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PhrasesExpressing OpinionsHai ragione, non avevo pensato a questo.
A2

Hai ragione, non avevo pensato a questo.

You're right, I hadn't thought of that.

Pronunciation

'Ragione' — ra-GIO-ne. Stress on the second syllable. 'Gi' sounds like the 'g' in 'gentle'.

When to use it

Use when you genuinely accept someone else's opinion and acknowledge their point. In Italian culture, saying 'hai ragione' sincerely is a sign of intellectual honesty and respect.

What it means

'Hai ragione' literally means 'you have reason' — the Italian way to say 'you're right'. Conversely, 'ho torto' means 'I'm wrong' and 'hai torto' means 'you're wrong'. This vocabulary is fundamental for opinion exchanges.

Variations

Devo ammettere che hai ragione.

I have to admit you're right.

'Ammettere' (to admit) — signals you're conceding a point you previously held differently

Hai un punto valido.

You have a valid point.

Partial concession — accepts this specific argument without full agreement

Non avevo considerato quella prospettiva.

I hadn't considered that perspective.

Explains why you're changing your view — shows open-mindedness

Mini Dialogue

— E se cambiassimo l'orario della riunione? — Hai ragione, non avevo pensato a questo. Le dieci andrebbero meglio per tutti. — Esatto, così evita i problemi di traffico. — Ottima osservazione.

— What if we changed the meeting time? — You're right, I hadn't thought of that. Ten o'clock would work better for everyone. — Exactly, that way you avoid traffic issues. — Excellent observation.

Cultural Note

In Italian culture, changing your mind publicly because of a good argument is a sign of intellectual strength, not weakness. The ability to say 'hai ragione' gracefully marks someone as educated and open-minded ('open-minded' is now used in Italian too).