sto bene, grazie
In Italian, "I am well, thank you" is said as sto bene, grazie.
This phrase is a polite response used to tell someone that you are in good health or feeling fine.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of sto (I am/I stay), bene (well) and grazie (thank you).
Which one should you use?
An alternative phrase is tutto bene, grazie, which means "everything is fine, thank you".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
sto bene, grazie is a standard, polite response that is suitable for both formal and informal social interactions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word sto is the first-person singular present indicative of the verb stare. In Italian, stare is used instead of essere (to be) when describing how one is feeling or one's state of health.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not say sono bene to describe your state of being or health. Instead, use sto bene.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Sto bene, grazie. E tu?I am well, thank you. And you?
- Sì, sto bene, grazie mille.Yes, I am well, thanks a lot.
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro meet for a coffee in the city.
- ChiaraCiao Alessandro! Come stai?Hi Alessandro! How are you?
- AlessandroSto bene, grazie. E tu, Chiara?I am well, thank you. And you, Chiara?
- ChiaraSto bene anche io, grazie.I am well too, thank you.
- AlessandroBene! Prendiamo un caffè?Good! Shall we have a coffee?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bene, grazie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
