Basic Phrases In Italian Every Traveler Should Learn

1. Simple conversational greetings

Italians are a friendly and sociable people and there’s no better way to start and end a conversation than with the greetings listed below. These greetings should be easy to memorize and you’ve probably heard them many times in ads, movies, and songs. Greet locals, hotel staff, taxi drivers, and tourist guides with “salve” when you first meet them. And say “Arrivederci, alla prossima” soon after ending a conversation or when departing. When meeting someone in the morning, it’s best to use “buongiorno”. In the afternoon, use “buon pomeriggio” and in the evenings, go with “buonanotte.” This shows that you grasp the basics of Italian and proper greeting etiquette.

1. Hello: Salve (sal-vay)
2. Goodbye, see you next time: Arrivederci, alla prossima (arr-ee-va-der-chee al-la pros-see-ma)
3. Good morning: Buongiorno (bu-on-jour-no)
4. Good afternoon: Buon pomeriggio (bu-on po-mer-eej-jio)
5. Good night: Buonanotte (bu-ona-not-tay)

2. Ordering food

One of the main reasons to visit Italy is for its glorious cuisine. So, you’ll be spending plenty of time at the country’s many excellent restaurants and cafes ordering delicious delicacies. Learn the following phrases and when to use them to communicate effectively with restaurant staff. If you need to call over a waiter say “mi scusi”, while raising your hand and ask for the menu with “potrei avere il menu, per favore.” When the waiter is ready to take your order, ask them about the establishment’s choice picks with “cosa mi consiglia” and order it with “vorrei.” After placing an order and when paying for it, always be courteous by thanking the waiter and teller with “grazie.”

1. Excuse me: Mi scusi (mee skoo-see)
2. Can I have the menu, please: Potrei avere il menu, per favore (pot-ray a-vay-ray eel me-noo, per fa-vo-ray)
3. What do you recommend: Cosa mi consiglia (ko-sa mee kon-sihl-ya)
4. I would like...: Vorrei… (vo-ray)
5. Thank you: Grazie (gra-tsee)

3. Asking for directions

Let’s be honest, when you arrive in a foreign country, you won’t know the exact locations of certain destinations. Apps, such as Google Maps will help, but sometimes you’ll need to ask one of the locals to pinpoint a location for you. When you start conversing with a local Italian to ask them for directions, excuse yourself with “mi scusi.” If you’re lost say “mi sono perso” and, if you want to elaborate where you need to go, say “vorrei andare a…” followed, by the name of the destination. If you need them to repeat those directions, ask them with “potrebbe ripetere, per favore” and to ask them if they speak English, go with “parla Inglese.”

1. Excuse me: Mi scusi (mee skoo-see)
2. I’m lost: Mi sono perso (mee so-no per-so)
3. I want to go to ... : Vorrei andare a ... (vo-ray an-da-ray a ...)
4. Could you say that again please: Potrebbe ripetere, per favore (po-tre-bay ree-peh-teh-reh per fa-vawr-ay)
5. Do you speak English: Parla inglese (par-la een-glay-say)

4. Shopping and bargaining

Italy is a shopper’s paradise. After all, this is the country that’s home to some of the most prestigious lifestyle and luxury brands. Even if you’re not interested in purchasing branded goods, you’ll find plenty of curio items that you’ll want to bring home with you. Learn the following phrases to bargain effectively and purchase those sought after items. Ask how much an item costs with “quanto costa questo. Ask for a discount with "può farmi uno sconto” and to ask how much it will cost together with an additional item, say “se li compro entrambi.” If you’re not interested in making a purchase or prefer to browse then politely say “sto solo guardando.”

1. How much does that cost: Quanto costa questo (kwan-to kos-ta kwes-to)
2. Can you do me a discount: Può farmi uno sconto (poo-o far-mee oo-no skon-to)
3. If I buy these together [A useful way to knock the price down]: Se li compro entrambi (see lee com-pro en-tram-bee)
4. Thank you, I’ll keep looking: Grazie, continuo a guardare (gra-tsee, kon-tee-noo-o a gwar-da-ray)
5. I’m just looking around: Sto solo guardando (Sto so-lo gwar-dan-do)

5. Medical emergencies

While it’s likely that you’ll have a great time on your trip to Italy, there’s no guarantee that everything will go smoothly. There’s always potential health risks when traveling to foreign countries. That’s why it’s good to know a few phrases to notify others of any health issues and medical emergencies. If you need help, say “può aiutarmi, per favore”, or if you don’t feel well, say “non mi sento bene.” Furthermore, if you need to see a doctor, say “devo andare da un medico”. To ask if there’s a hospital nearby, say “c'è un ospedale da queste parti” and go with “ho bisogno di medicine” if you need medicine.

1. Can you help me, please: Può aiutarmi, per favore (poo-o ay-oo-tar-mee, per fa-vo-ray)
2. I don’t feel well: Non mi sento bene (non mee sen-to bay-nay) He/she doesn’t feel well: Non si sente bene (non see sen-tay bay-nay)
3. I need to see a doctor: Devo andare da un medico (de-vo an-day-ray da oon me-dee-ko)
4. Is there a hospital near here: C'è un ospedale da queste parti (chay oon os-pay-da-lay da kwes-tay par-tee)
5. I need some medicine: Ho bisogno di medicine (o bi-son-yo dee me-dee-cee-nay)

A little learning goes a long way

It’s not necessary to learn Italian in its entirety to enjoy your upcoming trip to Italy. A few phrases, such as the ones we’ve listed here, will help you with your day-to-day interactions with the locals.