fare un complimento
to pay a compliment, to compliment
Intermediate Phrase
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Pronunciation
/ˈfare un kompliˈmento/
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Cultural Note
Italians are known for being generous with compliments, especially about appearance and food. 'Fare complimenti' also has a second meaning: to stand on ceremony or be overly polite. When an Italian host says 'Non fare complimenti!' they mean 'Make yourself at home, don't be shy!' — an important cultural distinction that confuses many learners.
📝 Example Sentences
Mi ha fatto un complimento bellissimo.
He paid me a beautiful compliment.
Non è bravo a fare complimenti.
He's not good at paying compliments.
In Italia, fare complimenti è un'arte.
In Italy, paying compliments is an art.