These days, it’s not uncommon to hear people in Italy say “no problem,” but if you really want to blend in, you need the local expressions. Imagine you are in Venice and someone bumps into you while running to catch a vaporetto. Instead of just smiling, how do you tell them it’s totally fine in real Italian?
Below I’ll share 9 natural ways to say “no problem” in Italian, from the standard forms to a few handy phrases you’ll hear all the time.
1. Nessun problema
This is the literal translation of “no problem.” If you’re going to learn just one phrase, make it this one because it’s the most common, natural way we say “no problem” in pretty much any situation.
A: Sono bloccato nel traffico, arriverò in ritardo per la riunione.
I’m stuck in traffic, I’ll be late for the meeting.
B: Nessun problema, ti aspettiamo.
No problem, we’ll wait for you.
Did you notice that it’s nessun and not nessuno? The reason is that nessuno drops the final -o before most masculine singular nouns, unless those nouns begin with gn-, ps-, z-, x- or s + consonant. Here are some examples:
- Nessun amico (no friend)
- Nessun sasso (no stone)
- Nessuno psicologo (no psychologist)
- Nessuno scontro (no clash)
2. Non c’è problema
Non c’è problema is a bit more relaxed and casual than nessun problema. It literally means “there is no problem,” and it’s what we say when we want to reassure someone that something isn’t an issue at all.
Se vuoi venire con noi domani, non c’è problema. Abbiamo ancora posto in macchina.
If you want to come with us tomorrow, there’s no problem. We still have room in the car.
Sometimes, we turn this expression into a rhetorical question: Che problema c’è? (What’s the problem?). Don’t worry, it isn’t as aggressive or confrontational as it may sound. It’s actually a warm, friendly way to emphasize that there is absolutely no problem, like saying “It’s totally fine, why are you even asking/worrying?”
A: Posso venire anch’io?
B: Certo, che problema c’è?
Can I come too?
Of course, no problem at all.
See how it works? We aren’t just agreeing, we are reassuring the other person that their request is completely welcome.
Standard phrases like nessun problemaandnon c’è problema work perfectly fine in all situations, but the expressions below capture more specific nuances of meaning:
3. Non fa niente
We say Non fa niente when someone is apologizing and we want to minimize the importance of the situation. The phrase literally means “it does nothing,” so it’s clear the focus is on the impact of their action. Think of it as a gentle, friendly way of saying “It’s okay, no big deal.”
A: Scusa ma non posso più venire stasera, devo lavorare.
Sorry but I can’t come anymore tonight, I have to work.
B: Non fa niente, sarà per la prossima volta!
No problem, next time then!
As always, the tone makes all the difference. So, depending on how you say it, non fa niente can sound genuinely reassuring (“Seriously, it’s no problem”) or a little disappointed (“It’s fine, I guess…” followed by a sigh).
Also, in everyday conversation, we often drop the non and only say fa niente. The meaning stays the same, it just sounds a bit more casual. For example:
A: Ooops, ho rotto il bicchiere… scusa!
Whoops, I broke the glass… sorry about that!
B: Fa niente, ne ho tantissimi!
No worries, I’ve got plenty of them!
4. Non importa
Non importa translates to “It doesn’t matter,” which makes it another great option for dismissing an issue. It lets the other person know that there is no need to stress or apologize.
A: Mi spiace di aver reagito male.
I’m sorry I overreacted.
B: Non importa, è acqua passata.
No problem, it’s water under the bridge.
5. Non preoccuparti / Non si preoccupi
These phrases use the imperative form of the reflexive verb preoccuparsi, meaning “to worry.” They are a natural, gentle way to put at ease someone in situations where they feel responsible—a bit like giving them a comforting pat on the shoulder!
Non preoccuparti is the informal version we use with friends, family, and anyone we address with tu (the informal “you” in Italian). Notice that when the reflexive verb is conjugated in the imperative, the reflexive pronoun (here, ti) attaches to the end of the verb: non + preoccupar +ti.
A: Nooo, ho inviato il file sbagliato!
Nooo, I sent the wrong file!
B: Non preoccuparti, può succedere.
Don’t worry, it happens.
Non si preoccupi, on the other hand, is the formal version used with anyone we address with the polite Lei. With the formal version, the grammar rule for the imperative flips: the reflexive pronoun (si) goes in front of the verb rather than attaching to the end. So we say: non + si+preoccupi.
A: Accidenti, ho dimenticato il documento! E adesso?
Damn, I forgot the document! Now what?
B: Non si preoccupi, signore. Può mandarmelo via WhatsApp quando torna a casa.
Don’t worry, Sir. You can send it to me via WhatsApp when you get home.
6. Figurati / Si figuri
Figurati and Si figuri are other common expressions to say “no problem” in Italian, especially when responding to an apology or a thank you. They are imperative forms of the verb figurarsi, which means “to imagine,” so it’s like saying “Imagine if that were a problem!” (implying that it certainly isn’t).
Figurati is the informal version we use with friends and family. As we’ve seen with non preoccuparti, the reflexive pronoun (ti) attaches to the end of the verb: Figura + ti.
A: Grazie per il passaggio.
Thank you for the ride.
B: Figurati!
No problem!
When talking to a stranger, someone older, or in a professional context, we switch to the formal Si figuri. As we’ve seen earlier, with the formal imperative, the reflexive pronoun (si) moves to the front of the verb (Si + figuri).
A: Mi scusi se l’ho fatta venire fin qui, ma non sapevo proprio come fare.
Sorry for making you come all this way, but I really didn’t know what to do.
B: Si figuri, è un piacere!
No problem, it’s a pleasure!
It’s very common to place the word Ma (But) in front of Figurati / Si figuri to add more emphasis, like saying “Hey, no problem at all!”
A: Grazie per avermi accompagnato alla stazione.
Thank you for taking me to the station.
B: Ma figurati, passo sempre di lì!
No problem at all, I always go that way!
7. Ci mancherebbe
We use ci mancherebbe as an exclamation when responding to someone who’s thanking us for a favour. It’s a bit more emphatic than the other phrases, suggesting that helping was only natural for us, so there is no need to thank us or apologize for the inconvenience.
A: Grazie per avermi ascoltato…
Thanks for listening to me…
B: Ci mancherebbe! Lo sai che la mia porta è sempre aperta.
Of course! You know my door is always open.
8. Ma ti pare?
This is possibly the friendliest way to say “no problem” in Italian on this list. Literally, it translates to “Does it seem to you?”, serving as a rhetorical question where we jokingly scold the other person for even thinking there was a problem.
Imagine a friend tries to pay us back for a coffee we bought when they were out of cash. Here’s what we could say:
A: Ecco i soldi che ti dovevo per il caffè.
Here’s the money I owed you for the coffee.
B: Ma ti pare? Dai, la prossima volta offri tu.
Are you kidding? Come on, next time it’s on you.
In formal contexts, we switch to the elegant form Ma Le pare?
A: Oddio, mi scusi! Le ho pestato il piede.
Oh my. gosh, I’m so sorry! I stepped on your foot.
B: Ma le pare? Non mi ha fatto niente.
Please, don’t worry about it, it didn’t hurt at all.
9. Tranquillo/a
Tranquillo means “calm” or “relaxed,” but when we say this, we aren’t telling someone to chill. In conversation, it’s actually a super casual, friendly way to say “No problem” or “It’s all good.” We usually use it when someone apologizes for a small change of plans or a minor mistake.
A: Ti dispiace se ci vediamo un po’ più tardi, tipo alle 11?
Do you mind if we meet a bit later, like around 11?
B: Tranquillo, anzi per me è meglio.
No problem, actually, that works better for me.
This phrase is strictly informal, so save it for friends—using it with your boss or, say, a police officer might earn you a weird look!
A common variation is Vai tranquillo/a! (literally “Go calm”). I know, it sounds like some kind of meditation instruction, but it’s really just another very casual way to say there’s absolutely no problem.
A: Dammi ancora cinque minuti e arrivo. Scusa ma c’è un sacco di traffico.
Give me five more minutes and I’ll be there. Sorry, there’s so much traffic.
B: Vai tranquilla. Io intanto ne approfitto per inviare un paio di email di lavoro.
No problem at all. I’ll take the time to send a couple of work emails in the meantime.
Finally, if you’re engaging with teenagers, you’ll likely hear the shortened slang version Tranqui, which is similar to “No probs.”
A: Raga, stasera non riesco, ho troppo da studiare.
Guys, I can’t make it tonight, I have too much to study.
B: Tranqui, ci becchiamo domani.
No probs, catch you tomorrow.
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.
