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PhrasesGiving ComplimentsParli italiano benissimo! Complimenti!
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Parli italiano benissimo! Complimenti!

You speak Italian wonderfully! Congratulations!

Pronunciation

'Benissimo' = be-NIS-si-mo. 'Complimenti' = com-pli-MEN-ti.

When to use it

Use this to genuinely praise someone's Italian language skills. For a non-native speaker, this is one of the most motivating and appreciated compliments. Italians are often genuinely moved when foreigners make the effort to learn their language.

What it means

'Benissimo' is the superlative of 'bene' — 'very well'. 'Complimenti!' is a versatile Italian exclamation for congratulations and praise — used for achievements of any kind: 'complimenti per la promozione!' (congratulations on the promotion!).

Variations

Il tuo accento è quasi perfetto.

Your accent is almost perfect.

Specific praise for pronunciation — highly valued

Non sembri straniero/a quando parli.

You don't seem foreign when you speak.

The ultimate Italian language compliment — passing as a native

Quante lingue parli?

How many languages do you speak?

Follow-up question showing admiration for linguistic ability

Mini Dialogue

— Parli italiano benissimo! Complimenti! — Grazie mille! Ci sto lavorando da tre anni. — Si vede! Hai pochi errori e l'accento è ottimo. — Davvero? Mi fa molto piacere sentirlo.

— You speak Italian wonderfully! Congratulations! — Thank you so much! I have been working on it for three years. — You can tell! You make few mistakes and the accent is excellent. — Really? I am very happy to hear that.

Cultural Note

Italy has one of the lowest rates of foreign language proficiency in the EU, which makes Italians especially admiring of those who learn Italian. Italians often describe their language as 'la più bella del mondo' (the most beautiful in the world) — a belief so sincere that hearing it spoken well by a foreigner genuinely moves them.