Learning different ways to say ‘How are you?’ in Italian can help you communicate better and connect with the culture. Italian has many other ways to ask about someone’s well-being, from formal to informal and even local slang. Whether you use the formal ‘Lei’ or the more casual ‘tu’ makes a big difference in how the conversation feels. Also, slang can make you sound more natural and relaxed in casual settings. Getting these right is not just about speaking the language well—it also shows you respect Italian social norms, which is important if you want to communicate effectively and respectfully in Italy.
Essential Italian Phrases for Asking “How Are You?
In Italian, how you ask ‘How are you?’ depends on the situation. If it’s a formal setting, you’d say ‘Come sta?’
No. | Italian | English Translation |
1 | Come stai? | How are you? (informal) |
2 | Come sta? | How are you? (formal) |
3 | Come va? | How’s it going? |
4 | Tutto bene? | Everything good? |
5 | Come te la passi? | How are you getting along? |
6 | Come ti senti? | How do you feel? |
7 | Come vanno le cose? | How are things going? |
8 | Come va la vita? | How’s life? |
9 | Come va oggi? | How’s it going today? |
10 | Che mi racconti? | What can you tell me? |
11 | Come va tutto? | How is everything? |
12 | Cosa succede? | What’s happening? |
13 | Tutto a posto? | Is everything okay? |
14 | Che c’è di nuovo? | What’s new? |
15 | Come stai passando la giornata? | How is your day going? |
16 | Come va il lavoro? | How’s work going? |
17 | Come vanno gli studi? | How’s school/your studies going? |
18 | Come va la famiglia? | How’s the family? |
19 | Come ti senti oggi? | How do you feel today? |
20 | Come vanno i tuoi progetti? | How are your projects going? |
21 | Come stai di salute? | How is your health? |
22 | Come va la tua giornata? | How is your day going? |
23 | Tutto procede bene? | Is everything going well? |
24 | Come va il fine settimana? | How’s the weekend going? |
25 | Come va con i tuoi amici? | How are things with your friends? |
26 | Come ti trovi? | How are you finding things? |
27 | Come vanno le cose con te? | How are things with you? |
28 | Come vanno i tuoi piani? | How are your plans going? |
29 | Come ti senti riguardo a tutto? | How do you feel about everything? |
30 | Come stai passando il tempo? | How are you spending your time? |
31 | Come va con i tuoi hobby? | How are your hobbies going? |
32 | Come va la tua settimana? | How’s your week going? |
33 | Come va il tuo mese? | How’s your month going? |
34 | Come va la tua vita in generale? | How’s your life in general? |
35 | Come va il tuo cuore? | How’s your heart? |
Slang Variations in Italian
Exploring slang gives us a real feel for everyday Italian, especially when we ask, ‘How are you?’ These expressions are shared among friends and in casual settings. They show a relaxed way of talking.
No. | Italian | English Translation |
1 | Che si dice? | What’s up? |
2 | Come butta? | How’s it going? (slang) |
3 | Come va la baracca? | How’s it hanging? |
4 | Che aria tira? | What’s the vibe? |
5 | Come vanno le cose da queste parti? | How’s it going around here? |
6 | Come va la pesca? | How’s fishing? (slang for how’s it going) |
7 | Come stai messo? | How are you set? (slang) |
8 | Che combini? | What are you up to? |
9 | Come stanno le cose? | How are things? |
10 | Come va la baracca e burattini? | How’s the show? |
11 | Come va il mondo? | How’s the world? |
12 | Come va la faccenda? | How’s the matter? |
13 | Come va tutto quanto? | How’s everything? |
14 | Come vanno le robe? | How’s the stuff? |
Responding to “How Are You?” in Italian
When you’re talking in Italian and someone asks, ‘How are you?’, your answer can change based on the situation, how you feel, and how well you know them.
Simple responses like ‘Tutto bene?’ or just ‘Bene’ are quick and easy. If you want to share more about your feelings, you might say ‘Sto meglio’ or ‘Un po’ stanco’. If you’re feeling perfect or want to show more excitement, you could use phrases like ‘Da favola!’ or ‘Alla grande’.
Standard Replies: Tutto bene?, Bene, Male
You can keep it simple when asked ‘How are you?’ in Italian. Use phrases like ‘Tutto bene?’ meaning ‘All good?’, ‘Bene’ meaning ‘Good’, or ‘Male’ meaning ‘Bad’. These phrases are key in Italian daily talk and allow you to quickly tell how you’re feeling.
No. | Italian | English Translation |
1 | Bene, grazie. | Fine, thank you. |
2 | Tutto bene. | Everything is good. |
3 | Non c’è male. | Not bad. |
4 | Sto bene. | I am well. |
5 | Così così. | So-so. |
6 | Abbastanza bene. | Pretty good. |
7 | Va tutto bene. | Everything is going well. |
8 | Sto bene, e tu? | I am well, and you? |
9 | Sto benissimo! | I am very well! |
10 | Non molto bene. | Not very well. |
11 | Sto meglio, grazie. | I am better, thank you. |
12 | Va benone! | It’s going great! |
13 | Va male. | It’s going badly. |
14 | Sto bene, grazie per aver chiesto. | I am well, thank you for asking. |
15 | Sto benissimo, grazie! | I am doing great, thank you! |
Expressive Responses: Sto meglio, Non molto bene, Un po’ stanco
In Italian, when someone asks, ‘How are you?’, you might hear responses like ‘Sto meglio’, ‘Non molto bene’, or ‘Un po’ stanco’. These phrases are more than just simple replies. They let you share a bit more about how you feel.
No. | Italian | English Translation |
1 | Mi sento in cima al mondo! | I feel on top of the world! |
2 | Sto vivendo un sogno! | I am living a dream! |
3 | Mi sento come una star del cinema! | I feel like a movie star! |
4 | Sono pieno/a di energia! | I am full of energy! |
5 | Mi sento come un milione di dollari! | I feel like a million bucks! |
6 | Sono al settimo cielo! | I am in seventh heaven! |
7 | Mi sento rinato/a! | I feel reborn! |
8 | Sono in uno stato di grazia! | I am in a state of grace! |
9 | Mi sento invincibile! | I feel invincible! |
10 | Mi sento inarrestabile! | I feel unstoppable! |
11 | Sono come una trottola! | I am like a spinning top! (very busy) |
12 | Mi sento come se avessi vinto la lotteria! | I feel like I won the lottery! |
13 | Sono carico/a come una molla! | I am charged up like a spring! |
14 | Mi sento alla grande! | I feel great! |
15 | Mi sento come se potessi conquistare il mondo! | I feel like I could conquer the world! |
Conclusion
To sum up, learning how to ask ‘How are you?’ in different ways in Italian is more than just about language. It’s about connecting. You can be formal and ask ‘Come sta?’ or keep it casual with ‘Come stai?’ or ‘Come va?’. If you want to sound like a local, try ‘Come butta?’. Each phrase helps you build stronger relationships. Knowing these phrases is vital to get into Italian culture and society.