Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| prego | /ˈprɛ.ɡo/ |
| non c'è di che | /non ˈt͡ʃ‿ɛ‿d.di ke/ |
When responding to someone thanking you, prego is the most versatile and common way to say "you're welcome." It can also be used to mean "please" when inviting someone to do something, or "after you" in situations like holding a door. For a more formal way to say "not at all," you can use non c'è di che. If you want to express "not at all" in a strictly formal context, In nessun modo is another option. In informal speech, the word mica can be used to mean "not at all."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase non c'è di che literally translates to "there is no of which," implying that there is no reason to thank the person.
Which one should you use?
prego is the most common and versatile response, whereas non c'è di che is a slightly more formal or elegant way to say "not at all."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
non c'è di che is more formal, polite. In nessun modo is used for formal contexts, while mica is an informal way to express the idea.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈprɛ.ɡo/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While prego is a standard way to say 'you're welcome', it is actually the first-person singular present of the verb 'pregare', which means 'to pray'.
- In a restaurant, a waiter will say prego not as a response to thanks, but to signal that they are ready to take your order.
- If someone asks you a question you didn't hear, you can say prego? with a rising intonation to mean 'I beg your pardon'.
Examples in context
- Non mi interessa mica!I'm not interested at all!
- Mica ho detto una cosa del genere!I didn't say anything like that at all!
- Non mi piace per niente questo film.I don't like this movie at all.
- Non sono affamato per niente.I'm not hungry at all.
- Non mi sembra affatto corretto.It doesn't seem correct to me at all.
- Non sono affatto soddisfatto del servizio.I'm not satisfied with the service at all.
- Non posso accettare in nessun modo questa proposta.I cannot accept this proposal in any way at all.
- Non tollero in nessun modo questo comportamento.I do not tolerate this behavior at all.
- Prego, figurati!You're welcome, don't mention it!
- Prego, è stato un piacere.You're welcome, it was a pleasure.
Example conversation
Matteo helps Chiara carry a heavy bag.
- ChiaraGrazie mille per l'aiuto, Matteo!Thank you so much for the help, Matteo!
- MatteoPrego, Chiara, non c'è problema.You're welcome, Chiara, it's no problem.
- ChiaraSei stato davvero molto gentile.You were really very kind.
- MatteoPrego, piacere mio.Not at all, my pleasure.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “not at all” translations and entries prego, non c'è di che, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
