Imagine you’re trying to explain how easy it was to cook that recipe your Italian friend gave you the other day, but you’ve already said è facile a million times. Boring, right? Well, don’t worry! In this article, we’ll explore a bunch of fun and natural ways to say easy in Italian. Whether you’re describing something that’s a total breeze or a task that requires zero effort, you’ll learn expressions that will make your Italian sound more authentic and interesting. Ready to expand your vocabulary and make “easy” anything but dull? Let’s start!
1. Facile
Facile is the go-to word for easy in Italian. It’s used to describe things that are simple, especially when it comes to actions. The word comes from the Latin verb facere, meaning to do. So, if something is facile, you can do it without much effort or stress. Take this for example:
Tu hai sempre avuto una vita facile!
You’ve always had an easy life!
In this sentence, facile describes a life that’s smooth and trouble-free — nothing’s too challenging and everything comes easy.
Facile also shows up in a series of fixed expressions like:
- Farla facile — This means to make something sound easy when, let’s face it, it’s probably not.
- Facile a dirsi —Literally “easy to say,” it’s for when something sounds simple in theory, but in practice it’s much harder.
- Essere facile al pianto/alla rabbia — This means being quick to cry or get angry, basically someone who’s emotional.
- Essere una facile preda — This refers to someone or something that’s easy to take advantage of, much like the expression “sitting duck” in English.
2. Semplice
While semplice is often used like facile to mean something is easy in Italian, it refers to something that’s easy because it’s clear, straightforward, and doesn’t have any hidden layers. This word comes from the Latin simplex, which literally means “without folds”—like something that’s not complicated or tricky. For example:
Sono persone semplici, legate alle tradizioni.
They are simple people, tied to traditions.
Here, semplice describes people who are down-to-earth, humble, and live without pretension, enjoying the small, everyday moments in life.
3. Elementare
The word elementare refers to the mandatory schooling for kids aged six to eleven, where the goal is to teach them the basic notions of cultural education. But elementare (like elementary in English) is also commonly used in Italian to describe something very simple, basic, or fundamental. For example:
Sono concetti elementari, ma spesso trascurati.
These are easy concepts, but they’re often overlooked.
Sometimes, elementare also ironically highlights how obvious something is or to point out the lack of basic skills. Here’s an example:
Non ha le più elementari nozioni di grammatica
He doesn’t have the most basic knowledge of grammar.
4. Agevole
When something is agevole in Italian, it means it’s easy and free from difficulties. Whether it’s a journey, a task, or a situation, if it’s agevole, it feels manageable and convenient—almost like a breeze!
Imagine hiking up a steep, rocky trail. At first, it’s tough on your legs, and you’re sweating buckets. But then, as you keep going, the path evens out and suddenly walking feels so much easier. That’s when you’d say:
Il percorso è stato impegnativo all’inizio, ma da qui in poi troveremo un terreno agevole.
The route has been challenging at first, but from here on, we’ll find an easy trail.
5. È una passeggiata
(Literally: It’s a walk)
È una passeggiata is a very common Italian idiom to say that something is super easy in Italian. After all, what’s easier than going for a casual stroll? No pressure, no effort, and no stress. That’s the idea behind this phrase!
English has a very similar expression, “It’s a walk in the park.” Both phrases paint the same picture of something that doesn’t require much work. Here’s an example:
Stai tranquillo, questo esame è una passeggiata in confronto a quello che abbiamo fatto l’anno scorso.
Relax, this exam is a walk in the park compared to the one we took last year.
6. È un gioco da ragazzi
(Literally: It’s a game for kids)
È un gioco da ragazzi is another fun Italian idiom to describe something so easy that even kids can do it. In English, you might say “It’s a piece of cake” or “It’s child’s play” to convey the same idea. Both expressions carry a lighthearted tone, making them great for informal situations where you want to show confidence about how simple something is. For example:
Montare questo mobile è un gioco da ragazzi, basta seguire le istruzioni.
Assembling this furniture is a piece of cake, you just need to follow the instructions.
7. È una cosa da nulla
(Literally: It’s a thing of nothing)
The Italian phrase È una cosa da nulla is perfect for emphasising that a task is so simple, so minor, that it barely counts as an effort. It’s like saying, “Oh, it’s nothing” or “It’s no big deal” in English.
This expression is often used in a humble or reassuring way to make others feel like a problem is small and manageable. For example:
Riparare questa bicicletta è una cosa da nulla, mi ci vuole un attimo.
Fixing this bike is no big deal, it’ll take me just a moment.
8. È come bere un bicchier d’acqua
(Literally: It’s like drinking a glass of water)
While in English you often say something is “as easy as eating a piece of cake” or “as easy as pie,” in Italian we like to use an even simpler action for comparison: “drinking a glass of water.” Why? Because drinking water is such a natural, effortless thing — pure simplicity!
This idiom is perfect for when you want to motivate someone or express how effortless something is, for instance:
Domani hai la prova di matematica? Dai, sei così brava che per te sarà come bere un bicchier d’acqua!
You have the math test tomorrow? Come on, you’re so good that for you it will be a piece of cake!
9. È alla portata di tutti
(Literally: It is within everyone’s reach)
When we say that something è alla portata di tutti, we mean it’s easy to understand or achieve. Whether it’s a task, a concept, or even a product, it implies that anyone — not just experts or geniuses — can access it without difficulty. For example:
Questo corso è alla portata di tutti, non serve avere conoscenze pregresse.
This course is within everyone’s reach, you don’t need prior knowledge.
In this case, alla portata di tutti reassures others that the course is made in a way that’s clear and free of complicated concepts, making it easy for anyone to comprehend.
But this expression can also refer to financial affordability: if something is reasonably priced, you can describe it as alla portata di tutti. For example:
Il nuovo parco divertimenti ha biglietti alla portata di tutti, così anche le famiglie numerose possono andarci.
The new amusement park has tickets that are affordable for everyone, so even large families can go.
In this case, alla portata di tutti emphasizes that the prices are fair and inclusive.
10. È una cavolata
(Literally: It is a cabbage thing)
In Italian we use the word cavolo (cabbage) in many everyday expressions and one of the most popular is è una cavolata. Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with actual cabbages! This phrase means that something is so simple that it’s hardly worth mentioning, similar to saying “it’s ridiculously easy” or “it’s a no-brainer” in English.
Non riesco a configurare il telefono. – Dammi qua, è una cavolata!
I can’t set up the phone. – Give it here, it’s a no-brainer!
If you’re joking around with friends and want to sound more playful or edgy, you can swap cavolata for the ruder stronzata. It still means “it’s ridiculously easy,” but it has a cheekier vibe:
Sistemare questa cosa? È una stronzata, ci vuole un secondo!
Fixing this thing? It’s a no-brainer, it takes a second!
Interestingly, è una cavolata/stronzata can also be used when you want to dismiss something as silly or pointless, like saying “That’s nonsense” or “What a dumb thing:”
Io non leggo gli oroscopi, per me l’astrologia è una cavolata!
I don’t read horoscopes, for me astrology is nonsense!
11. È tutto in discesa
(Literally: It’s all downhill)
The Italian expression È tutto in discesa paints a vivid picture: imagine you’ve been climbing a steep hill, and suddenly, the hard part is over. Now, the road ahead is downhill—smooth, easy, and much less effort! This idiom is perfect for describing situations where, after tackling a tough or challenging phase, things become much simpler and more manageable.
We frequently use it when we want to reassure someone (or yourself!) that the worst is behind, and things will only get easier from here. For example:
Dopo aver superato Chimica Organica, è tutto in discesa!
After getting through Organic Chemistry, it’s all downhill!
12. È uno scherzo
(Literally: It’s a joke)
The expression È uno scherzo describes something as ridiculously easy. One way of using it is to emphasize how simple a task or activity has become, especially compared to how it used to be, as in:
Con questo nuovo software, creare presentazioni è uno scherzo.
With this new software, making presentations is a joke.
This phrase is also great for reassuring someone who’s worried about an upcoming task. It’s like saying, “Don’t stress; it’s a breeze!” For instance:
Non preoccuparti per l’esame, è uno scherzo per te che hai studiato così tanto.
Don’t worry about the exam; it’s a joke for you since you’ve studied so much.
13. Si può fare a occhi chiusi
(Literally: It can be done with eyes closed)
This is another interesting idiom to say “easy” in Italian. It’s often used when you’re very familiar with a task or skill, to the point that it feels effortless. Whether it’s something you’ve done many times or something that’s inherently simple, it’s as if you don’t need to look or think to get it right. For example:
Ho fatto questa torta così tante volte che ormai posso prepararla a occhi chiusi.
I’ve made this cake so many time that now I can prepare it with eyes closed.
14. In un batter d’occhio
(In the blink of an eye)
This expression is frequently used to emphasize how fast something is done because it’s super easy. It’s a great way to motivate someone or show off how skilled you are at something, whether because you’ve done it a million times before or it’s simply not a big deal to accomplish. For example:
Lavoro qui da anni, ormai scrivo proposte in un batter d’occhio!
I’ve been working here for years, by now I write proposals in the blink of an eye!
Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.
