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Questions & Answers about Grazie per l’invito.
What does the apostrophe in l’invito do, and why not il invito?
In Italian, the definite article il drops its vowel before a word that starts with a vowel. So il invito becomes l’invito (elision). The same happens with feminine la → l’: l’amica. That’s why it’s Grazie per l’invito.
Why is there a definite article at all?
Italian uses articles more than English. With a specific, countable item you usually include the article: l’invito, il messaggio, la mail. So you say Grazie per l’invito. Leaving it out here (per invito) sounds wrong in this meaning.
Can I say Grazie dell’invito instead? Is there a difference between per and di?
Yes. Grazie dell’invito is fully correct and common. It’s just di + l’ → dell’. Meaning-wise, Grazie per l’invito and Grazie dell’invito are interchangeable. Many speakers prefer:
- with a noun: Grazie per/dell’invito (both fine)
- with an action (infinitive): Grazie di/per avermi invitato/a Use whichever feels natural; no one will object.
Can I drop the preposition and say Grazie l’invito?
No. After grazie, Italian requires a preposition: grazie per + [thing/action] or grazie di + [thing/action]. So say Grazie per l’invito or Grazie dell’invito, not Grazie l’invito.
How do I make this more formal or more personal?
- Neutral (works almost everywhere): Grazie per l’invito.
- Informal to a friend: Grazie mille per l’invito! / Ti ringrazio per l’invito.
- Formal to one person: La ringrazio per l’invito. (Optional capital La in writing.)
- To several people: Vi ringrazio per l’invito. / Grazie a tutti per l’invito.
How do I thank someone for inviting me (not just for the invitation)?
Use per/di + perfect infinitive:
- Male speaker: Grazie per avermi invitato.
- Female speaker: Grazie per avermi invitata.
- Thanking for inviting us:
- Mixed/men: Grazie per averci invitati.
- Women only: Grazie per averci invitate. Notes:
- di also works: Grazie di avermi invitato/a.
- With ci/vi, many speakers keep the participle invariable (…averci invitato). The agreeing forms above are also common and correct.
Should I say invitazione instead of invito?
Use invito for “invitation.” Invitazione exists but is uncommon and can sound bureaucratic or mean “urging/encouragement.” Prefer Grazie per l’invito.
When do I use grazie a and when grazie per?
- grazie a + person/cause: who you’re thanking or what made something possible.
- Grazie a te/Lei.
- Grazie a Maria per l’invito.
- grazie per + thing/action: what you’re thankful for.
- Grazie per l’invito.
- Grazie per avermi invitato/a. You can combine them: Grazie a te per l’invito.
How do I pronounce Grazie per l’invito?
- Grazie: GRAH-tsyeh (z = “ts”; final e like “eh”).
- per: pehr.
- l’invito: leen-VEE-toh (stress on VI). Smoothly: GRAH-tsyeh pehr leen-VEE-toh.
Do I need an exclamation point or special capitalization?
Capitalize at the start if it begins a sentence: Grazie per l’invito. An exclamation point is optional for warmth: Grazie per l’invito! In emails after a greeting you might write: Ciao Marco, grazie per l’invito.
How do I adapt it for multiple invitations or to specify which invitation?
- Plural: Grazie per gli inviti. (plural article gli before a vowel)
- Specify: Grazie per l’invito alla festa/alla riunione/a cena. You can also add time: …di sabato.
Are there times I shouldn’t use the article after per + noun?
Yes, some set expressions omit it: per caso, per lavoro, per posta, per telefono. But with a specific invitation you need the article: not per invito, but per l’invito. “By invitation only” is solo su invito, not per invito.
Any tips about the apostrophe and spacing in l’invito or dell’invito?
- No space: l’invito, dell’invito.
- dell’ is the contracted preposition (di + l’): Grazie dell’invito.
- Straight (') or curly (’) apostrophes are both fine; just don’t write a space (not l’ invito).
I saw pel in an old text. Is pel invito acceptable today?
pel is an old contraction of per il (and pell’ of per l’). In modern Italian, write per il / per l’. So use Grazie per l’invito, not Grazie pell’invito.