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 with prego. Other options include di niente, di nulla and the more formal non c'è di che. You might also use È un piacere to mean 'it's a pleasure' or the informal Figurati to mean 'don't mention it'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrases di niente and di nulla both literally translate to 'of nothing'.
Which one should you use?
While prego is the standard response, it is versatile and can also mean 'please' or 'after you' when inviting someone to enter or offering something. In contrast, di niente and di nulla function more like 'it's nothing' or 'no problem'. While non c'è di che also means 'you're welcome', it is more formal and elegant than the other options.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal and elegant tone, use non c'è di che. If you want to be casual or humble, you can use di niente or di nulla. For an informal 'don't mention it', use Figurati.
How do you pronounce it?
prego is pronounced /ˈprɛ.ɡo/ with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word prego comes from the verb 'pregare', meaning 'to pray' or 'to beg'. When you say prego, you are essentially using a formal request form to acknowledge a thank you.
- The word niente in di niente likely evolved from the Latin phrase ne gentem, which means 'no person' or 'no one'. Over time, it shifted from referring to people to meaning 'nothing'.
Examples in context
- "Grazie." "Non c'è di che.""Thank you." "You're welcome."This example shows a formal way to say 'you're welcome' using non c'è di che.Tatoeba #1132101 by Guybrush88, translation #2077 by Swift
- Prego.You're welcome.This example shows the standard use of prego.Tatoeba #397487 by Pharamp, translation #403068 by Ramses
- Prego!You're welcome!This example shows an enthusiastic use of prego.Tatoeba #2708299 by Guybrush88, translation #1198819 by etoile
- Prego! È stato un piacere.You're welcome! It was a pleasure.
- Non c'è di che! Sono felice di poterti aiutare.You're welcome! I'm happy to help you.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia helps Lorenzo carry a heavy box.
- GiuliaEcco qui la scatola, Lorenzo.Here is the box, Lorenzo.
- LorenzoGrazie mille per l'aiuto, Giulia!Thanks a lot for the help, Giulia!
- GiuliaPrego, non era nulla.You're welcome, it was nothing.
- LorenzoSei stata molto gentile.You have been very kind.
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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries c'è, che, di, niente, non, non c'è di che, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
