{"id":70679,"date":"2024-05-15T04:05:55","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T08:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/italian-exclamations\/"},"modified":"2025-06-09T10:38:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T14:38:54","slug":"italian-exclamations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/italian\/italian-exclamations\/","title":{"rendered":"30 Italian Exclamations to Be More Expressive"},"content":{"rendered":"

You’ve probably seen the gestures<\/a> that are such an essential part of communicating in Italian\u2014a flick of the wrist or the swing of a palm from a native Italian can inspire joy, laughter or dread (believe me, I had an Italian girlfriend). But these gestures are just the beginning.<\/p>\n

Exclamations are what brings color to the Italian language. They bring emotion to a conversation and add weight to your words.<\/p>\n

Let’s take a look at some of the most common Italian exclamations because, without them, you’ll seem like a boring old\u00a0stranieri<\/em> (foreigner).<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Macch\u00e9! <\/em>(Of course not\/Certainly not\/Not at all\/Not a chance\/No way!)<\/h2>\n

As you can see, there are many ways you can use macch\u00e9.<\/em><\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Sarai stanco! <\/em>(You must be tired!)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Macch\u00e9! Sto benissimo. <\/em>(Not at all! I’m perfectly fine.)<\/p>\n

2. Ma dai!<\/em> (Really?!)<\/h2>\n

This is something you say when you hear something that makes you say “Really?!,” “No way!” or “You’re kidding!”<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Ho appena vinto un milione di euro alla lotteria!<\/em> (I just won a million euros in the lottery!)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Ma dai!<\/em> (No way!)<\/p>\n

3. Dai! <\/em>(Come on!)<\/h2>\n

This one can be used like\u00a0macch\u00e9<\/em> or when you mean “Come on!” “Let’s go!” or “Hurry up!” It’s pretty versatile, but usually expresses some urgency or disappointment.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Non puoi venire con noi! Sei troppo piccolo! <\/em>(You can’t come with us! You’re too little!)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Dai ma voglio venire! <\/em>(Come on! I want to go too!)<\/p>\n

4. Vai! <\/em>(Go!)<\/h2>\n

This exclamation is one you’d commonly hear at\u00a0una partita di calcio <\/em>(a football match).<\/p>\n

Vai! Vai! GOL! <\/em>(Go! Go! GOAL!)<\/p>\n

It can also be used to mean “Go away!” but it’s quite rude.<\/p>\n

5. Bravo! <\/em>(Great job!)<\/h2>\n

This one should need no explanation. When someone does something well, you say\u00a0Bravo!<\/em><\/p>\n

When it’s a girl who’s done something well, you need to say Brava!<\/em><\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Ho appena finito di scrivere il mio romanzo.<\/em> (I’ve just finished writing my novel.)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Bravo!<\/em> (Well done!)<\/p>\n

6. Guai! <\/em>(You’ll get in trouble\/Don’t even try!)<\/h2>\n

This exclamation is often used in phrases like\u00a0guai a te <\/em>(don’t even try) or\u00a0guai a voi<\/em> (you’ll get in trouble), both of which warn someone that they’re about to be in a load of hot water.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Mangio uno di questi biscotti.<\/em> (I’ll eat one of these cookies.)<\/p>\n

B: Guai a te!<\/em> (Don’t even try!)<\/p>\n

7. Forza! <\/em>(You can do it!)<\/h2>\n

You might hear this one at a sports match as well, or use it to encourage a friend playing an intense game of Mario Kart.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Non riesco a superare l’esame! <\/em>(I can’t pass the exam!)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Forza! Studiamo insieme! <\/em>(You can do it! Let’s study together!)<\/p>\n

8. Accidenti! <\/em>(Damn!)<\/h2>\n

This is a tame way to express your discontent about one thing or another. If you just missed the bus, you might let out an “Accidenti!”\u00a0<\/em>under your breath.<\/p>\n

Accidenti! Il mio computer si \u00e8 bloccato proprio mentre stavo per finire il mio rapporto!<\/em> (Damn! My computer crashed just as I was about to finish my report!)<\/p>\n

9. Mannaggia!<\/em> (Darn!)<\/h2>\n

Mannaggia <\/em>is the Italian equivalent of “darn” in English\u2014i.e., a tamer version of “damn” that conveys a milder sense of frustration, annoyance or disappointment.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Ho dimenticato di comprare il pane per la cena.<\/em> (I forgot to buy the bread for dinner.)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Mannaggia! Ora dobbiamo fare un altro viaggio al supermercato.<\/em> (Darn! Now we have to make another trip to the supermarket.)<\/p>\n

10. Zitto!<\/em> (Shut up!)<\/h2>\n

Not very polite, but super fun to say, this is a common exclamation among Italian teenagers.<\/p>\n

Just as with\u00a0bravo<\/em>, the form you use depends on the gender and number of the people you’re referring to.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0So con chi sei stata ieri sera. <\/em>(I know who you were with last night.)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Zitta! <\/em>(Shut up!)<\/p>\n

11. Eccolo! <\/em>(Here he\/she\/it is!)<\/h2>\n

You use this exclamation when you find something that you’d been looking for. It also works when someone you’ve been waiting for turns up late.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Non possiamo partire senza Antonio. Dov’\u00e8? <\/em>(We can’t leave without Antonio. Where is he?)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Eccolo! OK, andiamo! <\/em>(Here he is! OK, let’s go!)<\/p>\n

12. Silenzio!<\/em> (Be quiet!)<\/h2>\n

This zesty exclamation is often needed in the boisterous boot we call Italy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Scusa, ho una notizia importante da condividere.<\/em> (Excuse me, I have important news to share.)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Silenzio! Sta parlando il professore.<\/em> (Silence! The professor is speaking.)<\/p>\n

13. Uffa!<\/em> (Expresses annoyance\/boredom)<\/h2>\n

You might use this exclamation if you significant other is telling you for the 1000th time that if you went to the gym more often, you’d have more energy.<\/p>\n

Use it with this hand gesture<\/a> for the full effect.<\/p>\n

Uffa, ho perso il mio portafoglio di nuovo!<\/em>\u00a0(Ugh, I’ve lost my wallet again!)<\/p>\n

14. Ahia! <\/em>(Ouch!)<\/h2>\n

Pronounced like the classic karate chop sound (“Hi-Ya!”) but without the “H” sound, this is simply the way an Italian lets you know you just stepped on their toe.<\/p>\n

Ahia!<\/em> Ho picchiato il dito\u00a0mentre chiudevo la porta!<\/em> (Ouch! I hit my finger while closing the door!)<\/p>\n

15. Boh! <\/em><\/a>(I dunno!)<\/h2>\n

In any situation where you’re pretty much clueless about the answer to a question or problem, you can let out a deep boh!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Sai dove ho messo le chiavi di casa?<\/em> (Do you know where I put the house keys?)<\/p>\n

B: Boh!<\/em><\/a> (Beats me!)<\/p>\n

16. Puah! <\/em>(Eww!)<\/h2>\n

This exclamation is pronounced the same as our word, “poo,” which is fitting because it’s the expression used when you see (or smell) something gross.<\/p>\n

Questa minestra ha un sapore strano, puah!<\/em>\u00a0(This soup has a strange taste, eww!)<\/p>\n

17. Oh! <\/em>(Hey!)<\/h2>\n

If you need to get the attention of someone close to you (like a family or friend) in Italy, you’ve got to do it their way. Oh<\/em> is a fun one because you can draw it out. A nice long\u00a0oohhhh<\/em>\u00a0will make you feel like a genuine wise guy. Play with the tone and make it your own!<\/p>\n

But you may not want to use this with complete strangers, as it will sound rude.<\/p>\n

Oh, scusa! Posso chiederti una cosa?<\/em>\u00a0(Oh, excuse me! Can I ask you something?)<\/p>\n

18. Ehi!<\/em> (Hey!)<\/h2>\n

Ehi\u00a0<\/em>sounds similar to the English “hey,” but without the “H” sound. You use it the same way you use “oh.”<\/p>\n

Ehi, hai sentito le ultime notizie?<\/em>\u00a0(Hey, have you heard the latest news?)<\/p>\n

19. Aspetta!<\/em> (Wait!)<\/h2>\n

Aspetta <\/em>is often used as an imperative in Italy. There are three ways to form the imperative in Italian:\u00a0 (1) for verbs ending in -are<\/em>, add “a” to the root of\u00a0 (making it essentially the same as third person present tense<\/a>); (2) for other verbs, use second person singular and plural; and (3) for the formal “you,”<\/a> the subjunctive<\/a> is used for all verbs.<\/p>\n

Similar to English, the imperative can sound offensive in Italian.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Sto andando al cinema adesso.<\/em> (I’m going to the movies now.)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Aspetta! Vengo anch’io.<\/em> (Wait! I’m coming too.)<\/p>\n

20. Ascolta! <\/em>(Listen!)<\/h2>\n

You can use this when you mean “Listen here!” or “Listen up!”<\/p>\n

Ascolta! Ho una novit\u00e0 da dirti.<\/em>\u00a0(Listen! I have some news to tell you.)<\/p>\n

21. Guarda!<\/em> (Look out!)<\/h2>\n

Use guarda <\/em>for when you want to warn someone of an incoming danger.<\/p>\n

Guarda, c’\u00e8 una macchina che sta arrivando!<\/em>\u00a0(Look out, there’s a car coming!)<\/p>\n

22. Smettila! <\/em>(Stop!)<\/h2>\n

This verb in the imperative commonly has the particle “la”\u00a0<\/em>attached to it. It can also mean something like “Cut it out!”<\/p>\n

Smettila! Non posso credere a quanto sei irritante.<\/em>\u00a0(Cut it out! I can’t believe how annoying you are.)<\/p>\n

23. Mamma mia! <\/em>(Wow!\/My goodness!\/Oh my gosh!)<\/h2>\n

You’ve probably heard Mamma mia! <\/em>a million times on Italian TV shows<\/a> and movies<\/a>\u2014and that’s not counting the Meryl Streep films<\/a> of the same name<\/a>. It’s one of those versatile exclamations that can convey everything from surprise (pleasant or otherwise) to frustration.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Ho vinto i biglietti per il concerto di Coldplay!<\/em> (I won tickets to the Coldplay concert!)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Mamma mia! Davvero?<\/em> (Wow! Really?)<\/p>\n

24. Magari! <\/em>(I wish!)<\/h2>\n

When you want to express that it would be really, really <\/em>great if something happened the way you wanted it to, use magari<\/em>.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Stai frequentando qualcuno al momento?<\/em> (Are you dating anyone right now?)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Magari!<\/em> (I wish!)<\/p>\n

25. Figo!<\/em> (Cool!\/Awesome!)<\/h2>\n

You’ll often hear this one among younger Italians who want to express amazement (in a good way) at something or someone.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Ho appena comprato un’auto nuova.<\/em> (I just bought a new car.)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Figo! Che modello hai preso?<\/em> (Cool! What model did you get?)<\/p>\n

26. Ma va\u2019! <\/em>(No way!\/Come on!)<\/h2>\n

On the other hand, if you want to express that you don’t completely buy into what someone said, you use this one.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Ho deciso di smettere di mangiare dolci.<\/em> (I’ve decided to stop eating sweets.)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Ma va’! Ma tu sei il pi\u00f9 grande amante del cioccolato che io conosca!<\/em> (No way! But you’re the biggest chocoholic I know!)<\/p>\n

27. Salute! <\/em>(Cheers!)<\/h2>\n

Similar to the English “cheers!,” salute <\/em>is used when you want to wish someone good luck or fortune.<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Alla tua nuova avventura!<\/em> (To your new adventure!)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Salute!<\/em> (Cheers!)<\/p>\n

28. Sei fuori!<\/em> (You’re crazy!)<\/h2>\n

The literal translation of sei fuori <\/em>is “you’re out”\u2014by which Italians mean “you’re out of your [expletive] mind.”<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Posso scalare l’Everest in un giorno.<\/em> (I can climb Everest in one day.)<\/p>\n

B: Tu sei fuori!<\/em> (You’re out of your mind!)<\/p>\n

29. Figuriamoci!<\/em> (No surprise!\/Imagine that!)<\/h2>\n

Figuriamoci<\/em>, like many of the other exclamations we’ve already talked about, is pretty fun to use. It can be a straight or sarcastic way to express that something happened exactly the way you expected it to.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A: Ho fallito l’esame ieri! <\/em>(I failed the exam yesterday!)<\/p>\n

B:\u00a0Figuriamoci! Hai passato la notte prima a fare festa!<\/em> (No surprise! You spent the night before partying!)<\/p>\n

30. Che<\/em> + Adjective\/Noun<\/h2>\n

The most common type of Italian exclamation is the “che<\/em> + adjective” exclamation. To form this exclamation, you simply say\u00a0che\u00a0<\/em>(it usually translates to “how” in this context) and add an adjective.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n