How to Say Yes and No in Italian: 15 Essential Expressions

The Short Answer

The most common way to say yes in Italian is Sì (SEE), and no is simply No (NOH). But if you stop there, you will sound like a phrasebook rather than a person. Italian has an expressive system of affirmative and negative responses that convey enthusiasm, reluctance, politeness, disbelief, and everything in between, and Italians use the full range every single day.

Italian is spoken by approximately 85 million people worldwide across Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, and Vatican City. According to Ethnologue's 2024 data, it ranks among the top 25 most spoken languages globally. And as linguist Pierangela Diadori documents in Comunicare in italiano (2018), Italian speakers rely on tone, gesture, and word choice together to communicate agreement or disagreement, since the verbal expression is only part of the message.

"In Italian, how you say yes or no matters as much as the word itself. The tone, the gesture, the facial expression: they complete the meaning. A flat 'Si' and an enthusiastic 'Si, certo!' live in different universes."

(Pierangela Diadori, Comunicare in italiano, Le Monnier, 2018)

This guide covers 15 essential ways to say yes and no in Italian, organized by category: standard affirmatives, emphatic agreement, standard negatives, and emphatic refusals. Each includes pronunciation, formality level, example sentences, and cultural context so you know exactly when to use them.

Quick Reference: Italian Yes and No at a Glance

Ways to Say Yes in Italian

These are the core affirmative expressions every Italian speaker uses daily. The Accademia della Crusca, Italy's oldest linguistic authority, recognizes all of these as standard modern Italian, though their register ranges from casual to highly formal.

Sì

Sì is the foundation. It is universally understood, appropriate in every context, and never wrong. One important detail: written Italian distinguishes sì (yes) from si (the reflexive pronoun "oneself") with a grave accent. Skipping that accent in writing is a common mistake that Italians will notice.

Tone matters enormously with Sì. A drawn-out, rising Sììì? means "Yes? Go on..." A short, sharp Sì! signals firm agreement. A flat, quiet Sì can even imply reluctance, the Italian equivalent of "I guess so."

Certo

Certo adds warmth and willingness to your agreement. Where a plain Sì answers the question, Certo answers the spirit behind it: it says "yes, and I'm happy about it." You will hear it from shop assistants, friends, and colleagues alike. It occupies a friendly middle ground that works in most situations.

A useful variation is Certo che sì! (Of course yes!) for extra emphasis when someone seems unsure about your answer.

Certamente

Certamente is the version you deploy when bella figura (making a polished impression) is paramount. Hotel concierges, business professionals, and anyone in a formal service role uses it naturally. According to the Treccani dictionary, it functions as an adverb of certainty that reinforces both agreement and commitment to follow through.

D'accordo

D'accordo does more than say yes; it confirms alignment. When you use it, you are telling the other person that you have heard their proposal and you are on board. It is the Italian equivalent of "agreed" or "deal." Italians use it to close discussions and confirm plans: D'accordo, allora facciamo così (Agreed, then let's do it that way).

The shortened form Ok, d'accordo or just D'accordo with a nod is one of the most common conversational patterns in everyday Italian.

Esatto

Esatto is the yes of validation. When someone paraphrases your idea back to you, when a student gives the right answer, when a colleague grasps the key point, Esatto is the natural response. It carries a subtle compliment: "You got it right."

You will also hear Esattamente (exactly), the adverb form, which is slightly more formal and emphatic.

Come no

Come no is a characteristically Italian construction. It literally asks "how not?", implying that saying no would be absurd. It is playful, enthusiastic, and typically accompanied by an expressive facial expression or gesture. This is the kind of expression that makes Italian feel alive and theatrical.

Va bene

If you learn one agreement expression beyond Sì, make it Va bene. It is the Swiss Army knife of Italian conversation, useful for confirming plans, accepting proposals, acknowledging instructions, and expressing general willingness. The Accademia della Crusca notes its usage across all registers of the language, from street conversation to parliamentary debate.

The abbreviated Bene (fine) and the colloquial Vabbè (a casual contraction) are equally common in spoken Italian.

Senz'altro

Senz'altro elevates a simple yes to a declaration of certainty. It literally means "without anything else," implying there is no room for doubt. You will encounter it in business emails, formal phone calls, and polished conversation. It is the kind of expression that makes an Italian speaker sound articulate and assured.

Ways to Say No in Italian

Saying no in Italian is an art form. Italians are culturally inclined toward warmth and hospitality, which means a direct, blunt refusal can feel jarring. The language compensates with a spectrum of negatives that range from gentle to theatrical.

No

Italian No is phonetically identical to English "no" but with a purer vowel sound, a clean, open NOH without the English tendency to diphthongize it. On its own, it is perfectly acceptable but can feel abrupt. Italians almost always pair it with a softener: No, grazie (No, thank you), No, mi dispiace (No, I'm sorry), or Purtroppo no (Unfortunately no).

Tone transforms the meaning. A gentle No, no with a smile is a friendly decline. A firm, single No. with a level gaze is final. A high-pitched Nooo?! with wide eyes is disbelief.

Assolutamente no

Assolutamente no leaves zero ambiguity. It is the refusal of record: firm, clear, and dignified. In professional Italian, it is the go-to expression when a softer no might be misinterpreted as negotiable. Interestingly, Assolutamente on its own (without no) has increasingly come to mean "absolutely yes" in casual usage, which the Accademia della Crusca has noted as a modern shift in meaning.

Niente affatto

Niente affatto is the generous no. It is most commonly used not to refuse a request but to reassure someone that their worry is unfounded. When a guest apologizes for arriving early, when a colleague asks if they are interrupting, Niente affatto dissolves the concern with warmth.

Macché

Macché is pure Italian theater. It dismisses a suggestion or assumption with dramatic flair, like the verbal equivalent of swatting away a fly. According to Treccani, it derives from ma che (but what), compressed into a single emphatic exclamation. You will hear it in animated conversations everywhere, often paired with an exasperated hand gesture.

This is one of those words that immediately makes a language learner sound more natural. A flat no answers a question; Macché! tells a story.

Neanche per sogno

Neanche per sogno is Italian refusal at its most poetic. The logic is beautiful: even in a dream (where the impossible becomes possible) the answer would still be no. It is dramatic, definitive, and often delivered with a hint of humor. Italians love this kind of expressive language, and using it correctly will earn you appreciative smiles.

A close cousin is Manco per sogno, which uses the colloquial manco (not even) instead of neanche. Both are widely understood.

Per niente

Per niente is the measured emphatic no. It does not carry the theatrical energy of Macché or the poetic imagery of Neanche per sogno. It simply states, clearly and completely, that the answer is not even a little bit yes. It is useful for honest assessments and straightforward negative opinions.

Mai

Mai is the temporal absolute: it does not just say no to the present moment but to all time. As a standalone refusal, it is powerful and final. The intensified form Mai e poi mai! (Never and then never!) adds dramatic repetition in true Italian fashion.

In everyday usage, Mai also appears in questions (Hai mai...? meaning "Have you ever...?"), making it one of the most versatile words in the language.

How Italians Express Yes and No With Gestures

Italian is arguably the world's most gestural language, and agreement and disagreement have their own physical vocabulary. As Pierangela Diadori documents in Comunicare in italiano (2018), Italian gestures are not mere embellishments; they carry independent meaning that can reinforce, replace, or even contradict the spoken word.

Responding to Yes/No Questions Naturally

Knowing individual words is important, but fluency comes from combining them naturally. Here are common patterns Italian speakers use.

Agreeing and Confirming

Declining and Refusing

Practice With Real Italian Content

Reading about Sì and No builds vocabulary, but hearing these expressions in real conversation (with natural intonation, timing, and accompanying gestures) is what makes them instinctive. Italian cinema is famously expressive, and watching how characters agree, refuse, negotiate, and argue gives you the rhythm of real Italian communication.

Wordy lets you watch Italian movies and shows with interactive subtitles. Tap any word or expression to see its meaning, pronunciation, and cultural context in real time. When a character says Macché! with a wave of the hand, you do not just read a translation. You absorb the full communicative package.

For film recommendations, check out our guide to the best movies to learn Italian. You can also browse our blog for more Italian language guides, or visit the Italian learning page to start practicing with authentic content today.