So, you’ve just dodged a surprise rainstorm with your Italian friends — no umbrella, no poncho, just pure luck — and now you’re standing there, relieved but clueless on how to say “thank goodness” in Italian. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
In today’s article, we’re diving into the 8 most common Italian phrases that capture that sense of relief. Whether it’s a minor inconvenience narrowly avoided or a big moment of triumph, these handy expressions will help you master the art of relief in Italian and fit right in with native speakers!
1. Grazie a Dio
(Literally: Thanks to God)
Want the most direct way to say “thank goodness” in Italian? That’s Grazie a Dio! Whether you’re relieved about something, things are finally going your way, or even when you’re just happy a long, boring event is over, this phrase is perfect to give a nod of gratitude to the divine above.
The phrase comes from the Biblical Latin formula Deo gratias, meaning “we give thanks to God.” Nowadays, it’s used to express heartfelt relief or appreciation, even if it’s not always meant in a religious sense.
You can use Grazie a Dio as a standalone exclamation or as part of a sentence followed by a verb. For example:
Grazie a Dio siete qui!
Thank Goodness you’re here!
A quick heads-up: Although Grazie a Dio is widely used, regardless of one’s religious beliefs, some devout believers might find its casual use irreverent, as if you’re using God’s name disrespectfully. It’s rare, but it’s good to be aware just in case!
2. Dio sia lodato
(Literally: May God be praised)
This is another common way to express gratitude, especially when something has turned out well. It goes beyond simple relief, it’s about underlining God’s power in certain situations.
Like Grazie a Dio, this expression fits many everyday contexts where you want to show genuine thanks. Imagine you’re a stressed parent who’s been dealing with the chaos of summer holidays, and finally, the kids are going back to school. You might breathe a huge sigh of relief and say:
Dio sia lodato, lunedì ricomincia la scuola!
Thank Goodness, school starts again on Monday!
3. Grazie al cielo
(Literally: Thanks to the sky)
Grazie al cielo is a great way to say “thank goodness” in Italian when you want to attribute your good fortune to a higher power, without explicitly naming God. While Grazie a Dio conveys a more personal, emotional sense of relief and could carry religious nuances, Grazie al cielo is slightly less intense and more neutral.
Again, it can be used on its own as an exclamation or as part of a sentence, for example:
Grazie al cielo abbiamo trovato una camera disponibile all’ultimo momento!
Thank Goodness, we found a room at the last minute!
Fun fact: the word cielo (sky) is spelled with an i to distinguish it from celo, which is the first-person singular of the verb celare (to hide). Don’t mix them up!
4. Sia lodato il cielo
(Literally: May the sky be praised)
This phrase is an alternative to Grazie al cielo, always useful to express satisfaction or happiness about something you’ve been hoping for. While it’s similar in structure to Dio sia lodato, it shifts the focus to the sky as a metaphor for the divine heavens above, keeping the tone respectful but with less overt religious associations.
You can use it on its own or within a sentence to highlight your relief or gratitude in a specific situation. For example:
Sia lodato il cielo, le valigie non sono andate perse!
Thank goodness, the suitcases weren’t lost!
5. Meno male
(Literally: Less bad)
Let’s step away from religious expressions and look at the most common way to say “thank goodness” in Italian: meno male. This handy little phrase is perfect for expressing relief when something could have gone horribly wrong but, phew, didn’t.
The literal translation is “less bad,” but think of it as a casual “thank goodness” that captures the sentiment of relief in all sorts of everyday situations: managed to catch a taxi in the chaos of Rome? Meno male! Avoided a parking fine on Milan’s wild streets? Meno male!
You might see it written in two forms: meno male (two words) or menomale (one word). Both are correct, but the two-word version is perhaps more common in everyday conversation.
Meno male can be used on its own as a quick exclamation when someone shares good news, as in:
Ho trovato il lievito, possiamo fare la pizza. – Meno male!
I found the yeast, we can make pizza. – Thank goodness!
It can also be used to introduce a sentence when you want to explain why you’re relieved. In this case, it’s followed by the conjunction che (that) and the verb in the indicative mood:
La torta non si è bruciata. – Meno male che hai controllato il forno!
The cake didn’t burn. – Thank goodness you checked the oven!
6. Per fortuna
(Literally: For luck)
Per fortuna is a super common Italian phrase to convey relief, surprise, and pleasure when something turns out well, especially when it’s unexpected or a stroke of good fortune. It’s like saying “thank goodness” or “luckily” in English and is used in all kinds of situations. For example:
Per fortuna il treno è arrivato in orario!
Thank goodness the train arrived on time!
Sometimes, we humorously pair Per fortuna with a classic gesture called le corna (the horns). To do it, you point your hand downward and stick out your index and pinky fingers while keeping the others tucked in — a superstitious gesture against bad luck!
7. Fortunatamente
(Fortunately, luckily)
Fortunatamente is basically the same as Per fortuna. However, Per fortuna is more conversational and common in spoken Italian while fortunatamente sounds a bit more formal, making it more appropriate for written communication or when you want to speak more polished.
For example:
Fortunatamente l’evento di presentazione è andato bene.
Luckily, the presentation event went well
8. Che culo!
(Literally: What an ass)
Let’s wrap up with a funny and super popular expression – Che culo! ! In Italian, culo is a slightly vulgar word for “butt” and we often use it playfully in the expression Che culo! to emphasize just how lucky we are in a situation. It’s similar to saying, “Wow, what luck!” or “Thank goodness!” in English. For example:
Che culo, ho trovato un biglietto per il concerto degli Oasis!
What luck, I got a ticket for the Oasis concert!
As you can guess, this phrase is pretty casual, so it’s best to use it with close friends or people you’re comfortable joking around with.
In everyday Italian, Che culo! can also be used to point out how lucky someone else is:
Mario ha vinto di nuovo al Superenalotto. – Che culo che ha!
Mario won the lottery again – He’s so lucky!
Or it can be used sarcastically to imply the opposite:
Sono rimasto bloccato nel traffico per tre ore. – Che culo…
I was stuck in traffic for three hours. – Lucky you…
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.
