5 ways to say “I can't wait” in Italian

Ah, that feeling of excitement when we eagerly anticipate something! Maybe it's a trip, a delicious meal, or a get-together with friends. How do you express this passion in Italian? Let me share a little secret: If you've been translating the Italian “I can't wait” as I can not wait, you may have missed the target. Of course, this sentence is grammatically correct, but it doesn't quite capture the excitement and desire we want to convey. It sounds more like, “I can't wait because I have other things to do.” That's not exactly the vibe we want, right? Instead, use the following five expressions, each of which will add a unique vibe when expressing your expectations in Italian.

1.I can’t wait

Literally: I didn't see the time
English: I can't wait, I'm looking forward to it

I did not see it'No This is the go-to phrase in Italian when you can't wait for something exciting to happen. Judging from its literal translation, it is a bit like saying that we are very excited at the moment (“time”) We are waiting.

This expression can be used in three ways:

I can't wait + “arrive” + infinitive —> When expressing what the subject can’t wait to do:

I can't wait + “that” + subjunctive mood —> In this case, “That” Introduce a clause with a different subject:

Notice the switch here? The theme of the first part is “io” (I), in the clause, it is “Valeria“.

I can not wait anymore Can also be used on its own as a response to something exciting that has already been said:

2.I can’t wait anymore

Literally: I can't stay in my skin anymore
English: i'm very excited about something

Imagine being so excited you feel like you are jumping out of your skin! This is exactly what this idiom conveys. I know, it sounds funny, but it vividly describes that feeling of excitement that makes you want to escape your own skin and run towards whatever it is you can’t wait to do!

Some believe that the earliest mention of the concept dates back to Horace's Satires. In these works, the Roman poet discusses how intense expectations can lead to dramatic consequences, exemplified by a fable from Phaedrus in which a frog, driven by the desire to become as big as an ox, uses water to Expand until bursting. Fast forward to today, and the expression has evolved somewhat. Now, it just means being super excited about something.

Let's see how to use it in everyday Italian:

I can't take it anymore + “for” / “from” + noun —> Point out why you are excited:

I can't stand it anymore + “di” + infinitive —> Show an action you’re excited to do:

I can't stand it anymorein a sentence like this:

NOTE: You may also hear a shorter version, I can not wait anymoreNo more (no longer). However, adding more Make it more emphatic, and more common.

3. I count the days until…

Literally: I count the days when I am separated from…
Equivalent to English: I'm counting down the days

This sentence shows that you are eagerly awaiting a future event or situation. It's like you have a calendar in your mind, eagerly ticking off each day until something happens. Let's say you're craving a weekend of skiing. You might say:

4.I long for…

Literally: I'm dying…
Equivalent to English: I long for…

Now, this is a very dramatic way of saying “I can't wait” in Italian and really paints a picture of impatience or excitement. Imagine wanting to do something so badly that you feel like you might die from impatience!

Let's say you've been working continuously for several months and the thought of taking a vacation is the only thing keeping you going. You can dramatically declare:

Or maybe you've been separated from someone you love for what feels like an eternity. The craving has reached a point where you can barely stand it. You can use the typical “I miss you“(I miss you!) and:

5. I really want to…

Literally: I have such a strong desire…
Equivalent to English: I really want to…

This expression is usually followed by an infinitive verb and is a great way to express how excited you are about something, similar to saying “I can't wait” in English. For example, there's a new art exhibit you've been eagerly awaiting. You're so excited about it, you can tell your friends:

sometimes, I really want to Followed by a pronoun rather than a verb. This structure is often used when you want to express that you can't wait to be with someone (usually with a sexual connotation):

Bonus: I’m looking forward to…

To express “I can't wait” in formal correspondence and discussions in Italian, you cannot actually use any of the above expressions. Instead, you can use an expression like I am waiting with joyliterally meaning “I am waiting with joy” and similar to “I am looking forward…” In English. For example, let's say you're waiting for feedback on a draft contract:

A similar expression is It would be an honor… (Literally. Gladly…):

Valentina Nicastro He is a travel writer who loves his motherland, Italy. After traveling around the world, she realized there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put her passport aside for the time being. When she's not immersed in documenting Italy, you'll find her donning her hat as a communications consultant, weaving words as a content writer and bridging language gaps as a translator.