In this workshop you will practise Italian words for please and thank you. You will hear short, clear examples and then say them yourself. You will also see how these words work in a simple café conversation. The focus is on speaking politely in everyday situations. You do not need to know any grammar to begin. Just listen, repeat, and try the short tasks. By the end, you should feel more confident using these polite expressions with different people.
Saying Please and Thank You
The simplest way to say please in Italian is «Per favore». You can use it when you ask for something, like a coffee or a menu. It works in both casual and polite situations. To say thank you, use «Grazie». This is the most common way to thank someone. If you feel very grateful, you can say «Grazie mille», which means thanks a lot. When you want to thank someone using formal Lei address, you can say «La ringrazio». This is a polite thank you that shows respect. Listen to each phrase and repeat it out loud. Try to copy the rhythm and the sounds. Practise saying them slowly, then a little faster.
A Short Café Conversation
Now listen to a short conversation in a café. One person orders a coffee and says please. The other person serves the coffee and asks if they want anything else. The first person says no and thanks them a lot. The second person says you're welcome and wishes them a good day. Pay attention to how the polite words are used. The customer says «Buongiorno, un caffè, per favore.». The person serving says «Ecco a Lei. Altro?». The customer replies «No, grazie mille.». The person serving answers «Prego. Buona giornata!». Notice that the customer uses per favore when ordering and grazie mille when thanking. The person serving uses prego to mean you're welcome. Try to repeat each line after you hear it. Then try to say the customer's lines and the server's lines.
When to Use Formal and Informal
«Grazie» and «Grazie mille» are polite thanks usable in both informal and formal situations, including with strangers. «La ringrazio» explicitly uses formal Lei address; it is an option when that form of address suits the relationship and setting. Age alone does not determine which expression to use. «Per favore» means please and can accompany a request in either setting. In the recorded café exchange, «Prego. Buona giornata!» answers thanks and wishes the customer a good day.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Per favore
Please
pehr fah-VOH-reh
Grazie
Thank you
GRAH-tsee-eh
Grazie mille
Thanks a lot
GRAH-tsee-eh MEEL-leh
La ringrazio
Thank you (formal)
lah reen-GRAH-tsyo
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Buongiorno, un caffè, per favore.
Good morning, a coffee, please.Ecco a Lei. Altro?
Here you are. Anything else?No, grazie mille.
No, thanks a lot.Prego. Buona giornata!
You're welcome. Have a good day!Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Order a Coffee
Imagine you are in a café in Italy. You want to order a coffee and say please. The person behind the counter will serve you and ask if you want anything else. You will say no and thank them a lot.
Your task: First, listen to the customer's line «Buongiorno, un caffè, per favore.» and repeat it out loud. Then listen to the server's line «Ecco a Lei. Altro?» and repeat it. Next, listen to the customer's reply «No, grazie mille.» and repeat it. Finally, listen to the server's answer «Prego. Buona giornata!» and repeat it. Now try to say the customer's lines without listening first. You can play the recording again to check yourself.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Right Response
You will hear a line from the café conversation. Your job is to choose the correct reply from two options. This checks if you understand when to say prego and when to say grazie.
Your task: Listen to the server's line «Ecco a Lei. Altro?». The server says 'Here you are. Anything else?' Which reply fits? Option A: «No, grazie mille.» (No, thanks a lot). Option B: «Prego. Buona giornata!» (You're welcome. Have a good day!). Say your choice out loud. Then listen to the customer's line «No, grazie mille.». The customer says 'No, thanks a lot.' Which reply fits? Option A: «Prego. Buona giornata!» (You're welcome. Have a good day!). Option B: «Buongiorno, un caffè, per favore.» (Good morning, a coffee, please.). Say your choice out loud.
Recall and Role-Play: Say Both Parts
Now you will try to remember the whole conversation and say both roles. This helps you practise switching between customer and server. You can use the recordings to check yourself after you try.
Your task: First, say the customer's opening line from memory. Then say the server's reply. Then say the customer's thanks. Finally, say the server's closing line. Try to do this without listening. After you finish, play the recordings «Buongiorno, un caffè, per favore.», «Ecco a Lei. Altro?», «No, grazie mille.», and «Prego. Buona giornata!» to check your accuracy. Repeat the dialogue with the other role as your focus, preserving the customer-server-customer-server order. Check each line against its recording.
Common questions
When should I use grazie and when should I use La ringrazio?
«Grazie» works with friends, strangers and in formal situations. «La ringrazio» explicitly uses formal Lei address, so choose it when that address form suits the interaction. You do not need to replace grazie whenever you speak to someone unfamiliar.
What does prego mean and when do I say it?
Prego means you're welcome. You say it after someone thanks you. You heard it in «Prego. Buona giornata!», where the server replies to the customer's thanks. It is a short, common word. Practise saying it clearly and politely.
Sources and further reading
- italian: saying please and thank youChecked September 2026
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