A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Please wait a moment" in Italian
Politely ask someone to wait a moment in Italian, useful for service interactions and brief delays.
Aspetti un momento, per favore.
AS-pet-ti oon mo-MEN-toh, per fa-VO-reformal
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you need to pause a conversation or interaction to attend to something else. For example, if a shopkeeper needs to find an item or if you're on the phone and need a second to grab something.
Alternatives
- Aspetta un momento, per favore.Use this when speaking to someone you know well or a child (using 'tu').
- Un attimo, per favore.A slightly more casual but still polite way to say 'just a moment'.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'aspetti' and 'aspetta'
'Aspetti' is for formal 'Lei' (you), while 'aspetta' is for informal 'tu' (you).
Pronouncing 'aspetti' with a short 'e'
The 'e' in 'aspetti' should be open, like the 'e' in 'bet', not closed like the 'e' in 'be'.
A small cultural note
While 'per favore' is always polite, Italians often omit it when the request is very brief and clear, relying on context and tone.
Frequently asked
How to say wait a moment in Italian?
The most common formal way is 'Aspetti un momento, per favore.' For informal situations, use 'Aspetta un momento, per favore.'
Is 'aspetti' formal or informal?
'Aspetti' is the formal conjugation of the verb 'aspettare' (to wait), used when addressing someone with 'Lei'.
What's a quicker way to say wait?
You can use 'Un attimo,' which means 'one moment,' and is often used casually but can be polite with 'per favore.'
