Meaning
courtesy, politeness, favor
- courtesy, politeness; favour/favor
In a sentence
Grazie per la tua cortesia al telefono.
Thanks for your politeness on the phone.
Mi fai una cortesia e chiudi la porta?
Can you do me a favor and close the door?
Non ho ricevuto nessuna cortesia da lui.
I didn't receive any favor from him.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| cortesia | feminine · singular |
| cortesie | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use cortesia for polite behavior or a favor done as a kindness; for formal manners in general, gentilezza often sounds warmer and more personal.
- In shops and offices, per cortesia means 'please' in a formal, sometimes firm way; don't overuse it with close friends.
- As a countable noun, una cortesia means 'a favor': Mi fai una cortesia? This is very common in everyday speech.