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ITALIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Italian word of the day: ‘Permesso’

May we introduce you to this very polite Italian word?

Italian word of the day: 'Permesso'
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Here’s another example of an Italian word that sounds a lot like its most direct English translation – but doesn’t have a perfect English equivalent.

Permesso (pronunciation available here) sounds a lot like “permission” or “permit”, and that’s exactly what you’re asking for when you use it.

In fact, most of Italy’s foreign-born residents will first encounter this word in the phrase permesso di soggiorno – the Italian residence permit. The phrase can be translated as “permit to stay.”

In everyday Italian, the most common usage of permesso is really simple.

It’s the “excuse me” for when you need to get past someone in a crowded place (but not the “excuse me” for attracting attention in a restaurant. More on Italian apologies here.)

But the most Italian way to use permesso is for asking permission to enter a room, a shop, an office, or someone’s home.

Imagine being invited to a new Italian friend’s apartment for lunch for the first time. You enter the building, walk upstairs, and find the apartment door left ajar for you. What would be the polite thing to do? Knock, or just walk straight in?

Italians would most likely hover in the doorway for a moment while calling out “permesso?”.

Some of my Italian friends also do this jokingly, despite knowing very well they have permission.

I have been told that it’s not that widely used anymore because, as one Italian friend put it, “Italians are pretty rude.” (No comment.)

But if you’re erring on the side of politeness, especially if your Italian friend’s parents are home, you really can’t go wrong with permesso.

And it’s definitely recommended if you visit a doctor or any kind of office where the door has been left slightly ajar.

Just remember it’s only for asking permission to enter a space, or excusing yourself when moving around a space.

If you’re asking permission to do something, such as pouring yourself more coffee, you might want to use posso? (“can I/may I?”) instead.

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

Don’t miss any of our Italian words and expressions of the day by downloading our new app (available on Apple and Android) and then selecting the Italian Word of the Day in your Notification options via the User button.

Member comments

  1. We moved to Sicily last year and noticed that many people use this word when entering our house or a room. The people in Sicily are very polite, hospitable and genuinely friendly and helpful.

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For members

ITALIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Italian word of the day: ‘Rimorchiare’

Here's an Italian word you'll want to pick up.

Italian word of the day: 'Rimorchiare'

If you’ve ever studied for your foglio rosa (provisional driver’s licence) exam in Italy, you’re sure to have come across the word rimorchio (trailer).

Theory test T/F question: ‘The width of the trailer must never exceed that of the vehicle pulling it.’

Credo che dovremo noleggiare un rimorchio per trasportare tutta la merce.
I think we might need to rent a trailer to transport all the goods.

And rimorchiare, along with the more formal trainare, means to haul or tow.

La barca è stata rimorchiata a riva.
The boat was towed to shore.

But rimorchiare isn’t just used to talk about vehicles. It also means to pick or chat someone up, or hook up with them.

Sono usciti per rimorchiare.
They’ve gone out on the pull.

Se n’è appena andata con un tipo che ha rimorchiato.
She just left with some guy she picked up.

A rimorchiatore is a tugboat, but can also mean a player/persistent flirt, and rimorchione/a also describes someone who’s constantly chatting people up.

got talent nina GIF by Italia's Got Talent

In some parts of the country, meanwhile, you might hear someone described as a provolone – a big tryhard or wannabe player.

That’s a wordplay based on the reflexive verb provarci, meaning ‘to try it on with’, and the famous Italian cheese. 

È un gran provolone ma non riesce mai a rimorchiare.
He’s a real tryhard but he never manages to pull.

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

Don’t miss any of our Italian words and expressions of the day: download our app (available on Apple and Android) and then select the Italian Word of the Day in your Notification options via the User button.

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