As one of the most popular destinations, Italy is a dream vacation for many. Imagine yourself eating copious amounts of gelato and pizza or roaming the picturesque streets of Rome or Florence. What would make that experience even better? Being able to know some basic Italian phrases.
While English is spoken by many in large cities, it’s not as common in smaller towns and the countryside. Don’t let that discourage you from ditching the large tourist spots and explore Italy off the beaten path. Most Italians appreciate you trying to speak their language, which can come in very handy. I’ve put together a list of useful Italian phrases for tourists visiting Italy to help you out.
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Italian language basics
The Italian alphabet consists of 21 letters and uses Roman characters. Unlike English, the letters j, k, w, x and y do not exist in Italian. You might see them used in some words, which means they were borrowed from other languages. You’ll likely see chilo instead of “kg” for kilograms when shopping for produce. These days, Italians frequently use some English words, like Facebook and okay, in their vocabulary.
Italian pronunciation is simple once you know what sounds go with specific letters. The vowels are common in Italian and sound very melodic. “A” sounds like a in cat whereas the “E” and “O” pronunciation varies between open or closed depending on the word. “I” sounds more like ee in meet and “U” sounds like u in rule.
The consonants have combinations that change with placement. “C” before “E” or “I” is pronounced tch like chin. However, “CH” is pronounced like “K” as in kit. “G” before “E” or “I” sounds more like “J” as in jet, while “GH” is pronounced like “G” in get. “GL” before “E” or “I” sounds like lli as in million. To add to the mix, “GN” is pronounced like ny in canyon, whereas “SC” before “E” or “I” sounds more like sh. “Z” is pronounced ds at the beginning of a sentence or ts in all other cases.
Like many other languages, Italian distinguishes between masculine and feminine with articles like “il” and “la.” Many of the adjectives also distinguish between the male and female subject with -o ending for male (americano) and -a ending for female subjects (Americana).
Basic Italian phrases
Mastering basic Italian phrases is essential for anyone visiting Italy. These common Italian phrases will help you navigate everyday interactions, from greeting locals to expressing gratitude. Knowing these phrases shows respect for the local culture and can often lead to warmer receptions and better service.
| Buongiorno | Bwohn-jor-no | Good Day/Morning |
| Buona sera | Bwoh-na seh-ra | Good Evening |
| Buona notte | Bwoh-na not-teh | Good Night |
| Arrivederci | Ah-ree-veh-der-chee | Goodbye |
| Ciao | Chow | Hello/Bye (informal) |
| Salve | Sahl-veh | Hello/Bye (formal) |
| Mi dispiace | Mee dees-pyah-cheh | I’m sorry |
| Per favore | Pehr fah-voh-reh | Please |
| Grazie | Grah-tsee-eh | Thank you |
| Prego | Preh-goh | You’re welcome |
| Si | See | Yes |
| No | Noh | No |
| Come stai? | Koh-meh stai | How are you? (formal) |
| Come va? | Koh-meh vah | How are you? (informal) |
| Molto bene, grazie | Mol-toh beh-neh grah-tsee-eh | Very well, thank you |
| Come ti chiami? | Koh-meh tee kyah-mee | What’s your name? |
| Mi chiamo… | Mee kyah-moh | My name is… |
| Piacere | Pya-cheh-reh | Nice to meet you |
Useful Italian phrases
Beyond the basics, these Italian phrases for travelling will enhance your experience in various situations. From asking for help to making small talk, these Italian travel phrases can help you connect with locals and make your journey more enjoyable. They’re particularly helpful when venturing off the beaten path or in areas where English is less commonly spoken.
| Parla inglese? | Par-lah een-gleh-zeh? | Do you speak English? |
| Non capisco | Non kah-pee-skoh | I don’t understand |
| Piano, per favore | Pee-ah-noh, pehr fah-voh-reh | Slower please |
| Non lo so | Non loh soh | I don’t know |
| Mi scusi | Mee skoo-zee | Excuse me (to pay attention) |
| Permesso | Pehr-mes-soh | Excuse me (to get by in a crowd) |
| Dove?/Dov’è? | Doh-veh?/Doh-veh eh? | Where?/Where is… |
| Mi sono perso/a | Mee soh-noh pehr-soh/ah | I am lost |
| Il bagno | Eel bah-nyoh | Bathroom |
| Quando? | Kwahn-doh? | When? |
| Che ora è? | Keh oh-rah eh? | What time is it? |
Italian phrases – numbers
Understanding numbers in Italian is crucial for Italian phrases travel. Whether you’re shopping at a local market, buying train tickets, or discussing prices, these numerical Italian phrases for tourists will prove invaluable. They’ll help you avoid confusion and ensure you’re paying the correct amount for goods and services.
| Uno | Oo-noh | 1 |
| Due | Doo-eh | 2 |
| Tre | Treh | 3 |
| Quattro | Kwatt-roh | 4 |
| Cinque | Cheen-kweh | 5 |
| Sei | Say | 6 |
| Sette | Seht-teh | 7 |
| Otto | Oht-toh | 8 |
| Nove | Noh-veh | 9 |
| Dieci | Dyeh-chee | 10 |
| Undici | Oon-dee-chee | 11 |
| Dodici | Doh-dee-chee | 12 |
| Tredici | Treh-dee-chee | 13 |
| Quattordici | Kwah-tor-dee-chee | 14 |
| Quindici | Kween-dee-chee | 15 |
| Sedici | Seh-dee-chee | 16 |
| Diciassette | Dee-chahs-set-teh | 17 |
| Diciotto | Dee-choht-toh | 18 |
| Diciannove | Dee-chahn-noh-veh | 19 |
| Venti | Ven-tee | 20 |
| Ventuno | Ven-too-noh | 21 |
| Ventidue | Ven-tee-doo-eh | 22 |
| Trenta | Tren-tah | 30 |
| Trentuno | Tren-too-noh | 31 |
| Trentadue | Tren-tah-doo-eh | 32 |
| Quaranta | Kwahr-ahn-tah | 40 |
| Cinquanta | Cheen-kwahn-tah | 50 |
| Sessanta | Ses-sahn-tah | 60 |
| Settanta | Seht-tahn-tah | 70 |
| Ottanta | Oht-tahn-tah | 80 |
| Novanta | Noh-vahn-tah | 90 |
| Cento | Chen-toh | 100 |
| Centouno | Chen-toh-oo-noh | 101 |
| Centodieci | Chen-toh-dyeh-chee | 110 |
| Duecento | Doo-eh-chen-toh | 200 |
| Cinquecento | Cheen-kweh-chen-toh | 500 |
| Mille | Mee-leh | 1000 |
| Cinquemila | Cheen-kweh-mee-lah | 5000 |
| Diecimila | Dyeh-chee-mee-lah | 10,000 |
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Italian phrases – days and months
Familiarizing yourself with days and months in Italian is part of the essential basic Italian words for travel. These terms are beneficial when making reservations, discussing itineraries with locals, or understanding attractions and public transportation schedules. They’ll help you navigate your trip more smoothly and avoid potential misunderstandings about dates and times.
| Ieri | Yeh-ree | Yesterday |
| Oggi | Oh-jjee | Today |
| Domani | Doh-mah-nee | Tomorrow |
| Dopodomani | Doh-poh-doh-mah-nee | The day after tomorrow |
| Lunedì | Loo-neh-dee | Monday |
| Martedì | Mar-teh-dee | Tuesday |
| Mercoledì | Mehr-koh-leh-dee | Wednesday |
| Giovedì | Jhoh-veh-dee | Thursday |
| Venerdì | Veh-nehr-dee | Friday |
| Sabato | Sah-bah-toh | Saturday |
| Domenica | Doh-meh-nee-kah | Sunday |
| Gennaio | Jen-nah-yoh | January |
| Febbraio | Feh-brahy-oh | February |
| Marzo | Mar-tsoh | March |
| Aprile | Ah-pree-leh | April |
| Maggio | Mahj-joh | May |
| Giugno | Joo-nyoh | June |
| Luglio | Loo-lyoh | July |
| Agosto | Ah-goh-stoh | August |
| Settembre | Seht-tehm-breh | September |
| Ottobre | Oht-toh-breh | October |
| Novembre | Noh-vehm-breh | November |
| Dicembre | Dee-chem-breh | December |
Italian phrases for getting around & directions
Italian phrases related to directions are indispensable when exploring Italy’s beautiful cities and countryside. These phrases will help you ask for and understand directions, use public transportation more efficiently, and navigate through unfamiliar places. They’re handy in smaller towns where English-speaking locals might be less common.
| Sinistra | See-nee-strah | Left |
| Destra | Deh-strah | Right |
| Gira a sinistra/destra | Jee-rah ah see-nee-strah/deh-strah | Turn left/right |
| Dietro | Dee-eh-troh | Behind/back |
| Avanti | Ah-vahn-tee | Forward |
| Dritto | Dreet-toh | Straight ahead |
| Davanti | Dah-vahn-tee | Across from |
| Sotto | Soh-toh | Under |
| Prima | Pree-mah | Before |
| Dopo | Doh-poh | Past/after |
| Entrata | En-trah-tah | Entrance |
| Uscita | Oo-shee-tah | Exit |
| Il treno | Eel treh-noh | Train |
| La stazione ferroviaria | Lah stah-tsyo-neh feh-rroh-vyah-ree-ah | Train station |
| La fermata dell’autobus | Lah fehr-mah-tah dell ow-toh-boos | Bus stop |
| L’ufficio postale | Loof-fee-choh poh-stah-leh | Post office |
| Il mercato | Eel mehr-kah-toh | Market |
| La farmacia | Lah fahr-mah-chee-ah | Pharmacy |
| L’aeroporto | Lah-eh-roh-por-toh | Airport |
| Il volo | Eel voh-loh | Flight |
| Il biglietto | Eel bee-lyeh-toh | Ticket |
| L’orario | Lo-rah-ryoh | Timetable |
| La partenza | Lah pahr-ten-tsah | Departure |
| Il bagaglio | Eel bah-gahl-yoh | Baggage |
| L’ufficio informazioni | Loo-fee-choh in-for-mah-tsyo-nee | Information office |
| Quando arriva lì? | Kwan-doh ah-ree-vah lee? | When does it arrive there? |
| Mi serve un taxi | Mee sehr-veh oon tahk-see | I need a taxi |
| Quanto costa la corsa? | Kwan-toh koh-stah lah kor-sah? | How much is the fare? |
| Mi piacerebbe andare a… | Mee pya-cheh-reh-beh ahn-dah-reh ah… | I would like to go to… |
| Quanto dura il viaggio? | Kwan-toh doo-rah eel vyah-joh? | How long does it take to get there? |
| Quando si apre? | Kwan-doh see ah-preh? | When does it open? |
| Quando si chiude? | Kwan-doh see kyoo-deh? | When does it close? |
| Biglietto/i | Bee-lyeh-toh/ee | Ticket/s |
| Due adulti | Doo-eh ah-dool-tee | Two adults |
| Un bambino | Oon bam-bee-noh | One child |
| Uno studente | Oon-oh stoo-den-teh | One student |
| Un pensionato | Oon pen-syo-nah-toh | One senior |
| Museo | Moo-zeh-oh | Museum |
Italian phrases for shopping
Shopping in Italy can be a delightful experience, and knowing the right words can make it even better. These phrases will help you inquire about prices, sizes, and colours and navigate transactions more smoothly. They’re particularly useful in local markets, boutique shops, and when bargaining for unique items.
| Posso aiutarLa? / Mi dica? | Poh-soh ai-oo-tar-lah? / Mee dee-kah? | Can I help you? |
| Cerca qualcosa? | Cher-kah kwahl-koh-sah? | What would you like? |
| Posso guardare? | Poh-soh gwahr-dah-reh? | May I look? |
| Quanto costa? | Kwan-toh koh-stah? | How much is it? |
| È troppo caro! | Eh troh-poh kah-roh! | That’s very expensive! |
| Mi fa uno sconto? | Mee fah oo-noh skohn-toh? | Can you give me a discount? |
| Lo compro! | Loh kohm-proh! | I’ll take it! |
| Altro? | Ahl-troh? | Anything else? |
| Nient’altro, grazie. | Nyehn-tahl-troh, grah-tsee-eh. | Nothing else, thank you. |
| Accettate carte di credito? | Ah-cheh-tah-teh kar-teh dee creh-dee-toh? | Do you take credit cards? |
| A che ora apre/chiude? | Ah keh oh-rah ah-preh/kyoo-deh? | What time do you open/close? |
| Questo | Kwehs-toh | This one |
| Quello | Kweh-loh | That one |
| La taglia | Lah tah-lyah | Size (clothes) |
| Il numero | Eel noo-meh-roh | Size (shoes) |
| Un supermercato | Oon soo-pehr-mehr-kah-toh | Supermarket |
| Farmacia | Fahr-mah-chee-ah | Pharmacy |
| Pasticceria | Pah-stee-cheh-ree-ah | Pastry/bake shop |
| Tabacchi | Tah-bah-kee | Tobacconist (also sells bus tickets) |
Eating out and ordering food
Italy is renowned for its cuisine, and knowing these Italian food and dining phrases will help you understand menu items. These phrases will help you navigate Italy’s rich food culture. They’re handy for those with dietary restrictions or when trying to order regional specialties.
| Avete un tavolo per…? | Ah-veh-teh oon tah-voh-loh pehr…? | Do you have a table for…? |
| Vorrei prenotare un tavolo | Vohr-ray preh-noh-tah-reh oon tah-voh-loh | I would like to reserve a table |
| Colazione | Koh-lah-tsee-oh-neh | Breakfast |
| Pranzo | Prahn-zoh | Lunch |
| Cena | Cheh-nah | Dinner |
| Il conto | Eel kohn-toh | Bill |
| Il menu a prezzo fisso | Eel meh-noo ah preh-tsoh fees-soh | Fixed price menu |
| Piatto del giorno | Pee-aht-toh del jor-noh | Dish of the day |
| L’antipasto | Lahn-tee-pah-stoh | Starter |
| Il primo | Eel pree-moh | First course |
| Il secondo | Eel seh-kohn-doh | Main course |
| Il dolce | Eel dol-cheh | Dessert |
| La lista dei vini | Lah lees-tah day vee-nee | Wine list |
| Il bicchiere | Eel bee-kee-eh-reh | Glass |
| La bottiglia | Lah boht-tee-lyah | Bottle |
| Il coltello | Eel kohl-tel-loh | Knife |
| La forchetta | Lah fohr-ket-tah | Fork |
| Il cucchiaio | Eel koo-kee-ah-yoh | Spoon |
| È la salsa piccante? | Eh lah sahl-sah pee-kahn-teh? | Is the sauce spicy? |
| Sono allergico/a a … | Soh-noh ah-lehr-jee-koh/ah lah … | I’m allergic (male/female) to… |
| Sono vegetariano/a | Soh-noh veh-jeh-tah-ree-ah-noh/ah | I’m vegetarian (male/female) |
| Il conto, per favore | Eel kohn-toh, pehr fah-voh-reh | The bill, please |
| Che cosa ci consiglia? | Keh koh-zah chee kohn-see-lyah? | What do you recommend? (formal) |
| Vino rosso/bianco | Vee-noh roh-soh/bian-koh | Red/white wine |
| Una bottiglia di vino della casa, per favore | Oo-nah boht-tee-lyah dee vee-noh dell-ah kah-sah, pehr fah-voh-reh | Bottle of house wine, please |
| La birra/ due birre, per favore | Lah beer-rah/doo-eh beer-reh, pehr fah-voh-reh | Beer/two beers, please |
| Una bottiglia di acqua naturale | Oo-nah boht-tee-lyah dee ah-kwah nah-too-rah-leh | A bottle of still water |
| Una bottiglia di acqua gassata | Oo-nah boht-tee-lyah dee ah-kwah gah-sah-tah | A bottle of sparkling water |
| Agnello | Ahn-yell-oh | Lamb |
| Aglio | Ahl-yoh | Garlic |
| Al forno | Ahl for-noh | Baked |
| Alla griglia | Ahl-lah gree-lyah | Grilled |
| La bistecca | Lah bees-teh-kah | Steak |
| Il burro | Eel boor-roh | Butter |
| Il caffé | Eel kahf-feh | Coffee |
| La carne | Lah kar-neh | Meat |
| Carne di maiale | Kar-neh dee mah-yah-leh | Pork |
| La cipolla | Lah chee-poh-lah | Onion |
| Il formaggio | Eel for-mah-joh | Cheese |
| Il fritto misto | Eel free-toh mees-toh | Mixed fried seafood |
| La frutta | Lah froo-tah | Fruit |
| Frutti di mare | Froo-tee dee mah-reh | Seafood |
| I funghi | Ee foon-gee | Mushrooms |
| I gamberi | Ee gam-beh-ree | Prawns |
| Il gelato | Eel jeh-lah-toh | Ice cream |
| L’insalata | Lahn-sah-lah-tah | Salad |
| Il latte | Eel laht-teh | Milk |
| Il manzo | Eel mahn-dzoh | Beef |
| L’olio | Loh-lee-oh | Oil |
| Il pane | Eel pah-neh | Bread |
| Le patate | Leh pah-tah-teh | Potatoes |
| Il pesce | Eel peh-sheh | Fish |
| Il pollo | Eel poh-loh | Chicken |
| Il pomodoro | Eel poh-moh-doh | Tomato |
| Il prosciutto | Eel proh-schoo-toh | Ham |
| Il riso | Eel ree-zoh | Rice |
| La salsiccia | Lah sahl-see-chah | Sausage |
| Il tè | Eel teh | Tea |
| L’uovo | Loo-oh-voh | Egg |
| Lo zucchero | Loh zook-keh-roh | Sugar |
| La zuppa | Lah zoo-pah | Soup |
Italian phrases for emergencies
While you never expect something bad to happen while travelling, knowing these emergency Italian phrases for tourists will ensure peace of mind. These phrases can help you communicate effectively in urgent situations, whether you need medical assistance, have lost something important, or need to report an issue to authorities. They can make a significant difference in getting the help you need quickly and efficiently.
| Aiuto! | Ah-yoo-toh! | Help! |
| Ferma! | Fehr-mah! | Stop! |
| Chiama un medico | Kee-ah-mah oon meh-dee-koh | Call a doctor |
| Ho bisogno di un dottore | Oh bee-zohn-oh dee oon doht-toh-reh | I need a doctor |
| Chiama un’ambulanza | Kee-ah-mah oon ahm-boo-lahn-zah | Call an ambulance |
| Chiama la polizia | Kee-ah-mah lah poh-lee-tsyah | Call the police |
| Chiama i vigili del fuoco | Kee-ah-mah ee vee-jee-lee del foo-oh-koh | Call the fire department |
| Sono stato assalito/a | Soh-noh stah-toh ah-sah-lee-toh/ah | I’ve been mugged (male/female) |
| Ho perso il mio passaporto | Oh pehr-soh eel mee-oh pah-sah-por-toh | I lost my passport |
| C’è stato un incidente | Cheh stah-toh oon een-chee-den-teh | There’s been an accident |
| Dov’è l’ambasciata americana / britannica / australiana / canadese? | Doh-veh lahm-bah-shee-ah-tah ah-meh-ree-kah/bree-tah-nee-kah/ow-strah-lee-ah-nah/kah-nah-deh-seh? | Where is the American/ British/ Australian/ Canadian embassy? |
| Mi sento male | Mee sehn-toh mah-leh | I feel sick |
| Fa male qui | Fah mah-leh kwee | It hurts here |
| Attento! | Aht-tehn-toh! | Watch out! |
| Ladro! | Lah-droh! | Thief |
| Vai via! | Vah-ee vee-ah! | Go away! |
Additional thoughts on Italian phrases for tourists
While it might seem very daunting, Italian is easy to navigate once you get a hang of the pronunciation. Once you are in Italy, you’ll find that the words will slowly make sense, especially when you see them written down.
This guide is meant to get you started with Italian phrases. You might even find that you want to learn even more. After all, Italian is a beautiful language, and knowing the basics can transform your Italian adventure.
