Learn Hardcore Italian: Figurati, posso aspettare davanti al teatro. - Don’t worry, I can wait in front of the theater.

It’s a friendly way to say things like No problem, Don’t worry about it, It’s fine, or Don’t mention it. It downplays any inconvenience and sets a relaxed tone before the offer to wait.

Is Figurati informal? What are the formal or plural versions?

Yes, Figurati is informal (addressing tu). Alternatives:

Formal singular: Si figuri
Informal plural: Figuratevi
Formal plural (rare): Si figurino Neutral alternatives include Prego, Non c’è di che, Nessun problema, Tranquillo/a.

Can Figurati be sarcastic or mean the opposite?

Yes. With certain intonation or with ma (as in Ma figurati!), it can mean Yeah, right! / As if!. Also Figurati se… often introduces disbelief: Figurati se arriva in orario = As if he’d arrive on time.

What’s the grammar behind Figurati?

It’s the second-person singular imperative of the reflexive verb figurarsi (literally “imagine to yourself”). The -ti is the reflexive pronoun for tu. So Figurati! = Imagine (it)!, which idiomatically became Don’t worry / No problem.

Do I need the comma after Figurati?

It’s recommended because Figurati works as an interjection. You’ll also see Figurati! with an exclamation point. Omitting the comma isn’t wrong in casual writing, but the pause feels natural.

Why isn’t there a “for” after “wait”? Why not aspettare per?

In Italian, aspettare already means to wait for, so you say aspettare qualcuno/qualcosa: Ti aspetto = I’m waiting for you. Adding per before the person/thing is usually wrong. For durations, you can say Ho aspettato un’ora (most natural); Ho aspettato per un’ora occurs but is less neat.

What’s the nuance of Posso aspettare vs alternatives like Aspetto or Potrei aspettare?

Posso aspettare = I can wait / I’m fine waiting (offers willingness; also can sound like asking permission if intonation rises).
Aspetto = I’ll wait (a straightforward decision or plan).
Potrei aspettare = I could wait (softer, more tentative/polite).
Aspetterò is fine but everyday speech often prefers the present for near-future plans.

Is attendere the same as aspettare?

Mostly, yes. Attendere is a bit more formal or used in notices/interfaces (Attendere prego = Please wait). In conversation, aspettare is more common.

What does davanti a mean, and how is it different from di fronte a or fuori da?

davanti a = in front of (general position before something): davanti al teatro.
di fronte a = opposite/facing (often a bit more geometrically “face-to-face”).
fuori da(l) = outside (not necessarily at the front door): fuori dal teatro could be anywhere outside the building.

Why al teatro and not a teatro here?

A teatro (without article) is the set phrase for the activity of being/going to the theater as a spectator: Stasera vado a teatro. Here we mean the physical building/front, so we use the normal articulated preposition: davanti al teatro.

How does al work, and how would it change with other nouns?

Al is a + il. Other combinations:

allo = a + lo (e.g., allo stadio)
alla = a + la (e.g., alla stazione)
all’ = a + l’ (e.g., all’università)
Plural: ai (a + i), agli (a + gli), alle (a + le)

Can I change the word order?

Yes. Italian is flexible:

Posso aspettare davanti al teatro (neutral).
Davanti al teatro, posso aspettare (emphasizes the location).
Aspetto davanti al teatro (if you choose the simple present). All are fine in casual speech.

How do I say “I’ll wait for you in front of the theater”?

Use a direct object (no per): Ti aspetto davanti al teatro. Formal: La aspetto davanti al teatro. Plural: Vi aspetto davanti al teatro.

How do I pronounce the tricky words?

Figurati: fi-GU-ra-ti (stress on GU; hard g as in “go”).
davanti: da-VAN-ti (stress on VAN).
teatro: te-A-tro (two clear vowels e‑A; stress on A).