Learn Italian: Beh, va bene. - Well, all right.

Beh is a very common filler word that means "well," just like how we use it in English to start a sentence or pause. It is pronounced similar to the English word "bay," but much shorter and clipped. It is actually a shortened form of the word bene.

Why does va bene mean "all right"? Doesn't va mean "goes"?

Yes, va means "goes" (from the verb andare, meaning "to go") and bene means "well." So literally, va bene translates to "it goes well." In Italian, this is the standard, everyday way to say "all right," "okay," or "that's fine."

Is there a difference between beh and bene?

Yes! Even though beh originally comes from bene, they do completely different jobs. Bene is an adverb meaning "well" (as in doing something well, or things going well). Beh is just a conversational sound or reaction word, like saying "well..." before you give in and agree to something.

Can I use va bene as a question?

Absolutely! By raising your voice at the end of the phrase (Va bene?), it means "Is that okay?" or "All right?". The other person can then confirm by answering with the exact same phrase: Va bene (It's okay / All right).