Italian Trip Kit50 Italian phrases for your trip, with pronunciation

Greet, thank, apologise, get attention, admit you don't understand.

1. Buongiorno bwon-JOR-noh
   Hello / Good morning
   Say it as you walk into any shop, bar or café, before anything else; skipping the greeting is the thing locals notice. Works from morning until mid-afternoon. 'Ciao' is for friends, not for shopkeepers or waiters.
   Buongiorno! Un caffè, per favore. — Good morning! A coffee, please.
2. Buonasera bwon-ah-SEH-rah
   Good evening
   From roughly four or five in the afternoon in the North, and from right after lunch in Rome and the South; always when you arrive at a restaurant for dinner. 'Buonanotte' is only for going to bed, never for leaving a restaurant; say 'buonasera' or 'arrivederci' on the way out.
   Buonasera, avete un tavolo per due? — Good evening, do you have a table for two?
3. Per favore pehr fah-VOH-reh
   Please
   Goes at the end of the request, after a comma. 'Per piacere' and 'per cortesia' mean exactly the same and you will hear all three; any of them turns a bare noun into a polite order.
   Un'acqua, per favore. — A water, please.
4. Grazie GRAH-tsyeh
   Thank you
   The reply is 'prego', which also means 'go ahead', 'after you' and 'how can I help you?', so you will hear it constantly. 'Grazie mille' is thanks a lot. The 'z' sounds like 'ts' and the final 'e' is pronounced, never silent.
   Grazie mille! – Prego. — Thanks a lot! – You're welcome.
5. Scusi SKOO-zee formal
   Excuse me / Sorry
   For getting a waiter's attention, asking a stranger something, or apologising for a small bump. It is the formal (Lei) form, right for anyone you don't know; 'scusa' is the friends version. For a real apology say 'mi dispiace'.
   Scusi, posso ordinare? — Excuse me, can I order?
6. Permesso pehr-MEHS-soh
   Excuse me (to get past)
   The word for squeezing past on a bus, through a crowd or a market, and for stepping into someone's home or office. 'Scusi' alone gets you a glance; 'permesso' (often 'permesso, scusi') is what actually makes people move.
   Permesso! Devo scendere. — Excuse me! I need to get off.
7. Sì / No see / noh
   Yes / No
   'No, grazie' is the polite full stop for street sellers, rose vendors and restaurant touts; 'sì, grazie' accepts. Note the accent on 'sì'; 'si' without it is a different word.
   Vuole altro? – No, grazie. — Anything else? – No, thanks.
8. Parla inglese? PAR-lah een-GLEH-zeh formal
   Do you speak English?
   Asking in Italian first is the courtesy that gets you a warmer answer. 'Parla' is the formal form; with someone your own age in a casual place you may hear 'parli inglese?'. 'Un po'' means a little.
   Scusi, parla inglese? – Un po'. — Excuse me, do you speak English? – A little.
9. Non capisco nohn kah-PEES-koh
   I don't understand
   Pair it with 'più lentamente, per favore' and people slow down and simplify. 'Non parlo italiano' is I don't speak Italian; 'non ho capito' (I didn't understand) is what Italians themselves say.
   Non capisco. Più lentamente, per favore. — I don't understand. More slowly, please.
10. Arrivederci ahr-ree-veh-DEHR-chee
    Goodbye
    The farewell for shops, hotels and anyone you don't know; 'ciao' is for friends. Say it on the way out of a shop even if you bought nothing. 'Buona giornata' (have a good day) or 'buona serata' (have a good evening) is the friendly extra you will hear back.
    Grazie, arrivederci! – Buona giornata! — Thanks, goodbye! – Have a good day!

Get a table, order, pay, be polite about food.

1. Un tavolo per due, per favore oon TAH-voh-loh pehr DOO-eh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
   A table for two, please
   Wait at the entrance to be seated rather than picking a table. Swap 'due' for the number you need (tre, quattro). In busy cities a popular place at eight in the evening will ask whether you booked; 'no' usually still gets you a table if you are early.
   Buonasera, un tavolo per due, per favore. – Avete prenotato? — Good evening, a table for two, please. – Do you have a reservation?
2. Vorrei… vor-RAY frame
   I'd like…
   The politest way to order anything: 'vorrei' plus the item, 'per favore' at the end. Avoid 'voglio' (I want), which sounds childish or rude in a restaurant. Waiters will also accept 'per me' (for me) plus the dish.
   Vorrei una pizza margherita. Vorrei un bicchiere di vino rosso. — I'd like a margherita pizza. I'd like a glass of red wine.
3. Il menù, per favore eel meh-NOO, pehr fah-VOH-reh
   The menu, please
   Also spelled 'menu'. 'Il menù del giorno' or 'menù fisso' is the set lunch, often the best value in the room. 'La carta dei vini' is the wine list. Tourist-area places usually have an English menu; ask rather than assume.
   Il menù, per favore. Avete un menù in inglese? — The menu, please. Do you have a menu in English?
4. Un caffè, per favore oon kahf-FEH, pehr fah-VOH-reh
   A coffee (= an espresso), please
   'Un caffè' is a single espresso, usually drunk standing at the bar for a euro or so (a little more in big cities, and more again at a table). Order 'un latte' and you get a glass of milk: say 'caffè latte' or 'cappuccino'. A cappuccino after lunch marks you as a tourist, but nobody will refuse to make it.
   Un caffè e un cappuccino, per favore. — An espresso and a cappuccino, please.
5. Naturale o frizzante? nah-too-RAH-leh oh freet-TSAHN-teh
   Still or sparkling?
   You will be asked this every time you order water; tap water ('acqua del rubinetto') is rarely served in restaurants, so bottled water is paid for. 'Frizzante' and 'gassata' both mean sparkling. Answer with the one word and 'grazie'.
   Acqua naturale o frizzante? – Naturale, grazie. — Still or sparkling water? – Still, thanks.
6. Il conto, per favore eel KON-toh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
   The bill, please
   In Italy the bill will not come until you ask; lingering over an empty table is normal, not slow service. Catch the waiter's eye, say this, or mime writing in the air. You pay at the table or at the till ('alla cassa') depending on the place.
   Scusi, il conto, per favore. – Subito. — Excuse me, the bill, please. – Right away.
7. Posso pagare con la carta? POS-soh pah-GAH-reh kon lah KAR-tah
   Can I pay by card?
   Cards are accepted almost everywhere now and businesses are required to take them, but small bars, market stalls and some taxis still prefer cash ('contanti'). If it matters, ask before you order. 'Bancomat' means a debit card as well as a cash machine.
   Posso pagare con la carta? – Certo. — Can I pay by card? – Of course.
8. Cin cin! cheen CHEEN
   Cheers!
   Clink glasses and look the other person in the eye. 'Salute' works just as well and is also what you say after a sneeze. Only for drinks; for food the wish is 'buon appetito'.
   Cin cin! – Salute! — Cheers! – To your health!
9. Buon appetito! bwon ahp-peh-TEE-toh
   Enjoy your meal!
   Said by the waiter as the plates land and by anyone eating near you; the reply is 'grazie, altrettanto' (thanks, likewise). If you walk past someone eating, or leave a table where others are still eating, say it.
   Buon appetito! – Grazie, altrettanto. — Enjoy your meal! – Thanks, you too.
10. Coperto koh-PEHR-toh sign
    Cover charge (on the bill)
    A per-person charge for bread and the table, printed on the menu and the bill: normal, legal, not a scam (Rome and the Lazio region ban the word, so there it appears as 'pane', bread). Because of it, tipping is optional; rounding up or leaving a euro or two for good service is plenty. 'Servizio incluso' means service is already added.
    Il coperto è 2 euro a persona. — The cover charge is 2 euros per person.

Ask prices, pay, browse without buying, read the two signs that matter.

1. Quanto costa…? KWAHN-toh KOS-tah frame
   How much is…?
   Frame: 'quanto costa' plus the item, or just 'quanto costa?' while pointing. For several items, 'quanto costano?'. At the till, 'quant'è?' (how much is it?) asks for the total.
   Quanto costa questo? Quanto costa un biglietto? — How much is this? How much is a ticket?
2. È troppo caro eh TROP-poh KAH-roh
   That's too expensive
   Fine at markets and with street sellers, where a little bargaining is expected; rude in shops, where prices are fixed. 'Grazie lo stesso' lets you walk away politely. For a feminine item (una borsa) say 'è troppo cara'.
   È troppo caro. Grazie lo stesso. — That's too expensive. Thanks anyway.
3. Contanti o carta? kon-TAHN-tee oh KAR-tah
   Cash or card?
   The question at every till. Answer with the one word. 'Bancomat' means a debit card (and the cash machine), 'carta di credito' a credit card; small places may ask for cash under about five euros.
   Contanti o carta? – Carta, grazie. — Cash or card? – Card, thanks.
4. Lo scontrino, per favore loh skon-TREE-noh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
   The receipt, please
   Shops must issue a receipt and will usually hand it over unasked; you are no longer obliged to carry it (that rule went in 2003), so this phrase is for when you want one and it has not come. In many bars you pay at the till first and hand the scontrino to the barista to get your coffee. 'La ricevuta' is the receipt for a service such as a taxi or a hotel.
   Lo scontrino, per favore. – Eccolo. — The receipt, please. – Here it is.
5. Sto solo guardando, grazie stoh SOH-loh gwar-DAHN-doh, GRAH-tsyeh
   I'm just looking, thanks
   The answer to 'posso aiutarla?' in any shop. Say 'buongiorno' on the way in and 'arrivederci' on the way out even if you buy nothing; in small shops it is also normal to ask before handling goods.
   Posso aiutarla? – Sto solo guardando, grazie. — Can I help you? – I'm just looking, thanks.
6. Basta così, grazie BAHS-tah koh-ZEE, GRAH-tsyeh
   That's all, thanks
   Ends the order at a market stall, bakery or deli counter. 'Basta' on its own sounds like 'stop it', so keep 'così, grazie'. At a deli you order by weight: 'un etto' is 100 g, 'due etti' 200 g.
   Altro? – Basta così, grazie. — Anything else? – That's all, thanks.
7. Uno di questi, per favore OO-noh dee KWEHS-tee, pehr fah-VOH-reh
   One of these, please
   Pointing plus this phrase orders any pastry, panino or ticket. 'Da portare via' is takeaway, 'qui' or 'da mangiare qui' is to eat here; sitting at a table often costs more than standing at the bar. For a feminine item, 'una di queste'.
   Uno di questi, per favore. – Da portare via? — One of these, please. – To take away?
8. Avete…? ah-VEH-teh frame
   Do you have…?
   Frame: 'avete' plus the thing, addressed to the shop or restaurant as a whole. 'C'è…?' (is there…?) does the same job. 'Una taglia' is a clothing size, 'un numero' a shoe size; Italian clothing sizes are a scale of their own, not the one on French or German labels (a UK 10 or US 6 is an Italian 42), so check the chart. Only shoe sizes match across Europe.
   Avete una taglia più grande? Avete il Wi-Fi? — Do you have a bigger size? Do you have Wi-Fi?
9. Aperto / Chiuso ah-PEHR-toh / KYOO-zoh sign
   Open / Closed
   The two shop-door signs. Outside big cities many shops still close in the afternoon, roughly one to four, and one day a week; 'chiuso per ferie' means closed for holidays, common in August. 'Orario' is the opening hours list.
   Chiuso per riposo settimanale. — Closed for the weekly rest day.
10. Saldi / Cassa SAHL-dee / KAHS-sah sign
    Sale / Checkout
    'Saldi' are the seasonal sales, in January and July; 'sconto' is a discount. 'Cassa' is the till, and in many bars you pay there first and take the receipt to the counter.
    Saldi: sconti fino al 50%. Pagare alla cassa. — Sale: up to 50% off. Pay at the checkout.

Find things, buy a ticket, read the signs you walk past.

1. Dov'è…? doh-VEH frame
   Where is…?
   Frame: 'dov'è' plus the place with its article; start with 'scusi'. For plural places use 'dove sono'. The answer will use the three direction words: a destra, a sinistra, dritto.
   Dov'è la stazione? Dov'è il bagno? — Where is the station? Where is the bathroom?
2. Dov'è il bagno? doh-VEH eel BAHN-yoh
   Where is the bathroom?
   'Bagno' is the everyday word; 'toilette' is understood too. Public toilets are rare, so a bar is the usual option: buy a coffee, then ask. On the doors, 'signori' or 'uomini' is men, 'signore' or 'donne' is women.
   Scusi, dov'è il bagno? – In fondo a destra. — Excuse me, where is the bathroom? – At the end on the right.
3. Dov'è la stazione? doh-VEH lah stah-TSYOH-neh
   Where is the station?
   'La stazione' on its own means the train station; say 'la metro' for the underground and 'la stazione degli autobus' for buses. 'Centrale' after a city name (Milano Centrale) is the main station.
   Dov'è la stazione? – Sempre dritto, dieci minuti. — Where is the station? – Straight ahead, ten minutes.
4. Un biglietto per Firenze, per favore oon beel-YEHT-toh pehr fee-REHN-tseh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
   A ticket to Florence, please
   'Solo andata' is one way, 'andata e ritorno' is return. Regional paper tickets must be stamped before boarding (see the 'convalidare' card); high-speed tickets are for a specific train and seat and need no stamp.
   Un biglietto per Firenze, per favore. – Solo andata o andata e ritorno? — A ticket to Florence, please. – One way or return?
5. Quale binario? KWAH-leh bee-NAH-ryoh
   Which platform?
   Platforms are numbered and appear on the departures board ('partenze') often only a few minutes before the train; 'in ritardo' means late. 'Binario' is also the word on the platform signs.
   Quale binario per Roma? – Binario tre. — Which platform for Rome? – Platform three.
6. A destra / a sinistra / dritto ah DEHS-trah / ah see-NEES-trah / DREET-toh
   Right / left / straight on
   What every answer to 'dov'è' contains. 'Sempre dritto' is keep straight, 'in fondo' at the end, 'vicino' near, 'lontano' far. Expect hand gestures with it.
   Sempre dritto, poi a sinistra. — Straight on, then left.
7. Entrata / Uscita ehn-TRAH-tah / oo-SHEE-tah sign
   Entrance / Exit
   'Uscita' is also the motorway exit and the way out of the metro. 'Ingresso' is another word for entrance, often with 'libero' (free admission) at museums and churches.
   Uscita di emergenza. — Emergency exit.
8. Spingere / Tirare SPEEN-jeh-reh / tee-RAH-reh sign
   Push / Pull
   On doors you will see the infinitive verbs, not commands. 'Premere' (press) appears on buttons and 'aprire' / 'chiudere' (open / close) on gates and lifts.
   Spingere. – Tirare. — Push. – Pull.
9. Convalidare il biglietto kon-vah-lee-DAH-reh eel beel-YEHT-toh sign
   Validate your ticket
   The fine that catches tourists: paper tickets for regional trains, buses and trams must be stamped in the small machine before you board, or the inspector fines you on the spot. A regional ticket bought in the Trenitalia app or website is tied to the train time you picked and validates itself at that departure time; if you hop on an earlier train, change the time in the app first or the ticket does not count. High-speed tickets are for a specific train and seat and need nothing.
   Convalidare il biglietto prima di salire. — Validate the ticket before boarding.
10. Fermata fehr-MAH-tah sign
    Stop (bus / tram)
    The sign at bus and tram stops, and the word in the on-board announcement 'prossima fermata'. 'Fermata a richiesta' means press the button or the bus will not stop; 'capolinea' is the end of the line.
    Prossima fermata: Duomo. — Next stop: Duomo.

Check in, get online, and get help when something goes wrong.

1. Ho una prenotazione oh OO-nah preh-noh-tah-TSYOH-neh
   I have a reservation
   The check-in opener at hotels and restaurants; 'a nome' plus your surname gives the name. Hotels will ask for your passport ('un documento') and register you with the police: normal and required by law. The 'h' in 'ho' is silent.
   Buonasera, ho una prenotazione a nome Smith. — Good evening, I have a reservation under Smith.
2. La chiave, per favore lah KYAH-veh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
   The key, please
   Many smaller hotels still keep keys at the desk: leave it when you go out and ask for it when you return, giving the room number. 'La camera' is the room; 'la tessera' is a key card.
   La chiave, per favore. Camera dodici. — The key, please. Room twelve.
3. Qual è la password del Wi-Fi? kwahl EH lah PASS-word del WYE-fye
   What's the Wi-Fi password?
   'Wi-Fi' is usually said the English way in Italy, 'wye-fye', though you will also hear 'wee-fee'; 'password' is used as is. 'Il Wi-Fi è gratis?' asks whether it is free. Works in cafés too; most will give it on the receipt or a card.
   Qual è la password del Wi-Fi? – È scritta sul cartoncino. — What's the Wi-Fi password? – It's written on the card.
4. A che ora è la colazione? ah keh OH-rah EH lah koh-lah-TSYOH-neh
   What time is breakfast?
   'A che ora' is at what time; the answer 'dalle… alle…' gives the range. Italian hotel breakfast is often sweet: a cornetto and coffee. For the other question you need, 'a che ora è il check-out?'.
   A che ora è la colazione? – Dalle sette alle dieci. — What time is breakfast? – From seven to ten.
5. Aiuto! ah-YOO-toh
   Help!
   Shout it; everyone understands. The single emergency number in Italy is 112, with English-speaking operators. 'Al ladro!' (thief!) if someone grabs a bag.
   Aiuto! Chiamate un'ambulanza! — Help! Call an ambulance!
6. Ho bisogno di un medico oh bee-ZOHN-yoh dee oon MEH-dee-koh
   I need a doctor
   'Ho bisogno di' is I need. 'Il pronto soccorso' is the emergency department, and 112 is the emergency number. EU visitors can use the EHIC card there; others should have their insurance details ready. For minor problems, try the pharmacy first.
   Ho bisogno di un medico. Non mi sento bene. — I need a doctor. I don't feel well.
7. Dov'è la farmacia? doh-VEH lah far-mah-CHEE-ah
   Where is the pharmacy?
   Look for the green cross sign. Pharmacists give advice and sell many remedies without a prescription. 'Farmacia di turno' is the one open at night or on Sunday; every pharmacy door lists the nearest one.
   Dov'è la farmacia più vicina? — Where is the nearest pharmacy?
8. Chiami la polizia, per favore KYAH-mee lah poh-lee-TSEE-ah, pehr fah-VOH-reh formal
   Call the police, please
   Formal request. 'Polizia' and 'carabinieri' both police Italy; either will help. For a stolen item you need a 'denuncia' (police report) for insurance, made at any 'questura' or carabinieri station; bring your passport.
   Chiami la polizia, per favore. Mi hanno rubato il portafoglio. — Call the police, please. My wallet has been stolen.
9. Mi sono perso / persa mee SOH-noh PEHR-soh / PEHR-sah
   I'm lost
   'Perso' if you are male, 'persa' if female. Follow it with 'dov'è' and the place, or show the address on your phone. 'È lontano?' (is it far?) gets a useful answer.
   Mi sono persa. Dov'è Piazza Navona? — I'm lost. Where is Piazza Navona?
10. Può chiamare un taxi, per favore? pwoh kyah-MAH-reh oon TAK-see, pehr fah-VOH-reh formal
    Can you call a taxi, please?
    Formal 'può' (can you). Italian taxis are rarely hailed in the street: find a rank ('posteggio taxi'), phone, use an app, or ask the hotel or restaurant to call. Fares are metered; ask for 'la ricevuta' (receipt).
    Può chiamare un taxi, per favore? – Certo, per dove? — Can you call a taxi, please? – Of course, where to?