Nov 28, 2001 09:11
22 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Italian term
silvia monasterolo
permesso?
Non-PRO
Italian to English
Other
behavior
When you go in someone else's house, what do you say? I mean, in Italian we say "Permesso?", that is, we ask permission to enter.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +7 | May I come in? |
Floriana (X)
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| 4 +4 | May I come in? |
CLS Lexi-tech
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| 4 +3 | May I come in? |
Peter Cox
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| 4 +1 | May I come in? |
Roomy Naqvy
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| 4 | Hello, can I come in? |
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
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| 4 | Excuse me, may I enter? |
Gail
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| 4 | Excuse me, may I come in? |
Gail
|
Proposed translations
+7
8 mins
Selected
May I come in?
Obviously, it depends on the context. Generally, if you ring a friend's doorbell, they'll let just ask you in (without you asking "permesso"). ["Won't you come in, please?" "Yes, thank you." is a sample conversation.] But if you find a door unattended, after shouting "Hello! Anybody home?" you might say "May I come in?"
Does this answer your question?
Does this answer your question?
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Graded automatically based on peer agreement. KudoZ."
6 mins
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in Italian
United Kingdom
Life is a horizontal fall (J. Cocteau)
Native in: Italian 
Works in: English to Italian
Related KudoZ points
:
634
Hello, can I come in?
Gio
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Roomy Naqvy
4 mins
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Apparently, I'm being rude.... :o)
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| disagree |
nronzini (X)
: è il 'can' che non va bene per questo contesto, per chiedere il permesso si usa 'may'
2 hrs
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in teoria, ma la maggior parte della gente non è così formale.
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| disagree |
Angela Cucco
: In the USA we don't have a formal expression that we use when entering a home. Italians always say "Permesso" whether entering a friend's home that of someone with whom they are less acquainted. We may shout "Hello!", but thers is no formal saying.
3 hrs
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We are trying to offer a solution, here. Saying "you don't say anything" is not very helpful, is it?
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| agree |
Derek Smith
: Gramma or no gramma, folks always say "can I" in the Midlands unlest they'm posh (which I isn't) ;-)
3 hrs
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You're just right... I never heard anybody saying "May I" here in the Midlands... only in Belgravia.
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+4
8 mins
CLS Lexi-tech
Native in Italian
Language innovations for the future
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, French to Italian, Italian, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
1505
May I come in?
This is a literal translation of your term, but in English you would not sayit , if somebody has invited into their homes. You would simply go in, without saying anything; you would perhaps use other forms of small talk, "what a lovely home", or simply say "thank you" when they open the door for you. You only say "may I come in?" it if you ring at someone's door and truly ask to get in.
Questo si applica se intendi "permesso" come una formalita' e non una vera richiesta.
spero di essermi spiegata
ciao
paola l m
Questo si applica se intendi "permesso" come una formalita' e non una vera richiesta.
spero di essermi spiegata
ciao
paola l m
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Roomy Naqvy
: Thanks for the explanation.
2 mins
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| agree |
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
: yes, you don't just say anything... especially "can" I come in.
4 mins
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| agree |
giogi
: Perfect!
14 mins
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| agree |
Derek Smith
: But what do you say if their home is horrid? :-)
40 mins
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How original! (or just shake hands--do we shake hands in English when we enter someone's home?) ciao
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+1
9 mins
Roomy Naqvy
India
India
India
Also a Professor of Translation
Native in: Hindi , Gujarati 
Works in: English to Hindi, English to Gujarati, Hindi to English, and 6 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
May I come in?
Yes, permesso is like 'May I come in?'
I understand that first when the room is closed, you knock and ask 'Permesso', then when someone says 'Si', you would ask if you can enter and say 'entrare'.
Best wishes
Roomy Naqvy
P.S. Learning Italian. :)
I understand that first when the room is closed, you knock and ask 'Permesso', then when someone says 'Si', you would ask if you can enter and say 'entrare'.
Best wishes
Roomy Naqvy
P.S. Learning Italian. :)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
: you say.... "posso entrare"? Or "posso"? Or, "si può", ecc.
5 mins
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Thanks thanks.. encourages me:)
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+3
10 mins
May I come in?
I agree with previous answer, but "may" is more correct than "can". Obviously one "can"!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Roomy Naqvy
: :) One can speak Italian. Can I? May I?
2 mins
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| agree |
Giovanni Guarnieri MITI, MIL
: Yes, politeness, politeness, politeness....
3 mins
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| agree |
Emilia Mancini
41 mins
|
1 hr
Excuse me, may I enter?
Permesso means to get permission to enter the house, but it also means to get someone's attention. Seeing it is polite, I would add the Excuse me first.
Reference:
1 hr
Excuse me, may I come in?
On second thoughts, "May I come?" in is more common than "May I enter?"
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