How to Say Thank You in Italian

The Last Syllable of Thank You Is Often Dropped

The word ends in a sounded e, so grazie is three syllables and closes on "yeh". English speakers routinely stop a syllable short and produce something nearer to "grahts". It is understood, but it marks a visitor at once. Giving the ending its full value is the single change that most improves the word.

One Word for Thank You at Every Level of Formality

Italian has a formal address, Lei, which a visitor will meet in shops and hotels. Grazie is untouched by it. The word is correct with a stranger, with staff, with an official and with a friend, and there is no politer version of it to be learned. Where more warmth is wanted, one adds to it rather than exchanging it.

Prego, the Reply That Does Many Jobs

The answer to grazie is almost always prego. The word carries a good deal of work in Italian, since it also serves for "please come in", "after you" and "go ahead". Following thanks it means simply "you're welcome". Di niente, "of nothing", is heard as well and is a little more casual.

• Grazie mille

  GRAHT-syeh MEE-leh

  A thousand thanks. The ordinary step up, and never out of place.

• Mille grazie

  MEE-leh GRAHT-syeh

  The same two words reversed, and heard just as often.

• Grazie di cuore

  GRAHT-syeh dee KWOR-eh

  Thanks from the heart, for kindness that went beyond the occasion.

• La ringrazio

  lah reen-GRAHT-syoh

  I thank you. Formal, using the polite Lei, for an official or an older stranger.