3 phrases · etiquette

Permesso, Avanti, Prego: Your Guide to Italian Door Etiquette

Q: Can I use Prego instead of Avanti to invite someone in?

Yes, you can! While Avanti is a direct 'come in,' Prego works well as a polite invitation, especially if someone has just asked for permission (e.g., Permesso?). It's a versatile word for 'please' or 'go ahead.'

Q: Is Permesso only for doors, or can I use it in other situations?

Permesso is used whenever you need to navigate through a space occupied by others. For example, if you're trying to reach something on a shelf in a crowded shop, or if you need to pass people standing in a narrow corridor, Permesso is the polite word to use.

In Italy, a simple doorway can become a small stage for polite interaction, where the right word makes all the difference.

In Italy, when you need to pass by someone or enter a space, you say Permesso. To invite someone in (through a door, into a room), you say Avanti. And Prego is the versatile 'you're welcome,' but can also mean 'please come in' in certain contexts, often as a response.

The short version

PermessoExcuse me / May I pass? (when you need to move past someone or enter a space)
AvantiCome in / Forward (an invitation to enter)
PregoYou're welcome / Please (can also mean 'come in' as a response)

When do you say Permesso?

Asking for permission to pass or enter.

Use Permesso when you need to politely ask someone to let you pass, or when you're entering a room where someone is already present. It's like saying 'excuse me' or 'may I come in?' It's a request for space or entry.

Permesso?

/perˈmes.so/

Excuse me? / May I?

Con permesso

/kon perˈmes.so/

With permission (a slightly more formal way to say it)

The Italian 'Excuse Me'

Unlike English, where 'excuse me' can also mean 'sorry' (as in mi scusi), Permesso is specifically about physical space. If you bump into someone, you'd say Mi scusi or Scusa. If you need to get by them, it's Permesso.

When do you say Avanti?

Inviting someone to enter.

When you are inside a room or office and someone knocks, you say Avanti to invite them in. It literally means 'forward' or 'ahead,' but in this context, it's a clear invitation to enter.

YouPermesso?May I come in?

Someone insideAvanti!Come in!

When do you say Prego?

The versatile response.

Prego is most commonly 'you're welcome,' but it's also used to invite someone to do something, including entering. If someone says Permesso? to you, you can respond with Prego! to mean 'Please, come in!' or 'Go ahead!'

Avanti! (when you want to pass someone) → Permesso! Avanti is an invitation to enter, not a request to pass.
Permesso! (when someone knocks on your door) → Avanti! or Prego! You invite them in, you don't ask for permission to enter your own space.

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Can I use *Prego* instead of *Avanti* to invite someone in?

Yes, you can! While Avanti is a direct 'come in,' Prego works well as a polite invitation, especially if someone has just asked for permission (e.g., Permesso?). It's a versatile word for 'please' or 'go ahead.'

Is *Permesso* only for doors, or can I use it in other situations?

Permesso is used whenever you need to navigate through a space occupied by others. For example, if you're trying to reach something on a shelf in a crowded shop, or if you need to pass people standing in a narrow corridor, Permesso is the polite word to use.

These three little words open up more than just doors; they open up smoother, more natural interactions in Italy. Listen for them, use them, and you'll feel more at home in the rhythm of daily life.

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