Italian Phrase
Niente, il solito.
Meaning
A brief, informal reply meaning ‘Nothing, the usual.’ It conveys that nothing new or noteworthy has happened and that things are just as they always are.
When to use
Use this phrase when someone asks you how things are going, what’s new, or how an event turned out, and you want to give a short, casual answer that nothing has changed.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Niente,ilsolito.
Niente
An indefinite pronoun meaning 'nothing'; used without an article and can stand alone as a response.
Il solito
A noun phrase meaning 'the usual'; 'solito' agrees in gender and number with the implied noun (often 'cosa' or 'situazione').
Ellipsis
The sentence omits the verb (e.g., 'è' or 'c'è') and any explicit subject, a common colloquial shortcut in Italian.
🗨In Conversation
Come è andata la riunione?
How did the meeting go?
Niente, il solito.
Nothing, the usual.
✕Common Mistakes
Il niente, il solito.
Avoid adding an article before 'niente'; it should stay article‑less.
Niente, i solito.
The adjective must agree in gender and number; use 'il solito' (masc. sing.) or 'la solita' if the implied noun is feminine.
Niente, il soliti.
Plural 'soliti' is only correct if you are referring to multiple usual things; here the singular is required.
↔Alternatives
Niente di nuovo.
Nothing new.
Come al solito.
As usual.
Tutto come al solito.
Everything as usual.
Cultural Tip
Italians love concise, elliptical replies in everyday conversation. The tone you use—neutral, bored, or slightly sarcastic—will change how 'il solito' is perceived. In the north it’s common to hear this exact phrasing, while in the south speakers might add a filler like 'come al solito, sai?' to soften it.