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Learn Italian

101 basic italian phrases for travel you need to know for your trip to italy.

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If you’re planning on visiting Italy then it’s a good idea to learn some key Italian phrases, words and sentences. In this guide to basic Italian phrases for travel, we step you through the most useful ways to communicate on your trip to Italy. After all, language is a big part of Italian culture and you want to experience it all, am I right?

Making an effort to understand and speak Italian on your trip is not simply a matter of respect – although we think this is very important too. When you talk to people in their language they appreciate it and experiences open up to you that would not have been possible if you had been speaking English.

Article contents

So let’s get started with the common Italian phrases and words that will be most useful to you on your travels.

Basic Italian phrases

When you visit Italy, these are the most common words and phrases that will demonstrate you have made some effort to speak the local language. Learning these useful Italian words will help you talk to all manner of people during your trip.

Note – We’ve provided a phonetic pronunciation guide after the Italian translation for each word. If you really want to get the accent right a little extra study is recommended. We’ve provided some useful resources at the end of this article to help you learn Italian travel phrases useful for your trip.

Yes – Si – See

No – No – Noh

Please – Per favore – Pehr fah- voh -reh

Thank you – Grazie – Grah -tsee-eh

You’re welcome – Prego – Preh -goh

Cheers! (To your health) – Salute! – Sah -loo-tay

Excuse me (for attention) – Scusi – S kooh – zee

Excuse me (to pass by) – Permesso – Pehr- mehs -soh

Do you speak English? – Parla Inglese? – Parh-la een-glay-zeh

I don’t understand – Non capisco – Non kah -pee-skoh

I’m sorry – Mi dispiace – Mee dees- pyah -cheh

Common greetings in Italian

One thing we really love about visiting Italy is the cultural differences and norms. In Italy, saying “good morning” is not simply a throwaway line. You should always greet people wherever you go – when entering a shop or restaurant, to hotel staff, on the bus or at a cultural sight. It’s the expected thing to do.

A friendly “buon giorno!” with a smile will go a long way. So here are the most common Italian greetings and their context so you get it right! Generally you use the formal with people you don’t know, especially older people. The informal is used between friends.

Good morning (formal) – Buon giorno – Bwohn- johr -noh

Good afternoon (formal) – Buona sera – Bwoh -nah- seh -rah

Good night (formal) – Buona notte – B woh – nah – noh – teh

Hi / Bye (informal) – Ciao! – C how 

Good bye (formal) – Arrivederci – A hr -ree-veh- dehr -chee

My name is … – Mi chiamo – Mee kyah -moh

What is your name? – Come si chiama? – Koh -meh see kyah -mah?

Pleased to meet you – Piacere – Pyah- cheh -reh

How are you? (formal) – Come sta? – Koh -meh stah?

Good thank you – Bene grazie – B eh -neh  grah -tsee-eh

How to say numbers in Italian

While you don’t need to be able to count to 100, a good grasp of numbers up to 12 at least (for the hours of the day) will stand you in good stead. After all, you need numbers when you’re at a restaurant – una pizza per favore! (a pizza please!)

One – Uno – Oo -noh

Two – Due – Doo -eh

Three – Tre – Treh

Four – Quattro – Kwah -troh  

Five – Cinque – Cheen -kweh

Six – Sei  – Say

Seven – Sette – Seht -tey

Eight – Otto – Oh -toh

Nine – Nove – Noh -veh

Ten – Dieci – Dee- EH -chee  

Eleven – Undici – Oon – dee-chee

Twelve – Dodici – Doh -dee-chee

To learn more about counting in Italian click here

Telling the time and days of the week

Here are the basics of telling time in Italian, plus days of the week and other useful sentences for making reservations and plans. Italians generally use a 24 hour clock but also understand the 12 hour clock if you specify morning and afternoon.

In the morning – Di M attina  – Dee mah- teen -ah

In the afternoon – Di p omeriggio – Dee poh-meh- reed -joh

In the evening – Di Sera – Dee se h – rah

Noon – Mezzogiorno – Mehd-dzoh- johr -noh  

At what time? – A che ora? – Ah kay oar-ah?  

Nine o’clock in the morning – Le nove – Le noh-vay

Eight o’clock in the evening – Le otto di sera /  – Le ot-to dee seh-rah 

Monday – Lunedì  – Loo-neh- dee

Tuesday – Martedì – Mahr-teh- dee  

Wednesday – Mercoledì – Mehr-koh-leh- dee

Thursday – Giovedì – Joh-veh- dee

Friday – Venerdì – Veh-nehr- dee  

Saturday – Sabato – Sah -bah-toh

Sunday – Domenica – Doh- meh -nee-kah

Today – Oggi – Ohd -jee

Yesterday – Ieri – Yeh -ree

Tomorrow – Domani – Doh- mah -nee

Want to speak more Italian?

Check out our review of Rocket Italian , one of the best online courses for learning Italian.

Useful phrases at restaurants

No doubt your Italy trip includes a plan to enjoy a few meals at restaurants. And we’re sure ordering a gelato or two is also high on your list. Let’s get you ready with these essential Italian phrases you need for ordering food or at restaurants. These may be the times that you interact with Italians the most so practice your greetings too!

Can I see the menu please? – Il menu, per favore – Eel men-oo, pehr fah- voh -reh

What do you recommend? – Che cosa ci consiglia? – Kay koh-za chee kon-seel-ya?

I’m allergic to… – Sono allergica/o a.. . – Son -oh ah -ler-gee-koh / kah ah

Gluten / Dairy / Fish – Glutine / Lattecini / Pesce  – Gloo-teen-ay /  Lah-tay-cheen-ee / Pesh-ay  

House wine – Vino della casa – Vee -noh del-lah car-sah

Red / white wine – Vino rosso / bianco – Vee – n oh ross-oh /  bee-ahn-koh

A glass / bottle – Una bicchiere / una bottiglia – OO -nah beek- kyeh -reh / boht- tee -lyah

Appetizer – Antipasto  – Ahn -tee-pah-stoh

First course – Primo – Pree -moh

Second course – Secondo – Sek -kon-doh

Dessert – Dolci – Doll -chee

Two flavors please – Due gusti, per favore  – Doo -eh goo-stee, pehr fah- voh -reh

Where’s the bathroom? – Dov’è il bagno?  – Doh- veh eel bahn -yoh?

The check (bill) please – Il conto, per favore – Eel kon-toh, pehr fah- voh -reh

Can I pay by card? – Posso pagare con la carta? – Pohs -soh pah- gah -reh kon la cahr-tah?

Words to know when you are visiting museums

Visiting museums and attractions is a big part of many Italian itineraries. In this section, we’ve given you some useful phrases in Italian to help you buy tickets and ask common questions.

When does it open / close? – Quando si apri / chiude?  – Kwahn -doh see ah-pree / chee-oo-deh?

Two adults / one child – Due adulti / un bambino  – Doo -eh ah-dool-tee / oon  bahm-bee-noh

One / two ticket/s – Un / due biglietto/i  – Oon  beel-yet-toh / tee

One senior – Un pensionato  – Oon pen-seyoh-nah-toh

One student – Uno studente – Ooh -noh stoo-den-teh

Where is the bag store / cloak room? – Dov’è la guardaroba? – Doh-veh lah gard-ah-robe-ah?

Asking for directions in Italian

If you get lost or need help with directions, these helpful words in Italian will come in handy.

Where is… ? – Dov’è…? – Doh-veh … ?

Entrance – Entrata  – En -trah-tah

Exit – Uscita  – Ooh -shee-tah

Left – Sinistra  – See – nee-stra

Right – Destra – Deh -stra

Straight ahead – Dritto – Dree-toh

Forward – Avanti  – Ah -vahn-tee

Back – Dietro – Dee-et-roh

Useful words for transport and getting around

Most visitors to Italy will need to take a train or bus, or ride in a taxi. These phrases will be useful in these situations when it is likely you may need to ask for help to reach the right platform or bus stop.

Where is the train station? – Dov’è la stazione? – Doh-veh lah stah-tzee-oh-neh?

Where is the bus stop? – Dov’è la fermata – Doh-veh lah fur-mah-tah?

One way – Andata  – Ahn – dah-tah

Return – Ritorno – Ree -torn-oh

What platform for Rome? – Da quale binario per Roma? – Dah kwah-lay bin-ah-rio pehr Roh-mah?

Newstand (for bus tickets) – Tabacchi  – Tah-back-kee

Shopping words in Italian

Time to go shopping! Make sure you’re ready with these key phrases.

I would like… – Vorrei…  – Vor-ray…

How much is this? – Quanto costa questo?   –   Kwahn -toh kohs -tah kwehs -toh??

OK I’ll take it – Va bene, lo prendo – V ah beh -neh , loh prehn- doh 

I don’t want it – Non lo voglio – N ohn loh voh- lyoh

Can you ship to…? – Puoi spedire a?   –   Pwoy   sped -ear-eh ah?

What to say if you need help in Italian

We hope you never need to use these phrases but it’s a good idea to know them “just in case”.

Help! – Aiuto! – Ay-oo-toh!

I need a doctor – Ho bisogno di un dottore   – Ho biz-ohn-nyo dee oon dot-tor-reh

Call the police – Chiami la polizia  – Kee-ya-mee la po-lee-zee-ah

Look out! – Attento!  – At – ten-toh

Go away! – Vai via! – Vy vee-ah!

Want to get beyond basic Italian phrases for travel?

These days there are a wealth of resources to help you learn Italian. You can use handy apps, books and podcasts to get started and we outlined some of the best of these in this article .

But, if you want to construct your own basic Italian sentences and perfect your accent, a systematic approach with a proven method will help you make progress quickly. After much trial and error, we enjoy using Rocket Italian . This online course combines verbal cultural situation lessons with grammar and vocabulary to get you speaking Italian quickly. My accent also improved significantly thanks to the voice recognition tasks.

Another option for travelers wanting a quick start to learning Italian for their trip is the fast track method developed by our friends at Intrepid Italian. Designed to get you speaking the key phrases you need for your trip, this short course aims to get you speaking travel ready Italian in 2 weeks > more info .

Planning a trip to Italy?

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Basic Italian Words and Phrases for Your Trip to Italy

Andiamo! Learn Italian while dreaming about your next trip to Italy.

Nina Ruggiero is Travel + Leisure's senior editorial director and the co-founder of Be A Travel Writer , an online course for aspiring travel journalists. A New Yorker based in Los Angeles, she has a special interest in beach destinations, outdoor adventures, unique hotels, pet-friendly travel with her golden retriever, @travelswithcali, and all things Italy.

As a traveler with Italian roots, I'm admittedly a little biased — but there is something special about the Italian language. Whether it's a casual conversation, a heated argument, or an artfully composed aria, everything just sounds better in Italian.

That being said, it can be daunting to blurt out a butchered Italian phrase when the locals around you are stringing gorgeous words together as effortlessly as a pastaio folds up perfect tortellini or a gondoliere glides through a Venice canal.

But if you're traveling to Italy , you really should try to learn a few common Italian phrases and words before you go. While you'll find plenty of English speakers in any of Italy's major cities, most Italians will appreciate you trying their language; you may even be surprised how many new friends it makes you as you mingle at aperitivo or linger in a bustling piazza .

OK, pronto ? Ready? Here are a few basic Italian words and phrases to get you started. (All phrases are formal unless noted.)

Basic Italian Words

Hello: Ciao (informal); Salve (formal)

Goodbye: Ciao (informal); Arrivederci (formal)

Good morning: Buongiorno

Good evening: Buonasera

Goodnight: Buonanotte (use this when you're going to bed)

Please: Per favore; per piacere

Thank you: Grazie

Thanks so much: Grazie mille

You're welcome: Prego; Di niente

Beautiful: Bello (masculine); Bella (feminine)

Good: Buono (masculine); Buona (feminine)

Friend: Amico (masculine); Amica (feminine)

Family: Famiglia

What?: Che?; Cosa?

Where?: Dove?

When?: Quando?

Why?: Perché?

How much?: Quanto?

Related : The Best Language Learning Apps to Download Before Your Next Trip

Common Italian Phrases

I love you: Ti amo (romantic); Ti voglio bene (family, friends)

How are you?: Come sta?

How's it going?: Come va?

I miss you: Mi manchi

I don't know: Non lo so

All's well: Tutto bene

I'm sorry: Mi dispiace

What is your name?: Come si chiama?

My name is…: Mi chiamo...

OK: Va bene

Excuse me: Mi scusi

Excuse me (passing through a crowd): Permesso

Basic Italian Travel Words and Phrases

I would like... (ordering food or buying a ticket): Vorrei...

Check, please: Il conto, per favore

Where is...?: Dov'è...?

Tourist: Turista

Airport: Aeroporto

Airplane: Aereo

Luggage: Bagagli

Suitcase: Valigia

Train: Treno

Ticket: Bigletto

Rental car: Auto a noleggio

Bathroom: Bagno

Restaurant: Ristorante

Museum: Museo

Church/Cathedral: Chiesa/Duomo

Beach: Spiaggia

Store: Negozio

Italian Slang Words

Dope!: Che figata!

Of course!: Avoglia!

A lot: Un botto

See you later: Ci becchiamo dopo

What the heck: Che cavolo

Chill!: Scialla!

Related Articles

Visiting Italy? Must-Learn Italian Phrases For Travel

In this article, we’ll pretend we are traveling together so that I can help you speak in Italian in every common situation you might encounter during your Italy travels. For each situation, I will provide a list of useful Italian phrases to memorize or jot down somewhere. 

For easy accessibility, you have the graphic with the summary of the basic Italian phrases for travel we will be covering in this article. Screenshot it or save this page to your browser so you can come back later.

Pronti? Si parte. (Ready? Let’s depart.)

Table of Contents

Basic italian phrases for tourists at the airport.

Your plane has landed at Marco Polo Airport, Venice. You’ve collected your luggage and are trying to grab a taxi, but can’t find your way around. Here are some useful phrases to help you communicate with the locals.

1. Mi scusi. – Excuse me.

When interrupting someone to ask for help, it’s polite to use these two words before asking for anything. 2. Dov’è .. ? – Where is.. ?

You might need to ask where are the restrooms, or where is the airport shuttle, or where is the taxi station. Here’s how to do it in Italian.

• Dov’ è il bagno? – Where is the bathroom?
• Dove posso prendere lo shuttle? (or the exact name you found when searching) – Where can I take the shuttle?
• Dove sono i tassì? – Where are the cabs? 
• Dov’ è la stazione? – Where is the train station?

3. La ringrazio. – Thank you (polite form).

Once you have gotten your answer, use this phrase to thank the person who helped you politely. If you want to go a step further, you can add one of these phrases:

4. Buona giornata. – Good day.

5. Buona serata. – Good evening

Phrases for Transport & Getting Around

You have found your way to the airport taxi stand, the bus stop or the train terminal. Now, you need to figure out how to get to your accommodation. Use these Italian phrases when the need arises.

For Train/Bus

6. Dove compro il biglietto? – Where do I buy the ticket?

PS: I suggest you research this before getting to the train or bus terminal, or ask the information desk inside the airport, as it’s likely you’ll need to buy the tickets from a shop inside the Arrivals. However, you’ll probably find a machine next to the terminals too.

6. Quanto costa il biglietto? – How much is the ticket?

8. A che ora parte l’autobus / il treno? – At what time does the bus/train depart?

9. Dov’è la corsia 10? – Where is platform 10? (replace with your specific number or letter)

10. Quanto tempo ci vuole per arrivare in città? – How long does it take to get to the city? 

11. Ci porti a questo indirizzo, per favore. – Please, take us to this address. (inside the taxi)

Common Italian Greetings For Every Situation

Once you get to your accommodation, your host or hotel receptionist will likely be there to meet you. In Italy, it’s common for Airbnb hosts to meet the guests, if the time of arrival is suitable for the other party.

Use these Italian greeting phrases to start your conversation with the host. Even if you end up speaking in English, it’s always nice to show the effort of saying a word or two in Italian.

Of course, you’ll be able to use these phrases throughout your holiday, whether you are greeting the barista or the ticket assistant at a museum.

12. Ciao – Hello and Buy

13. Buongiorno – Good morning

Read this article to learn all the ways to say good morning in Italian .

14. Buon pomeriggio – Good afternoon

15. Buona giornata – Good day

16. Buonasera – Good evening

17. Buona notte – Good night

If you are curious, here are other ways to say good night like a local .

18. Arrivederci / Arrivederla . – Goodbye until we meet again (informal/formal).

Italian Conversation Phrases – Formal & Informal

Whether you are chatting with your receptionist or getting to know the waiter who has been serving your coffee every morning, here are some basic conversation phrases in Italian. I am providing you with both casual and formal options .

PS: The rule is that if you don’t know someone you’ll use the polite form until the other person tells you to speak casually. However, if you are much older or have gotten very friendly, you can opt for the informal.

19. Come ti chiami/Come si chiama? – What’s your name (informal/formal)?

20. Mi chiamo Alessia/Sono Alessia. – My name is Alessia/I am Alessia.

21. Piacere di conoscerti / Piacere di conoscerla. – Nice to meet you (informal/formal).

22. Come stai / Come sta? – How are you (informal/formal)?

23. Bene. grazie; e tu? / Bene, grazie; e lei? – Well, thank you; and you? (informal/formal)

24. Da dove vieni/viene/venite? – Where do you come from? (informal, formal, plural)

25. Vengo / veniamo da Seattle. – I come from / we come from Seattle. (singular, plural)

Italian Phrases For Restaurants

Regardless of the time you get to Italy, it’s likely you’ll want to grab breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack. Why wouldn’t you, with so many delicious food options?

Below is a list of useful phrases to help you make a reservation, get a table, order your food, and chit-chat with the waiter.

26. Buongiorno, vorrei prenotare un tavolo per due per stasera alle 20:00.

Good morning, I’d like to book a table for two for tonight at 8:00 pm.

Then, the person on the phone will likely ask you your name (il suo nome) and your number (mi dia il suo recapito).

27. Salve, un tavolo per due per favore. – Hi (polite), a table for two, please.

28. Avete un tavolo fuori, per favore? – Do you have a table outdoors, please?

29. Il menu, per favore. – The menu, please.

30. Qual’è il piatto del giorno? – What’s the specialty of the day?

31. Cosa ci consiglia? – What do you suggest (we order, in polite form)?

You can find more useful phrases to use at restaurants in this article – Italian Food Glossary/ sayings. If you love Italian food, you’ll likely want to learn more about it. Check out these other food articles I wrote. Each one covers a list of food, but also language and culture. Italian Breakfast Italian Dinner Italian Aperitivo

Basic Italian Phrases For Shopping In Italy

I am pretty sure you won’t leave Italy without a souvenir or two, likely food-related, and maybe a classic handbag or a pair of leather shoes.

Even if you don’t have time for clothes shopping, you are likely to have to go to a supermarket once or twice. When you do, these phrases will come in handy.

At the Supermarket or Bakery

32. Dove trovo le noccioline, per favore? – Where can I find the nuts, please?

33. Mi dia due di questi, per favore? – Please, give me two of these.

At the Pharmacy

34. Mi serve una protezione solare. – I need a sunscreen.

35. Mi dia delle pastiglie per la gola, per favore. – Please, give some throat lozenges.

At the Shops

36. Avete la taglia M (media)? – Do you have a medium size?

37. Quanto costa questo .. maglione? – How much is this .. sweater?

For All Your Shopping

38. Posso pagare con il bancomat? – Can I pay with a card?

39. Accettate contanti? – Do you accept cash?

Useful Italian Phrases For Museums

Chances are you already booked all your museums online before getting on your plane to Italy. If you haven’t, here you will find useful phrases to use at museums when in line to buy tickets, as well as other general phrases to ask for information.

40. Dove compro i biglietti? – Where do I buy the tickets?

41.  Dov’è l’entrata / l’uscita? – Where is the entrance / exit?

42. É possibile utilizzare la video camera? – Can I use my video camera?

43. A che ora chiude il museo? – At what time does the museum close?

Italian Phrases To Ask For Help

Whether you are lost, need help with finding a location, or need special assistance these phrases will cover your basic needs.

44. Mi serve aiuto, per favore. – I need help, please.

45. Mi sono persa. Mi aiuta per favore? – I am lost. Can you help me, please?

46. Mi scusi, mi potrebbe aiutare a.. – Excuse me, could you help with..

• Trovare le mie valigie? – find my luggage?
• Trovare la via? – find the street?
• Trovare un tassì ? – find a taxi?

Mi aiuterebbe a. . (Could you help me with ..)

• Salire le scale? – go up the stairs?
• Salire il passeggino? – take the pram up?
• Cercare il bambino? – search for my child?
• Trovare un dottore? – find a doctor?
• Andare in ospedale? – go to the hospital? 
• Chiamare un ambulanza? – call an ambulance? 
• Chiamare la polizia? – call the police?

47. Che ora è? – What time is it?

48. Parla Inglese? – Do you speak English?

49. Non parlo bene l’Italiano. – I don’t speak Italian well.

50. Non la capisco. – I can’t understand you.

BONUS: 56 Must-Know Italian Words & Phrases When Traveling To Italy

Si – Yes 

No – No

Per favore – Please

Grazie – Thanks

Prego – Welcome

Mi dispiace – I am sorry

Aiuto – Help

Dove – Where

Quando – When

Chi – Who

Come – How

Cosa – What

Vorrei – I’d like

Mi dia – Give me (polite)

Prendiamo – We’ll take

Davanti – Front

Dietro – Back

Destra – Right

Sinistra – Left

Entrata – Entrance

Uscita – Exit

Parcheggio – Parking

Aeroporto – Airport

Stazione – Station

Ufficio – Office

Biglietto – Ticket

Albergo – Hotel

Ristorante – Restaurant

Bar – Cafe

Museo – Museum

Farmacia – Pharmacy

Ospedale – Hospital

Polizia – Police

Autobus – Bus

Tassi – Taxi

Macchina – Car

Treno – Train

Aereo – Airplane

Mattina – Morning

Pomeriggio – Afternoon

Sera – Evening

Notte – Night

Giorno – Day

Ora – Time

Tempo – Weather

Sole – Sun

Pioggia – Rain

Vento – Wind

Freddo – Cold

Caldo – Warm

Telefono – Phone

Borsa – Bag

Chiavi – Keys

Portafoglio – Wallet

Passaporto – Passport

Carta d’identità – ID card

Other Things To Know

As you can see, I’ve tried to keep the list of Italian phrases for travel concise so as not to overwhelm you, while still covering the essentials.

I’ve also given you a list of must-know Italian words to help you speak the phrases more easily. Make sure to learn those first.

I suggest you read these other articles in preparation for your Italian holiday.

Numbers in Italian

Italian days of the week

With all of this info, you are set to go and have a wonderful time in Italy, without having to worry you won’t know what to say when a certain situation arises.

Overall, the number of Italians who can speak English keeps increasing, so if you need to speak English, you will be fine. However, if you are planning to visit very small villages and towns, knowing these basic Italian phrases for travel will come in handy.

Enjoy your time in Italy. Buon viaggio!

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An Italian Mama's Guide to Italy

Travelers Italian: 100+ of the most useful Italian phrases for travel

Travelers’ Italian. Over 100 easy and useful Italian phrases for travel and basic Italian words that will help you make the most of your time in Italy (by a teacher)

You do not need to speak Italian to enjoy your time in Italy.

However, knowing basic Italian words or being able to express simple sentences will go a long way to improve your stay.

We Italians love it when foreigners make an effort and while I know it is daunting to express yourself in a language you do not dominate, you will see most people will react with great appreciation!

I am a qualified teacher of Italian as a second language and most of my students came to class before a trip to Italy, to learn Italian phrases tourists could learn or carry with them while in Italy for quick reference.

Today, I want to share the travelers’ Italian phrases most commonly requested in my classes.

These, we found, were the most useful Italian phrases for tourists and were all reasonably easy to learn or read out when needed!

As you will see, it is a mix of basic Italian words and Italian phrases for tourists that cover situations you may encounter while traveling in Italy.

I hope you find them useful!

This article is part of our series ‘Learn Italian’. You can find here >>> all our free Italian lessons <<<

You can hear the pronunciation of these Italian phrases for tourists copying them into google translate and clicking on the little megaphone symbol – try here

Basic Italian words and Italian phrases for travel

Before you learn specific Italian phrases for travel, you want to learn your basics.

• Si – yes

2. No – No

3. Grazie – thank you

Grazie is the most common way to express gratitude in Italian but there are several others you may hear or want to use. Learn how to say thank you in Italian here.

4. Prego – you are welcome / please

5. Per favore – please

Please can be tricky to express in Italian. Learn how to properly say please in Italian here.

6. Mi scusi – Excuse me

7. Scusi – Sorry

8. Non capisco – I don’t understand

9. Non parlo italiano – I don’t speak Italian

10. Aiuto! – Help !

Simple Italian phrases to make yourself understood

Parla inglese? – Do you speak English?

Mi dispiace, non parlo Italiano – Sorry, I don’t speak Italian

Piu’ piano per favore – slower please

Puo’ ripetere , per favore? – Can you say that again, please?

Common Italian phrases to greet someone

Ciao – hello / goodbye, informal

Buon giorno – good morning

Buona sera – good evening

Buona notte – good night

Buon pomeriggio – good afternoon, mostly used when parting from someone, slightly formal

Arrivederci – goodbye / bye bye (formal)

A presto – see you soon

Good to know : in most interactions with tourism establishments such as your hotel owner, host, ticket officer etc, you want to use greetings that are formal and polite. The most useful to learn are: buongiono (formal hello) and arrivederci (formal goodbye, at the end of a stay or a meal).

You can learn how to say hello in Italian here

Asking for directions – basic Italian travel phrases if you are lost

Dov’e’ ? – where is?

Ex Dov’e’ il Colosseo? Where is the Colosseum?

Ore more politely: ITA: Mi scusi, mi sa dire dov’e’ il Colosseo? ENG: Excuse me, would you be able to tell me where the Colosseum is?

E’ lontano? Quanto dista? – It is far? how far is?

How far is the Colosseum? Quanto e’ lontano/ Quanto dista il Colosseo?

Dritto – sraight

Destra – right

Sinistra – left

Semaforo – traffic light

Incrocio – crossroads

Ponte – bridge

Strada – street

Strisce / strisce pedonali – zebra crossing

Senso unico – one way street

Piazza – square

ZTL – Zona Traffico Limitato, an area closed to car traffic. Learn what they are and how to deal with them in this guide about driving in Italy.

Parcheggio -parking

A sample conversation may look like:

You: Scusi, dov’e’ il colosseo? Excuse me, where is the Colosseum?

Answer: vada dritto, poi al semaforo gira a destra e lo vede . Go straight, then at the traffic light turn right and you see it.

Another example can be: You: scusi, dov’e’ il bagno? (Excuse me, where is the restroom?) Answer: in fondo a destra (at the end of the room, to the right)

Transport and tickets

At train stations, airports and transport hubs, you may encounter or need to use the following Italian travel phrases and words:

Biglietto – ticket

Biglietto di sola andata – one way ticket

Biglietto di andata e ritorno – return ticket

Riduzioni / tariffe speciali / sconti – disxounts and special tariffs, usually for children/elderly/teachers/specified categories

Posto a sedere – seat

Treno – train

Binario – platform

Porto – harbor / port

Cabina – cabin (on a boat)

Traghetto – ferry

Aliscafo – hydrofoil (you will hear it to go to Capri for instance)

Prenotazione – booking / reservation

When you book a train ticket, it may come with a warning ‘prenotazione obbligatoria’, which means booking for a specific date/time/seat is mandatory.

Taxi – taxi

Autista – driver

Basic Italian sentences when at the shop

Quanto costa – How much is this?

Prezzo – price

Saldi – sales

Ha il resto? – Do you have change (if you are paying with a big note)

Carta di credito – credit card

Bancomat – debit card / also ATM

Posso provare? Can I try this on?

Do’ un’occhiata – I am just browsing / having a look

Si puo’ spedire? Can you ship this?

Caro – expensive Ex. No, grazie, e’ troppo caro . No, thank you, it is too expensive. Ex. Ha qualcosa di meno caro? Do you have anythign less expensive?

Top tip! To avoid embarrassing situations, learn about the etiquette of negotiating in Italian markets and shops here (hint you don’t!)

Medical emergencies

A well equipped arsenal of travelers Italian needs Italian phrases for travel emergencies, just in case!

Sto male – I am sick / I am unwell

Ho bisogno di un dottore / chiamate un dottore – I need a doctor / call a doctor

Aiuto ! – help!

Farmacia – pharmacy / chemist

Ospedale – Hospital

Pronto soccorso – A&E

Medico di guardia – doctor on call

Medicina – medicine

Ricetta – prescription

Mascherina – face mask / Mascherina chirurgica : disposable face mask (medical)

Dottore – Doctor

Infermiere / infermiera – nurse (male/female)

In hotel – useful Italian phrases about your accommodation

Camera – room

Camera matrimoniale – double room (with double bed)

Camere comunicanti – connecting rooms

Culla – baby cot/ crib

Letti a castello – bunk beds

Camerata – hostel room (with multiple beds)

Bagno in camera – en suite bathroom

Piscina – pool

Doccia – shower

Bagno – restroom

At the beach – useful Italian words for a day on the beach

Spiaggia – beach

Stabilimento – beach club

Ombrellone – sun umbrella

Sdraio – deckchair

Lettino – beach lounger

Bagnino – lifeguard

Crema solare – sunscreen

Secchiello e paletta – bucket and spade

Sabbia – sand

Scogli – rocks

Ghiaia – pebbles

At the restaurant – Italian words and sentences for a meal out

Food is such a large part of an Italian trip, my list of Italian phrases for travel needed a section about eating out, and so here it is!

Tavolo – table Ex. Ha un tavolo per quattro? Do you have a table for four?

Vino della casa – house wine

Acqua liscia / gassata – flat / sparkly water

Primo, secondo, contorno, dolce – these are the names of Italian courses. You can learn all about Italian meal structure here.

Mancia – tip (yes, you will need this one! Learn why here >>> guide to tipping in Italy

Allergia – allergy

Allergeni – allergens

Noci – walnuts / also generic word for ‘nut’

Noccioline – peanuts

Lattosio – lactose | Senza Lattosio = lactose free

Latticini / prodotti caseari – dairy products

Glutine – gluten

Kids essentials in Italian

Passeggino – stroller

Biberon – baby bottle

Ciuccio – soother / pacifier

Pappa – baby meal

Seggiolone – high chair

Pannolino – nappy / diaper

Pediatra – pediatrician

Scaldare – to heat: useful if you want to ask a restaurant/ cafe to heat up you child meal you brought from home (Mi puo’ scaldare la pappa per favore? Can you heat the baby food please?)

If you are about to travel to Italy with a baby, read this !

Other useful Italian words for travel you may want to use

Bello / bella – beautiful (male/neutral and female)

Presto, tardi – early, late

In ritardo – late Ex. Il treno porta un’ora di ritardo . The train is one hour late

Come stai? Come sta? – How are you? (informal / formal)

Piacere – when introduced to someone, how do you do

Gratis – for free

Salute! – Cheers! You can find the many ways to say cheers in Italian here.

Stagione – season, you may find it on price lists as Alta stagione ‘high season’; bassa stagione= ‘low season’. Learn here >>> how the seasons are called in Italy

If you are in Italy for the festive seasons, you may also want to learn how to say Merry Christmas in Italian or the Italian for Happy New Year .

I hope you found these Italian phrases for travel useful and you have a wonderful time in my beautiful country. Safe travel planning!

Travelers’ Italian – pin these Italian phrases for travel so you can carry them with you!

Marta Correale

Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. Born and raised in Rome, Marta has a passion for travel and especially enjoys showing off Italy to her kids, who are growing up to love it as much as she does! A classics graduate, teacher of Italian as a second language and family travel blogger, Marta launched Mama Loves Italy as a way to inspire, support and help curious visitors to make the most of a trip to Italy and learn about Italian culture on the way.

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40 basic Italian phrases you need to learn before your next trip to Italy

Recently updated on May 31st, 2024 at 10:42 am

Embark on your next Italian adventure with confidence! Learning a few basic Italian words and phrases is easier than you think, and it goes a long way in enriching your experience while on Italy tours . 

Whether you’re navigating bustling cities, charming piazzas, or hidden trattorias, knowing a handful of common Italian phrases will not only help you get by, but also unlock a deeper connection with the culture and its friendly people. Don’t worry, you don’t need to become a master linguist – even a few basic Italian words can go a long way. 

Go beyond si (yes) and non (no), ditch the phrasebook, and memorize these 40 handy Italian phrases. Who knows, you might even impress the locals!

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Essential Phrases in Italian

Greetings and Farewells in Italian

If you want to greet people correctly throughout the day in Italy, there are a handful of basic Italian phrases to learn. Some of these basic Italian words are more casual, others are more formal. 

If you’re wondering how to say hello in Italian, there are multiple options. When in doubt, listen to what the locals use to greet you and repeat what they’ve said. 

1. Hello/Goodbye – Ciao

Ciao is a casual greeting that can be used at any time of day. To be more formal with strangers, use the Italian phrases below instead

2. Good morning. – Buongiorno  

How to say good morning in Italian? Say Buongiorno in the morning and until lunch. 

3. Good afternoon – Buona sera

This Italian phrase is used in the afternoon, after lunch and before dinner.

4. Boa noite – Buona notte

From 6pm onwards, use this one. You can also use it as a generic way of saying goodbye. 

5. Goodbye – Arrivederci 

Arrivederci is the formal way of saying goodbye in Italian. You can also say ciao.

Being polite

Now that you have Italian greetings down pat, try these common Italian phrases that are respectful and polite. Whenever you travel to a new country, it’s polite to learn how to say hello, thank you, and excuse me in the local language. If you’re visiting Italy soon it’s essential to memorize these Italian words for your trip. 

6. Thank you – Grazie

7. please – per favore, 8. you’re welcome – prego , 9. excuse me –  mi scusi, 10. i’m sorry – mi dispiace.

GO TO ITALY: Best of Italy

Getting Around in Italian

Lost in the maze of charming streets? Don’t fret! A polite “Mi scusi, come arrivo a…?” (Excuse me, how do I get to…?) can point you in the right direction. 

If you choose to travel with Trafalgar, you’ll have an Italian-speaking Travel Director on hand to navigate the language. And yes, it’s still important to learn some basic Italian words so if you’re at a restaurant alone or visiting a city in Italy without the group you can find your way around.

11. Excuse me, how do I get to…? – Scusi, come arrivo a…? 

If you get lost, ask a shopkeeper for directions. Follow their hands!

12. Where is the bathroom? –  Dov’è il bagno?

This is one of those common phrases that you should learn in any language! At least memorize the word “bagno”. 

13. How much does it cost? – Quanto costa?

This Italian phrase is useful while shopping, visiting flea markets, or asking about specials at a restaurant.

14. One ticket, please – Un biglietto, per favore

15. i understand –  capisco .

Or “non capisco” if you don’t understand.

Eating out 

In Italy, dining out is an experience – not just a meal. It’s not something you want to rush through as you linger over rich antipasti, savor fresh pasta, and sip local wine – ideally on an ancient piazza or overlooking the vineyards of Tuscany. 

Italy embodies the Italian phrase “dolce far niente” – the sweetness of doing nothing – where you embrace long, laughter-filled conversations, and don’t rush off once the meal is done. That can be a tricky adjustment for foreigners visiting Italy. 

16. The bill, please – Mi dia il conto, per favore

We’re used to fast service and getting the bill the moment we clear the plate. If you’re in a hurry, memorize this Italian phrase so you can hail your waiter and get the bill.

17. I would like… – Vorrei…

18. can i have… – posso avere… , 19. can i reserve a table – posso prenotare un tavolo , 20. do you accept credit cards – accetta carte di credito.

Often in Europe, it’s helpful to carry some cash, especially if you plan to visit small mom-and-pop trattorias or shop at market stalls. 

21. I am allergic to… – Sono allergico a… / Sono allergica a…

If you have allergies, it’s important to learn how to express that in Italian. While you might think Italy – the land of pizza and pasta – is a nightmare destination for gluten-free folk, it’s actually incredibly understanding and easy to find gluten-free meals, pasta and more.

22. Enjoy your meal! – Buon appetite!

You might also like: The 12 things you need to master to travel like a local in Italy

Shopping in Italian

Italy is famous for its fashion, so if you plan to shop for clothing or souvenirs while visiting here are some common Italian expressions and phrases to help.

23. I would like to try this on – Vorrei provare questo

24. can you offer a better discount – potete offrire uno sconto migliore, 25. can i see this in size… – posso vedere la taglia…, 26. it’s too expensive –  è troppo caro, 27. i’ll take it –  lo prendo.

TOUR ITALY: Italy Bellissimo

Asking for help in Italian

Feeling lost in translation? Don’t worry, these five handy Italian phrases will equip you to navigate any situation. Whether you need assistance, clarification, or simply want to ask directions, these tools will help you bridge the language gap and ensure a smooth and successful journey.

Plus, Italians are known for their warmth, so don’t hesitate to ask for help.

28. Do you speak English? – Parli inglese?

29. can you help me, please – mi aiuti, per favore, 30. i don’t understand – non capisco , 31. can you speak slower, please –  può parlare più lentamente, per favore, 32. where is… – dov’è….

You might also like: Gorgeous Italian cities to inspire your next winter break

Useful Italian Phrases

Striking up conversations and navigating daily life is a breeze with these essential Italian phrases. Introduce yourself with “Mi chiamo…” (My name is…), and inquire about someone’s origins with “Di dove sei?” (Where do you come from?). 

33. Where do you come from? – Di dove sei?

34. my name is…. – mi chiamo… , 35. no problem – non c’è problema, 36. is it open – è aperto, 37. see you soon – a presto, 38. it’s hot/cold – fa caldo/freddo.

Funny Italian Expressions

Here’s a couple of funny Italian phrases to impress yoru Italian Travel Director. These two are untranslateable idioms, where teh literal meaning makes no sense to an English speaker. Usually someone is quite advanced at the language to be able to pull one of these Italian phrases out!

39. “Break a leg!”/Good luck! –  In bocca al lupo 

This literally means “into the mouth of the wolf” in Italian, but it means “break a leg” or good luck. It’s super common among native Italian speakers. Instead of saying the standard buona fortuna (good luck), you’ll more likely hear “in bocca al lupo”.

For even more advanced Italian, you could reply “crepi il lupo” (“the wolf cracks”), which is to say the wolf dies. You can also just say grazie (thank you).

40. Solve a tricky situation – Salvare capra e cavoli

“To save goat and cabbages” is an Italian phrase that means finding a solution to a tricky situation without compromising any positive outcome. It’s a good one to learn and pull out if your Travel Director faces any challenging circumstances and is able to navigate and solve the situation with ease. It’s sure to make them laugh! 

TOUR ITALY: Italian Holiday

Bonus: Basic Numbers in Italian

Now we couldn’t finish this without teaching you basic numbers in Italian. One of the first hurdles of Italian communication is learning the numbers 1 to 5 – uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque.

These will prove invaluable for everyday interactions. From ordering a “caffè doppio” (double espresso) to bargaining at a market, these basic numbers will open doors to smoother navigation and Italian cultural immersion.

We’ve shared 40 Italian words and phrases to use next time you’re visiting Italy. From how to say good morning in Italian, to funny Italian phrases, which ones will you learn for your Italian trip? Leave us a comment below…

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50 Italian Words & Phrases to Know Before Visiting Italy

One of the most asked questions I get from travelers and clients en route to Italy is whether they’ll be able to get by if they don’t speak Italian? The short answer to this is yes, so don’t let your lack of knowledge of the Italian language stop you from exploring all that Italy has to offer. Also, now that we live in an era of Google Translate, there is really no excuse for allowing anxieties of not speaking a foreign language inhibit your travel dreams.

In more popular cities, like Rome, Venice, and Florence, getting by on English alone is doable, but not recommended. Like most non-English speaking countries that you visit, making an effort to speak the language is greatly appreciated. Travel should be a culturally immersive experience, and language plays a major role in this. If you’re planning on visiting less popular towns and regions in Italy like Puglia, Calabria, or other countryside escapes, packing an English-Italian dictionary or downloading an app is not necessarily a bad idea.

The key is to not stress too much over it. Have fun with speaking and learning Italian as a part of the cultural experience. Italians are more than warm and welcoming and will be nothing but appreciative of your efforts to immerse and engage. In return, I can guarantee that utilizing even a few of these Italian words and phrases will result in a much more immersive and local Italian travel experience.

Italian Words to Know

• Ciao – Hello/Goodbye
• Salve – Hello (formal)
• Sì – Yes
• No – No
• Grazie – Thank you
• Per favore – Please
• Grazie mille – Thank you so much
• Prego – You’re welcome
• Buongiorno – Good day/morning
• Buonasera – Good evening
• Buonanotte – Goodnight (used when you’re actually going to bed)
• Salute!/ Cin cin! – Cheers!
• Bello (masculine); Bella (feminine) – Beautiful
• Buono (masculine); Buona (feminine) – Good
• Bene – Well
• Amico (masculine); Amica (feminine) – Friend
• Il conto – The check/bill
• Via/Strada – Street
• Vino – Wine
• Birra – Beer
• Aperitivo – Pre-dinner drinks & snacks (Italian version of happy hour)
• Stazione – Train station
• Treno – Train
• Binario – Train platform
• Autobus – Bus
• Fermata – Stop (bus/train)
• Bagagli – Luggage
• Biglietto – Ticket
• Spiaggia/Lido – Beach
• Ristorante – Restaurant
• Bagno – Bathroom
• Albergo – Hotel

Italian Phrases to Know

• Come ti chiami? – What’s your name?
• Mi chiamo… – My name is …
• Va bene – OK
• Permesso – Excuse me (when passing through a crowd or on transportation)
• Scusa – Excuse me
• Mi dispiace – I’m sorry
• Come stai? – How are you?
• Come va? – How’s it going?
• Tutto bene – All is well
• Non lo so – I don’t know
• Dov’è il bagno? – Where is the bathroom?
• Parli Inglese? – Do you speak English?
• Non parlo Italiano – I don’t speak Italian
• Quanto costa? – How much does it cost?
• Sono di … – I am from …
• Mi piace … – I like …
• Non mi piace … – I don’t like …
• Andiamo – Let’s go

BONUS: Dolce di far niente – The sweet art of doing nothing

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170+ Key Italian Travel Phrases

About to go on that Italian trip of a lifetime? Don’t forget to take some key Italian travel phrases with you before you set off on your adventure!

Even if you haven’t planned a trip to Italy, these travel phrases will be useful for any Italian learner looking to add more words and phrases to their vocabulary!

This post will show you more than 170 of the most common Italian travel phrases, words and questions to help you prepare for any situation you might find yourself in while traveling.

1. Essential Italian Phrases

2. italian greetings and goodbyes , 3. making small talk in italian, 4. asking for directions in italian, 5. italian question words, 6. italian words for shopping, 7. italian phrases for eating out, 8. italian words for emergency situations, 9. numbers, time and days of the week in italian, 10. transport words and phrases in italian, tips for learning italian phrases, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

There are some basic words every Italian learner should learn as soon as possible. Here are some Italian essentials to remember!

It’s always polite to say hello and goodbye, no matter where in the world you are!

Remember these useful ways to say everything from “hi there” to “see you later!”

With these phrases you’ll be able to greet and converse with any Italian you may meet!

Check out this video to see 10 essential phrases used by Italians everyday.

It’s always good to have some small talk phrases under your belt. Here are some phrases that’ll help you carry on a simple, casual conversation when you meet someone new.

No matter how long you prepare for your trip— sooner or later, you’ll find yourself asking for directions.

Asking for directions starts with you approaching the other person with a “ Mi scusi ,” asking your question, then hearing the directions to your destination.

Here are some phrases that could help you navigate this conversation:

Some of the most important sentences you will hear are those that ask a question. Here are Italian question words that prefix Italian queries:

Chances are that if you visit Italy, you’ll probably be doing some shopping. Here are some terms to know so you can get by:

Italy is a land of good food and wine, so here are some words and phrases to help you have the best dining experience possible.

To learn more essential restaurant phrases and see them used in context by a native Italian speaker with Italian and English subtitles, check out this video.

By seeing these phrases used in context, you’ll quickly pick up on when and how to use them in your own conversations. 

Vacations can be unpredictable, so it’s good to know how to ask for help and communicate that there’s an emergency:

If you’re learning Italian or planning on visiting Italy, then these words will be essential!

*The only time in Italian that uses the singular “è…”  is one o’clock. For example: “È l’una” (It’s one o’clock) but all the other times use the plural form “Sono le…” in Italian. Check out this post for a more in-depth guide to telling the time in Italian.

As you can see, knowing how to count and say numbers in Italian is useful for many different situations. To learn more numbers in Italian, you can read about them in this post . 

If you’re traveling in Italy, it’s likely you’ll have to travel in  il taxi or  il treno at least once! 

Take a look at these phrases below to learn different ways of traveling and how to buy and book a ticket in Italian.

Now that you know these phrases for transport in Italian, you’re ready to travel!

But before you go, make sure you watch this video for travel tips for your trip to Italy.

1. Read them out loud.

The best way to master basic Italian phrases is by practicing them in actual conversation with others; however, you may not have access to an Italian speaking partner. 

If this is the case, you can still get a bit of practice in saying these phrases by simply reading them out loud. Hearing yourself say these phrases is an essential step to learning them.

2. Role-play them in different contexts.

In addition to saying the same words or phrases in different ways, you can role-play them in different contexts.

Try to write out a sample dialogue of a situation that would actually use some of these phrases. Then, you can read them aloud and practice being on both sides of the conversation.

Going through this process helps you remember them more and playing both sides doubles your practice time. 

3.  Immerse yourself in Italian media

The more exposure to Italian you get, the quicker you’ll pick up on the language.

Try watching Italian movies, listening to Italian music or reading Italian books. All of these are sure to contain the phrases from these posts and much more. 

You can also try using FluentU to learn Italian phrases and vocabulary in context.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

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4. Practice with a native speaker.

Having a language exchange partner will give you the opportunity to practice the basic Italian phrases that you know and receive feedback on how you’re doing from a native speaker.

If you don’t know any native speakers personally, you can quickly find a conversation partner online on a site like Easy Language Exchange , HelloTalk or Tandem .

5. Use them in your everyday conversations.

Try to find as many opportunities as possible to use basic Italian phrases in your daily routines.

A great way to practice without having to find a language partner is by thinking or narrating what you’re doing in Italian. 

6. Use flashcards.

If you’re having difficulty memorizing Italian words, phrases and expressions, invest the time in making flashcards. 

This classic method really does work and you can choose to do it the old-fashioned way by making your cards by hand or there are several apps available to make them with your phone such as those listed in this post .

Now you have everything you need to navigate basic situations in Italian! 

Buon viaggio!  (Safe journey!)

If you're as busy as most of us, you don't always have time for lengthy language lessons. The solution? FluentU !

Learn Italian with funny commericals, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU helps you get comfortable with everyday Italian by combining all the benefits of complete immersion and native-level conversations with interactive subtitles . Tap on any word to instantly see an image, in-context definition, example sentences and other videos in which the word is used.

Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and review words and phrases with convenient audio clips under Vocab .

Once you've watched a video, you can use FluentU's quizzes to actively practice all the vocabulary in that video. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

FluentU will even keep track of all the Italian words you’re learning, and give you extra practice with difficult words. Plus, it'll tell you exactly when it's time for review. Now that's a 100% personalized experience !

The best part? You can try FluentU for free with a trial.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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135 Basic Italian Phrases for Travel: PDF Cheat Sheet

Hello, fellow travelers, and welcome to your comprehensive guide on basic Italian phrases for travel .

With my experience as a native Italian language teacher, I’ve crafted this guide using insights gleaned from interacting with hundreds of international tourists.

My objective is to tackle the unique challenges you may encounter when immersing yourself in a new language during your travels in Italy . I aim to provide the best way to navigate these language hurdles for a smoother experience.

Planning a trip to Italy? Discover the 35 best travel guide books for Italy to enhance your adventure.

Certainly, Google Translate is handy, but learning basic Italian words and local phrases adds a special touch to your trip. Communicating in the local language can deepen connections with native speakers and unlock experiences that English alone may miss.

I’ve created a basic Italian travel phrases PDF to assist your journey. Accessible and user-friendly, it’s a good idea to download the PDF and make it your ideal companion for swift reference while on the move.

Are you ready to dive into the linguistic delights of Italian and elevate your travel experience? Let’s embark on this enriching journey together!

Basic Italian Phrases and Words

Let’s kick things off with a handful of essential Italian phrases and words that will prove invaluable in daily interactions with native Italian speakers. 

These simple Italian phrases, which represent the essential Italian vocabulary, will showcase your attempts to connect with locals in their language, enriching your Italian adventure.

Recommended Reading : Discover the 21 safest cities in Italy for an unforgettable experience, whether you’re a traveler or an expat.

Common Italian Greetings

Italians are known for their warm and animated nature. Here are some Italian greetings to get you off to a fantastic start. Tossing out a heartfelt “buon giorno!” with a bright smile can go a long way. 

To help you nail these greetings, we’ve listed the most popular key phrases, useful Italian words , and their appropriate use cases.

Formality is typically reserved for strangers and elders, while casual greetings are shared among friends.

Want to learn more about Italian verbs? Explore our comprehensive guide: Italian Verb Conjugation Made Easy with a handy PDF. chart.

Days of the Week and Times of the Day in Italian

Knowing the days of the week and how to tell time in Italian can enhance your travel experience . 

This knowledge comes in handy while booking tours, checking opening times, or even planning your daily itinerary.

Here are the days of the week and some useful phrases related to time.

Recommended Reading : Learn how to count in Italian in no time.

Useful Italian Phrases at the Restaurant

Immerse yourself in Italy’s famed gastronomy with these common phrases designed to enhance your dining experiences. 

If your Italian escapade includes savoring local cuisines or sampling delectable gelato (which it definitely should!), these essential basic phrases will be your greatest ally.

Useful Italian Phrases at the Hotel

Your hotel serves as your sanctuary while you traverse the landscapes of Italy. Here’s a list of Italian phrases with their English equivalent to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible.

Useful Italian Phrases When Visiting Attractions

Italy’s rich culture and legendary landmarks are a significant part of any travel itinerary. 

We’ve gathered some of the most important phrases to help you secure tickets and ask common questions at attractions to aid you.

How to Ask for Directions in Italian

Avoid getting disoriented in Italy’s labyrinth-like cities with these phrases designed to guide you through your journey.

Shopping Related Italian Phrases and Words

Shopping in Italy is an absolute treat, whether you’re hunting for the latest fashion, unique food items, or charming souvenirs. Here are some phrases to aid you on your shopping spree .

Kids Related Phrases in Italian

Venturing through Italy with your little ones? These phrases will prove immensely helpful in expressing their needs and ensuring they’re catered to.

How to Ask for Help in Italian

Should you require aid while exploring Italy, these phrases will be lifesavers in emergency situations.

While we hope you never have to use them, it’s always wise to remember the old saying, “ better safe than sorry .”

Basic Italian Phrases and Words for Travel FAQ

Answers to commonly asked questions about basic Italian phrases and words for travel.

Why should I learn basic Italian phrases before traveling to Italy?

Learning key Italian phrases demonstrates respect for Italian culture and makes your interactions with locals more meaningful. It can also enhance your overall travel experience.

Suggested Reading : Dive into the world of language learning with our top picks for the best 10 websites and apps to learn Italian through games .

How should I practice these phrases?

Regular practice is key. Try repeating the phrases aloud, writing them down, or using them in conversation. The provided PDF can be a handy resource for practice.

Where can I find a handy reference for basic Italian phrases with PDF?

Within this article, you can download our Basic Italian Phrases PDF cheat sheet, ideal for travelers. This extensive guide is designed to assist you in communicating with ease throughout your adventures in Italy.

Final Thoughts

As we wrap up this guide, remember that language is a beautiful gateway to culture. 

By learning and using these essential Italian travel phrases, you’re set to make your Italian adventure even more enriching and memorable. So, embrace the language, enjoy the journey to this beautiful country, and buon viaggio—have a great trip!

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100+ Common Italian Travel Phrases For Your Trip (With Pronunciation)

23rd April 2024

Planning a trip to Italy? Or just want to learn some common Italian phrases? Get by and impress Italians with these 131 ready-to-use expressions!

Listen to the episode :

So, you’ve finally planned a trip to Italy, or are thinking of learning some Italian… 

Wouldn’t it be great to “get by” with some of the most common Italian phrases? 

Using Italian will allow you to connect with locals - plus you’ll stand out from those tourists who make no effort.

Here you’ll learn some typical Italian phrases for your trip to Italy. 

But this isn’t a dusty old phrase-book! 

All the expressions are up to date, and set out in the way Italians really use them. They’ll help you navigate those situations that can feel a bit overwhelming when you arrive somewhere new.

In the first few sections you’ll see the absolute essentials - the most common phrases that will help you get through your first interactions with Italians. 

Later, you’ll find Italian phrases for travel situations, like eating, shopping and transport. 

Then, to finish, a few special words you can use to put a smile on an Italian’s face!

Before we get started, a quick learning tip: 131 phrases are a lot, but you don’t need to learn them all now. We suggest bookmarking this page so you can find the right phrase when you need it. 

Pronti? - Ready? 

Cominciamo! - Let’s start! 

Italian Phrases for Being Polite 

Making sure you’re polite is a top priority when speaking a foreign language, so let’s learn those first: 

These phrases speak for themselves. But watch out for the pronunciation of grazie - grats-yeh - it’s surprisingly tricky. Check out this post on how to pronounce grazie so you can impress Italians by sounding really native. 

Now you know how to be polite in Italian , you’re off to a great start. But before you start talking to Italians, you’ll need to say “hello”! 

Italian Phrases for Meeting and Greeting

If you spend any time in Italy, you’ll hear these all the time:

Although salve isn’t as famous as buongiorno, it’s a very handy word that can be used at any time of day. Plus, it’s a common greeting among native speakers, so it will help you blend in with the locals.

Common mistake alert! Most tourists say ciao all the time, because it’s the most famous Italian greeting. But did you know that it’s actually best avoided in common travel situations, because it’s informal? To sound really Italian, stick to salve or buongiorno/buonasera when arriving and arrivederci when leaving. 

For a deep dive into this topic, check out this post on Italian greetings: How Italians really say hello to each other.

Learning tip: Speaking of first impressions… Don’t miss the chance to listen to the phrases as you go. Making an effort with pronunciation, especially when you’ve just started learning Italian, will help your conversations go smoothly. 

So now you know how to say “hello” and be polite when you meet an Italian. But what if you don’t understand each other? 

Next section to the rescue…

Italian phrases for communication

What can you say if you don’t understand? Perhaps you want to ask someone if they speak English, or encourage them to speak in Italian so you can practice! Learn how to manage communication in Italian with these phrases. 

Ever feel like you keep asking people to repeat but still don’t understand that one word? Try repeating the word you don’t know slowly, in a questioning voice. Italians will realise you what you didn’t know and help you to understand.

Another problem you might have is that Italians keep switching to English, when you want to practice your Italian! The best solution is to simply ask if you can speak in Italian, because you’d like to learn. Many Italians will be delighted that you’re showing an interest in their culture and happy to help.

Now you’ve got the foundations in place, it’s time to learn a few common Italian phrases that you can use in loads of situations. 

Italian Power Phrases

Combine these phrases to say an awful lot, without needing to learn any grammar. Sì!!! 

These phrases cover so many basic requests you might need to make. For example, whether you’d like a coffee, a taxi or a train ticket, you can always use vorrei , followed by the word you want.

With these common Italian phrases, you can already say quite a lot! But what if you just need to pay for something quickly?

How to Pay for Things in Italian

One of the first things you’ll probably need to do: buy and pay for things . Later you’ll learn more specific phrases for bars, cafés, restaurants and shops - but here are the most common phrases you’ll need in all situations.

Keep in mind that Italians don’t normally say centesimi in the price. They usually use the short form un euro e dieci. For example: 

- € 2,50: Due euro e cinquanta

- € 9,70: Nove euro e settanta 

Pronunciation tip: Pay careful attention to the pronunciation of euro in Italian. In Italian, it starts with an eh sound, like in the word edge. Split it into three syllables and say EH - OO - RO. 

When buying stuff, it also helps to have a basic grip of the numbers. To learn them in Italian, don’t miss these useful posts:

How to count to 20 in Italian

How to count to 100 in Italian

It’s thirsty work learning Italian numbers! Time to relax with a coffee or drink. 

Italian Phrases for Bars and Cafés

One of Italians’ favourite pastimes is to socialise standing at the bar or sitting in terrazza. Once you’ve learned these common Italian phrases, you’ll be able to order drinks like a local .

You’ve arrived in Italy and a friend says you’ll meet at the bar… at 10 in the morning?? Well, confusingly, il bar is actually a “café” in Italian! Il bar in Italy serves coffee, and sometimes alcoholic drinks, too, so the difference can be a bit blurry. The locali are bars where you’d meet for drinks in the evening, for example, after a day of sightseeing. 

Culture tip: Once you’ve arrived at il bar (the café), you can either sit down and wait to be served or order at the counter. It’s typical to see Italians stopping by for a caffé (an espresso) at the counter. Although it may seem strange, drinking your caffé standing up is very common in Italy. 

If you’re curious to delve further into the different types of coffee, don’t miss this video which explains how to order coffee in Italy.

So you’ve been out for drinks, but what about sitting down at a restaurant?

Italian Phrases for Restaurants 

Who doesn’t look forward to eating out when they go to Italy? If you’re keen to sample some Italian gastronomy, make sure you add these phrases to your essential vocab list.

When you’re going out for a meal in Italy , a good tip is to check if it’s the kind of place where you should reserve a table ( prenotare un tavolo ) in advance, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings. If in doubt, call and book, to avoid finding the place al completo, or “full”.

If you’re dining alone, you can adapt the phrases slightly and say: 

Ho prenotato - I made a reservation

Sono pronta/o - I’m ready 

Katie says sono pronta, as she’s female, and Matteo says sono pronto, as he’s male.

In Italy, dinner usually starts between 8 and 9:30pm, while lunch starts between 1 and 2pm. Kitchen hours may vary slightly, but Italians are surprisingly strict about meal times.

Once you’ve had a meal out, it’s time to hit the shops!

Italian Phrases for Shopping

Are you one for a bit of window shopping? Use these Italian phrases for shopping to navigate situations on the high street.

Culture tip: In Italy, it’s best to take contanti (cash) with you, especially if you’re moving away from big cities and touristy areas. Many places are still a bit behind the times when it comes to electronic payments. 

For example, in a lot of places, you can only buy bus tickets in cash. And while we’re talking about getting around…

Italian Phrases for Travel and Transport

We all know that navigating nowadays is no longer dependent on asking passersby for directions. That said, it’s still useful to learn some common Italian phrases to help you get from a to b , especially if your phone’s out of battery or wifi! 

Travelling in Italy can be quite different compared to other places, so here are a couple of tips to make sure everything goes smoothly: 

Finally, if you’re lost, you can say mi sono persa/o. Katie would say: mi sono persa, as she is female, and Matteo would say mi sono perso, as he is male.

Perhaps you were making your way to the place you were staying?

Italian Phrases for Accommodation

Hotel staff often speak good English, but it’s still useful to have some key phrases up your sleeve! 

If you’re checking in alone, the receptionist will say benvenuta or benvenuto . Benvenuta to Katie, as she’s female, and benvenuto to Matteo, as he’s male. 

Learning tips: When saying camera - room - be sure to put the stress on the first syllable: CAmera. Note that you might also hear the word stanza, which has the same meaning.  

Next up, let’s learn some little words you’ll hear all the time in Italy.

Helpful Little Italian Words

What makes these little words so helpful? Well, they’re useful in combination with other words in various situations. They’re also those little words you tend to forget - just when you really need them! 

Here are some example sentences of when you might use these words: 

Ecco la sua chiave - Here’s your key

Allora, cosa facciamo? - So, what shall we do?

Mi piace molto. - I like it a lot!

Caffè? - Un po’. - Coffee? - A little.

Parlo un po’ d’italiano - I speak a little Italian.

Vuoi un caffè anche tu? - Do you want a coffee too?

Anch’io! - Me too!

Con zucchero, per favore - With sugar, please.

Senza zucchero, grazie! - Without sugar, thanks!

Phrases to make Italians smile

Isn’t this what learning a bit of Italian before travelling to Italy is all about? If you can bring these phrases into your repertoire, you’re sure to really connect with the Italians you meet.

Buonissimo is a great word to use if you want to give someone a compliment about their food. It will help you connect with people working in restaurants, or anyone who cooks for you! It also sounds more natural than delizioso , the Italian word for “delicious”, which isn’t used as much. 

Lo stesso, which means “the same”, can be used in an “I’ll have what they’re having” way. If you order after someone and you want the same thing, you can just say lo stesso. Or, if something on someone else’s table has caught your eye, just point to it and say lo stesso!

Finally, giusto is a nice, natural way to show you agree with someone, which is always handy to keep the conversation going. 

Go forth and speak Italian

Ben fatto! Well done. You’ve now learned 131 Italian phrases for travel. If that feels like a lot to take in, don’t worry… it is. There’s no need to remember everything at once. 

Keep this page saved so you can return and learn the phrases in smaller chunks. You can also take this article with you on your smartphone and review it at strategic times during your trip. 

Now, if you’re ready to put your knowledge to the test, it’s time to take our quiz.

K: Ciao a tutti e benvenuti. Hi everyone and welcome to “Learn Italian with Joy of Languages”. 

M: Before we get started, can we ask you a quick favore ? if you’re listening to this on your podcast app, could you hit the subscribe or follow button? This way you’ll get notified when we release a new episode and you’ll help our podcast grow so that we can keep making free lessons like this. Grazie! 

K: If you’ve already been learning from our podcast, we hope you know a few things that will help you get by in Italy. Today, we’ll help you feel more confident using them so that if you’re planning on taking una vacanza, a vacation, in Italy soon, you’ll be able to use Italian. 

M: Benvenuti a Napoli! Welcome to Naples. We’ll start with breakfast at the coffee bar, il bar, around the corner. 

K: Which words are most appropriate for greeting the barista? 

A. Buongiorno

D. Any of the above

M: There are two that work best: Buongiorno (x2) and Salve (x2). These are good for greeting people in the service industry that you don’t know. Ciao is often too informal, but you might hear it and use it if you know the barista. 

M: Sometimes if the person is very informal they might greet you with ciao, in this case you can follow their lead, but otherwise it’s best to stick with buongiorno or salve. 

K: Now, we’re going to need some caffeine for our day of Italian! There are a few different kinds of coffee in Italy. Which of the following words would you NOT usually hear in an Italian coffee bar? 

1. Un espresso

2. Un cappuccino

3. Un latte macchiato 

4. Un macchiato 

K: It’s A! A normal coffee in Italy is an espresso, so there’s no need to specify . If you order un caffè, you’ll usually get a little shot the way Italians drink it. Then you heard 3 other common breakfast drinks. 

M: Un cappuccino, which I think is international! Just remember to make the double P and the double C long. Un cappuccino. 

K: Then there was un latte macchiato. Latte means “milk” and macchiato literally means “stained”. So it’s a glass of, usually warm milk, with a shot of coffee in it. Stained by the coffee

M: Un latte macchiato (x2)  

K: You also heard un macchiato. Literally “a stained”. This is a shot of coffee with a dash of milk, usually served in a small espresso cup. It’s perfect if you want to try drinking coffee like Italians do but you want to take the edge off with a bit of milk. 

M: Un macchiato (x2)

K: Time to order. How would you say “ I’d like…”

M: Vorrei (x2) 

K: I’d like a macchiato ? 

M: Vorrei un macchiato (x2). Ho fame! I’m hungry. Let’s get a croissant. Here in Naples, we call it un cornetto, and the pastry is usually thicker. 

K: and un cornetto 

M: e un cornetto 

K: Let’s try the whole breakfast order: 

M: Vorrei un macchiato e un cornetto (x2) 

K: At the end, you can say “please”, per favore, or “thank you”, grazie 

M: Vorrei un macchiato e un cornetto, grazie (x2) 

K: You’ve finished your lovely Italian breakfast, and it’s time to pay. How would you say “I’d like to pay please?” to pay is “ pagare”. Let’s use per favore… 

M: Vorrei pagare per favore (x2)

K: Next, time for some sightseeing. You might need the expression “where is…”. How would you ask that? 

M: Dov’è (x2) 

K: That’s a combination of dove , which means “where” and è which means “is”. We smooch dove and è together and get dov’è. Remember to make the è nice and strong. 

M: Dov’è (x2)

K: Where’s the subway, the metro, la metro ? 

M: Dov’è la metro? (x2) 

K: Once you get to the center, you need to go towards the port. Where’s the port? Il porto

M: Dov’è il porto? (x2) 

K: We want to catch a ferry across to one of the islands in the gulf. 

M: Let’s go to Procida, my favourite. 

K: You need to buy a ticket. Un biglietto (x2) I’d like a ticket. 

M: Vorrei un biglietto (x2) 

K: To Procida. In Italian, we literally say “for Procida” 

M: per Procida 

K: I’d like a ticket to Procida

M: Vorrei un biglietto per Procida (x2) 

K: Once you’re there, you realise you’ve forgotten your towel, so you decide to buy one. How would you ask “how much does it cost?”

M: Quanto costa? (x2) 

K: Nine euros 

M: Nove euro 

K: As you know, prices are rarely round numbers! Let’s say nine euros ninety. Ninety is novanta. In Italian we use “e” (and) to add the cents. Literally “Nine euro and ninety”. 

M: Nove euro e novanta. (x2)

K: You had breakfast late and it’s very hot in the afternoon, so we decided to skip lunch. By the time we get back to mainland Naples, we’re very hungry.

M: Andiamo in pizzeria! Let’s go to the pizzeria. 

K: How would you ask for a table for three? 

M: Un tavolo per tre (x2) 

K: Time to order some drinks. What do Italians usually order with pizza? 

1. Un limoncello 

2. Un vino 

3. Una birra 

4. Un cappuccino 

K: C, una birra. 

M: Yes, it’s like a tradition, we normally drink beer with pizza. 

K: I’d like a beer

M: Vorrei una birra 

K: We’ve heard vorrei a lot. Let’s try a different way to order. Another way is per me, literally “for me”

M: Per me una birra (x2) 

K: I order a margherita. For me a margherita: 

M: Per me una margherita (x2) Then I order a una diavola , which has spicy salami on it. Per me una diavola 

K: Diavola literally means “devil” but don’t worry, because food in Italy isn’t normally too spicy! You like the sound of this pizza, so you say “the same”. 

M: Lo stesso (x2). 

K: As you’re waiting for the pizza to arrive, you go to the bathroom. How would you ask “where’s the toilet?”. 

M: Dov’è il bagno? (x2) 

K: The pizza comes, and it’s delicious. 

M: Buonissima (x2) 

K: This time with an A, buonissimA, because it’s LA pizza. At the end of the meal, you ask for the bill. The bill please. 

M: Il conto per favore (x2) 

K: The waiter tells you to pay at the till. At the till, or cash register

M: Alla cassa (x2) 

K: So you arrive alla cassa . You’d like to pay with a card. Can I… 

M: Posso (x2) 

M: Pagare (x2) 

K: by card, literally “with the card” 

M: con la carta

K: Can I pay by card? 

M: Posso pagare con la carta? (x2) 

K: Certo! Of course. 

M: Finally, I’m feeling very tired and lazy after all that pizza. So I don’t want to take la metro. 

K: We take, or “let’s take” is prendiamo

M: Prendiamo (x2)

K: Let’s take a taxi 

M: Prendiamo un taxi (x2)

K: Ben fatto, well done, you got through the whole day in Italian! I hope you enjoyed your time with us in Napoli and you picked up some useful phrases. 

M: Feel free to listen as many times as you like, the repetition can help a lot to make sure you’re feeling confident with the phrases before your trip. 

K: And if you found this useful, we’ve prepared a special guide for you over on the blog, with a lot more travel phrases that will help you get by using the local language when you’re in Italy. To find it, head over to our website by clicking on the link in the description. Or you can go to italian.joyoflanguages.com/podcast and search for episode 136. Have a nice trip… 

M: Buon viaggio!

Time to check your understanding and remember everything you just learned! Below you’ll find a mini-quiz and some vocabulary cards to help it all go in.

How much did you learn? Find out in the quiz!

Click here to take the quiz for this episode: 100+ Common Italian Travel Phrases For Your Trip

Buongiorno = Hello (formal, lit. “good day”)

Vorrei = I’d like

Vorrei un cappuccino, grazie = I’d like a cappuccino, thank you

Vorrei pagare, per favore = I’d like to pay please

Dov’è… = Where is…

La metro = The subway

Dov’è la metro? = Where’s the subway?

Un biglietto = A ticket

Vorrei un biglietto = I’d like a ticket

Quanto costa? = How much does it cost?

Un tavolo per tre = A table for three

Una birra = A beer

Lo stesso = The same (as in “I’ll have the same”)

Il conto, per favore = The bill please

Posso pagare? = Can I pay?

Posso pagare con la carta? = Can I pay by card?

Prendiamo un taxi = Let’s take a taxi

Flashcards: 100+ Common Italian Travel Phrases For Your Trip

Remember the vocabulary from this lesson by downloading the flashcards.

100+ Common Italian Travel Phrases For Your Trip

Not sure how it works?  Click here to watch the tutorial

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Inspire Your Trip

100+ Essential Italian Words & Phrases for Travel in Italy

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.

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?

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

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

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

1 – Uno 2 – Due 3 – Tree 4 – Quattro 5 – Cinque 6 – Sei 7 – Sette 8 – Otto 9 – Nove 10 – Dieci

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

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.

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Italian Words and Phrases: The Most Useful Italian for Travelers

• Like a local
• Planning your trip
• Transportation

April 22, 2020

Learn just a handful of Italian words and phrases… and you can transform your trip to Italy! That’s because, while English is common in Italy’s larger cities and tourist destinations (including hotspots like Florence, Rome, Venice, and the Amalfi coast), it’s not as widely spoken in Italy’s smaller towns and countryside.

So to experience off-the-beaten-path Italy, a little Italian goes a long way! (And don’t worry about practicing on locals; Italians tend to be friendly and patient with foreigners).

Have no idea where to start? Here’s help, including some of the most useful Italian words and phrases you’ll love having on hand!

Table of Contents

A quick word on Italian pronunciations

Even if you don’t learn a single Italian phrase, knowing how to pronounce the language can be a big help – if only to, say, order items off a menu, tell a taxi driver your hotel address or ask a local what the next metro stop is… and be understood!

In more off-the-beaten-path towns, it’s useful to know some Italian words and phrases before visiting.

Italian words can be rather long (and poetic!), but here’s a helpful tip for pronouncing them: most of the time, stress falls on the second-to-last syllable . (So “Venezia” is “Ve-NE-zia”; “castello” is “cas-TELL-o”).

Vowels show up a lot in lyrical Italian. So just remember that “a” is pronounced like the a in father, “i” like the “ee” in greet, and “u” like the u in rule. The vowels “e” and “o” can be open or closed, depending on the word.

Meanwhile, many consonants sound like their English equivalent. The most important exceptions: the letter “c” before “i” or “e” is pronounced like a “ch,” “g” before an “i” or “e” is pronounced like the g in “general,” “h” is always silent, “r” is almost always rolled and “z” is pronounced like the “ds” in “lads” at the beginning of the sentence, and like the “ts” in sets   in all other cases.

Double consonants can be a bit tricky, but here are some rules to remember: “ch” sounds like the “c” in “car,” “gli” sounds like the “ll” in million, “gn” sounds like the “ny” in “canyon,” and “sc” sounds like the “sh” in “shush” before i and e, and like “sk” in “skip” in all other cases.

Got that? Great! Now, here’s a quick starter guide to essential Italian words and phrases… and, of course, you’ll now be able to pronounce them!

Common Italian greetings

Other common italian phrases, helpful words for getting around italy, days of the week, other popular italian phrases.

by Elena Ciprietti

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• Vocabulary and Expressions

Basic Italian Phrases for Travelers and Beginners

June 17, 2020 9:00 am

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 

Prego has quite a number of other uses. It also means: 

• I beg your pardon?
• How can I help you?

Italian travel phrases

Useful italian words for travelers, asking for directions in italian.

Sooner or later, you will find yourself asking for directions in Italy. Knowing some Italian goes a long way! Especially in smaller towns, people speak little or no English, so being able to get by in Italian makes a huge difference. 

Here are some phrases that could help you:

Here are some replies you might hear when asking for directions:

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:

When you are on a tram, bus or train, and are not sure when to get off, ask:

Italian phrases for staying at a hotel or vacation apartment

Here is a list of Italian phrases that could be useful during your stay:

Here is a list of phrases that could be useful when dining in a restaurant in Italy:

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).

Use the phrase ending in -o if you are a male, and use the phrase ending in -a if you are a female.

Same as above, change the ending to -a if you are a female.

Ask “accettate carte di credito?” if you are not sure if the restaurant will take a credit 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!

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Jessica Maggi

Jessica is a native Italian speaker, a passionate linguist and a proud Grammar nerd. She has a lifelong passion for English and studied Linguistic and Cultural Mediation at the University of Milan. She currently works as a freelance translator and copywriter.

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StoryLearning

Learn A Language Through Stories

94 Italian Travel Phrases Every Intrepid Adventurer Needs To Know

What better excuse to learn Italian or brush up on your Italian skills than a trip to Italy.

Italy is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. Travellers flock there for the delicious food, beautiful sights, and rich culture.

But, when you only have limited time before your trip and you want to learn some Italian language basics, it can be hard to know where to begin.

• How do you know which phrases will be the most useful?
• What’s important and what can you skip over?

Luckily, I’ve created this handy guide to teach you essential Italian travel phrases you'll need to make the most of your trip . These phrases serve as a great crash course for basic communication in Italian. You can look it over at your leisure in the weeks leading up to your trip, or even blast through it on your plane ride.

Either way, when you get to Italy, you’ll be equipped with enough basic phrases to make ordering in restaurants, asking for directions, and befriending locals a breeze.

I’ve broken the guide down into a few sections to make your study-sesh even easier:

• Introductions
• Transportation
• Restaurants
• Emergencies

If you spend some time studying this guide, it’ll be easy to ask for what you need in any situation (and to make new Italian friends)! And a lot faster than trying to learn Italian from scratch .

By the way, if you want to learn Italian in time for your trip my top recommendation for language learners is my Uncovered courses, which teach you through StoryLearning®.  Click here  to find out more and try out the method for free.

Part 1: Travel Phrases To Connect With Italians

Mastering basic Italian greetings is the first step in learning to communicate in Italian. Think about how much a simple “hello” can be appreciated in your daily life. The same is true when you travel.

Italy is also home to kind and welcoming locals. Many Italians are enthusiastic about meeting and befriending travellers and showing them all that their country has to offer.

You'll find that people often greet you in passing or at the beginning of a conversation. Knowing the right way to respond is a great way to show them you’re making an effort to understand their language!

• #1 Ciao! – Hello/Goodbye (informal)
• #2 Salve! – Hello/Goodbye (very formal, you probably won’t hear this one very often)
• #3 Buon giorno! – Good morning! or Good day!
• #4 Buona sera! – Good evening!
• #5 Buona notte! – Good night!
• #6 Arrivederci! – Goodbye!

For these greetings, you would respond by saying the same word back to the person.

Learn More About Your Conversation Partner Or Get Clarification

Next, let’s take a look at how you would continue on to ask someone how they are doing and learn a little bit about them.

• #7 Come stai? – How are you? (formal)
• #8 Come va? – How are you? (informal)
• #9 Molto bene, grazie – Very well, thank you
• #10 Non sto bene/ Sto male – I’m not well
• #11 Come ti chiami? – What is your name?
• #12 Mi chiamo… — My name is…
• #13 Piacere – Nice to meet you (Literal translation: “pleasure”)

If you’re struggling to remember the phrases you want to use, or if you want to discuss something you don’t know the vocabulary for, you can ask if the person you are talking to speaks English.

• #14 Lei parla inglese? – Do you speak English?
• #15 Non capisco – I do not understand

Part 2: Italian Travel Phrases For Asking Directions

Half of the fun of traveling is exploring, and we all know that sometimes that means we have to ask for directions.

Whether you’re trying to find the train station or trying to get back to your hotel, you’re probably going to ask someone for directions at some point in your trip.

• #16 Dov’è… — Where is…
• #17 Mi sono perso – I’m lost
• #18 Il bagno – the bathroom
• #19 La stazione ferroviaria – the train station
• #20 L’ufficio postale – post office
• #21 Il mercato – the market
• #22 La farmacia – the pharmacy
• #23 L’ospedale – the hospital

And, of course, the next step is understanding what they say in response.

• #24 Gira a destra – Turn right
• #25 Gira a sinistra – Turn left
• #26 È qua vicino – It’s close by
• #27 Davanti – across from
• #28 Dietro – behind
• #29 Sotto – under
• #30 Prima – before
• #31 Dopo – past

If you're having trouble understanding or the person is talking too fast, it can help to hold out a map and have them point to what they are talking about as they explain.

And don’t forget to say thank you after someone gives you directions!

• #32 Grazie mille! – Thanks a lot!
• #33 Prego – You’re welcome

Part 3: Travel Phrases To Help You Get Around Italy

Once you know where you’re going, you have to figure out how you’re getting there. The next batch of words will help you converse about transportation.

Let’s start with some words and phrases you might need to use at the train station or the airport.

• #34 L’aeroporto – the airport
• #35 Il biglietto – the ticket
• #36 L’orario – the timetable
• #37 La partenza – departure
• #38 Il treno – the train
• #39 Il volo – the flight
• #40 Il bagaglio – the baggage
• #41 L’ufficio informazioni – the information office
• #42 Quando arriva lì? – When does it arrive there?
• #43 Quanto dura il viaggio? – How long does it take to get there?

When you’re travelling within a city, it’s more likely that you’ll be going on foot, by bus, or in a taxi. Next, let’s look at some words and phrases relating to those types of travel.

• #44 Fermata dell’autobus – bus stop
• #45 Mi serve un taxi – I need a taxi
• #46 Quanto costa la corsa? – How much is the fare?
• #47 Mi piacerebbe andare a… — I would like to go to…

Part 4: Italian Travel Phrases To Help You Taste Italy

For most travellers, one of the highlights of any trip to Italy is eating as much food as possible. In a nation known across the globe for its cuisine, you need to know how to order what you want to eat.

Did you know that there are lots of different types of restaurants in Italy? And they all have different names.

That's why deciding where to eat in Italy isn’t quite as simple as looking for a sign that says ristorante . You have to know what you’re looking for to find a place that will suit your mood and cravings!

• #48 Osteria – a moderately priced restaurant with a short menu of simple foods like pasta, grilled meat, and wine
• #49 Trattoria – a step up from the osteria , typically family-run, typically specialising in rustic home-cooked foods
• #50 Ristorante – a higher-end full-service dining establishment
• #51 Bar – shop selling coffee, beer, wine, and liquor, and occasionally grab-and-go food
• #52 Pasticceria – bakery
• #53 Paninoteca – sandwich shop
• #54 Enoteca – wine bar, sometimes also serving small plates

Understanding The Menu In Italian

Once you settle on a restaurant and take a look at the menu, you might be overwhelmed by your options. Most restaurants in areas that attract lots of tourists will have an English version of the menu.

But, some of the best food in Italy is off the beaten path, so it’s best to know some basics in case you venture into a restaurant that only offers its menu in Italian.

• #55 Pomodoro – tomato
• #56 Aglio – garlic
• #57 Sale – salt
• #58 Pepe – pepper
• #59 Insalata – salad
• #60 Cioccolato – chocolate
• #61 Pane – bread
• #62 Pollo – chicken
• #63 Bistecca – steak
• #64 Vitello – veal
• #65 Carne – meat
• #66 Pesce – fish
• #67 Carciofo – artichoke
• #68 Zucca — pumpkin
• #69 Porro – leek
• #70 Piselli – peas
• #71 Mela –apple
• #72 Fragola – strawberry
• #73 Arancia – orange
• #74 Pesca – peach
• #75 Vino – wine
• #76 Acqua – water
• #77 Succo – juice

How To Place Your Order In Italian

When you know what you want to order, you can always just point to it on the menu. But it's much politer to brush up on the proper way to order your food in Italian!

Your waiter will surely appreciate the effort and you might even strike up an interesting conversation and make a new friend.

• #78 Vorrei… — May I have…
• #79 La salsa è piccante?  – Is the sauce spicy?
• #80 Possiamo avere il conto? – Can we have the check?
• #81 Per favore – Please
• #82 Sono allergico a… — I am allergic to…
• #83 Buon appetito – Enjoy your food!

Part 5: Italian Travel Expressions For Emergencies

Last but not least, I'll leave you with a chapter that I hope you won’t need to use.

When travelling, you need to be prepared. These are phrases that you can keep in your back pocket to use in case of an emergency. You can rest easy in your travels knowing that you're prepared for the worst-case scenario.

• #84 Aiutatemi! – Help me!
• #85 Chiami… — Call…
• #86 Polizia – police
• #87 Ambulanza – ambulance
• #88 Pompieri – fire brigade
• #89 Ho bisogno di un dottore – I need a doctor
• #90 Mi fa male qui – I have pain here. (You can point to the place that hurts)
• #91 C’è un incendio   – There’s a fire
• #92 Attento – Watch out
• #93 Al ladro! – Stop, thief!
• #94 Vai via! – Go away!

Now You’re Ready For An Adventure In Italy

When you picture your next trip abroad, do you find your mind drifting to images of a Tuscan hillside or a bustling restaurant in Rome? Do you yearn for delicious pasta, pizza, and gelato? Do you dream of Florence’s museums or Venice’s canals?

Well, you're ready to turn those daydreams into a reality. Once you’ve mastered these words and phrases, you’re all set for an awesome adventure in Italy.

You’ll feel comfortable introducing yourself to people and asking them how they’re doing, asking for directions, getting around, and ordering a delicious meal in the perfect restaurant. Plus, you’re prepared in case of an emergency.

I hope you enjoy your time in Italy – and who knows? Maybe you’ll love it so much that you’ll decide you want to become fluent in Italian!

How To get Fluent In Italian, The Natural Way

You'll get so much more out of a trip to Italy if you know some basic Italian. And even more if you can have conversations with the locals.

You'll discover hidden sights off the tourist trail, make friends and remember your trip for the rest of the life. But how do you get conversational in Italian in time for heading off to Italy?

Well, you can use the StoryLearning® method – I used it to get fluent in Italian in 3 months , without touching a textbook or memorising grammar rules.

I've put it together into my course, Italian Uncovered , which takes you from beginner to intermediate level in Italian through the power of story.

So if you'd like to get fluent in Italian using the same methods as me in time for your trip, click here.

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• The Most Common Italian Words and How to Use Them

by michele lenzerini | Apr 1, 2024 | Learning Italian Language

If you are new to learning Italian, the first thing you will usually get acquainted with is the most common Italian words, and how or when to use them.

From the worldwide known greetings ciao and Buongiorno (good morning) to amico (friend), you’ll hear those words everywhere when listening to Italian conversations. They’re essential for beginners and invaluable for travelers in Italy. 

Some of the most common Italian words and phrases are so well-known that people use them also to mock Italian people: can you recall someone moving their hands, miming the act of eating and saying “pizza, mangiare” with a marked English-Italian accent?

You might learn some of the most useful Italian words and phrases, whether taking part in an Italian course or planning to spend some time in this beautiful country!

Common Italian words of daily use  

For those embarking on the study of the Italian language or are preparing for a trip to discover the most beautiful cities in Italy , knowing some of the basic Italian words and when you can use them is a must. You’ll see people pleasantly surprised to hear you pronouncing the greetings or adequately addressing them.

• Ciao! Very popular and worldwide known, it means simply, Hello!
• Salve! More formal way to greet someone.
• Buongiorno : it means good morning. In Italy, there is no specific time to stop saying it, actually, at 3 pm you can still say Buongiorno!
• Buon pomeriggio : good afternoon. You can use any time you think is appropriate in the afternoon.
• Buonasera : good evening. Let’s say you normally use this starting from 6/7 pm roughly.
• Buonanotte : good night. 
• Arrivederci : this is used to say “goodbye”, in a polite way. We don’t use it, for example, among friends or family.
• A presto, Ciao! : this is a more colloquial way to say goodbye. Ciao is also perfectly common, literally a “bye!”
• Come stai? This means, how are you? It’s nice to use it when you meet someone after some time.

Common Italian words

• sì/no : yes/no
• Grazie : thank you
• Grazie mille! : thank you so much!
• Molto : A lot / very
• Prego : you’re welcome!
• Scusa, scusami : I am sorry
• Mi scusi : This also means I am sorry but more politely, referred to elder people or to someone we don’t know.
• Mi dispiace : this also means I am sorry, but we use it to express our sorrow for something. 
• Bene : good (I am good when we reply to a greeting)
• Male : bad.
• Per favore : please
• Aiuto : help!
• Chi? : who?
• Cosa? What?
• Dove? Where?
• Perché? Why (important to know, in Italian, you use the word perché also to answer a question)
• Amico/Amica : friend (masculine/feminine)
• Bello/Bella : beautiful (masculine/feminine)
• Buono : good
• Cattivo : bad

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About the weather :

• Nuvoloso : cloudy
• Pioggia : rain
• Caldo : hot
• Freddo : cold
• Vento : wind
• Neve : snow

Other common Italian words and verbs 

• Mangiare : eating
• Dormire : sleeping
• Camminare : walking
• Guidare : driving
• Pranzare : eating lunch
• Cenare : eating dinner
• Bere : drinking
• Colazione : breakfast
• Salire : coming up
• Scendere : going down
• Siediti! : have a seat!

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Common phrases in Italian and how to use them

Now that we’ve covered some basic Italian words, let’s look at how to use them in simple and common Italian phrases, that you’ll certainly hear daily if you are in Italy. If you are new to learning Italian, you can always start with some simple greetings, or if you are traveling in Italy and want to ask for some information, for sure your effort in speaking Italian will be much appreciated!

Common Italian phrases in daily life

• Ciao! Come stai? : Hello! How are you?
• Bene grazie! E tu? : I am good thanks, and you?
• Che ore sono? What time is it?
• Non capisco . I don’t understand.
• Benvenuto a casa mia : Welcome to my house
• Vuoi un caffè? Would you like a coffee? 
• Posso avere un caffè per favore? May I have a coffee, please?
• Dove vai? Where are you going?
• Da dove vieni? Where are you from?
• Cosa mi racconti? What can you tell me? (colloquial, a way to ask what’s new with you?)
• Cosa vuoi da mangiare? What would you like to eat?
• Come posso aiutarti? How can I help you?
• Puoi aiutarmi? Can you help me?
• Oggi fa caldo! Today is hot!
• Sta nevicando: it’s snowing
• Oggi è molto ventoso : today is very windy.

Common Italian phrases and words for traveling

• Dov’è…? Dove si trova…? : Where is…? Where can I find…?
• Quanto costa? How much is it?
• Parli inglese? Do you speak English?
• Mi chiamo …: My name is…
• Come ti chiami? What is your name?
• Hai capito? Do you understand?
• Non mi piace : I don’t like
• Bagno : toilet
• Macchina : auto
• Bicicletta : bicycle
• Aeroporto : airport
• Noleggio auto : rental car
• Albergo : Hotel
• Ristorante : restaurant
• Treno : train
• Biglietto : ticket
• Stazione : station
• Bancomat : ATM
• Negozio di alimentari : groceries shop
• Permesso! Excuse me

Emergency words and essential phrases in Italian

This is a list of words and phrases that might be very useful if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, but also if you need to ask for help and ensure you are understood.

• Non mi sento bene : I am not feeling well
• Non riesco a respirare : I can’t breath
• Ho bisogno di un medico : I need a doctor
• Dove si trova il pronto soccorso? Where is the first aid hospital?
• Ho un’emergenza : I have an emergency
• Ho perso il biglietto : I have lost my ticket
• Ho perso il treno : I have missed the train 
• Mi hanno derubato : they robbed me
• Dove si trova la stazione di polizia? Where is the police station?
• Posso usare il tuo telefono? Can I use your phone?
• Attento! Attenta! : Careful! (m/f)
• Sono allergico a … I am allergic to…
• Ho l’assicurazione : I have the insurance

Speak Italian like a pro: cultural expressions and idioms in Italian

Besides learning the most common Italian words you might also want to learn how to pronounce them correctly, and the best thing to do besides your studies would be to watch movies or, for example, listen to Italian songs .

Italian language is also full of cultural expressions that reflect the immense history and diversity of the country, and you might want to learn some of it, to better understand not only the language but also the culture behind it.

Popular cultural expressions in Italian

• Ma che fai! What are you doing?
• Non vedo l’ora : I can’t wait!
• Mamma mia! Oh my goodness!
• La dolce vita : this represents the Italian sweet life and enjoying life’s pleasures.
• Uffa! There is no proper translation of it, it’s an exclamation that you use when you are upset about something: I have to wait till 30 minutes for my train… Uffa!
• Non te la prendere : don’t get upset
• Dai! Come on! 
• Sbrigati! Hurry up!
• Non mi va per niente : I don’t feel like it at all
• Mi raccomando : please, I beg you
• Che bello! How beautiful/how wonderful
• Dolce far niente : probably one of the most popular Italian cultural expressions, it means the sweetness of doing nothing.
• Piantala! Stop it, cut it off

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Idioms that will make you better understand Italian culture

• Non avere peli sulla lingua : literally, not having hair on your tongue. In Italian, this phrase is used to address someone who does not hold the tongue, and who can speak freely.
• Acqua in bocca! : mum’s the word! It means, to keep a secret (having water in your mouth, which will not allow you to speak)
• Avere un diavolo per capello : having a devil in each hair: this expression is used when someone is very angry.
• In bocca al lupo! It means good luck, but literally, we are wishing for someone to be in the mouth of the wolf. If someone is telling you this, your answer should be crepi il lupo ! (may the wolf die!)
• Chi dorme non piglia pesci : those who sleep, will not catch a fish: this is used to represent the belief that if you want to obtain something you need to work.
• Sono al verde : literally, I’m in the green. This means to be broke of money.
• Conosco i miei polli! I know my chicken, which in Italian is used to represent confidence in knowing someone’s behavior.
• Tutto fa brodo! Every little thing counts.

If you possess a solid command of Italian and are interested in mastering 50 idiomatic expressions, consider purchasing the book Idiomando which specializes in these expressions.

Conclusions

Learning a new language is always a challenge, but it’s also a beautiful and rewarding experience. Italian boasts a vast vocabulary and its grammar can be sometimes complex, but the best way to become proficient is to hear and practice it, for example during a walking tour in Venice , where a tutor can bring you in-depth knowledge of the language.

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The Most Important Italian Driving Vocabulary

So, you’ve decided to explore the beautiful landscapes of Italy with an epic on the road trip? Fantastico! You’re in for an unforgettable adventure packed with breathtaking views and delightful surprises at every turn. But before you hit the road, here’s a brief guide with some essential Italian driving vocabulary to help you navigate like a true local.

How to drive in Italy

First things first, you need to be at least 18 years old with a valid patente di guida ( driving license ) to get behind the wheel in Italy. Got your license at 16? You’ll have to wait a couple more years, sorry. For those with a non-EU license, don’t forget your international driving permit – otherwise, you’ll be stuck in the passenger seat! 

In Italy, you’ll be driving a destra ( on the right side of the road ). Always stick to the rightmost lane on the carriageway and if you need to sorpassare ( overtake ), you can do it on the the left side of the road. At rotonde ( roundabouts ), give way to cars coming from the left, while at incroci ( intersections ), the rule is: vehicles with no one on their right go first. 

Fun fact: Italy established right-hand driving by law in 1923! Before that, each province decided its own driving direction, causing quite the chaos. The switch was influenced by early 20th-century car designs where il freno a mano ( the handbrake ) was in the center of the vehicle and the driver’s seat was on the right, making it easier to operate the handbrake with the right hand – traditionally the stronger hand.

Safety is key, so Italian law requires you to wear le cinture di sicurezza ( seat belts ) at all times. You must also carry un triangolo di emergenza ( an emergency triangle ) and un giubbotto catarifrangente ( a reflective vest ) for roadside emergencies.

From November 15 to April 15, your car needs to be equipped with gomme da neve ( winter tires ) or have catene da neve ( snow chains ) on board. When the snow season ends, switch to gomme estive ( summer tires ) from April 15 to October 15.

Now you’re ready to enjoy the Italian roads, let’s delve into some essential vocabulary that will make you sound like a true Italian driver!

Italian car vocabulary

In Italian, the word for “car” is automobile . However, you’ll more often hear auto or macchina . So, say you want to say “I bought a new car,” you can use any of these phrases:

• Ho comprato un’auto nuova
• Ho comprato una macchina nuova
• Ho comprato un’automobile nuova

While all three are correct, auto and macchina are the most commonly used in spoken Italian. 

When it’s time to leave, as the guidatore (driver), you’ll open la portiera ( the car door ) and settle into the sedile anteriore ( front seat ). Before hitting the road, check the specchietto retrovisore ( rearview mirror ) and the spie ( control lights ) on the cruscotto ( dashboard ) to ensure everything is working fine, especially il motore ( the engine ) and la batteria ( the battery ). The other passeggeri ( passengers ) take their seats too. 

Next, start the car, turn on the anabbaglianti ( low beams ), grab the volante ( steering wheel ), press the frizione ( clutch ), and put in la prima ( first gear ). Check those specchietti retrovisori laterali ( side-view mirrors ) one last time, and you’re off! 

As you pick up speed, you’ll press the acceleratore ( accelerator ) and use the cambio ( gearbox ) to change the la marcia ( the gears ): seconda ( second gear ), terza ( third gear ), quarta ( fourth gear ), quinta ( fifth gear ), and even sesta (sixth gear) in some cars. Unless, of course, you’ve opted for a car with cambio automatico ( automatic transmission ), which means less work for you! 

On a warm day, roll down the finestrino ( car window ) for some fresh air or turn on the aria condizionata ( air conditioning ). If it’s raining, activate the tergicristalli ( windshield wipers ) to keep your parabrezza ( windshield ) clear. And for those foggy days, don’t forget the fendinebbia ( fog lights ). 

Approaching a semaforo rosso ( red traffic light )? Press il freno ( the brake ) to stop. Then, if the car ahead of you is daydreaming when the light turns green, a gentle tap on the clacson ( horn ) should do the trick.

When driving at night on dark roads, switch on the abbaglianti ( high beams ), but remember to switch back to the anabbaglianti ( low beams ) when other cars approach – no one likes being blinded! 

If you feel lots of vibrations on the volante ( steering wheel ) while driving, chances are hai bucato ( you have a flat tire )! Brake gently, pull over and turn on le quattro frecce ( the hazard lights ). If you’ve got una gomma di scorta ( a spare tire ), you can replace the gomma bucata ( flat tire ) and be back on your way to the nearest meccanico ( mechanic ) in no time.

Types of roads in Italy

When driving in Italy, it’s important to be familiar with the different types of strade ( roads ) you will encounter. Here’s a quick guide to the main types:

Le autostrade are high-speed roads designed for long-distance travel. They have two separate carreggiate ( carriageways ) with two or three corsie ( lanes ) for each senso di marcia ( direction of traffic ). Watch for the green signs with white text—these indicate you’re entering an autostrada . Just remember, these roads come with a pedaggio ( toll ): you grab a ticket at the entrance and pay when you exit. If you run into trouble, corsie di emergenza ( emergency lanes ) are available, some with phones directly connected to the soccorso stradale ( breakdown service ). For more details, you can visit the Italian motorway network website at autostrade.it .

Le Strade Statali ( State Roads ) are important roads that connect major centres across different regions. Known by the prefix SS, these roads are toll-free and typically feature two carreggiate ( carriageways ). 

Fun fact: Italy’s first Strada Statale was Via Aurelia, an ancient road that dates back to the Roman Empire! It was originally built during the Roman Empire to link Rome with Cerveteri and eventually extended to France.

Italian State Roads are then divided into Strade Regionali ( Regional Roads ), marked by the prefix SR and connecting provincial capitals within the same region, and Strade Provinciali ( Provincial Roads ), marked with the prefix SP and connecting municipalities within the same province.

Then there are Strade Comunali ( Municipal Roads ) and Strade Urbane ( Urban Roads ) facilitating travel within municipalities. Both are marked with white and black signs.

Lastly, le Strade Bianche ( White Roads ) are the unpaved roads that lead you into the heart of rural Italy. They’re perfect for scenic drives and discovering hidden gems off the beaten path.

Speed limits in Italy

By law, the limite di velocità ( speed limit ) is fixed at 130 km/h on motorways, 90-110 km/h on state roads, and 50 km/h or below in urban centres. 

When driving in Italy, beware the dreaded Autovelox ! Those infamous machines are always ready to snap a pic of you speeding. Keep an eye out for signs saying controllo elettronico della velocità ( electronic speed control ) to avoid any surprise fine.

Limited traffic zones

Italian towns and cities are full of ZTL — zone traffico limitato ( limited traffic zones ). These areas are off-limits to cars, unless you have a special permit.

Always stay alert for ZTL signs – your GPS might be great for directions, but not so much for spotting ZTLs. Also, just because someone else is driving in doesn’t mean you can. They might be residents with permits. Instead, you’ll get fined.

At the gas station

While driving, making a stop at the  distributore di benzina ( gas station ) is inevitable. Italians also refer to it as the benzinaio , a term that doubles as both the station itself and the attendant who might help you out.

If there’s no gas station in sight and your GPS has decided to take a break, just pull over and ask a local, Scusi, dove posso trovare un benzinaio? ( Excuse me, where can I find a gas station? ). They’ll point you in the right direction in no time.

Once you get there, you face a choice: fai da te ( self service ) or servito ( served ), which usually costs a bit more. 

If you choose to fill up the car yourself, depending on the gas station, you’ll either need to use a distributore automatico ( self-service machine ) or pump the gas and then pay an attendant at the booth.

If, instead, you prefer to have the benzinaio ( gas station attendant ) pump the gas for you, pull over to the servito ( serviced ) pump and tell them what you need. For example:

• Il pieno per favore ( Full tank, please )
• Venti, grazie ( Twenty euros’ worth, please ) or whatever amount you’d like to spend

Before the benzinaio starts pumping, make sure to tell them what your car needs. Is it benzina ( gas ) or gasolio ( diesel )? Mixing those up could turn your Italian road trip into a not-so-fun adventure!

Parking in Italy

Parking in Italy is all about colours:

Strisce blu ( blue lines ) = paid parking You’ll need to use the parchimetro (parking meter) located in the parking area to pay for your spot.

Strisce gialle   ( yellow lines ) = parking reserved for disabled individuals These spaces are designated to ensure that those who need closer access can park conveniently. Make sure not to park here unless you have the appropriate permit.

Strisce bianche   ( white lines )= free parking These spots are available for anyone to use without charge. Some may require you to display a disco orario ( parking disc ) to indicate your arrival time. This is usually to enforce time limits and ensure fair use. Check for any signs that might require this!

Renting a car in Italy: Useful phrases

Make sure you have your patente ( driving license ), un documento di identità ( identity document ) and the credit card of the conducente ( driver ). These are the essentials every rental company will ask for.

Most companies require drivers to be at least 25 years old, with one or two years of driving experience, and under 75. Some might rent to those as young as 21, but be ready to pay a supplement if you fall into this younger bracket.

Here are some phrases that could come in handy when you’re at a car rental booth in Italy:

Vorrei noleggiare una macchina .

I would like to rent a car .

Avete una macchina con il cambio automatico?

Do you have an automatic car?

Avete una macchina con il cambio manuale?  

Do you have a manual shift car?

Quanto costa al giorno?

How much is it per day?

Che assicurazione è inclusa nel prezzo? 

What type of insurance is included in the rental price?

Consider getting additional coverage so you don’t have to worry about anything during the trip.

Quanto devo pagare di cauzione?  

How much do I need to pay as deposit?

Posso vedere il contratto di noleggio?  

Can you show me the rental agreement?

Entro quando devo riconsegnare la macchina?  

When should I return the car?

To avoid having to pay extra charges, be clear about the return time.

Che tipo di benzina serve?  

What kind of fuel does it need?

Always ask whether the car needs benzina ( gasoline ) or gasolio ( diesel ). Using the wrong type can result in expensive repairs.

With this Italian driving vocabulary in your pocket, you’re ready to hit the road like a pro. Buon viaggio!

Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.

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I've traveled to many of the most popular spots in Italy. Here are the 4 places I'd return to and the 2 I'd skip next time.

• While working on an Army base in Vicenza, Italy, I got to visit many of the country's hot spots.
• I'd love to return to places like Vicenza, Verona, Florence, and Cinque Terre.
• However, I'm not in a rush to return to Venice or Pisa.

While working on the US Army base in Vicenza, Italy, I had the unique opportunity to visit many of the country's most popular destinations.

After getting a real taste of Italy's varied landscapes and experiences — from swimming in the Blue Grotto to hiking through Cinque Terra — I'm not surprised that Italy is such a popular travel destination . In fact, the country saw record tourism numbers in 2023 .

Still, Italy has 20 regions and many cities to explore. To help you narrow down your options when planning your dream trip , here are the four places I'd return to and the two I'd skip next time.

Vicenza is a charming city with delicious local cuisine.

Because Vicenza was my home base during my time in Italy, I had lots of opportunities to explore the city's offerings. I often found musicians playing their cellos outside and charming cafés where I'd sip a cappuccino.

I loved stopping by one of my favorite restaurants, Regina's, for delicious and authentic Italian cuisine at affordable prices.

I would definitely return to Vicenza again for the great food, warm, welcoming people, and charming atmosphere.

Verona has a lively arts scene.

Verona is home to a gorgeous outdoor opera house called Arena di Verona. Here, patrons can enjoy Italian vocalists, symphonic music, and ballet.

The city is also known as the setting for Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." While in Verona, I loved visiting a popular tourist attraction called Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's House), which celebrates Shakespeare's fictional character, Juliet Capulet.

There are lots of things to do in Florence.

Florence is best known for Michelangelo's "David," which is located in the Accademia Gallery of Florence. Although I'd seen pictures of this iconic sculpture over the years, it was breathtaking to see in person.

The cathedrals in Florence are gorgeous, but if you'd like to visit, be mindful of the dress code. For example, bare legs and shoulders, sandals, hats, and sunglasses are not permitted inside Santa Maria del Fiore.

Cinque Terre is the perfect place for hiking and swimming.

Cinque Terre is a string of five small seaside villages in northwest Italy. The area has 48 different hiking trails connecting the five villages.

In addition to hiking, the coastline is a perfect place for swimming and enjoying the area's popular beaches.

For these reasons and more, Cinque Terre is a spot I'd definitely like to return to.

Venice is a gorgeous city, but I probably wouldn't go back.

Known for its gondola rides and iconic waterways, Venice is undoubtedly a beautiful city. However, I found it to be overpriced and overcrowded.

In fact, in an effort to combat over-tourism, the city recently imposed an entrance fee of 5 euros ($5.40) for some day-trippers traveling to Venice at certain parts of the year.

Next time I'm in Italy, I'd rather explore new places or visit some of my favorite cities again.

Next time I visit Italy, I'll skip Pisa.

Pisa is a quaint city best known for its beautiful leaning tower, which can get crowded with tourists .

However, aside from viewing the tower, I found there wasn't much else to do. For that reason, I probably wouldn't go back to Pisa.

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