, but good thank you! | Sono un po’ stanco/a, ma grazie! | sono um ˈpɔ ˈstanko / ‘stanka ma ‘ggrattsje | sow-no oon poh stan-ko / stan-ka ma grat-sie |
| I can’t complain! | Non posso lamentarmi. | ‘nom ‘ˈpɔsso lamenˈtarmi | non poss-oh la-men-tar-mee |
| Could be worse! | Potrebbe andare peggio. | potrebbe an’dare ˈpɛddʒo | po-treb-beh an-dar-eh pej-joe |
| Could be better! | Potrebbe andare meglio. | potrebbe an’dare ˈmɛʎʎo | po-treb-beh an-dar-eh meh-lee-oh |
| I’m doing better. | Sto meglio. | ˈstɔ ˈmɛʎʎo | sto meh-lee-oh |
| I’ve seen better days. | Ho visto giorni migliori. | ˈɔ ˈvvisto ˈdʒorni miʎˈʎori | o vee-sto jor-nee mi-lee-or-ee |
| I’ve been through worse. | Ho visto giorni peggiori. | ˈɔ ˈvvisto ˈdʒorni pedˈdʒori | o vee-sto jor-nee pej-or-ee |
| Same old, same old. | Il solito. | Il ˈsɔlito | il sol-ee-toe |
| Same as always. | Sempre le stesse cose. | ˈsɛmpre ˈle ˈstɛsse ˈkɔze | sem-preh le stess-eh co-se |
| Same as usual. | Tutto uguale! | ‘tutto u’gwale | two-tow ew-gwa-leh |
| Nothing special. | Niente di speciale. | ˈnjɛnte di speˈtʃale | nien-teh dee spe-chal-eh |
| Life goes on. / We’re pulling through. | Si tira avanti. | si ‘tira a’vanti | see tee-rah ah-vahn-tee |
| So-so. | Cosi cosi. | ˈkɔzi ˈkɔzi | co-see co-see |
| I’m having a hard time. | Me la passo male. | ‘me la ‘passo ‘male | meh la pass-oh ma-leh |
| Well… | Insomma… | in’somma | in-som-ma |
| Awful / Lousy (Literally: From the dogs!) | Da cani! | da ‘kkani | da cah-nee |
| Things are crappy / Like crap. | Da schifo! | da ˈʃifo | da ski-fo |
| Don’t even ask! | Non me lo chiedere! | ‘non ‘me ‘lo ˈkjɛdere | non meh lo kie-de-re |
Conclusion
In short, knowing how to greet people and respond to “How are you?” in Italian helps when interacting in Italy. It makes conversations smoother and shows you respect the culture. Plus, it enables you to connect better with people, making your experience in Italy more enjoyable. So, it’s essential to learn these phrases to build good relationships in Italy.
