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Questions & Answers about Figurati, è un piacere.
What is figurati grammatically?
Figurati is the second-person singular informal imperative of the pronominal verb figurarsi (to imagine), with the reflexive clitic ti attached. In affirmative imperatives, clitics attach to the end (enclisis). Here it functions as a set phrase to play down thanks or reassure someone.
Why does it end in -ti?
Because it’s reflexive. Ti is the second-person singular reflexive pronoun. In the affirmative imperative, it’s attached after the verb: figura + ti → figurati. (In the negative imperative for tu, you’d use the infinitive: non figurarti.)
How do I say this formally or to more than one person?
- Formal singular (Lei): Si figuri, è un piacere.
- Informal plural (voi): Figuratevi, è un piacere.
- Formal plural (Loro, rare in speech): Si figurino, è un piacere. A neutral all-purpose alternative is Prego.
Can figurati stand alone, and does è un piacere have to be there?
Either can stand alone. Figurati! by itself is a natural reply to thanks; È un piacere on its own is also common. Putting them together adds warmth/emphasis.
Is the comma required?
No. It marks a natural pause. Variants like Figurati. È un piacere. or Figurati: è un piacere. are fine. In speech you’ll pause slightly after figurati.
How do I pronounce it?
- figurati: /fiˈɡu.ra.ti/ → fee-GOO-rah-tee (hard g; stress on GU; trilled r).
- è: /ɛ/ → open eh.
- piacere: /pjaˈtʃe.re/ → pya-CHE-re (glide pya; c before e is like English ch).
What does è with an accent mean compared to e without?
- è = third-person singular of essere (is).
- e = the conjunction and. They’re different words; the accent must be written. At the start of a sentence use uppercase È.
How do I type è/È?
- Windows: è = Alt+0232, È = Alt+0200 (numeric keypad).
- macOS: Option+` then e/E.
- iOS/Android: long-press E and choose è or È.
- Linux (Compose): Compose + ` + e/E.
Is piacere here a verb or a noun?
A noun. È un piacere uses piacere as a masculine noun meaning pleasure, which is why you see the article un. It’s not the verb as in mi piace.
How is È un piacere different from saying Piacere?
- Piacere (alone) is the set phrase used when meeting someone, like Nice to meet you.
- È un piacere expresses that doing something is/was a pleasure, often as a response to thanks.
Can I say È stato un piacere instead?
Yes. È stato un piacere (it was a pleasure) is common after the favor or interaction is over, and it sounds slightly more formal/polished.
Are there other natural ways to respond to thanks besides figurati?
Yes:
- Prego (neutral, universal).
- Di niente/Di nulla (informal).
- Non c’è di che (polite, slightly old-fashioned).
- Nessun problema (informal).
- Ci mancherebbe (altro) (very Italian, friendly).
Can figurati sound sarcastic?
Yes. With a dismissive tone or in patterns like Figurati se…, it means as if/yeah right. Used warmly after thanks, it’s friendly and reassuring.
Is figurati interchangeable with immaginati?
No. Immaginati means imagine yourself and doesn’t work as a set reply to thanks. Figurati is the idiomatic choice.
What about figuriamoci — is that a synonym?
Not here. Figuriamoci typically means let alone or as if, used to dismiss possibilities, not to reply to thanks. Prefer figurati (informal) or Si figuri (formal).
Can I add words like ma or pure?
Yes:
- Ma figurati! adds friendly emphasis (don’t worry about it!).
- Figurati pure gives permission (go right ahead/by all means).
Does the word order matter? Can I say È un piacere, figurati?
Both orders are fine. Figurati, è un piacere is slightly more common; È un piacere, figurati foregrounds the pleasure, then adds a friendly tag.
Is there any regional preference for this expression?
Figurati is widely used nationwide. Alternatives like Non c’è di che (more formal, somewhat old-fashioned) or Di nulla (often heard around Rome) vary a bit by region and register, but your sentence sounds natural everywhere.
Why un and not uno before piacere?
Because piacere is a masculine noun starting with a plain consonant. Use un before most masculine nouns; uno is reserved for s+consonant, z, gn, ps, or i + vowel (e.g., uno studente, uno zio).