Kilo Lingo

Ch 1 · Lesson 3

Grazie, prego, scusi: thank you, please and sorry

and , when you ask for something, or when you slip, and when you are lost.

The short version

is not the please you ask with

! - .

Thank you! - You're welcome.
Why?

is the reply to , so it means you' welcome. It also means go ahead or after you. When you ask for something, please is ; as please belongs to staff and signs (, ). English speakers mix them up constantly because looks like it should be a request.

Grazie, Prego and Per favore

is thank you, and is the reply:

  • ! - . - Thank you! - You' welcome.
  • , . - Please, after you.

That second use, holding a door, is as go ahead. A shop assistant says it too, meaning can I help you?

Inside a bakery with a striped awning: a customer holding out a coin stands at the counter; behind it a smiling baker in a chef's hat; on the counter a big loaf of bread, a steaming cup of coffee and a till, with more bread on the shelves behind.
  1. , .
  2. ?

The customer asks with per favore; the person behind the counter offers help with prego.

Sorry, excuse me, I'm sorry

Three phrases, three jobs:

ItalianEnglishWhen
sorry / excuse mesmall slip, to a friend
sorry / excuse mesmall slip, to a stranger
excuse me, may I?squeezing past, coming in
.I'm sorry (I regret)real bad news or real regret

, ? is Excuse me, where is the station? , is I'm sorry, I don't know.

When you are lost

  • . - I don't understand.
  • . - I don't know.
  • , . - Yes, thanks.

is the most useful sentence a beginner owns: it tells the other person to slow down. Note the accent on : without it, is a different word (oneself, as in ).

Going further: The whole set on one screen and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.

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Lesson 3 of 40 in this chapter

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