Planning a trip to Italy? Exciting! Whether you’re exploring the ancient ruins of Rome, savoring a gelato in Florence, or cruising along the Amalfi Coast, immersing yourself in the local culture can enhance your experience. While many Italians speak English, making an effort to communicate in Italian can be rewarding and endearing. Here are some essential Italian words and phrases to help you navigate your way through the beautiful country as explained by Hello-Hello Language on Go the leading developer of the Italian language learning app in this blog.
Greetings and Pleasantries:
- Ciao (chow) – Hello/Hi/Goodbye
- Buongiorno (bwon-jor-no) – Good morning
- Buonasera (bwon-a-say-ra) – Good evening
- Buon pomeriggio (bwon po-muh-ree-joh) – Good afternoon
- Buona notte (bwon-a not-tay) – Good night
- Grazie (gra-tsee-eh) – Thank you
- Prego (preh-go) – You’re welcome/Please
- Per favore (pair fa-vo-ray) – Please
- Mi scusi (mee skoo-zee) – Excuse me
- Come sta? (koh-meh stah) – How are you? (formal)
- Come stai? (koh-meh sty) – How are you? (informal)
- Benissimo (beh-nees-see-moh) – Very well
Basic Communication:
- Parla inglese? (par-la een-gleh-zay) – Do you speak English?
- Non capisco (non ka-pee-skoh) – I don’t understand
- Parla più lentamente, per favore (par-la pyoo len-ta-men-tay, pair fa-vo-ray) – Speak more slowly, please
- Posso avere il conto, per favore? (poh-soh ah-veh-ray eel kon-toh, pair fa-vo-ray) – Can I have the bill, please?
- Dove si trova il bagno? (doh-veh see trovah eel ban-yoh) – Where is the bathroom?
Food and Dining:
- Menu (meh-noo) – Menu
- Antipasto (an-tee-pah-stoh) – Appetizer
- Primo piatto (pree-moh pee-at-toh) – First course
- Secondo piatto (seh-kon-doh pee-at-toh) – Second course
- Dolce (dol-chay) – Dessert
- Vino (vee-no) – Wine
- Acqua (ah-kwah) – Water
- Gelato (jeh-la-toh) – Ice cream
Travel and Directions:
- Dov’è la stazione ferroviaria/autobus? (doh-veh lah stah-zee-oh-nay feh-roh-vee-ah-ree-ah/ow-toh-boos) – Where is the train/bus station?
- Quanto costa? (kwahn-toh kohs-tah) – How much does it cost?
- Destinazione (des-tee-nah-tsyoh-nay) – Destination
- Sinistra (see-neest-rah) – Left
- Destra (des-trah) – Right
Emergency Phrases:
- Aiuto! (ai-oo-toh) – Help!
- Ho bisogno di un medico (oh bee-zoh-nyoh dee oon meh-dee-koh) – I need a doctor
- Chiamate la polizia (kyah-mah-teh lah poh-lee-tsyah) – Call the police
Numbers:
- Uno (oo-noh) – One
- Due (doo-eh) – Two
- Tre (treh) – Three
- Quattro (kwat-troh) – Four
- Cinque (cheen-kweh) – Five
- Dieci (dee-eh-chee) – Ten
Learning these basic Italian words and phrases will not only facilitate your travels but also show respect for the local culture. Italians appreciate visitors who make an effort to communicate in their language, no matter how rudimentary. So, pack your bags, practice your pronunciation, and get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty and charm of Italy! Buon viaggio! (Have a good trip!)
Learn Italian (Hello-Hello)
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