How to Say You're Inviting Someone in Italian: Formal and Informal Invitations
Learn to invite someone to an event or activity in Italian politely, using formal and informal phrases and handling tentative responses.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Inviting someone in Italian requires choosing between informal and formal registers. For friends and peers, use the informal tu form; for strangers, elders, or superiors, use the formal Lei form. This lesson teaches you to extend invitations clearly and politely, and to respond when someone is unsure. You will learn key phrases such as Ti va di...? and Le va di...?, and how to use the polite conditional vorresti/vorrebbe. By the end, you can invite someone to an event and handle tentative replies without accepting or declining for them.
By the end, you can…
- invite a friend informally to an event or activity.
- invite someone formally using polite Lei forms.
- ask if someone is free and handle tentative responses.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ti va di venire alla festa?
Do you feel like coming to the party?
tee vah dee veh-NEE-reh AHL-lah FEH-stah
Informal, used with friends or peers. Ti va di...? is a common way to suggest an activity.
Le va di partecipare alla riunione?
Would you like to attend the meeting?
leh vah dee par-teh-chee-PAH-reh AHL-lah ree-OO-nyoh-neh
Formal, used with strangers, elders, or superiors. Le is the formal indirect object pronoun.
Sei libero sabato sera?
Are you free Saturday evening?
say LEE-beh-roh SAH-bah-toh SEH-rah
Informal. Use libera if addressing a female. This checks availability before inviting.
È libero sabato sera?
Are you free Saturday evening?
eh LEE-beh-roh SAH-bah-toh SEH-rah
Formal. Use libera for a female. The verb è is the formal third-person singular of essere.
Vorresti venire con noi?
Would you like to come with us?
vor-REH-stee veh-NEE-reh kohn NOH-ee
Informal, polite conditional of volere. Softer than vuoi venire?.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern Ti va di + infinitive? (informal) or Le va di + infinitive? (formal) asks if someone feels like doing something. Examples: Ti va di mangiare una pizza? (Do you feel like eating a pizza?), Le va di prendere un caffè? (Would you like to get a coffee?). The verb va is third-person singular of andare, and di introduces the infinitive. For a negative tentative response, you might hear Non so, forse... (I don't know, maybe...).
When to use it
Use informal invitations with friends, family, and peers. Use formal invitations with people you don't know well, older people, or in professional settings. For example, to a colleague you know well: Ti va di venire al cinema? To your boss: Le va di venire al cinema? If the person hesitates, you can say: Fammi sapere (Let me know) or Ci pensi e mi dici (Think about it and tell me). Avoid using tu with someone you should address formally.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ciao Marco! Ti va di venire alla mia festa sabato?
Hi Marco! Do you feel like coming to my party on Saturday?CHAH-oh MAR-koh tee vah dee veh-NEE-reh AHL-lah MEE-ah FEH-stah SAH-bah-tohNon so, forse ho un impegno. Ti faccio sapere?
I don't know, maybe I have a commitment. Shall I let you know?nohn soh FOR-seh oh oon eem-PEH-nyoh tee FAH-choh sah-PEH-rehCerto, fammi sapere entro giovedì.
Sure, let me know by Thursday.CHEHR-toh FAHM-mee sah-PEH-reh EHN-troh joh-veh-DEEVa bene, ci sentiamo.
Okay, we'll be in touch.vah BEH-neh chee sehn-TYAH-mohA little context goes a long way
In Italian, using the informal tu with someone you've just met can seem too familiar, especially with older people or in professional contexts. When in doubt, start with Lei and wait for the other person to offer tu. In some regions, especially the south, people may switch to tu more quickly, but it's safer to be formal initially.
One thing to watch for
Using the informal tu form with someone you should address formally, such as a professor or a new acquaintance older than you.
Try this instead: Use the formal Lei form. For example, say Le va di venire? instead of Ti va di venire?. Also use the third-person singular verb: È libero? not Sei libero?.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you informally invite a friend to a concert using the phrase 'Ti va di...'?
Show a sample answer
Ti va di venire al concerto?
This uses the informal ti and the correct preposition al for 'to the'. Other verbs like andare are also possible: Ti va di andare al concerto?
2How would you formally ask your boss if they are free Friday evening?
Show a sample answer
È libero venerdì sera?
This uses the formal third-person singular è and the adjective libero. If your boss is female, use libera: È libera venerdì sera?
3What phrase can you use to respond to a tentative 'Non so, forse...' without pressuring the person?
Show a sample answer
Fammi sapere quando puoi.
This means 'Let me know when you can' and is polite and non-pressuring. Alternatives include Ci pensi e mi dici or Fammi sapere entro [day].
Choose informal Ti va di...? with friends and formal Le va di...? with others. Always match the verb to the register, and handle hesitation with Fammi sapere.
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