Vocabulary and Expressions · June 17, 2020
Basic Italian Phrases for Travelers and Beginners
On this page
Whether or not you are planning a trip to Italy in the future or simply looking to jumpstart your beginner-level Italian lessons, it’s always a good idea to learn a few basic Italian words and phrases.
Here is your list of essential Italian phrases for beginners as well as for travellers. Ready? Let’s start!
Basic Italian phrases
| Buongiorno |
Good morning | Buongiorno is a daytime greeting. The change to buonasera varies by region, situation and speaker; there is no universal 5 a.m.–noon schedule. |
| Buon pomeriggio |
Good afternoon | Buon pomeriggio is possible in the afternoon, but many people continue to use buongiorno or move to buonasera. There is no mandatory noon–4 p.m. window. |
| Buonasera |
Good evening | Buonasera is an afternoon or evening greeting, depending on local usage. Standard pronunciation is /ˌbwɔnaˈsera/. |
| Buona notte |
Good night | Say buona notte (good night) right before you go to sleep. |
| Buona giornata! |
Have a nice day! | When you are leaving somebody or saying goodbye on the phone, say buona giornata to wish them a nice day. |
| Buona serata! |
Have a nice evening! | Buona serata wishes someone a pleasant evening as you part. Choose it according to the occasion, not a fixed 4 p.m. cutoff. |
| Buon viaggio! |
Have a nice trip! | |
| Ciao (informal) |
Hi, hello | Ciao is an informal hello or goodbye. Use it with people you address as tu; sharing someone’s age does not automatically make the relationship informal. |
| Salve (neutral) |
Hi, hello | Salve is a greeting used in many everyday encounters. Its perceived formality varies. Buongiorno or buonasera is a reliable choice in a clearly formal situation. |
| Arrivederci |
Goodbye | Arrivederci /arriveˈdertʃi/ means “goodbye,” literally “until we see each other again.” |
| A presto |
See you soon | When talking to someone you think you will see again soon, it is a good idea to add “a presto ” to your goodbye. |
| A dopo, a più tardi |
See you later | |
| Ci vediamo |
See you | |
| Alla prossima |
Till next time | |
| Grazie |
Thank you | Grazie means “thank you.” Pronounce its final e: /ˈɡrat.tsje/, approximately GRAH-tsyeh, in two syllables. The English respelling is only a guide. |
| Grazie mille |
Thanks a lot, thanks a million | Mille means “thousand,” so grazie mille is literally “a thousand thanks” and naturally translates as “thank you very much” or “thanks a million.” |
| Grazie comunque |
Thank you, anyway | Grazie comunque is what you are expected to say when you ask someone for something and they can’t help you. |
| Prego | You’re welcome | Prego corresponds to “you’re welcome”, “my pleasure” or “don’t mention it”, and is what you are expected to say after grazie. |
Prego
has quite a number of other uses. It also means:
- I beg your pardon?
- How can I help you?
- After you.
| Di niente |
You’re welcome | |
| Non c’è di che |
You’re welcome | |
| Figurati! (informal) |
Not at all | |
| Si figuri! (formal) |
Not at all | |
| Ci mancherebbe! |
Of course! | |
| Mi scusi (formal) |
Excuse me | When approaching a native speaker to ask them something, smile and say mi scusi , which corresponds to “excuse me” in English. |
| Scusa (informal) |
Excuse me, I’m sorry | Scusa is an informal apology or “excuse me.” Use it in a tu relationship; age alone does not determine the choice. |
| Mi dispiace |
I’m sorry | Say mi dispiace (I’m sorry) when you need to apologize about something. |
| Sì |
Yes | |
| No |
No | |
| No, grazie |
No, thanks | |
| Va bene |
Alright, OK | |
| Non importa |
Never mind | |
| Non fa niente |
That’s alright | |
| Forse |
Maybe | |
| Può darsi |
Maybe | |
| Non lo so / Non saprei |
I don’t know | |
| Boh (informal) |
I don’t know, who knows | |
| Lo so |
I know | |
| Penso di no |
I don’t think so | |
| Certo / Certamente |
Definitely, of course | |
| Per favore |
Please | Per favore means “please.” Standard pronunciation is /per faˈvore/, with stress on vo. |
| Per piacere |
Please | |
| Per cortesia |
Please | |
| Salute! |
Bless you! / Cheers! | When someone sneezes, say salute! (bless you!) to wish them good health. Say salute! (cheers!) when toasting before a meal. |
| Piacere di conoscerti (informal) |
Pleased to meet you | Use piacere di conoscerti in an informal introduction. In a formal introduction, use piacere di conoscerla. A handshake depends on the setting and the people involved. |
| Piacere / Piacere di conoscerla (formal) |
Pleased to meet you | |
| Come ti chiami? (informal) |
What’s your name? | |
| Come si chiama? (formal) |
What’s your name? | |
| Mi chiamo… |
My name is… | |
| Come sta? (formal) |
How are you? | |
| Come stai? (informal) |
How you doing?/How’s it going? | |
| Sto bene, grazie |
I’m fine, thank you | |
| Di dove sei? (informal) |
Where are you from? | |
| Di dov’è? (formal) |
Where are you from? | |
| Sono inglese / americano/a / canadese / australiano/a | I’m English / American / Canadian / Australian | |
| Vengo dagli Stati Uniti/dall’Inghilterra/ dal Canada/dall’Australia |
I am from the United States/ England/Canada/Australia |
|
| Abito a (+ name of the city) |
I live in… | |
| Sono di (+ name of the city) |
I’m from… | |
| Non capisco |
I don’t understand | |
| Capisco |
I understand, I see | |
| Non parlo bene italiano |
I don’t speak Italian very well | |
| Parlo soltanto un po’ di italiano |
I only speak a little Italian | |
| Parli inglese? (informal) |
Do you speak English? | |
| Parla inglese? (formal) |
Do you speak English? | |
| C’è qualcuno che parla inglese? |
Does anyone here speak English? | |
| Potresti scrivermelo? (informal) |
Could you write it down for me, please? | |
| Potrebbe scrivermelo? (formal) |
Could you write it down for me, please? | |
| Puoi ripetere, per favore? (informal) |
Could you say that again, please? / Could you repeat that, please? |
|
| Può ripetere, per favore? (formal) |
Could you say that again, please? / Could you repeat that, please? |
|
| Puoi parlare più lentamente, per favore? (informal) |
Could you speak more slowly, please? | |
| Può parlare più lentamente, per favore? (formal) |
Could you speak more slowly, please? | |
| Che cosa vuol dire? | What does that mean? | |
| Scusa, cos’hai detto? (informal) |
Excuse me, what did you say? | |
| Scusi, cos’ha detto? (formal) |
Excuse me, what did you say? | |
| Permesso? |
Pardon me / May I come in? | When walking through a crowded place or a train compartment, smile and say permesso to pass through the crowd. Permesso can also mean “may I come in?”. Say it when crossing the threshold of someone’s house. |
| Quanto costa? |
How much does it cost? | |
| Dov’è il bagno? / Dov’è la toilette? |
Where’s the bathroom? | |
| Posso usare il bagno, per favore? |
Can I use the loo, please? | |
| Che ore sono? |
What time is it? | |
| Dai! |
Come on! | |
| Allora… |
So…, well… | Allora is, perhaps, one of the most popular Italian words. It is a great way to start a sentence or question, or transition between sentences. |
Italian travel phrases
Useful Italian words for travelers
| Albergo | Hotel |
| Agriturismo | Holiday farm |
| Camera, stanza | Room |
| Camera singola | Single room |
| Camera doppia | Room for two (confirm the bed arrangement); camera matrimoniale is a room with a double bed |
| Reception | Front desk, reception; accoglienza means welcome or hospitality |
| Passaporto | Passport |
| Treno | Train |
| Stazione, stazione ferroviaria | Train station |
| Autobus | Bus |
| Pullman | Coach, bus |
| Tram | Tram |
| Metropolitana | Subway |
| Fermata dell’autobus | Bus stop |
| Fermata del tram | Tram stop |
| Aereo | Airplane |
| Aeroporto | Airport |
| Stadio | Stadium, arena |
| Banca | Bank |
| Bancomat | ATM |
| Ufficio postale | Post office |
| Macchina, auto | Car |
| Taxi | Taxi, cab |
| Bagagli, valigie | Luggage |
| Biglietto | Ticket |
| Ospedale | Hospital |
| Pronto soccorso | ER |
| Stazione di polizia | Police station |
| Parco | Park |
| Centro storico | Town center |
| Spiaggia | Beach |
| Museo | Museum |
| Teatro | Theater |
| Supermercato | Supermarket |
| Ristorante | Restaurant |
| Trattoria | Trattoria, restaurant specializing in rustic home-cooked foods |
| Bar | café, coffee shop |
| Pub; locale | Pub; venue or establishment (not necessarily a bar) |
| Pasticceria | Pastry shop |
| Gelateria | Ice-cream parlor |
| Paninoteca | Sandwich shop |
| Enoteca | Wine bar |
| Discoteca | Discotheque, disco, club |
Asking for directions in Italian
A few Italian phrases help when asking for directions. English availability varies by location and person; a polite opening and a clear destination make the exchange easier.
Here are some phrases that could help you:
| Scusi, un’informazione, per favore |
Excuse me, I need some information, please |
| Sai dirmi dove si trova…? (informal) / Sa dirmi dove si trova…? (formal) |
Do you know where … is? |
| Mi scusi, per (la stazione)? |
Excuse me, could you tell me the way to (the station)? |
| Mi sono perso/a | I’m lost |
| Come si arriva alla stazione? / Come si arriva in centro? | How do I get to the station? / How do I get to the town center? |
| Vorrei andare a Roma / alla stazione | I’d like to go to Rome / to the station |
| Vorrei andare qui |
I’d like to go here (pointing to your destination on the map) |
| Dove si trova…? / Dov’è…? | Where is…? |
| Quanto dista …? |
How far is…? |
| Potresti indicarmelo sulla cartina? (informal) / Potrebbe indicarmelo sulla cartina? (formal) |
Can you show me on the map, please? |
| È lontano? |
Is it far from here? |
Here are some replies you might hear when asking for directions:
| Gira/giri a destra |
Turn right |
| Gira/giri a sinistra |
Turn left |
| Vai/vada in quella direzione |
Go that way |
| Torna/torni indietro |
Go back |
| Prosegui/prosegua dritto |
Go straight on |
| Fai/faccia un’inversione di marcia |
Make a U-turn |
| È laggiù |
It’s over there |
| È davanti a… |
It’s in front of… |
| È di fianco a… |
It’s next to… |
| È all’angolo con… |
It’s at the corner of… |
Transport in Italy
If you are planning a trip to sun-kissed Italy, you are probably going to need public transport or hire a car to get around. These phrases will help you:
| A che ora parte il prossimo treno/autobus/tram per…? |
What time is the next train/bus/tram to…? |
| Quanto costa un biglietto per…? |
How much does a ticket to… cost? |
| Dove si fa il biglietto per il treno/per l’autobus/per il tram? |
Where do I get a ticket for the train/bus/tram? |
| Un biglietto/due biglietti per…, grazie |
1 ticket/2 tickets to…, please |
| Quando parte? |
When does it leave? |
| Questo treno/autobus/tram ferma a…? |
Does this train/bus/tram stop in…? |
| Come mai il treno è in ritardo? |
Why is the train late? |
| Si può parcheggiare qui? |
Can I park here? |
| Sa dirmi dov’è il parchimetro? |
Do you know where the parking meter is? |
| Mi serve un taxi |
I need a taxi |
| Puoi/può chiamarmi un taxi per andare a…, per favore? |
Can you call me a cab to go to …, please? |
| Quanto costa la corsa? |
How much is the fare? |
When you are on a tram, bus or train, and are not sure when to get off, ask:
| Quante fermate ci sono prima di …? |
How many stops before we arrive in …? |
| Mi scusi, è questa la fermata per…? |
Excuse me, is this the right stop for…? |
Italian phrases for staying at a hotel or vacation apartment
Here is a list of Italian phrases that could be useful during your stay:
| Ho prenotato una stanza … |
I have booked a … room |
| Dove viene servita la colazione? |
Where do you serve breakfast? |
| A che ora è la colazione? |
At what time is breakfast? |
| Fino a che ora si può fare colazione? |
At what time does breakfast end? |
| Qual è la password per il Wi-Fi? |
What is the Wifi password? |
| Posso avere altri asciugamani, per favore? |
Can I have some more towels, please? |
| Posso avere un’altra coperta, per favore? |
Can I have another blanket, please? |
| L’aria condizionata non funziona |
The air conditioning doesn’t work |
| Non c’è acqua calda |
There is no hot water |
| Ho perso la chiave della camera |
I lost my room key |
| C’è il servizio lavanderia? |
Is there laundry service? |
| A che ora è il check-out? |
At what time is check-out? |
| Avete un deposito bagagli? |
Do you have a left-luggage service? |
| Possiamo lasciare qui i bagagli fino alle ore…? |
Can we leave our bags here until…? |
Dining out
Here is a list of phrases that could be useful when dining in a restaurant in Italy:
| Avete un tavolo per due/quattro/sei persone? |
Do you have a table for two/four/six people? |
| C’è una specialità locale? |
Is there a specialty of the area? |
| Che cosa ci consiglia? |
What do you recommend? |
| Una bottiglia del vino rosso della casa, per favore |
A bottle of the house red wine please |
If you are looking for white wine, replace rosso
(red) with bianco
(white). You can also order un litro
(a liter), un mezzo litro
(a half liter) or un bicchiere
(a glass).
| Sono vegetariano/a | I’m a vegetarian |
Use the phrase ending in -o if you are a male, and use the phrase ending in -a if you are a female.
| Sono celiaco/a | I have celiac disease |
Same as above, change the ending to -a if you are a female.
| Non posso mangiare cibi che contengono… |
I can’t eat dishes that contain… |
| Senza… , grazie |
Without…, please |
| Il conto, per favore |
The check, please / The bill, please |
| Posso avere il conto, per favore? |
Could I have the check, please? |
| Accettate carte di credito? |
Do you accept credit cards? |
Ask “accettate carte di credito?”
if you are not sure if the restaurant will take a credit card.
| Posso pagare con la carta? | Can I pay with a card? |
So, are you ready for your big adventure in Italy? If there are any other useful expressions you would add to this list, write them down in the comments section!
