Italian Phrase
Un attimo, per favore.
Meaning
Literally “One moment, please.” It is a polite way to ask someone to wait briefly while you finish something or retrieve information.
When to use
Use this phrase in everyday conversation when you need a short pause—e.g., while looking up a phone number, grabbing a pen, or finishing a thought. It works in both formal and informal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Unattimo,perfavore.
Un (indefinite article)
Masculine singular indefinite article used before a noun that begins with a consonant.
attimo (noun)
Masculine singular noun meaning a very short period of time, equivalent to “moment”.
per favore (set phrase)
Literally “for favor”, used as the polite equivalent of “please”.
🗨In Conversation
Un attimo, per favore.
One moment, please.
Certo, ti aspetto.
Sure, I’ll wait for you.
✕Common Mistakes
Un attimo, grazie.
“Grazie” means thank you; it does not replace the polite request “per favore”.
Un attimo per favore
Missing the comma can make the phrase sound rushed; the pause after “attimo” signals the request.
Un attimo, per favore?
Using a question mark changes the tone to a question, which sounds less natural in this context.
↔Alternatives
Un momento, per favore.
One moment, please.
Aspetta un attimo, per favore.
Wait a moment, please.
Un secondo, per favore.
One second, please.
Cultural Tip
In Italian culture, adding “per favore” makes any request sound courteous. Even a brief pause like “un attimo” is considered polite when you acknowledge the other person’s time. In the south of Italy you might hear “un attimo, se vuoi” (if you want) as an even softer request.