How to Say 'Take Your Time' in Italian: Fai con calma, Faccia con calma, Non c'è fretta
Learn to reassure someone in Italian with fai con calma, faccia con calma, and non c'è fretta. Master informal and formal registers, avoid common mistakes, and practice a natural dialogue.
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When you want to tell someone to take their time in Italian, the most natural expressions are fai con calma (informal) and faccia con calma (formal). You can also say non c'è fretta, meaning 'there's no rush.' These phrases reassure rather than command. This lesson teaches you when to use each, how to pronounce them accurately, and how to avoid confusing 'take your time' with 'calm down' or 'leave.' You'll also learn a polite question to ask if you're the one who needs more time.
By the end, you can…
- reassure someone informally or formally to take their time in Italian.
- distinguish 'take your time' from 'calm down' and 'leave' in Italian.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Fai con calma.
Take your time. (informal)
fahy kohn KAHL-mah
Use with someone you address as tu: a friend, peer, or family member. It means 'go at your own pace,' not 'relax.'
Faccia con calma.
Take your time. (formal)
FAHT-chah kohn KAHL-mah
Use with someone you address as Lei: a stranger, elder, or professional. It is polite and respectful.
Non c'è fretta.
There's no rush.
nohn cheh FREHT-tah
A general reassurance that can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It focuses on the absence of time pressure.
Si prenda tutto il tempo che le serve.
Take all the time you need. (formal)
see PREHN-dah TOOT-toh eel TEHM-poh keh leh SEHR-veh
A polite alternative to faccia con calma, often used in service encounters. It literally means 'take your time.'
Posso avere un attimo?
Can I have a moment?
POHS-soh ah-VEH-reh oon AHT-tee-moh
Use this when you need to ask for more time. It is neutral and works in both formal and informal situations.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern for 'take your time' is [conjugated form of fare] + con calma. Fare means 'to do' or 'to make,' but in this expression it means 'to proceed' or 'to go about.' Use fai for informal tu and faccia for formal Lei. For example: Fai con calma, non c'è fretta. (Take your time, there's no rush.) Faccia con calma, la aspettiamo. (Take your time, we'll wait for you.) You can also use the noun phrase non c'è fretta on its own. Note that con calma means 'calmly' or 'without hurry,' not 'calm down.' To tell someone to calm down, you would say Calmati (informal) or Si calmi (formal).
When to use it
Use fai con calma with people you know well, and faccia con calma with anyone you address formally. Non c'è fretta is safe in any register. These phrases are reassurances, not commands to leave. If you want someone to leave you alone, you would say something like Lasciami in pace (Leave me alone) or Vai pure (Go ahead). Do not confuse 'take your time' with 'calm down.' For example, if a friend is angry, saying Fai con calma would be odd; you would say Calmati. If a colleague is rushing, Faccia con calma is perfect. In a shop, if the clerk is helping another customer, you might say Non c'è fretta, aspetto. (There's no rush, I'll wait.)
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusi, può ripetere? Non ho capito bene.
Excuse me, can you repeat? I didn't understand well.SKOO-zee, pwoh ree-PEH-teh-reh? nohn oh kah-PEE-toh BEH-nehCerto, faccia con calma. Le rispiego tutto.
Of course, take your time. I'll explain everything again.CHEHR-toh, FAHT-chah kohn KAHL-mah. leh ree-SPYEH-goh TOOT-tohGrazie. E se ho ancora bisogno di tempo?
Thank you. And if I still need time?GRAH-tsyeh. eh seh oh ahn-KOH-rah bee-ZOH-nyoh dee TEHM-pohNon c'è fretta. Si prenda tutto il tempo che le serve.
There is no rush. Take all the time you need.nohn cheh FREHT-tah. see PREHN-dah TOOT-toh eel TEHM-poh keh leh SEHR-vehA little context goes a long way
In Italian, using the formal Lei with faccia con calma or si prenda tutto il tempo che le serve shows respect, especially with older people or in professional settings. Among friends, fai con calma is warm and casual. Non c'è fretta is neutral and can be used anywhere. Avoid using informal fai with someone you've just met unless they invite you to use tu. Regional variations are minimal for these phrases; they are understood throughout Italy.
One thing to watch for
Using fai con calma to mean 'calm down' when someone is upset.
Try this instead: Fai con calma means 'take your time,' not 'calm down.' To tell someone to calm down informally, say Calmati. For example, if a friend is angry, say Calmati, non ti arrabbiare. (Calm down, don't get angry.) Using fai con calma in that situation would sound like you're telling them to slow down, which may not address their emotional state.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you tell a friend to take their time in Italian?
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Fai con calma.
Fai con calma is the informal way to say 'take your time.' It uses the tu form fai. You could also say Non c'è fretta, which is neutral. Both are correct.
2What is the formal way to say 'take your time' to a stranger?
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Faccia con calma.
Faccia con calma uses the formal Lei form faccia. Si prenda tutto il tempo che le serve is also correct and slightly more formal. Both are polite.
3If someone is angry, should you say Fai con calma? Why or why not?
Show a sample answer
No, you should say Calmati.
Fai con calma means 'take your time,' not 'calm down.' Calmati is the correct informal way to tell someone to calm down. Using Fai con calma would not address their anger.
Use fai con calma with friends and faccia con calma with strangers or in formal situations. Non c'è fretta works everywhere. Remember: these mean 'take your time,' not 'calm down' or 'leave.'
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