Ah, that feeling of bubbling excitement when we’re eagerly looking forward to something! Maybe it’s a trip, a delicious meal, or meeting up with friends. How do you convey that enthusiasm in Italian? Let me share a little secret: if you’ve been translating “I can’t wait” in Italian as Non posso aspettare, you might have missed the mark. Sure, the sentence is grammatically correct, but it doesn’t quite capture that thrill and eagerness we want to convey. It sounds more like, “I can’t wait because I have other things to do.” Not quite the vibe we’re aiming for, right? Instead, use of the following five expressions, each adding a unique vibe when expressing your anticipation in Italian.
1. Non vedo l’ora
Literally: I don’t see the time
English: I can’t wait, I’m looking forward
Non vedo l’ora is the go-to phrase in Italian when you simply cannot wait for something exciting. Looking at its literal translation, it’s a bit like saying that we’re buzzing with excitement for the moment (“l’ora”) we’re waiting for.
This expression can be used in three ways:
Non vedo l’ora + “di” + infinitive —> when expressing what it is that the subject can’t wait to do:
Non vedo l’ora di finire questa maledetta presentazione!
I can’t wait to finish this damn presentation!
Non vedo l’ora + “che” + subjunctive —> in this case, “che” introduces a subordinate clause where the subject is different:
Non vedo l’ora che arrivi Valeria.
I can’t wait for Valeria to arrive.
Notice the switch here? In the first part, the subject is “io” (I), and in the subordinate clause, it’s “Valeria.”
Non vedo l’ora can also be used on its own as a response to something exciting that has been said:
Dai che tra poco finisce la scuola e partiamo per le vacanze. – Non vedo l’ora!
Come on, school will be over soon and we’ll go on vacation. – I can’t wait!
2. Non sto più nella pelle
Literally: I can’t stay in my skin anymore
English: I’m very excited about something
Imagine being so excited that you feel like you’re going to jump out of your skin! That’s exactly what this idiom conveys. It sounds funny, I know, but it vividly describes that feeling of being so excited you might just like to escape your skin and run towards whatever you can’t wait to do!
Some believe that the earliest mention of this concept can be traced to Horace’s “Satires.” In these works, the Roman poet discusses how intense anticipation can lead to dramatic consequences, using as example a fable by Phaedrus in which a frog, driven by its desire to become as large as an ox, inflates itself with water until it bursts. Fast forward to today, and the expression has evolved a bit. Now, it simply means being super excited about something.
Let’s see how you can use it in your everyday Italian:
Non sto più nella pelle + “per” / “da” + noun —> to indicate the cause of your excitement:
Domani arriva Roberto, non sto più nella pelle per l’emozione!
Tomorrow Roberto arrives, I’m so excited!
Non sto più nella pelle dalla voglia di leggere il suo nuovo libro!
I can’t wait to read his new book!
Non sto più nella pelle + “di” + infinitive —> to indicate the action you’re excited to do:
Non sto più nella pelle di sapere come andrà a finire tra quei due!
I can’t wait to find out what will happen between those two!
Non sto più nella pelle on its own, in sentences like:
Domenica c’è il concerto, non sto più nella pelle!
Sunday is the concert, I can’t wait!
Note: You might also hear the shorter version, Non sto nella pelle, without più (anymore). However, adding più makes it more emphatic, and is more common.
3. Conto i giorni che mi separano da…
Literally: I count the days that separate me from…
English equivalent: I’m counting down the days
This phrase indicates that you are eagerly awaiting a future event or situation. It’s like you have a mental calendar, eagerly ticking off each day until that something happens. Say you’re longing for a weekend of skiing, you could say:
Conto i giorni che mi separano dalle mie adorate montagne!
I’m counting the days count the days that separate me from my beloved mountains!
4. Muoio dalla voglia di…
Literally: I’m dying from the desire to…
English equivalent: I’m dying to…
And now, here’s a wonderfully dramatic way of saying “I can’t wait” in Italian that really paints a picture of impatience or excitement. Imagine you’re so eager to do something that it feels like you could just drop dead from the impatience!
Say you’ve been working non-stop for months, and the thought of a vacation is the only thing keeping you going. You could dramatically proclaim:
Muoio dalla voglia di partire per la Sardegna!
I’m dying to leave for Sardinia!
Or perhaps you’ve been apart from your loved one for what feels like an eternity. The longing has built up to the point where you can hardly stand it. You can pair the typical “Mi manchi” (I miss you!) with:
Muoio dalla voglia di vederti!
I’m dying to see you!
5. Ho tanta voglia di…
Literally: I have so much desire to…
English equivalent: I really want to…
This expression, which is typically followed by the verb in its infinitive form, is a great way to show just how excited you are about something, similar to saying “I can’t wait” in English. For instance, there’s a new art exhibition that you’ve been eagerly awaiting. You’re so thrilled about it that you can tell your friend:
Ho tanta voglia di vedere la nuova mostra a Palazzo Reale, ci andiamo?
I really want to see the new exhibition at the Royal Palace, shall we go?
Sometimes, ho tanta voglia di is followed by a pronoun instead of a verb. This construction is typically used when you want to express that you can’t wait to be with someone (usually with a sexual undertone):
Ho tanta voglia di te.
I really want you.
BONUS: Attendo con piacere…
To express “I can’t wait” in Italian formal correspondence and discussions, you can’t really used any of the expressions above. Instead, you can use expressions like Attendo con piacere, which literally means “I await with pleasure” and is similar to “I’m looking forward to…” in English. For instance, imagine you’re awaiting feedback on a draft contract:
Attendo con piacere di ricevere le vostre note alla bozza contrattuale.
I’m looking forward to receiving your comments on the draft contract.
A similar expression is Sarà un piacere… (lit. It will be a pleasure to…):
Sarà un piacere avervi alla nostra festa aziendale mercoledì prossimo!
We’re looking forward to seeing you at our company party next Wednesday!
Valentina Nicastro is a travel writer in love with her home country, Italy. Having travelled widely around the globe, she realised there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put the passport aside for a while. When she is not immersed in documenting Italy, you’ll find her donning her communication consultant hat, weaving words as a content writer and bridging linguistic divides as a translator.
