Register refers to the level of formality in language. In Italian, choosing the right register is just as important as using correct grammar. Using an informal expression in a professional email, or a hyper-formal phrase with a friend, can seem inappropriate or even rude. Italian has two main registers: formal (formale) — used with strangers, superiors, and in professional/official contexts — and informal (informale) — used with friends, family, peers, and in relaxed situations.
| Context | Informal (tu) | Formal (Lei) |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting (meeting) | Ciao! | Buongiorno / Salve |
| Greeting (parting) | Ciao! / Arrivederci | Arrivederci / ArrivederLa |
| How are you? | Come stai? | Come sta? |
| Your name? | Come ti chiami? | Come si chiama? |
| I'll call you | Ti chiamo | La chiamo |
| Can you help me? | Puoi aiutarmi? | Può aiutarmi? |
| Please sit down | Siediti / Accomodati | Si accomodi |
| Do you know...? | Sai...? | Sa...? |
| I give you | Ti do | Le do |
| Thank you | Grazie / Grazie mille | La ringrazio / La ringrazio molto |
| Meaning | Informal | Formal / Neutral |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Hi | Ciao | Buongiorno / Salve |
| Goodbye | Ciao | Arrivederci / ArrivederLa |
| Excuse me | Scusa | Scusi |
| Please | Per favore / Per piacere | Per favore / La prego |
| I'd like | Voglio | Vorrei / Desidero |
| I'm sorry | Mi dispiace / Scusa | Mi scusi / Le chiedo scusa |
| Thank you | Grazie | La ringrazio / Grazie mille |
| Of course | Certo / Figurati | Certamente / Si figuri |
| Can I? | Posso? | Potrei? / È possibile? |
| I think / In my opinion | Secondo me / Penso che | A mio avviso / Ritengo che |
1. Use 'Lei' (formal you) with: strangers, shop staff, doctors, teachers, bosses, clients, and anyone you've just met in a professional setting. 2. Use 'tu' (informal you) with: friends, family, classmates, children, and people who invite you to use 'tu' (dare del tu). 3. When in doubt, start formal and switch to 'tu' only if invited. 4. In formal writing, avoid contractions and colloquial expressions. 5. In formal speech, do not use filler words like 'tipo', 'boh', 'cioè' (in the colloquial sense).
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Formal Register — Greetings
10 questions
Formal Register — Questions and Requests
10 questions
Formal Register — Lei Pronoun Forms
10 questions
Formal Register — Formal Vocabulary
10 questions
Formal Register — Email Openings and Closings
10 questions
Formal Register — Professional Interactions
10 questions
Formal Register — Review
10 questions
Formal Register — Medical and Official Contexts
10 questions
Formal Register — Academic and Educational Contexts
10 questions
Formal Register — Group 1 Review
10 questions
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Informal Register — Greetings with Friends
10 questions
Informal Register — Requests and Questions
10 questions
Informal Register — Colloquial Expressions
10 questions
Informal Register — Text Messages and Social Media
10 questions
Informal Register — Family Conversations
10 questions
Informal Register — Among Peers
10 questions
Informal Register — Expressing Opinions Casually
10 questions
Informal Register — Everyday Requests
10 questions
Informal Register — Informal Written Language
10 questions
Informal Register — Group 2 Review
10 questions
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Identifying Register — Formal or Informal?
10 questions
Identifying Register — Correct for the Situation?
10 questions
Identifying Register — Spot the Markers
10 questions
Identifying Register — Multiple Contexts
10 questions
Identifying Register — Emails and Letters
10 questions
Identifying Register — Dialogues
10 questions
Identifying Register — Imperatives
10 questions
Identifying Register — Mixed Sentences
10 questions
Identifying Register — Social Situations
10 questions
Identifying Register — Group 3 Review
10 questions
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Transform Register — Formal to Informal
10 questions
Transform Register — Informal to Formal
10 questions
Transform Register — Email Rewriting
10 questions
Transform Register — Complete Exchanges
10 questions
Transform Register — Speaking Contexts
10 questions
Transform Register — Error Correction
10 questions
Transform Register — Mixed Practice
10 questions
Transform Register — Full Sentences
10 questions
Transform Register — Group 4 Mixed
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Transform Register — Group 4 Review
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Formal Email Phrases — Opening and Closing
10 questions
Professional Italian — Workplace Language
10 questions
Social Context Choices — Formal or Informal?
10 questions
Formal Letter Writing — Structure and Phrases
10 questions
Polite Requests and Modals — Advanced
10 questions
Academic and Institutional Italian
10 questions
Written vs Spoken Register
10 questions
Vocabulary Register — Formal vs Informal Synonyms
10 questions
Complete Email Rewrite — Formal to Informal
10 questions
Group 5 Final Review — All Skills
10 questions
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The biggest difference is the pronoun: tu (informal) vs Lei (formal). Use Lei + third-person singular verbs with strangers, older people, professionals: "Lei come si chiama?" Use tu with peers, family, friends, children: "Tu come ti chiami?".
Formal: Buongiorno, Buonasera, Arrivederci, La saluto. Informal: Ciao, Salve (neutral), A presto. Formal letters use "Egregio Signore", "Gentile Signora", "Distinti saluti", or "Cordiali saluti". Email is more relaxed but still respects "Lei" with strangers.
Latinate vocabulary, longer sentences, and indirect constructions: "qualora" (if/when), "ovvero" (that is), "altresì" (also), "codesto" (that of yours). The passive voice and impersonal "si" are also more frequent in formal writing than in everyday speech.
B1 Topics