Are you thinking about moving to Italy like I did, or are you planning a trip here? Both answers require that you learn some basic Italian.
Even if you decide to spend a couple of nights in Italy, knowing how to say please and thank will enrich your experience tremendously.
Before my very first trip to Italy, I had purchased a small Italian pocketbook that I still have to this day. It came in very handy. I studied Italian on my commute to work.
If you are planning on moving or traveling to bigger cities like Rome and Florence, you will find that more people speak English, but outside of the big cities, most Italians don’t or won’t speak English for various reasons. Turin is one of those cities where not many locals speak English.It can be fraustrating if you need something but can’t communicate your needs. On the plus side, most Italians will try to help you with the little English they know. They also tend to apologize for not knowing English, which I find quite sweet.
Words and Phrases you should learn before you travel to Italy
Greetings
Starting with a warm greeting can open many doors and smiles in Italy. Here are some simple phrases to get you started:
- Ciao (chow) – Hello/Goodbye (informal)
- Buongiorno (bwon-jor-no) – Good morning
- Buonasera (bwona-se-ra) – Good evening
- Buonanotte (bwona-not-te) – Good night
- Salve (sal-ve) – Hello (polite, less formal than buongiorno)
- Arrivederci (a-ri-ve-der-chi) – Goodbye (formal)
Basic Courtesies
Politeness is universal, and a few courteous phrases can demonstrate respect:
- Per favore (per fa-vo-re) – Please
- Grazie (gra-tsie) – Thank you
- Molte grazie (mol-te gra-tsie) – Thank you very much
- Prego (pre-go) – You’re welcome
- Mi scusi (me scoo-zi) – Excuse me
- Mi dispiace (me dis-pia-che) – I’m sorry
Directions and Places
Lost in the winding streets of an Italian city? Here’s how to find your way:
- Dove è il bagno? (do-ve e il ba-gno?) – Where is the bathroom?
- Dove è la stazione? (do-ve e la sta-tsio-ne?) – Where is the station?
- A destra (a de-stra) – To the right
- A sinistra (a si-ni-stra) – To the left
- Dritto (drit-to) – Straight ahead
- Giù (joo) – Down
- Su (soo) – Up
Dining
Eating out is a significant part of the Italian experience. Here are some phrases to help you savor the cuisine:
- Un tavolo per due, per favore (un ta-vo-lo per doo-e, per fa-vo-re) – A table for two, please
- Il menu, per favore (il me-nu, per fa-vo-re) – The menu, please
- Cosa consiglia? (co-sa con-si-glia?) – What do you recommend?
- Posso avere il conto? (pos-so a-ve-re il con-to?) – Can I have the bill?
- Acqua naturale (a-kwa na-tu-ra-le) – Still water
- Acqua frizzante (a-kwa friz-zan-te) – Sparkling water
- Vino (vi-no) – Wine
Shopping
Whether you’re buying souvenials or local produce, here are some phrases to help you shop:
- Quanto costa? (quan-to co-sta?) – How much does it cost?
- Posso pagare con la carta? (pos-so pa-ga-re con la car-ta?) – Can I pay by card?
- Posso provare questo? (pos-so pro-va-re que-sto?) – Can I try this?
- Mi può fare uno sconto? (mi pwo fare u-no scon-to?) – Can you give me a discount?
Emergencies
It’s always good to be prepared for unexpected situations:
- Aiuto! (a-yu-to!) – Help!
- Chiamate un medico! (kia-ma-te un me-di-co!) – Call a doctor!
- Dov’è l’ospedale? (do-ve l’o-spi-ta-le?) – Where is the hospital?
- Ho perso il mio passaporto (ho per-so il mio pas-sa-por-to) – I have lost my passport
If you like this list 60 Basic but Essential Italian Words and Phrases You Must Know, You may also want to read the following:
What is Turin Famous For? These 10 Things Will Surprise You
10 Museums That You Need To Visit In Turin
Fond Farewells
When it’s time to say goodbye, do it the Italian way:
- Addio (ad-dio) – Farewell
- Ci vediamo (chi ve-dia-mo) – See you
- Arrivederci (a-ri-ve-der-chi) – Goodbye
- A presto (a pres-to) – See you soon
This list 60 Basic but Essential Italian Words and Phrases You Must Know will not make you fluent, but they’ll certainly help you make friends, order a delicious pizza, and find your way around stunning Italy. Remember, Italians appreciate any effort to speak their language, even if it’s just a few words. Buona fortuna, or good luck!
I hope that you found this list 60 Basic but Essential Italian Words and Phrases You Must Know. Do you have any words or phases to add to this list?
