How to Interrupt Politely in Italian: "Scusa se ti interrompo, ma..."
Learn elementary Italian phrases to cut in politely when you must speak immediately, using scusa/se permetti plus a clear reason, and see how this differs from simply changing the topic.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Sometimes you cannot wait for a pause: a bus is leaving, a detail is wrong, or time is running out. In Italian, a polite interruption usually has three parts: a short apology or permission phrase, a quick signal that you need the floor now, and your urgent point. This lesson gives you ready-made formulas such as "Scusa se ti interrompo, ma..." and "Posso aggiungere una cosa?" so you can enter the conversation without sounding rude.
By the end, you can…
- interrupt an Italian conversation politely when I need to speak immediately.
- use scusa, mi dispiace and posso...? formulas with a clear reason for cutting in.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Scusa se ti interrompo, ma è urgente.
Sorry to cut in, but it's urgent.
SKOO-zah seh tee een-tehr-ROHM-poh, mah eh oor-JEHN-teh
Standard neutral formula for a real interruption. Use scusa with one person you address as tu; use scusi with a stranger or someone older.
Mi dispiace interrompere, ma devo dirti una cosa subito.
I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have to tell you something right away.
mee dee-SPYAH-cheh een-tehr-ROHM-peh-reh, mah DEH-voh DEER-tee OO-nah KOH-zah SOO-bee-toh
Softer and a little more formal in tone. Useful at work or with someone you do not know well.
Posso aggiungere una cosa?
Can I add something?
POHS-soh ad-DOON-jeh-reh OO-nah KOH-zah
Asks permission to enter the conversation. It works well in meetings, classes and group discussions.
Permetti? Devo dire una cosa importante.
May I? I need to say something important.
pehr-MEHT-tee? DEH-voh DEE-reh OO-nah KOH-zah eem-por-TAHN-teh
Permetti? is a quick request for the floor. Use permetti with tu; use permette with Lei in formal situations.
Un attimo, solo una parola.
Just a moment, just one word.
oon AHT-tee-moh, SOH-loh OO-nah pah-ROH-lah
Very common in fast conversation. It signals that you will be brief, which makes the interruption easier to accept.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The reliable pattern is apology or permission + ma + urgent point: "Scusa se ti interrompo, ma il treno parte tra cinque minuti." You can also use "Posso aggiungere una cosa?" or "Permetti?" as a short permission question, then state your point. The word ma is important because it connects the polite opening to the reason you cannot wait. Keep the interruption short: one or two sentences, then let the other person respond.
When to use it
Use these phrases when waiting would cause a problem: "Scusa se ti interrompo, ma hai dimenticato le chiavi." In a meeting, "Posso aggiungere una cosa?" is often enough. This differs from changing the topic, where you can wait for a pause and say "A proposito,..." or "Cambiando discorso,...". An interruption needs the floor immediately; a topic change does not. In formal contexts, choose scusi, mi dispiace interrompere and permette instead of scusa and permetti.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Allora, come dicevo, il progetto va consegnato venerdì.
So, as I was saying, the project has to be handed in on Friday.ahl-LOH-rah, KOH-meh dee-CHEH-voh, eel proh-JEHT-toh vah kohn-seh-NYAH-toh veh-nehr-DEEScusa se ti interrompo, ma c'è un problema con la data.
Sorry to cut in, but there's a problem with the date.SKOO-zah seh tee een-tehr-ROHM-poh, mah cheh oon proh-BLEH-mah kohn lah DAH-tahDimmi pure.
Go ahead.DEEM-mee POO-rehIl cliente ha chiesto di consegnare lunedì, non venerdì.
The client asked us to hand it in on Monday, not Friday.eel klee-EHN-teh ah KYEH-stoh dee kohn-seh-NYAH-reh loo-neh-DEE, nohn veh-nehr-DEEA little context goes a long way
Italian conversation often allows overlapping speech, but a polite interruption still needs a signal. Scusa and scusi are the everyday choices; permetti and permette sound slightly more formal. In the south, people may interrupt more quickly, while in formal northern workplaces a full "Mi dispiace interrompere..." can be safer.
One thing to watch for
Using "Scusa, cambio discorso" when you need to speak immediately.
Try this instead: Cambiare discorso means changing the topic, not interrupting. For an urgent point say "Scusa se ti interrompo, ma è urgente" or "Posso aggiungere una cosa?".
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You need to interrupt your friend because the bus is leaving. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Scusa se ti interrompo, ma il bus sta partendo.
This uses the standard informal interruption formula with a clear urgent reason. You could also say "Un attimo, solo una parola" first.
2In a formal meeting, how do you ask to add something?
Show a sample answer
Posso aggiungere una cosa?
This politely asks permission and works in both formal and informal settings. "Permette che aggiunga una cosa?" is a more formal alternative.
3What is the difference between "A proposito,..." and "Scusa se ti interrompo,..."?
Show a sample answer
"A proposito" changes the topic when there is a pause; "Scusa se ti interrompo" enters the conversation immediately because the point is urgent.
The first does not demand the floor right away, while the second signals that you cannot wait. Context and tone still matter.
For an urgent interruption, say "Scusa se ti interrompo, ma..." or "Posso aggiungere una cosa?", give your reason briefly, then stop and let the other person reply.
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