Italian Text Slang: The Ultimate Guide to Text Messaging in Italian
Informal Italian messages may use abbreviations, playful spellings, numbers and emoji. Understanding them can help you read chats; standard spelling remains a good choice when writing to someone new.
This guide explains common patterns and examples from SMS and online chat. Some abbreviations now feel dated or are limited to particular groups. Their meaning and frequency depend on the conversation; they are not a checklist for sounding authentic.
Texting and chatting in Italian
At the dawn of text messaging, using the number “6” to mean “sei” as in “you are” was the height of slang sophistication. The number is spelled the same as the verb, just like how “2” corresponds to “too” in English.
Many of these spellings developed when SMS length and typing effort mattered. You may still encounter them, but usage changes over time and differs by age, platform and friendship group. Here are examples of laughter, gestures and symbols:
| ahahah / hahaha | = risate | laughing |
| 🙂 | = sorriso | smile, smiley-face |
| 😀 | = sorriso | smile |
| 🙁 | = triste | sad |
| :(( | = molto triste | very sad |
| XD | = risate | laughing |
| 😉 | = occhiolino | winking. It’s used for flirting and as a signal of common understanding. |
| 😛 | = linguaccia | sticking tongue out |
| <3 | = cuore | heart |
| xoxoxoxo | = hugs and kisses | hugs and kisses |
| :* | = bacio | kiss |
| :*** | = baci | kisses |
The symbol x is read per in Italian multiplication. In informal messages it can replace per or that sequence inside a word. This is a playful abbreviation, not standard spelling to use everywhere. Examples include:
| x | = per | for, to, in order to, because of, towards, through |
| xkè, xk, x’ | = perché | why, because |
| xciò | = perciò | therefore, so, for this reason |
| xò | = però | but, however, though |
| xsona | = persona | person |
| sxo | = spero | I hope |
| xfetto | = perfetto | perfect |
| xmesso | = permesso | permission, allowed, permitted |
“K” is another letter that is used a lot in Italian text slang. The letter “k” has the same hard c sound of “ch” and “c” when followed by “a”, “o” and “u”. For this reason, the letter “k” is frequently used in textspeak as a shorthand for “ch” and “c”. See some examples below:
| anke | = anche | also, too, as well |
| xkè, xk | = perché | why, because |
| ke | = che | what, which, that |
| ki | = chi | who |
| qlk | = qualche | some, a few |
| qlcn | = qualcuno | someone, somebody, anyone, anybody |
| kiakkiera | = chiacchiera | chit-chat, small talk |
| kn | = con | with |
| ks | = cosa | what, thing |
| ksì | = così | like this, like that; so (depending on context) |
As you might have noticed, vowels tend to get eliminated in internet chat spellings, to shorten words. Have a look at these examples to get an idea of how it works:
| cmq | = comunque | anyway, however, in any case |
| msg | = messaggio | message |
| grz | = grazie | thanks |
| prg | = prego | you’re welcome |
| tnt | = tanto | a lot, very much |
| trp | = troppo | too much |
| allr | = allora | then, so |
| qnd | = quando | when |
| qndi | = quindi | therefore, so, then |
| qnt | = quanto | how much |
| qst | = questo | this |
| qlcs | = qualcosa | something; qls can be ambiguous |
| cn | = con | with |
| d | = di | of, about, from, by, than |
| c | = ci | there; us; we (in some constructions) |
| t | = ti | you |
| v | = vi | you (plural, as an object) |
| nn | = non | not |
| nnt | = niente | nothing, anything |
| tt | = tutto, tutti | all, everybody, everyone |
| brv | = bravo, brava, bravi, brave | good |
| brvximo, brvxima, brvximi, brvxime | = bravissimo, bravissima, bravissimi, bravissime | very good, excellent |
| risp | = rispondi | reply, answer |
| stas | = stasera | this evening |
| prox | = prossimo/a/i/e | next |
| gg | = giorno/giorni | day/days; other meanings are possible in context |
| dm | = domani | tomorrow |
| dp | = dopo | after |
| dr | = dire | to say |
| dx | = destra | right |
| sx | = sinistra | left |
| frs | = forse | maybe |
| num, nm | = numero | number |
| and | = andare, andato | to go, gone |
| scs | = scusa | sorry, excuse me |
| sl | = solo | only, just |
| smpr | = sempre | always |
| sn | = sono | I am, they are |
| trnqi, trnqui | = tranquillo | calm, relaxed |
| vlv | = volevo | I wanted |
| bst | = basta | stop |
Numbers and symbols are widely used in Italian text slang, both on their own and to replace syllables in words. Here are some examples:
| 6 | = sei | you are |
| 1 | = un, uno, una | a, one |
| qlk1 | = qualcuno | someone, somebody, anyone, anybody |
| ness1 | = nessuno | no one, nobody |
| + | = più | more |
| – | = meno | less |
| x | = per | for, to, in order to, because of, towards, through |
| 3no | = treno | train |
| 4ini | = quattrini | money |
| sal8 | = salotto | living room |
Here are more informal abbreviations and their possible expansions. Read them in context, especially when a short form has more than one meaning:
| c6, c6? | = ci sei? | U there? |
| dv6? | = dove sei? | Where are you? |
| pfv | = per favore | Please |
| ncs | = non ci siamo | That’s not right; this won’t do |
| vbn | = va bene | That’s fine! |
| qv | = qualche volta | Sometimes, every now and then |
| c sent | = ci sentiamo | I’ll talk to you later |
| c ved | = ci vediamo | See you |
| cvd | = ci vediamo dopo | See you later |
| d nnt | = di niente | You’re welcome, my pleasure, no problem |
| ke bll | = che bello! | Cool!, how beautiful! |
| t fcc sap | = ti faccio sapere | I’ll let you know |
| + trd | = più tardi | Later |
| t tel + trd | = ti telefono più tardi | I’ll call you later |
| +o– | = più o meno | More or less |
| ap | = a presto | See you soon, talk to you soon |
| t prg | = ti prego | Please |
| -male | = meno male | Thank God!, thank goodness! |
| kissene, chissene | = chi se ne frega | Whatever, who cares? (dismissive, mildly vulgar) |
| mmt | = mi manchi tanto | I miss you so much |
| tvb | = ti voglio bene | I love you / I care about you (affection, often to friends or family) |
| tvtb, tvtttttb | = ti voglio tanto bene | I care about you very much / I love you very much |
| tv1mdb | = ti voglio un mondo di bene | I care about you so much / I love you so much |
| tv1kdb | = ti voglio un casino di bene | I care about you a lot (very informal; casino can sound vulgar) |
| t.a. | = ti amo | I love you |
| t.a.t. | = ti amo tanto | I love you a lot |
Got a favorite one you don’t see here? Let us know in the comments.
Use this list to decode messages. With people you know, follow the style of the conversation; in work, school or formal messages, prefer full standard forms.
