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How to Say ‘Good luck!’ in Italian

In bocca al lupo!

een BOHK-kah ahl LOO-poh

[een BOHK-kah ahl LOO-poh]

🇮🇹 In Italy: Literally "into the wolf's mouth", and the expected reply is Crepi! "may it die", not grazie. It's typical before exams, interviews and other big moments.

Phrase Breakdown

In bocca

een BOHK-kah

In the mouth

Literal start of the idiom. Double the 'c': BOC-ca.

Example

Ho una caramella in bocca.

I have a candy in my mouth.

Words in this phrase

[een]

Preposition used to indicate being inside or part of a place or organization.

Example

Uso "in" quando parlo del lavoro in un'organizzazione.

I use "in" when I talk about working in an organization.

bocca

[BOHK-kah]

mouth

The noun 'mouth'; part of a rude command telling someone to be quiet.

Example

Arrabbiato, gli ha detto: «Chiudi quella cazzo di bocca».

Angrily, he told him: “Shut that fucking mouth.”

al lupo!

ahl LOO-poh

of the wolf!

The idiom means 'Good luck!' The usual reply is 'Crepi!'. Stress: LU-po.

Example

Domani hai l'esame? In bocca al lupo!

You have the exam tomorrow? Good luck!

Words in this phrase

[ahl]

to the

Combination of a + il, meaning to the; part of many fixed expressions.

Example

Sei bravissima al gioco delle battute veloci.

You’re really good at the game of quick comebacks.

lupo

[LOO-poh]

wolf

Masculine noun for the wild animal; used in the good-luck idiom, answered with 'Crepi!'.

Example

Il lupo vive nel bosco.

The wolf lives in the woods.

Guides for Italian learners

Duolingo vs Busuu: Which Is Better for Actually Improving?Duolingo vs Busuu compared: a free gamified habit versus structured levels with corrections from native speakers. Which to choose, and when to use both.

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