Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| prego | /ˈprɛ.ɡo/ |
| di niente | /di ˈnjɛn.te/ (word by word) |
| non c'è di che | /non ˈt͡ʃ‿ɛ‿d.di ke/ |
| di nulla | /di ˈnul.la/ (word by word) |
The primary way to respond to thanks is through prego, which is a highly versatile and common phrase. Other options include di niente or di nulla, which function like 'it's nothing' and the more cordial è stato un piacere (It was a pleasure). If you wish to reciprocate gratitude, you can say grazie a te, meaning 'thanks to you'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrases di niente and di nulla both literally translate to 'of nothing'. The expression non c'è di che literally means 'there is nothing of which [to thank]'.
Which one should you use?
While prego is the most standard and versatile response, it is also used politely to mean 'please' or 'after you' when offering something or inviting someone to enter a space. In contrast, di niente and di nulla are slightly more informal and dismissive, acting more like 'no problem' or 'it's nothing'. Non c'è di che is a more formal and elegant way to respond than di niente.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, you can use non c'è di che or the phrase molto gentile, which literally translates to 'very kind'. If you are in an informal setting, you can use figurati to mean 'don't mention it' or 'it's nothing'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word prego is pronounced /ˈprɛ.ɡo/. The stress is on the first of the two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word prego is the first person singular present indicative of the verb pregare, which means 'to pray'. When you say 'you're welcome', you are literally saying 'I pray'.
- The phrase figurati is used informally to mean 'don't mention it', but it comes from the verb 'to imagine'. It effectively tells the other person to 'imagine' that the favor was so small it doesn't count.
- Depending on the tone, prego can be used to express impatient confusion, similar to saying 'I beg your pardon?' in English when you didn't hear someone.
Examples in context
- "Grazie." "Non c'è di che.""Thank you." "You're welcome."This example shows a formal response using non c'è di che.Tatoeba #1132101 by Guybrush88, translation #2077 by Swift
- Prego.You're welcome.This example shows a simple way to say 'you're welcome' using prego.Tatoeba #397487 by Pharamp, translation #403068 by Ramses
- Prego!You're welcome!This example shows an enthusiastic way to say 'you're welcome' using prego.Tatoeba #2708299 by Guybrush88, translation #1198819 by etoile
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia thanks Lorenzo for holding the door open for her.
- GiuliaGrazie mille per l'aiuto, Lorenzo.Thanks a lot for the help, Lorenzo.
- LorenzoPrego, Giulia.You're welcome, Giulia.
- GiuliaSei molto gentile.You are very kind.
- LorenzoFigurati, non è nulla.Don't mention it, it's nothing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “you're welcome” translations and entries prego, non c'è di che, di nulla, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (di, niente, nulla) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
