There are so many ways to learn basic Italian phrases for travel as you prep for your trip to Italy. I put together this streamlined guide with the ones I’ve found to be the most useful words and phrases.
No matter how you choose to study, it’s smart to invest the time to learn at least some of the most common Italian phrases and greetings. Not only can it be incredibly practical but it just might lead to making a new friend or landing in an experience you might not have had otherwise.
Plus, language is culture. So, when you try to speak it, it’s not only courteous but also opens the door to a deeper understanding of where you are and the people who live there. I’ve even put together a list of my favorite resources with the best ways to learn Italian if you want to learn more.
So, take some time to study and then have fun trying out the right phrases at the right times during your trip!
Basic Italian Greetings
One of the best things about even the most basic greetings in Italian is how the romantic rhythm and vibrato of the Italian language just rolls off your tongue right from the start! Even with the basics of Italian greetings like the ones listed below which also happen to be the cornerstone of your trip to Italy.
Whether you’re walking through the hotel lobby, entering a shop, or walking along a quiet street in a tiny village, it’s polite to greet people and also a great opportunity to practice your Italian and participate in the local culture.
One thing to keep in mind is despite the popularity of the word “ciao,” it’s an informal way to say hello and goodbye in Italian. It’s a bit confusing because you’ll likely hear it used a lot in very touristy areas. However, it’s best to use greetings like “Buongiorno” or “Buonasera” when you’re greeting people you don’t know or who are older than you.
With that, let’s take a look at the greetings below.
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning/Good day | Buongiorno | Bwohn-johr-noh |
| Good afternoon | Buon pomeriggio | Bwohn pah-meh-ree-djoh |
| Good evening | Buonasera | Bwoh-nah seh-rah |
| Hello (informal) | Ciao | Chow |
| Hello (formal) | Salve | Sahl-veh |
| Good night (when going to bed) | Buonanotte | Bwoh-nah noh-teh |
| Goodbye (informal) | Ciao | Chow |
| Goodbye (formal) | Arrivederci | Ahr-ree-veh-dehr-chee |
| Have a good evening. | Buona serata. | Bwoh-nah seh-rah-tah |
| Have a good day. | Buona giornata. | Bwohn-nah johr-nah-tah |
Basic Italian Words for Travelers
Aside from greetings, there are a few more common Italian words that every traveler to Italy should know.
From the list below, I want to draw your attention to 2 words, in particular.
First, you may already know that “prego” means “you’re welcome” in Italian. But what you might find surprising is that it also is used in many different situations.
Most notably, your server at a restaurant may use the word “prego” to let you know that they are ready to take your order. In this context, they’re actually saying “Please, tell me.”
Another way you may hear Italians use the word “prego” is when they’re letting you go first or pass before them. For example, let’s say you’re about to walk into a shop as someone is also walking out of the shop. That person may gesture with their hand out saying “prego.” They’re saying “Please, you go first.”
As you travel around Italy, see if you can find a situation to do the same. By letting someone go ahead of you while saying “prego,” you’ll have taken your basic Italian skills to another level.
The 2nd word to keep in mind is “permesso.” Italians will use this word as a polite way to ask you to move aside so they can pass by. You can use it too, and likely with much better success than “scusi/a.” Try it while you’re walking through a market or piazza and need to pass someone and watch how quickly they respond.
Lastly, in case you’re visiting family or friends who live in Italy, it’s also customary to ask “permesso” before entering someone’s house or space. After asking, the host’s response is “prego” (please), of course!
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Si | See |
| No | No | Noh |
| Thank you | Grazie | Grah-tsee-eh |
| Thanks a lot | Grazie mille | Grah-tsee-eh meel-leh |
| You’re welcome | Prego | Preh-goh |
| Please | Per favore | Pehr fah-voh-reh |
| Excuse me (to move past someone) | Permesso | Pehr-mehs-soh |
| Excuse me (for attention; formal/informal) | Scusi/Scusa | Skooh-zee/Skooh-zah |
Basic Italian Phrases
In every language, there are key phrases that are important to know and Italian is no different.
When learning a new language, I find it helpful to study phrases and not just one word at a time. These common Italian phrases are not only helpful to know but also great conversation starters.
In many places in Italy, you’ll find someone who speaks at least a little English. But it goes a long way when you attempt to start a conversation in Italian with a few useful phrases. Even the attempt shows respect for the local language and Italian culture.
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 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/informal) | Come sta?/Come stai? | Koh-meh stah?/Koh-me sty? |
| How’s it going? | Come va? | Koh-meh vah? |
| Good, thanks. | Bene, grazie. | Beh-neh grah-tsee-eh |
| I don’t know | Non lo so. | Non loh soh |
| I’m sorry. | Mi dispiace. | Mee dees-pyah-cheh |
| Do you speak English? (formal/informal) | Parla/Parli inglese? | Parh-la/Parh-li een-glay-zeh? |
| I don’t speak Italian. | Non parlo italiano. | Non parh-loh ee-tah-lee-aah-noh |
| I don’t understand. | Non capisco. | Non kah-pee-skoh |
| I understand | Capisco | Kah-pee-skoh |
| Where is the bathroom? | Dov’è il bagno? | Doh-veh eel bahn-yoh? |
| How much does it cost? | Quanto costa? | Kwahn-toh kohs-tah? |
| Can you repeat that? (formal/informal) | Può/Puoi ripetere? | Pwoh/Pwoy ree-peh-teh-reh? |
| See you soon! | A presto! | Ah preh-stoh! |
| Can I have…? | Posso avere…? | Poh-soh ah-veh-reh…? |
| I need… | Ho bisogno di… | Oh biz-ohn-nyo dee… |
| I have a reservation. | Ho una prenotazione. | Oh oo-nah preh-noh-tah-zeo-neh |
Numbers in Italian
You’ll need to know at least some of the numbers in Italian to understand and tell time, as well as tell how many of something you need from tickets to seats at a restaurant table. Plus, it’s helpful when you’re shopping and you want to understand when the shopkeeper lets you know the total.
Also, remember that Italians frequently use a 24-hour clock. But with the numbers 1-12 and then remembering the words for morning, afternoon, and night listed below, you’ll be able to say and understand the time of day.
Another great thing about learning the numbers in Italian is that, once you know the basics, you can quickly put together bigger numbers.
For example, if you know “cinque” is the word for 5 and “venti” is the word for 20, then you simply put venticinque together to make 25.
Using that formula and the chart below, can you figure out how to say 55?
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| One | Uno | Oo-noh |
| Two | Due | Doo-eh |
| Three | Tre | Treh |
| Four | Quattro | Kwah-troh |
| Five | Cinque | Cheen-kway |
| Six | Sei | Say |
| Seven | Sette | Seht-teh |
| Eight | Otto | Oh-toh |
| Nine | Nove | Noh-veh |
| Ten | Dieci | Dee-eh-chee |
| Eleven | Undici | Oon-dee-chee |
| Twelve | Dodici | Doh-dee-chee |
| Thirteen | Tredici | Treh-dee-chee |
| Fourteen | Quattordici | Kwah-torh-dee-chee |
| Fifteen | Quindici | Kwin-dee-chee |
| Sixteen | Sedici | Seh-dee-chee |
| Seventeen | Diciassette | Dee-cha-seht-teh |
| Eighteen | Diciotto | Deech-oh-toh |
| Nineteen | Diciannove | Dee-cha-noh-veh |
| Twenty | Venti | Vehn-tee |
| Thirty | Trenta | Tren-tah |
| Forty | Quaranta | Kwah-rahn-tah |
| Fifty | Cinquanta | Chin-kwahn-tah |
| Sixty | Sessanta | Sehs-sahn-tah |
| Seventy | Settanta | Seht-tahn-tah |
| Eighty | Ottanta | Oh-tahn-tah |
| Ninety | Novanta | Noh-vahn-tah |
| One hundred | Cento | Chen-toh |
Days of the Week & Time of Day in Italian
Any list of essential Italian travel phrases needs to include words to describe the days of the week and the concept of when. You need to be sure you understand when places are open and closed, as well as some basics about the time of day whether for reservations or guided tours.
This is especially true when you’re traveling outside of a major tourist zone where the local tourism office might list information in Italian only.
The words morning, afternoon, evening, and night also come in handy when telling time. They’re easy ways to indicate am or pm.
For example, let’s say you want to say “It’s 8 o’clock in the evening,” you’d use the phrase “Sono le” plus the hour and word to describe the time of day. In this case, it would be “Sono le otto di sera.”
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Day after tomorrow | Dopodomani | Doh-poh-doh-mah-nee |
| Morning | Mattina | Mah-tee-nah |
| Afternoon | Pomeriggio | pah-meh-ree-djoh |
| Evening | Sera | seh-rah |
| Night | Notte | noh-teh |
| Noon | Mezzogiorno | Mehd-dzoh-johr-noh |
| This morning | Stamattina | Stah-mah-tee-nah |
| Tonight/This evening | Stasera | Sta-seh-rah |
| When (is it)? | Quando (è)? | Kwahn-doh (eh)? |
| At what time? | A che ora? | Ah kay ohr-ah? |
| What time is it? | Che ora sono?/Che ora è? | Kay ohr-ah soh-noh?/Kay ohr-ah eh? |
Getting Around and Transportation in Italian
While traveling in Italy, you’ll likely find yourself at a train station or needing to clarify some directions when Google Maps can’t find the exact place you’re trying to reach. In these cases, I like to have a few directional and transportation words in my language toolbox.
Not to mention, it’s a lot more settling when you’re in a busy train station and can actually read (at least some of) the signs so you know which platform your train will be on.
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is…?(i.e. the museum) | Dov’è…?(i.e. il museo) | Doh-veh…? |
| Entrance | Entrata | En-trah-tah |
| Exit | Uscita | Ooh-shee-tah |
| Turn right | Gira a destra | Gee-rah ah deh-strah |
| Turn left | Gira a sinistra | Gee-rah a see–nee-strah |
| Forward | Avanti | Ah-vahn-tee |
| Back | Dietro | Dee-eh-troh |
| Go straight | Vai dritto | Vy dree-toh |
| In front of…(i.e. the church) | Davanti…(i.e. alla chiesa) | Dah-vahn-tee |
| Is it nearby? | È vicino? | Eh vee-chee-noh? |
| One-way | Andata | Ahn-dah-tah |
| Return (round trip) | Ritorno | Ree-torh-noh |
| Train station | La stazione (ferroviaria) | Lah stah-zeeoh-neh |
| Bus stop | La fermata (dell’autobus) | Lah fehr-mah-tah |
| Train | Il treno | Eel treh-noh |
| Ticket | Il biglietto | Eel beel-yet-toh |
| Platform | Il binario | Eel bee-nah-reeoh |
| Car | La macchina | Lah mah-kee-nah |
| Parking | Il parcheggio | Eel pahr-kehj-joh |
| Airport | L’aeroporto | Leh-roh-pohr-toh |
| Arrival | Arrivo | Ah-ree-voh |
| Departure | Partenza | Pahr-ten-zah |
Eating Out in Italian
If you’re the same kind of traveler as me, you probably feel quite accomplished after successfully ordering a meal in another language. Fortunately, it’s pretty simple to do in Italian with a few essential phrases. Best of all, since I’m sure you’ll be eating often in Italy, you’ll have repeated chances to practice greeting restaurant staff and ordering your favorite dishes.
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A table for…(1,2,3,4, etc) | Un tavolo per…(uno, due, tre, quattro, etc.) | Oon tah-voh-loh pehr… |
| Can I reserve a table? | Posso prenotare un tavolo? | Pohs-soh preh-noh-tah-reh oon tah-voh-loh? |
| I would like… | Vorrei… | Voh-reh… |
| The same (i.e.same dish as someone else) | Lo stesso | Loh stehs-soh |
| I am a vegetarian | Sono un(a) vegetariano/a | Soh-noh oon veh-jeh-tah-reeah-noh |
| I am allergic…(i.e. to nuts) | Sono allergico/a (alle noci) | Soh-noh ah-lehr-jee-koh |
| Diary/gluten/fish | Latticini/glutine/pesce | Lah-tay-chee-nee/gloo-tee-nay/pesh-ay |
| With/without | Con/senza | Kohn/sen-zah |
| Can I see the menu, please? | Il menu, per favore | Eel men-oo, pehr fah-voh-reh |
| Can I get the check, please? | Il conto, per favore | Eel kohn-toh, pehr-fah-voh-reh |
| Appetizers | Antipasti | Ahn-tee-pah-stee |
| First course | Primo | Pree-moh |
| Second course | Secondo | Seh-kon-doh |
| Dessert | Dolci | Dohl-chee |
| Breakfast | La colazione | Lah koh-lah-zee-oh-neh |
| Lunch | Il pranzo | Eel prahn-zoh |
| Dinner | La cena | Lah chay-nah |
| Fork | Una forchetta | Oo-nah for-keht-tah |
| Spoon | Un cucchiaio | Oon koo-kyah-yoh |
| Knife | Un coltello | Oon kohl-tehl-loh |
| Salt | Sale | Sah-leh |
| Pepper | Pepe | Peh-peh |
| Red/white wine | Vino rosso/bianco | Vee-noh rohs-soh/bee-ahn-koh |
| A glass/a bottle | Una bicchiere/una bottiglia | Oo-nah beek-kyeh-reh / oo-nah boht-tee-lyah |
| House wine | Vino della casa | Vee-noh del-lah kah-zah |
| Still water | Acqua naturale | Ah-kwah nah-tur-ah-leh |
| Sparkling water | Acqua frizzante | Ah-kwah freez-zahn-teh |
| Cheers! | Salute! | Sah-loo-teh! |
| Enjoy your meal! | Buon Appetito! | Bwohn Ahp-peh-tee-toh! |
| Can I pay with a credit card? | Posso pagare con carte? | Pohs-soh pah-gah-reh kohn cahr-teh? |
| It was delicious! | Era buonissimo! | Eh-rah bwoh-nees-see-moh! |
Sightseeing Words in Italian
No need to feel stressed as you inch closer to the front of that line to buy tickets! By learning these basic words and phrases, you can buy the tickets you need at the attractions you want to see.
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Museum | Il museo | Eel moo-zeh-oh |
| Cathedral | La cattadrale | Lah cah-tah-drah-leh |
| Church | La chiesa | Lah kee-eh-sah |
| Adult | Un adulto | Oon ah-dool-toh |
| Child | Un bambino | Oon bahm-been-oh |
| Student | Un studente | Oon stoo-den-teh |
| Senior | Un pensionato | Oon pen-seeoh-nah-toh |
| One ticket, please | Un biglietto, per favore. | Oon beel-yet-toh, pehr fah-voh-reh |
| Three tickets, please. | Tre biglietti, per favore. | Treh beel-yet-tee, pehr fah-voh-reh |
| When does it open/close? | Quando si apri?/chiude? | Kwahn-doh see ah-pree?/kyoo-deh? |
Shopping Phrases in Italian
Whether you’re shopping for new Italian shoes or some of your newfound local foods, the Italian phrases below can help you ask and answer some basic questions. Remember to use the appropriate greeting as you enter the store!
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Store | Il negozio | Eel neh-goh-zeeo |
| How much is this? | Quanto costa questo? | Kwahn-toh kohs-tah kwehs-toh? |
| Ok, I’ll take it. | Va bene, lo prendo | Vah beh-neh, loh prehn-doh |
| It’s too expensive. | È troppo caro. | Eh trop-poh cah-roh |
| I don’t want it, thanks. | Non lo voglio, grazie. | Non loh voh-leeyo, grah-tsee-eh |
| Where are the fitting rooms? | Dove sono i camerini? | Doh-veh soh-noh ee cah-meh-ree-nee? |
| I am looking for…(a new scarf) | Sto cercando…(una nuova sciarpa) | Stoh chehr-cahn-doh… |
| I’m just browsing. | Sto solo dando un’occhiata. | Stoh soh-loh dahn-doh oon ohk-kyah-tah |
Asking for Help in Case of Emergency in Italian
No one wants to have to think about emergency situations or use these words but they’re good to know, just in case!
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Aiuto! | Ay-oo-toh! |
| I lost my passport. | Ho perso il mio passaporto | Oh pehr-soh eel mee-oh pahs-sah-pohr-toh |
| I need a doctor. | Ho bisogno di un dottore. | Oh biz-ohn-nyo dee oon doht-tor-reh |
| I feel ill. | Mi sento male. | Mee sehn-toh mah-leh |
| Call the police! | Chiami la polizia! | kyah-mee la po-lee-zee-ah! |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Dov’è la farmacia? | Doh-veh lah fahr-mah-chee-ah? |
| Go away! | Vai via! | Vy vee-ah! |
Ready to Use the Essential Italian Phrases You’ve Learned?
By dedicating even just a little time to language learning as you plan your northern Italy trip, you’ll pay dividends to your overall travel experience in Italy.
The useful Italian words and basic phrases in this guide are great ways to enhance your dining experiences, help you experience more of this beautiful country, and possibly even make a few new friends along the way! Good luck as you set off on your Italian adventure! I’ll be rooting for you.
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Vorrei non “vorreii.”
Tante grazie! My eyes were crossed as I proofread this post!
I find your pronunciations are fantastic. Makes it smoother and enables the learner to say it faster and clearer. Grazie Mille.
Thanks so much for reading, Mark. Glad to hear the guide is helpful. 🙂 Best of luck with your Italian language journey!