sono grato
/ˈso.no ˈɡra.to/word by word
The English phrase "I am grateful" is translated into Italian as sono grato.
sono grato is a phrase used to express thanks or appreciation for something someone has done. While 'sono grato' expresses a deep sense of gratitude, 'grazie' is the much more common, everyday way to say 'thank you'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes gender to match the speaker: use sono grato if the person speaking is male and sono grata if the person speaking is female. To specify whom you are grateful to, you add an indirect object pronoun before the verb. For example, use ti sono grato to say "I am grateful to you" in an informal context or Le sono grato to say "I am grateful to you" in a formal context.
Did you know?
- While grato focuses on the feeling of the speaker, the common response to gratitude in Italy is prego, which comes from the verb 'to pray' or 'to ask'.
- While sono grato expresses deep appreciation, using it for small favors like passing the salt would sound strangely dramatic and overly formal to an Italian.
- The word grato shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'grace', as both stem from a root meaning 'to praise' or 'to make pleasing'.
Examples in context
- Ti sono grato per la tua gentilezza.I am grateful to you for your kindness.This sentence shows how to express gratitude for someone's kindness using sono grato.Tatoeba #3068561 by Guybrush88, translation #54402 by CK
- Ti sono grato per avermi invitato alla festa.I am grateful to you for inviting me to the party.This sentence demonstrates using sono grato to express gratitude for an invitation to a party.Tatoeba #3805769 by Guybrush88, translation #35675 by CK
- Sono grato per il suo aiutoI am grateful for your help
- La ringrazio molto per la sua gentilezzaI thank you very much for your kindness
- Le sono molto grato per il tempo che mi ha dedicatoI am very grateful to you for the time you have dedicated to me
- Vorrei ringraziarla di cuore per la sua generositàI would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity
- Ti ringrazio molto per l'aiutoI thank you very much for the help
- Ti sono davvero grato per avermi supportatoI am really grateful to you for supporting me
- Grazie di cuore per il tuo incoraggiamentoThanks from the heart for your encouragement
- Sono davvero grato/grata! Grazie di cuore.I am really grateful! Thanks from the heart
- Ti sono grato per tutto il tuo aiuto.I am grateful to you for all your help.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia thanks Francesco for helping her move a heavy box.
- GiuliaGrazie mille, Francesco. Sono grato per il tuo aiuto.Thanks a lot, Francesco. I am grateful for your help.
- FrancescoNon c'è problema, Giulia. È stato un piacere.No problem, Giulia. It was a pleasure.
- GiuliaSei stato davvero molto gentile.You were really very kind.
- FrancescoPrego, figurati!You're welcome, don't mention it!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (sono, grato) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grato, sono, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
