Italians on Italians
Beyond Toscano

Figurati - it’s no trouble at all

Figurati - it’s no trouble at all
A well used and simple Italian expression, figurati is used to convery ‘it’s nothing’, ‘my pleasure’ or ‘don’t worry about it’. For example, after a meal, a friend may thank you for inviting them to dinner, to which you might reply ‘figurati’.

Confusion can arise however when it’s used sarcastically. Literally, figurati means ‘wouldn’t you know’, so it can often be used in a heated argument when the recipient has just been called a variety of names. In this instance, it may be accompanied by a hand gesture to help show it is being used insincerely. It’s just one of many Italian phrases that can have multiple meanings and explanations – it’s what can make the language such a pleasure (and challenge!) to learn.