Easter is just days away and that means it’s time to paint some eggs, spend time with the people you love, and of course, brush up on your Italian Easter vocabulary if you haven’t done so already! 😉
Perhaps your goal is to be able to say a few phrases when you call or write to your Italian relatives at Easter, or maybe you’re just curious to pick up some new words and expressions. No matter what your motivation is, this article will get you hopping in the right direction!
Happy Easter Greetings & Wishes in Italian
The way you would say Happy Easter! in Italian is Buona Pasqua! which literally translates as Good Easter!
A longer expression you will certainly hear is Auguri di (Buona) Pasqua! which translates as Best Wishes for (a Happy) Easter! This can often be shortened to just Auguri! (Best wishes!) or Tanti auguri! (Many wishes!) if all parties know what the festive occasion is.
If you are preparing an Easter greeting card for someone, you may prefer to choose a longer or more formal greeting. Below are a few phrases that are commonly used:
Auguro a tutti voi una Buona Pasqua.
I wish you all a Happy Easter.
Buona Pasqua, amico mio! (to a man)
Buona Pasqua, amica mia! (to a woman)
Happy Easter, my friend!
Buona Pasqua a tutti!
Happy Easter everyone!
Buona Pasqua a te e famiglia! (informal)
Buona Pasqua a Lei e alla Sua famiglia! (formal)
Buona Pasqua a voi e alla vostra famiglia! (plural)
Happy Easter to you and your family!
Ti auguro una serena e buona Pasqua! (informal)
Le auguro una serena e buona Pasqua! (formal)
Vi auguro una serena e buona Pasqua! (plural)
I wish you a serene and happy Easter!
Italian Easter Vocabulary
If your aim is to improve your Italian Easter vocabulary, we suggest writing these words down on some flashcards and practising them daily. You can also find out more about many of these words by following the link to each of their respective ‘word of the day’ articles. Buon divertimento! (Have fun!)
1. Pasqua
English translation: Easter
Related terms worth learning: Pasqua bassa (late Easter in April), Pasqua alta (early Easter in March), pasquale (Easter as an adjective, paschal)
2. Coniglietto pasquale
English translation: Easter Bunny
Also known as: Coniglietto di Pasqua
3. Venerdì Santo
English translation: Good Friday
4. Colomba
English translation: dove
5. Uovo di Pasqua
English translation: Easter egg
6. Agnello
English translation: lamb
7. Pace
English translation: peace
8. Domenica delle Palme
English translation: Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter Sunday)
9. Pulcino
English translation: chick
10. Ramoscello d’ulivo
English translation: olive branch
11. Pasquetta
English translation: Easter Monday
Also known as: Lunedì dell’Angelo
12. Campana
English translation: bell
13. Croce
English translation: cross
14. Quaresima
English translation: Lent
15. Chiesa
English translation: church
16. Risorto
English translation: rebirth, rise from the dead
17. Cioccolato
English translation: chocolate
18. Cestino
English translation: basket
19. Gesù
English translation: Jesus
20. Resurrezione
English translation: resurrection
Easter Idioms & Expressions
Natale coi tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi.
Literal translation: Christmas with your family, Easter with whomever you want.
English meaning: Traditionally, Christmas is spent with the family whereas Easter can be spent with friends and acquaintances.
Contento come una pasqua
Literal translation: Happy as an Easter
English meaning: to be extremely happy
Fare il giro delle sette chiese
Literal translation: to visit the seven churches
English meaning: the expression stems from the precept that every good Christian should visit seven churches on Good Friday
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