Italian · Greetings & Essentials

"One moment, please" in Italian: un momento, per favore

un momento, per favore

Say it: oon moh-MEN-toh pehr fah-VOH-rehphrase/un moˈmen.to per faˈvo.re/

One moment please in Italian is un momento, per favore. On the phone you also hear un attimo or solo un momento while someone checks.

Shop counter

Un momento, per favore: controllo in magazzino.
One moment, please: I'll check in the stockroom.
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How to pronounce un momento, per favore

Say it

oon moh-MEN-toh pehr fah-VOH-reh

/un moˈmen.to per faˈvo.re/

Momento stresses MEN: moh-MEN-toh. Per favore is pehr fah-VOH-reh. Keep it light and quick.

"One moment, please" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
un momento, per favoreone moment, please

Full polite pause.

un momentoone moment

Shorter.

un attimojust a second

Very casual.

solo un momentojust a moment

Softening.

How to use un momento, per favore in real life

  1. 1Shop counter

    Un momento, per favore: controllo in magazzino.

    One moment, please: I'll check in the stockroom.

    Full phrase.

  2. 2Phone hold

    Un momento, per favore, le passo il collega.

    One moment, please, I'll put you through to my colleague.

    Phone etiquette.

  3. 3Café rush

    Un momento, per favore, finisco questo ordine.

    One moment, please, I'm finishing this order.

    Buying time politely.

Mistakes English speakers make with un momento, per favore

Incorrect: Un moment, please.

Correct: Un momento, per favore.

Use the full Italian phrase.

Incorrect: Un minuto, per favore (when you mean the set phrase)

Correct: Un momento, per favore.

The headword is un momento, per favore.

Good to know

Shop staff and switchboards lean on un momento, per favore dozens of times a day—it buys a short pause without sounding cold. Un attimo is friendlier among equals; keep the full line for service voice.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Pharmacy queue

  1. ChatPal

    Un momento, per favore, cerco il farmaco.

    One moment, please, I'm looking for the medicine.

  2. You

    Certo. Un momento, per favore, leggo anche io l'etichetta.

    Sure. One moment, please, I'll read the label too.

  3. ChatPal

    Grazie. Poi ti dico subito il prezzo.

    Thanks. Then I'll tell you the price right away.

  4. You

    Perfetto, aspetto qui.

    Perfect, I'll wait here.

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"One moment, please" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "One moment, please" in Italian

Exact phrase?

Un momento, per favore.

Shorter?

Un momento or un attimo.

On the phone?

Same line works while you transfer a call.

Ruder alternative?

Avoid just aspetta without softeners in service talk.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

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  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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