If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that Italians really know how to enjoy life and have a good time, right? But have you ever wondered how to actually say “have fun” in Italian? In this guide, we’ll explore all the different ways you can wish someone a fantastic time, as well as a few sayings related to this concept! Enjoy experimenting with these phrases. Or should I say… Buon divertimento! (Have fun!)
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Table to Contents
Here’s what we’ll cover in this guide. Click on any title to jump to each section.
How to say HAVE FUN in Italian
The direct translation of “have fun!” in Italian is avere divertimento, while this is grammatically correct it sounds awkward in everyday conversation.
Instead, Italians rotate between five popular phrases to express this sentiment. If you want to sound more native-like, incorporating these into your conversations is a great start!
1. Divertiti!
This is the top phrase for telling someone to have fun in Italian. It works in every situation, whether they are embarking on a wild night out, a relaxing vacation, or a fancy event.
Divertiti is the imperative form of the reflexive verb divertirsi, which means “to have fun” or “to enjoy oneself.” So, with this expression, you’re addressing the person directly through the reflexive pronoun ti (you), therefore it feels more personal and direct.
And here’s a fun fact: the word divertirsi comes from the Latin verb divertere, meaning “to turn away” or “to change direction.” So in a way, it suggests distracting your mind from everyday stress—exactly what having fun is all about!
This expression can change depending on whether you’re speaking in a formal or informal context:
When speaking casually with people you’re familiar with, such as friends or family, you’ll use the informal versions of the verb divertirsi (to have fun):
Divertiti! (Have fun!) when addressing one person:
- Divertiti! E mi raccomando, chiama! – Have fun! And don’t forget to call me! (Typical Italian motherly advice!).
Divertitevi! (Have fun!) when talking to a group:
- Ciao ragazzi, divertitevi in vacanza! – Bye guys, have fun on vacation/holiday!
When speaking in a formal context, such as with a boss, a client, or someone you don’t know well, you need to adapt the verb to the formal “you” in Italian (Lei for one person and voi for a group):
Si diverta! (Have fun!) when addressing one person:
- Si diverta in crociera, signora Rossi! – Have fun on the cruise, Mrs. Rossi!
Divertitevi! (Have fun!) for a group; this remains the same as in the informal version, but the tone is more respectful:
- Signori, divertitevi e per qualsiasi cosa sapete dove trovarmi – Gentlemen, have fun, and if you need anything, you know where to find me.
To make your wishes even more special, you can enhance divertiti with additional phrases, such as:
- Divertiti più che puoi! – Have as much fun as you can!
- Divertiti un mondo! – Have a blast!
- Divertiti a più non posso! – Have fun to the fullest!
- Divertiti e stai senza pensieri! – Have fun and don’t worry about a thing! – Fun fact: the expression Stai senza pensieri (don’t worry about a thing) was made famous by the Italian TV series set in Naples, Gomorra (in Neapolitan, it’s Sta senza pensieri).
2. Buon divertimento!
Another classic but more generic way to say “have fun” in Italian is Buon divertimento! It literally translates to “Good fun!” and can be used in all contexts, so you don’t have to worry about the formality of the situation. Plus, it’s impersonal, meaning it doesn’t refer to any specific person, which makes it perfect for sharing with everyone!
This expression comes from the masculine form of the adjective buono, which means “good,” and the word divertimento which means “fun” or “amusement”. Put them together, and voilà! You have a cheerful expression that works everywhere!
Here are some examples:
- Buon divertimento alla partita! – Have fun at the game!
- Grazie a tutti e buon divertimento! – Thank you all and have fun!
- Auguriamo buon divertimento a tutti i partecipanti! – We wish all the participants a great time!
You can make your wish a bit more personal by adding a specific group or a person’s name. Here are some examples:
- Buon divertimento, tesoro! – Have fun, darling!
- Buon divertimento, ragazzi! – Have fun, boys!
- Buon divertimento, bambini! – Have fun, kids!
- Buon divertimento, amici miei! – Have fun, my friends!
- Signore, buon divertimento! – Ladies, have fun!
3. Goditela!
Want to encourage someone to really savor the moment? Use Goditela! This Italian expression is similar to the English “Enjoy it to the fullest!”, but with a more informal and enthusiastic tone, perfect for telling someone to soak in the experience completely. For instance:
- Finalmente è arrivata la pensione, goditela! – Finally, retirement is here, enjoy it!
See how, in this sentence, you’re cheering someone on to fully enjoy their well-earned retirement after years of hard work. To emphasize the idea further, you might say Goditela alla grande! (Enjoy it big!).
The structure of Goditela is a bit more complex than the previous expressions, but once you break it down, it makes more sense. It comes from the pronominal verb godersela, which is made up of:
- godere – the main verb, meaning “to enjoy”
- si – the reflexive pronoun referring to the person doing the enjoying; when combined with another pronoun, it changes to se
- la – the direct object pronoun referring to what’s being enjoyed
The form of Goditela! (Have fun!) changes depending on the gender and number of the object being enjoyed. Here are some examples:
- Goditela (feminine singular): Lucca è una splendida città, goditela! – Lucca is a beautiful city, enjoy it!
- Goditelo (masculine singular): Ecco un bel gelato al cioccolato, goditelo! – Here’s a nice chocolate ice cream, enjoy it!
- Godetevele (feminine plural): Queste vacanze sono meritatissime, godetevele! – These holidays are well-deserved, enjoy them!
- Godiamoceli (masculine plural): Godiamoceli adesso perché poi i figli crescono! – Let’s enjoy them now because the kids will grow up soon!
Attenzione: Be careful when using the verb godere on its own, especially in its imperative form (like godi!). In Italian, it often carries a more intimate or sexual meaning, which isn’t exactly appropriate in everyday conversations. So, to avoid misunderstandings, stick to goditela and its variations when you’re encouraging someone to fully enjoy something.
4. Spassatela!
Spassatela is another casual and playful way to wish someone to truly let loose and make the most of their time.
Similar to godersela, it comes from the pronominal verb spassarsela, which means “to have a blast” or “to enjoy oneself.” The key difference is that with spassarsela, you don’t need to change the ending based on the specific thing you’re enjoying. It’s a more general expression for having a good time, no matter what you’re doing.
Here are some examples:
- Spassatela in Sicilia! – Have a great time in Sicily!
- Spassatevela alla festa di Serena, sarà epica! – Have a blast at Serena’s party, it will be epic!
- Spassiamocela, si vive una volta sola! – Let’s enjoy ourselves, you only live once!
Just like with goditela, you can also emphasize it by saying Spassatela alla grande! (Have a super great time!).
5. Che la festa abbia inizio!
Literally meaning “Let the party begin!“, Che la festa abbia inizio! is a cheerful Italian expression that is commonly used to switch on the ultimate celebration mode. When you say this, you’re generating some serious excitement, encouraging everyone to let loose and have fun, whether it’s a birthday bash, a spontaneous get-together, or a wild night out.
Here are some examples:
- Indossa il tuo vestito più bello e… che la festa abbia inizio! – Put on your best dress and… let the party begin!
- Signori e signore, che la festa abbia inizio! – Ladies and gentlemen, let the party begin!
- In alto i bicchieri e che la festa abbia inizio! – Raise your glasses and let the party begin!
Italian sayings with BUONO to mean “enjoy something”
When we want to wish someone enjoyment or fun in English, we often use phrases like “have fun” or “enjoy.” Italians, however, typically use the word buono (good) followed by a noun. Here are some common expressions:
- Buona giornata – Have a good day
- Buone vacanze – Happy holidays
- Buon viaggio – Have a safe trip / Safe travels
- Buon Natale – Merry Christmas
- Buon riposo – Sleep well
- Buon appetito – Enjoy your food/meal
- Buon proseguimento! – Enjoy the rest of…
For example:
- Buon viaggio, ci sentiamo al tuo ritorno – Safe travels! We’ll talk when you return.
- Buon Natale a te e ai tuoi genitori! – Merry Christmas to you and your parents!
To learn more expressions like these, be sure to watch my lesson on how to say “good” in Italian, which covers all the different uses of buono!
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