38 Ways to Say Yes in Italian | Discover Discomfort (2024)

“Yes” in Italian is simplysì, with a grave accent on the vowel. If you want to sound like a native speaker, there are so many more ways to say yes in Italian.

Think about how often you replace “yes” in English with other expressions, like “yeah”, “of course”, “sure thing”, and “exactly”. In this post, you’ll learn how to say yes in Italian and emphasize your affirmative answers in casual and professional situations.

Ready?Sì?

Then let’s get started!

Yes in Italian at a Glance

Common Ways to Say Yes in Italian

Take a moment and think about how many times you’ve said the word “yes” today. It’s probably more than you can count. “Yes” is a simple, powerful word that we say all the time to agree with something, reply affirmatively to questions, accept requests, confirm statements, give consent, and much more. Let’s learn how to say yes in Italian!

Sì – yes

The most common, natural, and straightforward way to say yes in Italian is actually to say sì . Sì is the standard way to say “yes” in Italian, and you can use it in all instances where you wish to give an affirmative response. Let me give you an example.

Assolutamente sì – Yes, absolutely

When you want to say yes in Italian, sometimes sì just doesn’t cut it. There’s a magic word you can use to emphasize your “yes.” If you totally agree with what the other person is telling you, use the term assolutamente sì to agree with something enthusiastically. Here is an example:

Certo – sure, by all means

In some situations, you can also say certo ,which means “sure.”

D’accordo – okay, fine

If you look for the Italian translation of “okay” online, the answer you will get isprobably d’accordo , which literally translates to “of agreement,” but actually means “okay, fine.”

Have a look at the following example:

Senz’altro – definitely

Senz’altro literally means “without other,” and this literal translation doesn’t really make sense in English. In most cases,senz’altro is an expression you can use to say “definitely.” It’s the kind of affirmative reply you give when you’re 100% sure and agree with what the other person is saying.

Here is an example.

Volentieri – I’d love to!

Volentieri literally means “gladly,” and indicates that you don’t only accept something, but you’re also very happy about it. Consider this the Italian version of “I’d love to” in English.

Esatto! – exactly!

When youtotally agreewith someone, or you want to confirm that what someone is saying is correct, you can simply say esatto! , which means “exactly.” As you can see, this word is rather similar to the English one, which really helps memorization.

Va bene – alright, that’s fine

Va bene in English would literally be “it goes well.” It’s the Italian equivalent of “that’s fine” and “alright.” Some examples will make it clearer.

Proprio così – Just like that

Proprio così literally translates to “preciselyso,” and corresponds to “that’s right,” “just like that,” or “just that” in English. Use this phrase toemphasizethat somethingis right, true, or correct. Have a look at the following example:

Vero – true

Vero means “true,” and you can use it to agree with something, or acknowledge that someone is right or is saying something you can relate to.

Giusto! – right, that’s right

If someone is asking for confirmation or approval about something, you can respond to them by saying giusto! , which means “right.” This will tell them that their assumption is right.

Informal Ways to Say Yes in Italian

We’ve compiled a list of the best colloquial and informal words and phrases you can use to say yes in Italian in informal and casual situations. Here you go!

Formal Ways to Say Yes in Italian

In this table we’ve collected polite phrases and expressions for you that can be used to say yes in more professional or formal settings.

Enthusiastic Ways of Saying Yes in Italian

The phrases gathered in the table below are useful for expressing enthusiasm and happiness when saying yes. Use them in informal contexts and among people you know well. They might be frowned upon in formal situations.

Now you know how to say yes in Italian just like a native speaker. No one will catch you off guard anymore!