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Russia flagVera
Ciao tutti!! Relax, take it easy! Should I use it with italians?

I've been chatting with italian friend. Sometimes I use the phrase "take it easy" in our conversation. I always thought it's synonim for "don't pay any attention" or "nevermind".

 

But one day my friend said - why do u use this phrase? italians are very relaxed. It sounds offensively!! It's like you say "Hey, brother" to a stranger!! It's almost starting for fight.

I was very surprised. Of course I never meant anything offensive.

Is this phrase really sounds bad for italians? 

And how to say it in italian? With positive meaning of course)

 

Grazie tante!!

Comments · 16

3

"We are Italians, we drink espresso to calm down" (c) :)) 

2

Yes. It could sound inappropriate. 

Context and intonation make the difference. 

Many Italian could improperly translate as "stai calmo!" and this sentence is frequently used when people are questioning.

Again.. context and intonation make the difference.

1

Hi Vera

I was reading your discussion and i think it depends from context of the conversation.

If you use it in an informal and funny discussion, it is not offensive.

Sometimes , above all in a quarrel among two persons, it is an "invitation" to not get worse the situation and not bestir oneself....

 

1

This is awful!

Why did Italki wrote my answer so many times?

Sorry about that! It was not my intention.

1

Se qualcuno mi dice 'stai calmo' ha trovato esattamente il modo per farmi arrabbiare (for making me angry).

In genere sono calmo, e quindi non mi piace avere un monito (a warning) senza motivo.

In alcune situazioni (questa frase) puo' servire, la chiave e' usare il 'buon senso' (use it wisely).

Non penso che gli italiani siano persone particolarmente calme, sono esseri umani, con la

grandissima varieta' che la nostra specie puo` offrire.

Sono pero' molto bravi a fare perdere la pazienza!

Provi ad ascoltare i discorsi vuoti di alcuni nostri politici e giornalisti e potra' capire quello che dico.

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