How to Say Yes in Italian?

Summary

Get ready to charm the Italians with your perfect ‘yes’! This guide not only teaches you the simple yet crucial word , but also dives into the nuances of Italian affirmatives and how to avoid common pitfalls. 🇮🇹✨

  • Say ‘sì’ to affirm in Italian! Remember, it’s all about the accent. Pronounce it /’si/, and you’re golden. No need to repeat verbs like in English – ‘sì’ is your full-stop answer. 🎯
  • Want to add oomph to your ‘yes’? Throw in a certo (sure), certamente (certainly), or assolutamente (absolutely). Italians love a bit of enthusiasm! 💥
  • For a casual confirmation, end your sentence with . But if you’re looking for the Italian equivalent of “right?” or “isn’t it?”, opt for giusto or vero. It’s the local flavor! 🍝
  • Watch out for the accent! Without it, si could mean anything from a reflexive pronoun to a musical note. Context is key, but so is that little slanting line. 🔍
  • Embrace the Italian way of life and say ‘sì’ to new experiences. Whether it’s a date or a daring adventure, you’re now equipped with the linguistic know-how. Andiamo! 🚀

My thoughts

How do you say yes in Italian? Yes and no are two of the most important words we say every day.

No is very easy to translate: the word is the same in both Italian and English, although, in Italy, people pronounce the o like we would in words like cocktail.

If you know some IPA, it means that you have to say /ˈnɔ/* instead of /noʊ/

To say yes in Italian, on the other hand, you need to learn a new word.

The Italian words for yes and no

The Italian Word for Yes

If you want to say yes in Italian, the word you’re looking for is . It is pronounced /’si/, like the way we pronounce the letter c, with a grave accent on the vowel.

This accent is very important: without it, this word assumes a different meaning. But we’ll see that later.

A: “Giovanni, hai studiato ieri?” B: “Sì”

A: “Giovanni, did you study yesterday?” B: “Yes, I did.”

Now, let’s see if you noticed an important detail. In English, when we reply to someone with “yes”, we usually repeat the verb that they used in their question (e.g., “Did you stay up all night?”, “Yes, I did”).

In Italian, there’s no need to do so: is more than enough.  If you want to reinforce your answer with other words, you can use certo (“sure”, “of course”), certamente (“certainly”), or assolutamente (“absolutely”).

If you are feeling particularly enthusiastic, you can say: “Certo che sì!

A: “Ti va di incontrarci dopo il lavoro?” B: “Certo!”

A: “Do you want to catch up after work?” B: “Sure!”

A: “Ti va una carbonara per pranzo?” B: “Certo che sì!”

A: “Would you like a carbonara for lunch?” B: “Hell yeah!”

As in English, Italians can sometimes add to the end of a sentence to ask for confirmation, although they will more often use variants like giusto (“right”) or vero (“true”).

These variants are also good substitutes for tag questions like “did you?” or “didn’t he?” which are not used in Italian.

Dobbiamo incontrarci con gli altri alle 9, giusto?

We have to meet the others at 9, right?

Ha bevuto troppo di nuovo, vero?

He drank too much again, didn’t he?

How to pronounce si to say yes in Italian

What Happens if You Pronounce sì Without an Accent?

If you don’t pronounce with a grave accent, it becomes si, which can be:

  • A reflexive pronoun;
  • A 3rd person’s impersonal pronoun;
  • A 3rd person’s passive pronoun;
  • A musical note (B in English)
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Let’s see some examples.

Simone si è concesso un bel tiramisù.

Simone treated himself to a nice tiramisù.

In Italia si fa colazione con un caffè e un croissant.

In Italy, people have breakfast with coffee and a croissant.

Questo non si fa!

This is not to be done!

now you know how to say yes in Italian

Now you can do anything

It’s important to catch the right opportunities. And if they happen to you in Italy, now you know how to say yes in Italian, too.

Go on that date, take that train, take the plunge… and wherever it takes you, keep checking this blog to learn some more Italian words. See you soon!

What is the Italian word for yes?

The Italian word for yes is "sì".

What are some variants Italians use instead of "sì" to ask for confirmation?

Italians may use variants like "giusto" ("right") or "vero" ("true") to ask for confirmation.

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