Basic expressions: Expressions

🇮🇹 [per favore] is polite, but Italians often say it less than English speakers say "please." Tone does a lot of the work, especially in quick everyday requests.

🇮🇹 [prego] covers several situations: "you're welcome," "go ahead," and even "come in." Listen for the situation, not just the dictionary meaning.

💬 [mi dispiace] literally works like "it displeases me," so it's used for being sorry in a more heartfelt or regretful way. For getting someone's attention or brushing past, Italians more often use [scusa] or [scusi].

🇮🇹 Use [scusa] with friends, family, children, or peers in informal situations. With strangers, staff, or older people, [scusi] is usually the safer choice.

💬 When [aiuta] adds [mi], they join into one word: [aiutami] = "help me." You'll see the same pattern in [scusami] and [dimmi].