Planning a trip to Italy? Or just keen to learn the basics of the Italian language? Make a start with our guide to the most useful and commonly used Italian words and phrases.
Italian is one of the most beautiful and passionate languages in the world and stems directly from Latin and knowing even the most basic phrases can really help make your experience in Italy more enjoyable.
Our list of the best Italian phrases that you’ll need for travel in Italy are perfect to use for travel, accommodation, shopping, restaurants, getting directions and for general sightseeing.
You can even download our Italian phrases for travel as a printable pdf to use on your trip.
Do I Need to Speak Italian to Go to Italy?
You don’t need to speak Italian to visit Italy and you’ll find many Italians do speak English, especially at hotels, airports and tourist hotspots. But there are so many reasons to learn at least the basics. You’ll be able to impress the locals, come across as polite and also have fun. It will also make everything easier especially if you know how to ask important questions.
Is it Easy to Speak Italian?
It can be daunting to speak a different language especially when you can’t be sure of pronunciations but the basics of Italian are fairly easy to pick up. Practise is the best way to develop you skills, and what better way than actually in Italy. You might also want to download a language app which can really enhance your progress.
Why Visit Italy?
Do we really need to answer this question? Italy is without doubt one of the best places to visit in Europe with history, culture, tasty food and amazing destinations like Rome, Venice, Milan and Sardinia. There are so many amazing destinations in Italy and this country is very is easy to fall in love with.
Most Common Italian Phrases
We’ll start with some common questions and then get started with the most important Italian words and phrases to learn.
Greetings
Hi – Ciao
Hello – Salve
Good day – Buon giorno
Good evening – Buona sera
Good night – Buona note
Goodbye – Arrivederci
Common Italian Words & Phrases
Yes – Sì
No – No
Excuse me – Mi scusi
Pardon me – Permesso
I’m sorry – Mi dispiace
Thank you – Grazie
You’re Welcome – Prego
Please – Per favor
Excuse me – Scusi
Yes – Sì
No – No
Who? – Chi?
What? – Che?
Where? – Dove?
When? – Quando?
Why? – Perché?
Which? – Quale? (kwal-e?)
Conversational
Do you speak English? – Parla Inglese?
I don’t understand – Non capisco
How are you? – Come sta?
How’s it going? – Come va?
Good – Bene
So-so – Così così
Not bad – Non c’è male
What’s your name? – Come si chiama?
My name is… – Mi Chiamo…
I am from… – Vengo dagli…
…the United States – Stati Uniti
…England – dall’Inghilterra
Sightseeing / Tourism
Some information, please – Un informazione, per favore
Do you have a city map? – Ha una cartina della città?
Where can I exchange my money? – Dove posso cambiare i miei soldi?
Museum – Museo
Where is the museum? : Dov’è il museo?
Where? – Dove?
Where are…? – Dove sono?
How much does this cost? – Quanto costa questo?
How much? – Quanto?
When does it open? – Quando si apre?
When does it close? – Quando si chiude?
Ticket/s – Biglietto/i
Two adults – due adulti
One child – un bambino
One student – uno studente
Toilet – Bagno
Where is the toilet? – Dov’è il bagno?
Eating Out
Restaurant – i ristoranti
Do you have a table – Hai un tavolo
…for 2/4/6 people? per due/quatro/sei persone?
The menu, please – Il menu, per favore eel men-oo payr fa-vo-ray
Can I have…? – Posso avere…?
I would like… – Vorrei…
What do you recommend? – Che cosa mi consiglia?
Where is the bathroom? – Dov’è la toilette?
The check, please – Il conto, per favore
Is the tip included? – Il servizio è incluso?
Food
I’m allergic to… – Sono allergico a…
I am vegetarian – Sono vegetariano
Enjoy your food! – Buon appetito!
It was delicious! – Era buonissimo!
Drinks
Beer – Birre
Two beers, please – Due birre, per favore
A bottle of house wine, please – Una bottiglia di vino della casa, per favore
Red wine – Vino rosso
White wine – Vino bianco
A bottle of still water – Una bottiglia di acqua naturale
A bottle of sparking water – Una bottiglia di acqua gassata
A bottle of the house white/red wine please – Una bottiglia del vino rosso/bianco della casa per favore
Shopping
Shops – I negozi
How much is it? – Quanto costa?
What are you looking for? – Cosa sta cercando?
May I just look? – Posso guardare?
That’s too expensive! – È troppo caro!
Can you give me a discount? – Mi fa uno sconto?
I’ll take it! – Lo compro!
Nothing else, thank you – Nient’altro, grazie
Can I pay with credit card? – Posso pagare con carta di credito?
Can I pay with cash? – Posso pagare in contanti?
Accommodation
I have booked a room in the name of… – Ho prenotato una stanza a nome di…
What time is breakfast? – A che ora è la colazione?
Is there WiFi in the hotel? What is the password? – C’è il WiFi nell’hotel? Qual è la password?
The air-conditioning is not working – L’aria condizionata non funziona
My room is too noisy – La mia stanza è troppo rumorosa
Can I change it? – Posso cambiarla?
Do you have a left-luggage service? – Avete un deposito bagagli?
Where is the nearest bus stop to the hotel? – Dov’è la fermata degli autobus più vicina all’hotel?
Can you recommend me a good restaurant? – Mi può consigliare un buon ristorante?
Transport & Directions
Where is… – Dov’è…
Where are… – Dove sono…
Taxi – un taxi
Bus stop – La fermata dell’autobus
Airport – L’aeroporto
Train station – la Stazione
Entrance – Entrata
Exit – Uscita
Where is the subway? – Dov’è la metro?
Where is the train station? – Dov’è la stazione?
Can you call me a taxi? – Puoi chiamarmi un taxi?
Where is the taxi rank? – Dov’è la stazione dei taxi?
Where can I hire a car? – Dove posso affittare una macchina?
Emergencies
Help! – Aiuto!
Can you help me? – Mi può aiutare?
Accident – Incidente
Injury – Danno
I’ve been mugged – Sono stato assalito
I lost my passport – Ho perso il mio passaporto
Where is the embassy? – Dov’è l’ambasciata
Watch out! – Attento!
Stop – Al
Thief! – Ladro!
Go away! – Vai via!
I need a doctor – Ho bisogno di un dottore
I feel ill – Mi sento male
Pain – Dolore
I have pain here – Mi fa male qui
Call… – Chiami…
Police – la polizia
Police station – La stazione di polizia
Ambulance – un’ambulanza
Please call an ambulance! – Per favore, chiami un’ambulanza!
Please call the police! – Per favore chiama la polizia!
Please call a doctor – Per favore, chiami un dottore
Romance
I like you – Mi piaci
I like you a lot – Mi piaci molto
You mean a lot to me – Significhi molto per me
I love you a lot – Ti voglio un mondo di bene
I want you – Ti voglio/desidero
I am crazy for you – Sono pazzo di te
Numbers
1 – Uno
2 – Due
3 – Tree
4 – Quattro
5 – Cinque
6 – Sei
7 – Sette
8 – Otto
9 – Nove
10 – Dieci
Days
Monday – Lunedí
Tuesday – Martedí
Wednesday – Mercoledí
Thursday – Giovedí
Friday – Venerdí
Saturday – Sabato
Sunday – Domenica
Today – Oggi
Yesterday – Ieri
Tomorrow – Domani
Day after tomorrow – Dopo domani
Weather
What’s the weather like today? – Che tempo fa oggi?
What’s the weather forecast for tomorrow? – Che tempo farà domani?
It’s cold – Fa freddo
It’s hot – Fa caldo
It’s raining – Piove
It’s snowing – Nevica
It’s sunny – C’è il sole
It’s cloudy – È nuvoloso
It’s foggy – C’è la nebbia
It’s muggy – C’è l’afa
Hopefully our list of useful basic Italian phrases to know for your trip to Italy are helpful. Italy really is a beautiful country and by learning even just the basics it will make a huge difference to your experience in the country.
