Italian Phrase
Abbi pazienza con me, per favore.
Meaning
A polite request asking the listener to be patient with the speaker. It’s often used when you need more time, are making a mistake, or are learning something new.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal or semi‑formal situations when you want to ask for tolerance – for example while learning a language, explaining a complex idea, or apologising for a delay.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Abbipazienzaconmeperfavore
Abbi (imperative)
Second‑person singular imperative of *avere*. Used here as a set phrase *abbi pazienza* meaning ‘have patience’.
pazienza (noun)
A feminine noun meaning ‘patience’. In Italian patience is ‘avuta’ with *avere*, not *essere*.
con me (prepositional phrase)
Preposition *con* + object pronoun *me* = ‘with me’.
per favore (polite formula)
Literally ‘for favor’, the standard way to say ‘please’ in everyday Italian.
🗨In Conversation
Abbi pazienza con me, per favore.
Be patient with me, please.
Certo, ti ascolto.
Sure, I’m listening.
✕Common Mistakes
Essere pazienza con me, per favore.
Patience is expressed with *avere*, not *essere*.
Abbia pazienza con me, per favore.
Use *abbi* for the informal ‘you’; *abbia* is the formal or third‑person form.
Per favore, abbi pazienza con me.
The natural order places *abbi pazienza* before *per favore*; swapping them sounds awkward.
↔Alternatives
Sii paziente con me, per favore.
Be patient with me, please.
Abbi un po' di pazienza, per favore.
Have a little patience, please.
Per favore, sii paziente.
Please, be patient.
Cultural Tip
The expression *abbi pazienza* is very common in everyday Italian and sounds friendly. In formal contexts you would use *La prego di avere pazienza* or *La prego di attendere*. Remember that patience is ‘avuta’ (with *avere*), not ‘essere paziente’, which is a different construction.