permesso

permission; permit; leave

noun per-MES-soh Rare

Origin: Latin permissus, from permettere (to allow)

Also means

excuse me

Usage Note

Permesso works as both a noun (il permesso di soggiorno = residence permit) and a fixed expression: knocking and saying permesso? is the polite Italian way to ask 'may I come in?' or 'excuse me' when entering a room. As a noun it takes regular plural permessi.

Examples

"Hai il permesso di uscire stasera?"

Natural Translation

Do you have permission to go out tonight?

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