prego

Forms

prego m (plural preghi)^[1] The noun also had the forms priego, with the Tuscan diphthong, and preco.^[2][3]

Etymology

Both uses come from pregare (“to pray; to ask”): the noun “prayer” is formed from the verb with no suffix, and the interjection is its first person singular present, “I pray (you)”.^[4][5][6] The verb, earlier precare, is inherited from Latin precor (“to pray, entreat”), from prex (“prayer”).^[4][5][1] Nocentini traces the Latin noun to Proto-Indo-European *prek- (“to ask”), the root also of poscō (“to demand”) and of German Frage (“question”).^[5]

According to Panzini's dictionary, the polite formula was modelled on German bitte and was much used in the lands that had been under Austria.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The noun prego “prayer” is dated 1173,^[6][7] and DELI cites it in the letters of Guido Faba before 1243.^[4] Dante writes Donna scese del ciel, per li cui prieghi “A lady came down from heaven, at whose prayers”.^[8][9]

Semantic evolution

The noun is now only literary.^[6][3] The interjection is a modern formula of politeness: Nocentini dates it to 1737, and DELI's first record is a conversation guide of 1868 that pairs German Bitte! bitte! with Prego!.^[5][4] Tommaseo in 1871 describes it as an elliptical courtesy used to invite someone to sit or to take what is offered, and Panzini in 1918 as the standard reply to grazie.^[4] With a questioning tone it also asks someone to repeat what they said.^[6][2]

Timeline

• 1173 – The noun prego “prayer” is first recorded.^[6]
• Before 1243 – Guido Faba uses the noun.^[4]
• 1737 – Nocentini's date for the interjection.^[5]
• 1868 – Prego! appears as the equivalent of German Bitte! in a phrase book.^[4]
• 1918 – Panzini calls it the usual reply to grazie.^[4]

Meanings

Interjection

1. you're welcome, don't mention it: the reply to thanks or to an apology: «Grazie mille!» «Prego!»^[6][3][1]
2. please, after you: inviting someone to come in, sit down, help themselves or go first: Prego, si sieda.^[6][3][1]
3. (interrogative) Pardon?, asking someone to repeat something.^[6][2]

Noun

1. (literary) A prayer, an entreaty.^[6][3][1]

Related words

• pregare
• preghiera
• prece

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Sabatini, Francesco; Coletti, Vittorio; Manfredini, Manuela (2026), Dizionario italiano Sabatini Coletti, digital ed., Milano: Sansoni / Rizzoli Larousse
3. ^ a b c d e Devoto, Giacomo; Oli, Gian Carlo; Serianni, Luca; Trifone, Maurizio (2026), Nuovo Devoto–Oli: il vocabolario dell'italiano contemporaneo, digital ed., Milano: Le Monnier
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cortelazzo, Manlio; Zolli, Paolo (1999), Dizionario etimologico della lingua italiana, 2nd ed. by Manlio Cortelazzo and Michele A. Cortelazzo, Bologna: Zanichelli
5. ^ a b c d e Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i De Mauro, Tullio (ed.) (2003), Grande dizionario italiano dell'uso, CD-ROM version 2.0, Torino: UTET
7. ^ Zingarelli, Nicola (2009), Lo Zingarelli 2010: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Bologna: Zanichelli
8. ^ Vocabolario della lingua italiana Treccani (2011), Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana
9. ^ Tommaseo, Niccolò; Bellini, Bernardo (1861–1879), Dizionario della lingua italiana, 4 vols., Torino: UTET