rilassarsi
/ri.lasˈsar.si/
To relax in Italian is to say rilassarsi. Wiktionary also lists riposarsi.
Meaning: (intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress (verb)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| rilassarsi | /ri.lasˈsar.si/ |
| riposarsi | /ri.poˈzar.si/ /ri.poˈsar.si/ |
The verb rilassarsi is used when you want to describe the process of resting and becoming relieved of stress. If you want to express the idea of "taking it easy," you might use the phrase prendersela comoda.
What does it mean word for word?
The form rilassarsi is a reflexive verb, where the -si suffix indicates that the action of relaxing is being performed on oneself.
Which one should you use?
While rilassarsi focuses on the mental or physical release of tension, the form riposarsi specifically implies taking a break from activity to recover strength or "to rest."
How does it change in a sentence?
rilassarsi is a reflexive verb, meaning it is used to express the act of relaxing oneself.
How do you pronounce it?
/ri.lasˈsar.si/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- While rilassarsi is a literal translation for 'relax', Italians often use staccare la spina, which means 'to unplug the plug'.
- In Italy, the cultural practice of il dolce far niente translates to 'the sweetness of doing nothing', elevating the act of relaxing to an art form.
- The verb rilassarsi shares a root with the English word 'lax', which comes from the Latin 'laxus' meaning 'loose'.
Examples in context
- Le dica di rilassarsi.Tell her to relax.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form rilassarsi.Tatoeba #5720292 by Guybrush88, translation #3907927 by CH
- Di' loro di rilassarsi.Tell them to relax.Tatoeba #5720284 by Guybrush88, translation #3907925 by CH
- Gli dica di rilassarsi.Tell him to relax.Tatoeba #5720288 by Guybrush88, translation #3907926 by CH
- Vorrei rilassarmi un po' dopo una lunga giornata di lavoro.I would like to relax a bit after a long day at work.
- La donna si è riposata sulla spiaggia per tutto il pomeriggio.The woman relaxed on the beach all afternoon.
- Mi piace prendermi una pausa e rilassarmi ascoltando della musica.I like taking a break and relaxing by listening to music.
- Dopo una giornata stressante, è importante riposarsi e rilassarsi completamente.After a stressful day, it's important to rest and relax completely.
- Questo weekend voglio solo prendermela comoda e staccare un po' dalla routine.This weekend, I just want to take it easy and disconnect from the routine.
- 41 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are talking about their stressful work week.
- ChiaraSono davvero stanca, ho bisogno di rilassarsi un po'.I'm really tired, I need to relax a bit.
- AlessandroHai ragione, dovremmo andare in spiaggia.You're right, we should go to the beach.
- ChiaraSì, è il posto perfetto per rilassarsi.Yes, it is the perfect place to relax.
- AlessandroAllora partiamo sabato mattina.Then let's leave Saturday morning.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “relax” translations and entries rilassarsi, riposarsi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
