There are times in Italy when you really, really want to end the conversation.

When a driver’s trying to convince you that their car’s perfectly fine double-parked in the middle of the road because they flicked the hazard lights on, for instance. Or perhaps when your kid (or fully grown companion) is pleading for a second helping of gelato.

When you want to make clear that you’ve heard enough and your answer’s final, we recommend you telling whoever it is you’re arguing with punto e basta.

It literally means ‘full stop and enough’ and it’s like closing your sentence with ‘period’, as Americans would say.

Non mi piace, punto e basta.
I don’t like him, period.

It makes clear that you don’t think there’s anything more to be said, either because you’ve made up your mind or because it’s as simple as that. 

Lo farò, punto e basta.
I’m doing it, and that’s that.

Quante volte te lo devo dire? Non ci vado alla sua festa, punto e basta!
How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not going to his party, and that’s that!

If you’re really done talking, you can drop the e basta and finish just with an emphatic Punto!

And that really is all there is to it. 

Do you have a favourite Italian word you’d like us to feature? If so, please email us with your suggestion.