Italian · Food & Drink

"I'm full" in Italian: sono pieno/a

sono pieno/a

Say it: SOH-noh PYEH-nohphrase/ˈso.no ˈpjɛ.no/

I'm full in Italian is sono pieno (man) or sono piena (woman). Use it to refuse a second helping kindly.

Sunday lunch

Grazie, sono pieno davvero.
Thanks, I'm really full.
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How to pronounce sono pieno/a

Say it

SOH-noh PYEH-noh

/ˈso.no ˈpjɛ.no/

Sono pieno: SOH-noh PYEH-noh. Piena: PYEH-nah. Stress PYEH.

"I'm full" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
sono pienoI'm full (m.)

Masculine speaker.

sono pienaI'm full (f.)

Feminine speaker.

sono pienissimo / pienissimaI'm completely full

Stronger.

non ce la faccio, sono pienoI can't manage more, I'm full

Polite refuse.

How to use sono pieno/a in real life

  1. 1Sunday lunch

    Grazie, sono pieno davvero.

    Thanks, I'm really full.

    Masculine.

  2. 2Nonna insisting

    Nonna, sono pienabasta così.

    Nonna, I'm full—that's enough.

    Feminine.

  3. 3Restaurant dessert push

    Il dolce no: sono pieno.

    No dessert: I'm full.

    Refuse sweetly.

Mistakes English speakers make with sono pieno/a

Incorrect: Sono full.

Correct: Sono pieno / sono piena.

Use the Italian adjective with gender.

Incorrect: Ho pieno.

Correct: Sono pieno.

Use essere, not avere, for this sense.

Good to know

Italian hosts push second helpings; sono pieno/a is the polite brake. Smile while saying it. Compliment the food first—era buonissimo—then refuse more.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Declining a third serving of lasagna

  1. ChatPal

    Ancora un pezzo?

    Another piece?

  2. You

    Sei un amore, ma sono pieno.

    You're a dear, but I'm full.

  3. ChatPal

    Sicuro? Io sono piena solo dopo il caffè.

    Sure? I'm only full after coffee.

  4. You

    Allora il caffè la lasagna no.

    Then coffee yes—lasagna no.

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"I'm full" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "I'm full" in Italian

Masculine?

Sono pieno.

Feminine?

Sono piena.

Very full?

Sono pienissimo/a.

Why essere?

State with sono + adjective.

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