va bene
/ˌva‿bˈbɛ.ne/
The English phrase "it is okay" is translated into Italian as va bene.
va bene is used to show agreement or to indicate that a situation is acceptable. It is a standard way to signal your agreement when someone proposes a plan or asks for your permission. You can also use va bene così to emphasize that the current state or arrangement is sufficient as it is, meaning "it is okay like this".
Which one should you use?
While va bene is used to express agreement or acceptance, tutto bene is more commonly used to ask or state that everything is fine or going well.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is used in the third-person singular, even if the "it" refers to a concept or a situation.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌva‿bˈbɛ.ne/. The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
When do people say it?
In informal situations, you might use other phrases to convey similar feelings: tutto bene means "all is well" or "everything is okay", nessun problema means "no problem" and tranquillo/a is an informal way to reassure someone, meaning "calm down" or "don't worry".
Did you know?
- The word va in va bene actually means 'goes', so the phrase literally translates to 'it goes well'.
- The word bene is the root of many English words related to goodness, such as 'benefit', 'benevolent' and 'benign'.
- In a sarcastic tone, va bene can be used to signal a reluctant or annoyed agreement, similar to saying 'fine, whatever' in English.
Examples in context
- Va bene, ci vediamo domani.It is okay, we will see each other tomorrow.
- Se non puoi venire, va bene.If you cannot come, it is okay.
- Va bene, posso farlo io.It is okay, I can do it.
Example conversation
Giulia and Lorenzo are discussing plans for lunch.
- GiuliaLorenzo, mangiamo alle due?Lorenzo, shall we eat at two?
- LorenzoSì, va bene per me.Yes, it is okay for me.
- GiuliaPerfetto, ti aspetto al ristorante.Perfect, I will wait for you at the restaurant.
- LorenzoA dopo, Giulia.See you later, Giulia.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry va bene, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bene, va, CC BY-SA 4.0.
