How to Say “Welcome” in Italian - Introductionary Greetings In Italy
We think that welcome is probably one of the most impressive words in any language. Learning how to say welcome in Italian is an important phrase to master. In fact, it should also be said that it’s honestly one of the first words that people learn in any foreign language.
There’s a reason for that, and it’s simple – it’s because it makes you feel good, the person it’s directed at feels good, and it’s a pillar of true appreciation.
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How to Translate “Welcome” in Italian
- How to translate Benvenuto
Benvenuto is the correct way to say “welcome” in Italian. It’s pronounced [benve'nuto]. However, this generally goes for men. The feminine counterpart is benvenuta.
In the plural, you would use benvenuti for a group of men or men and women, and benvenute for a group of women.
If you want to welcome someone to a city, use the preposition “a.” With countries, regions, and continents, you would use the preposition “in.”
- Benvenuto a Roma. – Welcome to Rome.
- Benvenuti in Italia. – Welcome to Italy.
- Ben Tornato – “Welcome Back” in Italian
“Welcome back” is a phrase that is beautiful in that it conveys that you’re happy that you’re once again in someone’s presence. Ben tornato is the correct way to say it, with tornato being the operative word that means “got back.”
Should you want to be a bit more familiar – as in, say that you’re welcoming someone you know well – you may opt to say bentornato, amico mio, which means “welcome back, my friend” in Italian. (Don’t worry, bentornato isn’t a typo. It’s just alternative spelling.) This popular phrase can also help to inspire new friendships, as well.
Once again, this phrase comes with different endings depending on who you are talking to:
- Bentornato – when talking to a man
- Bentornata – when addressing a woman
- Bentornati – when addressing a group of men or men and women
- Bentornate – when talking to a group of women
- Benvenuto a casa – “Welcome Home” in Italian
There’s nothing like a warm welcome – especially after a long day away from home. Benvenuto a casa offers just that. Much like Spanish, a casa means “(at) home” whereas benvenuto means “welcome” – as stated above.
Other words for home include domestico (“home” as an adjective), dimora (a dwelling or residence), and abitazione (a residence). However, more often than not, most people will find themselves using a simple (a) casa.
- Welcome to our home – Benvenuto a casa nostra
If you’re welcoming someone else to your home, you’ll want to use the phrase benvenuto a casa nostra. This phrase is like the one above, the only difference here being nostra, which directly translates as “our” in Italian.
How to Say “You’re Welcome” in Italian
In English, the most common answer to “thank you” is “you’re welcome.” While it looks similar to a mere “welcome,” you can’t use any of the phrases mentioned above to respond to grazie.
The standard answer would be prego. Let’s take a look at some other possibilities on how to answer when someone shows gratitude for something you’ve done.
- Non c’è di che.
- Di niente.
- Di nulla.
- Figurati (informal) or Si figuri (formal).
Useful Verbs Related to “Welcome”
If you want to translate the verb “to welcome,” one of the possible translations is accogliere.
- Non accoglierò gli invitati. – I won’t welcome the guests.
- La comunità accoglie tutti. – The community welcomes everyone.
Another verb to remember is dare il benvenuto (to bid welcome).
- Lui ci ha dato il benvenuto. – He bade us welcome.
- È il momento di dare il benvenuto ai nuovi ragazzi. – It’s time to welcome the new guys.
Salutare means “to greet/say hello.”
- Volevo salutarlo. – I wanted to say hello to him.
- Mi alzai per salutrali. – I got up to greet them.
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Conclusion
In a language like Italian, welcoming someone is probably one of the best things that you can do. The language itself is all about warmth and affection, meaning that these words are completely necessary if you’re planning to understand the culture and make people around you feel that you truly appreciate their presence.
Any and all variations of these welcomes will become a part of your life – whether you plan on relocating there permanently or simply passing through. By making them a priority, you’ll always be welcomed by the millions of amazing denizens of the country.
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