How to Say 'Enjoy Your Meal' and Ask for the Salt in Italian
Learn polite Italian table phrases: Buon appetito, asking someone to pass the salt, and simple compliments or requests during a meal.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
At an Italian table, a few short phrases do a lot of work. This lesson teaches you how to wish others 'Enjoy your meal', ask politely for something to be passed, and make simple comments while eating. You will practise the polite forms Italians actually use with friends, family and acquaintances, and you will see how the verb passare works in a request. Keep the phrases short, say them with a smile, and you will sound natural without needing advanced grammar.
By the end, you can…
- wish people at the table 'Enjoy your meal' before eating.
- politely ask someone to pass the salt or the bread.
- thank someone and make a simple compliment about the food.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Buon appetito!
Enjoy your meal!
bwon ahp-peh-TEE-toh
Said before everyone starts eating, not during the meal. It is friendly and works with family, friends and colleagues.
Mi passi il sale, per favore?
Could you pass me the salt, please?
mee PAHS-see eel SAH-leh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
The informal 'tu' form. Use it with people you already address as 'tu', such as friends and family.
Mi può passare il sale, per favore?
Could you pass me the salt, please?
mee pwoh pahs-SAH-reh eel SAH-leh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
The polite 'Lei' form. Use it with strangers, older people, or anyone you would address formally.
Grazie mille.
Thanks a lot.
GRAH-tsee-eh MEEL-leh
A warm, common way to thank someone after they pass you something or serve you.
È buonissimo!
It's really delicious!
eh bwoh-NEES-see-moh
A compliment about food. The ending -issimo makes the adjective stronger than simply 'buono'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
For polite requests, Italian often uses the verb 'passare' (to pass) with an object pronoun at the front. Informal: 'Mi passi il sale?' Polite: 'Mi può passare il sale?' You can swap the food item: 'Mi passi il pane?' (Could you pass the bread?), 'Mi passi l'acqua?' (Could you pass the water?). Adding 'per favore' at the end keeps the request courteous.
When to use it
Use 'Buon appetito!' only before the meal begins, when everyone is seated and about to eat. Do not use it as a general 'enjoy your food' comment halfway through. For requests, choose 'Mi passi...' with friends and family, and 'Mi può passare...' with people you do not know well or want to show respect to. If you are unsure, the polite form is always safe.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buon appetito!
Enjoy your meal!bwon ahp-peh-TEE-tohGrazie, anche a te!
Thanks, you too!GRAH-tsee-eh, AHN-keh ah tehMi passi il sale, per favore?
Could you pass me the salt, please?mee PAHS-see eel SAH-leh, pehr fah-VOH-rehCerto, eccolo. È buonissimo, vero?
Of course, here it is. It's really delicious, isn't it?CHEHR-toh, EHK-koh-loh. eh bwoh-NEES-see-moh, VEH-rohA little context goes a long way
'Buon appetito' is common but not obligatory; some people simply start eating. At a restaurant, staff may say it when bringing food, and you can reply 'Grazie'. With strangers or in formal settings, use 'Mi può passare...' rather than the informal 'Mi passi...'. In northern and central Italy you will hear these forms everywhere; regional accents vary, but the polite structures stay the same.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Buon appetito' in the middle of a meal to mean 'enjoy your food'.
Try this instead: 'Buon appetito' is said before eating starts. During the meal, compliment the food instead: 'È buonissimo!' or 'È ottimo!' If you want to wish someone enjoyment as they eat, a simple 'Mangia, mangia!' (Eat up!) works among friends and family.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely ask a waiter to pass the salt?
Show a sample answer
Mi può passare il sale, per favore?
This uses the formal 'Lei' form 'può passare', which is appropriate with a waiter you do not know. 'Mi passi il sale, per favore?' is also correct but informal, so it is better with friends or family.
2What do you say before everyone starts eating?
Show a sample answer
Buon appetito!
This is the standard wish before a meal. You can also add 'A tutti!' (to everyone) if you like, but 'Buon appetito' alone is perfectly natural.
3How do you compliment the cook during the meal?
Show a sample answer
È buonissimo!
This means 'It's really delicious!' The ending -issimo intensifies the adjective. You could also say 'È ottimo!' or 'È delizioso!', which are equally valid compliments.
Say 'Buon appetito' before eating, use 'Mi passi...' with friends and 'Mi può passare...' in formal situations, and finish with 'Grazie mille' or a compliment like 'È buonissimo!'.
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