abbi pazienza
In Italian, 'be patient' is said as abbi pazienza.
This phrase is used to request that someone remains calm and waits without becoming annoyed.
Which one should you use?
You might use Stai tranquillo(a) to mean 'be calm', which can also serve as an informal way to say 'be patient'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a group of people, use abbiate pazienza. If you are addressing someone using the formal 'Lei' register, use abbia pazienza instead of abbi pazienza.
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, the word pazienza can be used as an interjection, similar to how an English speaker might say 'Oh well' or 'Whatever' when accepting a bad situation.
- In Italian, the word paziente has a double meaning: it can describe someone who is patient or it can be the noun for a medical patient.
- The word pazienza shares a common ancestor with the English word 'patient', as both stem from the Latin patior, which means 'to suffer'.
Examples in context
- Abbi pazienza.Be patient.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase abbi pazienza.Tatoeba #3397587 by Guybrush88, translation #1486456 by Spamster
- Sia paziente, il suo turno arriverà presto.Please be patient, your turn will come soon.
- Stai tranquillo, il bus sta per arrivare.Be patient, the bus is about to arrive.
- Abbi pazienza con i bambini.Be patient with the children.
- Abbi pazienza, arriveremo presto.Be patient, we will arrive soon.
Example conversation
Matteo is frustrated because the train is delayed.
- ChiaraAbbi pazienza, Matteo.Be patient, Matteo.
- MatteoÈ difficile non spazientirsi.It is hard not to lose patience.
- ChiaraLo so, ma siamo quasi arrivati.I know, but we are almost there.
- MatteoVa bene, cercherò di resistere.Alright, I will try to hold on.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pazienza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
