Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| non importa | |
| fa lo stesso | /ˈfa lo ˈstes.so/ (word by word) |
For more formal situations where you want to emphasize that a matter is completely insignificant, you can use Non ha alcuna importanza. In informal settings, you might use Non c'è problema to convey that something is not an issue.
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial phrase fa lo stesso is composed of the verb fare (to do or make) and lo stesso (the same), literally meaning "it makes the same."
Which one should you use?
While non importa is the direct translation of "it doesn't matter", the very common colloquial expression fa lo stesso is used to mean "it's all the same" or "it doesn't make a difference."
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to say that something doesn't matter to a specific person, you must use the preposition a before the person, such as in non importa a me.
Did you know?
- In very casual settings, Italians might replace fa lo stesso with a shrug and the word pazienza, which literally means 'patience' but functions as 'oh well'.
- The phrase non importa is often paired with a hand gesture where the fingers are bunched together and waved, signaling that the topic is insignificant.
- In Italian, the phrase non importa can be used to dismiss a mistake without the apology being accepted, acting as a social 'buffer' to maintain harmony.
Examples in context
- Non importa a Tom.It doesn't matter to Tom.This sentence is useful for showing how to say it doesn't matter to a specific person using non importa.Tatoeba #2413679 by Guybrush88, translation #2276512 by CK
- Non importa a loro.It doesn't matter to them.This sentence is useful for showing how to say it doesn't matter to a specific group using non importa.Tatoeba #6455091 by Guybrush88, translation #3907022 by CH
- Non importa così tanto.It doesn't matter so much.This sentence is useful for showing how to say it doesn't matter very much using non importa.Tatoeba #2733687 by Guybrush88, translation #2591017 by CK
- Non importa quale giorno scegliamo di organizzare la riunione.It doesn't matter which day we choose to organize the meeting.
- Non fa differenza se invii la mail oggi o domani.It doesn't matter if you send the email today or tomorrow.
- La tua decisione non ha alcuna importanza per me.Your decision doesn't matter to me.
- Non importa se arriviamo un po' tardi alla festa.It doesn't matter if we arrive a bit late to the party.
- Puoi scegliere il ristorante, non c'è problema.You can choose the restaurant, no problem.
- 39 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia is apologizing to Francesco for being a few minutes late.
- SofiaScusa, sono in ritardo di cinque minuti!Sorry, I am five minutes late!
- FrancescoNon importa, Sofia, sono appena arrivato anch'io.It doesn't matter, Sofia, I just arrived too.
- SofiaDavvero? Menomeno, mi sentivo in colpa.Really? Thank goodness, I was feeling guilty.
- FrancescoNon preoccuparti, non importa davvero.Don't worry, it really doesn't matter.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “it doesn't matter” translations and entries fa lo stesso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (fa, lo, stesso) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
