Italians invite easily: a coffee, a dinner, a walk. This lesson shows you how to invite, how to say yes warmly and no kindly, and what to do when someone offers you tu.

Your turn

Giulia asks Tony Ti va un caffè? What is she asking?

The main idea

Inviting

Ti va un caffè?
Do you feel like a coffee?
Ti va di venire a cena?
Would you like to come to dinner?
Dai, vieni!
Come on, come along!

Dai! is a warm push: come on! With Lei, the invitation is Le va…?

Answering

Volentieri!
I'd love to!
Perché no?
Why not?
Mi piacerebbe, ma stasera non posso.
I'd love to, but I can't tonight.
Magari un'altra volta.
Maybe another time.

Mi piacerebbe is I would like it: the polite way to start a no. magari is maybe, and also I wish!

Giulia invites Tony:

Giulia: Ti va di venire a cena da me sabato?
Would you like to come to dinner at my place on Saturday?
Tony: Mi piacerebbe, ma sabato vado a Palermo.
I'd love to, but on Saturday I'm going to Palermo.
Giulia: Peccato! Allora domenica?
Too bad! Sunday, then?
Tony: Domenica, volentieri!
Sunday, I'd love to!

sabato (SA-ba-to) and domenica (do-MEH-nee-ka) are stressed on the third-to-last syllable.

From Lei to tu

At the bakery, Signora Lombardo has known Tony for a few days:

Tony: Buongiorno, signora! Come sta?
Good morning! How are you?
Lombardo: Bene, Tony! Ma diamoci del tu, dai!
Fine, Tony! Come on, let's drop the formalities!
Tony: Volentieri! Allora, come stai?
Gladly! So, how are you?

Diamoci del tu! (dee-AH-mo-chee) means let's use tu with each other. Usually the older person or the woman offers it; then both switch at once.

Quick check

Your turn

Invite Giulia: Would you like to come to the beach?

Ti va venire al mare?
Your turn

Tony can't come tonight but would like to another time. What does he say?

Your turn

Signora Lombardo says Diamoci del tu! How does Tony now ask how she is?

Your turn

Invite Giulia for a coffee.

Take with you

Ti va un caffè?
Do you feel like a coffee?
Ti va di venire a cena?
Would you like to come to dinner?
Volentieri!
I'd love to!
Perché no?
Why not?
Mi piacerebbe, ma stasera non posso.
I'd love to, but I can't tonight.
Magari un'altra volta.
Maybe another time.
Dai, vieni!
Come on, come along!
Diamoci del tu!
Let's drop the formalities!

Ti va?, Volentieri!, and when it's offered, Diamoci del tu!