Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dritta | /ˈdrit.ta/ | feminine |
| consiglio | /konˈsiʎ.ʎo/ | masculine |
| suggerimento | /sud.d͡ʒe.riˈmen.to/ | masculine |
In Italian, there are different words for a tip depending on whether you are providing information, advice or a suggestion. If you are sharing a useful piece of information, a shortcut or a helpful 'lead', you can use the phrase dare una dritta.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the nuance of the information: dritta is used for a useful tip or inside information. consiglio is the standard word for general advice. And suggerimento is used when the tip is more of a suggestion or a subtle hint.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
dritta is a feminine noun, while consiglio and suggerimento are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdrit.ta/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the word mancia to mean a piece of advice. While mancia refers to a monetary tip or gratuity, you should use dritta or consiglio when you mean helpful information.
Did you know?
- The word dritta comes from the adjective dritto, meaning 'straight'. It implies that the information provided is a 'straight line' or a direct way to reach a goal.
- While 'tip' in English can be a noun or a verb, the Italian dritta is almost always used with the verb dare, meaning 'to give'. You 'give a straight line' to someone.
Examples in context
- Grazie per la dritta.Thanks for the tip.This sentence shows how to thank someone for a dritta.Tatoeba #1543535 by Guybrush88, translation #2715434 by CK
- Mi dia un suggerimento.Give me a tip.This sentence is a request for a suggerimento.Tatoeba #3290654 by Guybrush88, translation #1336869 by Eldad
- Ti darò una piccola dritta.I'll give you a little tip.This sentence demonstrates the use of dritta when promising to share information.Tatoeba #11784363 by Nuel, translation #1129719 by CM
- Grazie per il vostro servizio eccellente. Ecco una piccola attenzione per voi.Thank you for your excellent service. Here is a small tip for you.
- Ho apprezzato molto il vostro lavoro. Ecco una mancia per voi.I really appreciated your work. Here is a tip for you.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are talking about a new job opportunity.
- GiuliaAlessandro, hai una dritta per il colloquio?Alessandro, do you have a tip for the interview?
- AlessandroSì, sii molto naturale con loro.Yes, be very natural with them.
- GiuliaOttima dritta, la terrò a mente.Great tip, I will keep it in mind.
- AlessandroIn bocca al lupo, Giulia!Good luck, Giulia!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tip” translations and entries dritta, consiglio, suggerimento, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries consiglio, dritta, suggerimento, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
