Skip to contentItalian Phrases for Wants, Desires & Cravings
Learn here some of the most common Italian phrases to express desires, wants, cravings. Moreover discover other Italian expressions you should remember…
1. Non vedere l’ora – to not be able to wait
Non vedo l’ora di traslocare.
I can’t wait to move [as into a different home, house, apartment, etc.].
Lei non vede l’ora di vedere suo marito.
She cannot wait to see her husband.
Non vedo l’ora che tu arrivi.
I can’t wait for you to arrive.
The expression “non vedere l’ora…” literally means “to not see the hour . . .” But instead of using the expression “non vedere l’ora” you can also literally translate and say the following:
Non posso aspettare a traslocare.
I can’t wait to move.
Lei non può aspettare di vedere suo marito.
She cannot wait to see her husband.
Non posso aspettare che tu arrivi.
I can’t wait for you to arrive.
Depending on the situation, you will prefer to use “non vedere l’ora” instead of “non poter aspettare”.
The first expression sounds a little more poetic. For example, you have been away from home for a long time. When you text to your “morosa” (girlfriend) or “moroso” (boyfriend) in Italy, you write:
Non vedo l’ora di baciarti. (I can’t wait to kiss you).
2. Aver voglia – to feel like (action)
Ho voglia di mangiare qualcosa di dolce (I feel like eating something sweet.)
Lei ha voglia di partire. (She feels like leaving.)
Be careful when using the phrase “aver voglia.” Depending on the context, the phrase “aver voglia” by itself can suggest that you have sexual desires.
Ho voglia… (I want to make love/Voglio fare l’amore.)
3. Avere una voglia matta – to have a craving
Ho una voglia matta di cioccolato. (I have a craving for chocolate.)
Lei ha una voglia matta di cose dolci. (She has a craving for sweet things.)
By the way, think about an Italian man who sends a text message to his girlfriend saying “Non vedo l’ora di baciarti!” (I can’t wait to kiss you!),” and she responds by texting “Ho una voglia matta dei tuoi baci!” — which means “I have a craving for your kiss!”
Learn More Italian Idioms Here!
VIDEO: Explaining Italian phrases & idioms I’ve never heard before
Don’t you know these 3 Italian words and phrases!
Are you ready to learn some basic Italian phrases? OK!
1. Non ci piove! – literally “It doesn’t rain on it.” (meaning: There’s No doubt about it!)
Il Sahara è un deserto. Su questo non ci piove! (The Sahara is a desert. There’s No doubt about it!)
2. Bonifico – bank transfer, Western Union transfer, Money Gram transfer, etc.
Ti mando il bonifico domani. (I will send you the bank transfer tomorrow.)
3. Utenze – Utilities (electricity, gas, water, etc.)
Ti staccheranno le utenze. (They are going to cut-off your utilities.)
4. Casa di riposo – Retirement home
Mia zia vive in una casa di riposo. (My aunt lives in a retirement home.)
5. Mi manca un sacco…….. – I miss …….. a lot
Mi manca un sacco Roma (I miss Rome a lot).
VIDEO: Italian Idioms – Non Avere Una Lira
Basic Italian Phrases & Words for Talking about the Bank
la banca – the bank
i risparmi – the savings
la banconota – bill
los billetes grandes – large bills
la cassa – the cash desk
il cassiere – the cashier
il bancomat – the ATM machine
cambiare – exchange
l’assegno – the check
il codice SWIFT – the Swift code
il conto – the account
il conto corrente – the bank account
il conto di risparmio – the savings account
il debito – the debit
il deposito – the deposit
il denaro – the money
in contanti – cash
le monete – the coins
il prestito – the loan
la carta di credito – the credit card
lo sportello – the cashier’s window
VIDEO: Italian Phrases – “Fare di testa propria”
The Making of a Common Mistake in Italian
Here’s the story of a very common mistake in Italian…
Today was a long and tiring day.
I was going to go to bed as soon as I got home but I heard an English speaker make a common mistake in Italian this afternoon at the gym where I work out here in Trento, Italy.
You have to know it just to make sure that you never make the same common mistake in Italian.
I don’t recall the English speaker’s name. But from his accent, I can tell that he is from New Zealand or Australia. Let’s just say that his name is Bob.
Bob is the type of guy you always see at the refreshment stand at the gym. Usually drinking some type of nutritional shake while talking to the “ragazza” (girl) who works at the refreshment stand.
You hardly if ever see him on an exercise machine or lifting weights. It seems like he only goes to the gym to drink protein shakes and talk to the cute girl behind the refreshment stand.
Well, this afternoon while Bob was at the refreshment stand in the gym, an Italian guy asked him a question in English:
What happened to the girl who used to work here?
Fred, wanting to show the Italian guy that he speaks Italian as well the Italian speaks English responded:
Lei ha dato la nascita a due gemelli.
This is a very common mistake in Italian! Bob was trying to say “she gave birth to twins.”
Well, the Italian word “ha dato” does mean he/she has given or gave.
And “nascita” does mean birth.
And “gemelli” means twins.
But “Lei ha dato la nascita a due gemelli.” is not how you say “she gave birth to twins.” Do you know why? Because in Italian one does not give birth. Well, at least not linguistically.
In Italian, one “gives light” (dare alla luce). So Bob should have said:
“Lei ha dato alla luce due gemelli.” (she gave birth to twins.)
VIDEO: The Top 10 Italian Idioms