è stato un piacere conoscerti
In Italian, "it was nice meeting you" is expressed as è stato un piacere conoscerti.
This phrase is a polite expression used to say goodbye after meeting someone for the first time. It is specifically used when departing. For example, you might use È stato veramente un piacere conoscerti to mean "It was truly a pleasure to meet you".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "it was a pleasure to know you".
Which one should you use?
The phrase è stato un piacere conoscerti is used when you are leaving. If you want to say "Nice to meet you" as an initial greeting, a shorter and more common way is to use piacere di conoscerti.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the phrase in a formal setting, replace the informal conoscerti with the formal conoscerla or conoscerlo. If you are addressing more than one person, use conoscervi instead of conoscerti.
When do people say it?
A common and polite response to this phrase is il piacere è mio, which means "the pleasure is mine".
Did you know?
- The word piacere is a linguistic cousin to the French word plaire and the Romanian word plăcea.
- The verb conoscere in this phrase focuses on the act of 'getting to know' someone rather than just the brief moment of a 'meeting'.
- The word stato in this phrase functions as a past participle of the verb 'to be', but it is also the word for 'state' or 'status' in other contexts.
Examples in context
- Grazie per la serata, è stato un piacere conoscerti.Thanks for the evening, it was nice meeting you.
- Ciao, è stato un piacere conoscerti oggi.Bye, it was nice meeting you today.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are finishing their first conversation at a social event.
- LorenzoGrazie per la chiacchierata, Giulia.Thanks for the chat, Giulia.
- GiuliaPrego, Lorenzo. È stato un piacere conoscerti.You're welcome, Lorenzo. It was nice meeting you.
- LorenzoAnche per me. Buona serata!For me too. Have a good evening!
- GiuliaAltrettanto, ciao!Likewise, bye!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries piacere, stato, un, è, CC BY-SA 4.0.
