How to Say You're Leaving the Table Politely in Italian
Learn beginner-level Italian phrases to excuse yourself during a meal or thank your host at the end, with pronunciation, register and a short dialogue.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Italian meals, leaving the table has its own small etiquette. You do not simply stand up and walk away. If you need to step out for a moment, you excuse yourself with a short phrase such as Mi scusi un attimo. At the end of the meal, you thank the person who cooked or hosted with Grazie per il pranzo or Grazie per la cena. This lesson teaches exactly those two situations: a temporary pause during the meal, and a polite close when the meal is over. It does not cover saying goodbye when leaving the house, nor general farewells.
By the end, you can…
- excuse myself for a moment during an Italian meal.
- thank my host or cook at the end of a meal in Italian.
- choose between formal and informal forms depending on who is at the table.
- respond politely when someone excuses themselves or thanks me.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Mi scusi un attimo.
Excuse me for a moment.
mee SKOO-zee oon AHT-tee-moh
Formal, used with people you address as Lei: hosts, older relatives, acquaintances. Said as you rise from the table.
Scusami un attimo.
Excuse me for a moment.
SKOO-zah-mee oon AHT-tee-moh
Informal, used with friends, family and people you address as tu. Common among peers at the table.
Torno subito.
I'll be right back.
TOR-noh SOO-bee-toh
Often added after the excuse. It reassures the table that you are not leaving for good.
Grazie per il pranzo.
Thank you for the meal.
GRAH-tsee-eh pehr eel PRAHN-tsoh
Said at the end of lunch, to the person who cooked or hosted. Pranzo is the midday meal.
Grazie per la cena.
Thank you for the meal.
GRAH-tsee-eh pehr lah CHEH-nah
Said at the end of dinner. Cena is the evening meal. Use the article that matches the noun: il pranzo, la cena.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is a polite excuse plus a time word. Mi scusi is the formal 'excuse me'; Scusami is the informal one. Add un attimo ('a moment') to make the pause clear: Mi scusi un attimo, torno subito. For the end of the meal, use Grazie per plus the meal noun: Grazie per il pranzo, Grazie per la cena. The article changes with the noun, so learn each phrase as a whole chunk.
When to use it
Use Mi scusi un attimo when you are a guest and want to be formal, for example at a colleague's home or with an older host. Use Scusami un attimo with friends or close family. If you are at a restaurant with friends, Scusami un attimo, torno subito works well. At the end of the meal, Grazie per il pranzo or Grazie per la cena is the standard thank-you to the cook or host. If someone says it to you, a warm Prego or È stato un piacere is a natural reply.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Mi scusi un attimo, torno subito.
Excuse me for a moment, I'll be right back.mee SKOO-zee oon AHT-tee-moh, TOR-noh SOO-bee-tohCerto, vai pure.
Of course, go ahead.CHEHR-toh, VAH-ee POO-rehGrazie per il pranzo. Era tutto buonissimo.
Thank you for the meal. Everything was delicious.GRAH-tsee-eh pehr eel PRAHN-tsoh. EH-rah TOOT-toh bwoh-NEES-see-mohPrego, è stato un piacere.
You're welcome, it was a pleasure.PREH-goh, eh STAH-toh oon pyah-CHEH-rehA little context goes a long way
In Italy, meals are social and lingering is normal, so a brief excuse is expected rather than rude. Formal Lei forms (Mi scusi) suit hosts, elders and new acquaintances; informal tu forms (Scusami) suit friends and family. Regional speech varies, but these standard phrases are understood everywhere. A short thank-you at the end is a genuine compliment to the cook, not a signal that you want to rush off.
One thing to watch for
Using Scusami with an older host or someone you have just met.
Try this instead: Use the formal Mi scusi un attimo with people you address as Lei. Scusami is for friends, family and peers. If you are unsure, Mi scusi is the safer choice.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are at a formal lunch with your partner's grandmother. You need to step out for a moment. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Mi scusi un attimo, torno subito.
Mi scusi is the formal 'excuse me', appropriate for an older host you address as Lei. Scusami would be too informal here.
2Dinner has ended at a friend's house. How do you thank your friend for the meal?
Show a sample answer
Grazie per la cena.
Cena is the evening meal and takes the feminine article la. Grazie per il pranzo would refer to lunch instead.
3Someone says Grazie per il pranzo to you after you cooked. What is a natural reply?
Show a sample answer
Prego, è stato un piacere.
Prego means 'you're welcome' and È stato un piacere adds warmth. Other valid replies include Di niente or when informal, Figurati.
For a short pause, say Mi scusi un attimo (formal) or Scusami un attimo (informal), then Torno subito. To close the meal, thank your host with Grazie per il pranzo or Grazie per la cena.
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