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.

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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

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

Ti va venire al mare?
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Tony can't come tonight but would like to another time. What does he say?

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

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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!