How can I say good luck in Italian?
Posted by Monica Corrias on February 23, 2009
As you probably know, in Italian the traditional way to say “good luck” is not only “Buona fortuna” (literally = good luck), but rather “In bocca al lupo!” –> similar to English “Break a legs!”
When someone says that to you, there is a traditional very important reply that you are expected to give: “Crepi!” or “Crepi il lupo!”
Today I would like to say “In bocca al lupo!” to the students that are visiting Italy for them first time and that should speak Italian.
First of all I suggest learning Italian on the page “Italian classes”, but the most important hint is to try to get to know Italian people! Remember that the purpose is to communicate, not just to do some academic exercises and you need to have conversation in Italian: the main focus is “to practise“!
I wrote some expressions – but only in Italian 😦 – to accept an invitation or to refuse an invitation.
And remember the proverb: Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro! = Whoever finds a friend finds a treasure!
Thank you very much 🙂 and say me “in bocca al lupo!”
Malik said
First blog I read after wakeup from sleep today!
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ssian said
Hi, i’m keen to learn italian after listening to Andrea Bocelli’s songs 🙂
And i came upon your website 🙂
This is nice 🙂
Monica said
Thank you very much 🙂
You are right, Bocelli’s songs are a good hint!
beautiful family of five [nyc, new york, child and family photography] » RightMoonPhotography: the blog …New York City, NY said
[…] In bocca al lupo and many best wishes as you start the next chapter of your lives! xoxo […]
Alan said
I am curious. “In bocca al lupo!” I don’t know Italian, but I know a little (VERY little) Spanish and (even less) French. I know that all three languages are Latin based and very similar. Inferring from what I know of Spanish and French, it sounds like that statement would translate into something like “In the mouth of the Wolf”. Am I close? Spanish boca=Mouth, lobo = wolf; French bouche=mouth, loup= wolf. Italian bocca=mouth??, lupo=wolf??
Please email me and let me know if I was close,
Thanks, Alan
Monica said
Sì Alan, perfetto! Do you remember the fairy tale “Little Red Cap” or “Little Red Riding Hood” and the wolf? So … crepi il lupo!
Alan said
I think it is so cool to be able to use what little I know of two languages to figure out what was said in third! The idea of becoming a linguist just became a little more appealing. I am fascinated with the how and why of not only the way languages are spoken, but with how they are written and read as well. Ir also helps that I love to listen to the way people talk (not just other languages, but accents when speaking English as well).
Thank you so much for your reply,
Alan
ale said
english is latin based too
Monica Corrias said
🙂
shant said
English is entirely germanic, except that over time, half of its words ended up coming from French through shifts in power, and those French words are, at the start, basesd on a germanic Language which was highly influenced by latin….
Sorry, little pet peeve of mine, couldn’t help correcting
Geri Mars said
I’m going to be spending A LOT of time reading this blog. I’m working on obtaining my dual American-Italian citizenship under Italy’s law of jure sanguinis, and really need to bone up for filling out the necessary forms. Although I spoke Italian near-fluently as a child, over the years, I’ve gotten very, very rusty. Currently, my Spanish is much better than my Italian. Fortunately, as the two languages are very similar, I have no doubt that I’ll be able to recover my Italian speaking, reading and writing ability.
Wish me buona fortuna! I’m going to need to be in all of the “boccas al lupos” I can get. (BTW, I’m pretty sure that expression means “in the wolf’s mouth,” which may be considerably worse than having a broken leg.) = D
Monica Corrias said
… allora, in bocca al lupo! Sono sicura che riuscirai a ottenere la doppia cittadinanza 🙂
ma attenzione: è vero che -per quanto riguarda la pronuncia e il vocabolario- italiano e spagnolo sono simili, ma in realtà ci sono molti “falsi amici” (parole uguali con significato differente), inoltre la grammatica non è così vicina come sembra. Questo significa solo che dovrai impegnarti un po’ più del previsto, ma ce la farai benissimo 🙂
shant said
Has anyone ever told you that it’s amazing how much knowing French helps you understand written Italian with barely any lessons?
Monica Corrias said
Sì, Shant. Me l’hanno detto, meglio così 😉
Rashed Aljanahi said
OH! I just love any thing Italian! think of Sophia Loren,Valentuno,Bocelli, Versace, Dolce Gabanna, Ferrari ect…and certo ( tiramisu)!Rashed from Dubai
Monica said
Sono contenta che ti piaccia il “made in Italy” 😉
Cori said
Ciao Monica, Ho sentito che per augurare qualcuno “buona fortuna” che in realità è una porta sfortuna… Che dobbiamo usare sempre “in bocca al lupo” (crepi) o “nel culo della balena” (di cui non c’è un risposto).
Ho voluto dirti che “break a leg” è una frase usato solo nel teatro, dove “good luck” è una porta sfortuna… ma in tutte le altri casi “buona fortuna” è usato, e “break a leg” non ha molto senso.
Cori said
scusa per i errori… “tutti i altri casi”
Sangeeta Mishra said
hi i want to learn italian language in a fun and easy way can u tell me how i can learn
(plz reply in englush if possible)
Monica Corrias said
I suggest you my blog 😉
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Monica Corrias said
Ok, hai passato una bella giornata e la comunicazione è OT, ma ti auguro di trascorrere altre belle giornate.
Buona fortuna 😉
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Monica Corrias said
Grazie 🙂
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