Basic Words and Phrases in Italian
About Italian
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in parts of Italy, San Marino, the Vatican and Switzerland. It is also widely used and studied all over the world. Italian developed from Latin and has been influenced by various languages, including Greek, French and Spanish. It uses an alphabet based on the Latin alphabet and has a relative phonetic orthography. Italian grammar is characterized by the agreement of nouns and adjectives, verb conjugation and grammatical gender. The Italian dictionary contains words of Latin origin and words borrowed from other languages. Known for its rich literary tradition, art, music and cuisine, the Italian language is an important part of Italy's cultural heritage.
Basic Words and Phrases
Learning a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to connect with people from different cultures and expand your horizons. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious about a new language, mastering some basic words and phrases is a great place to start.
| Yes | SÌ |
|---|---|
| No | No |
| Please | Per favore |
| Yes, please | Sì, per favore |
| No, thank you | No, grazie |
| Thanks | Grazie |
| Thank you | Grazie |
| Thank you very much | Grazie mille |
| You're welcome | Prego |
| No problem | Nessun problema |
| Excuse me | Mi scusi |
| I’m sorry | Mi dispiace |
| Sorry | Scusa |
| Cheers! | Cin cin! (inf) Salute! |
| Okay | Va bene |
Greetings
Greetings are an essential part of any language. Saying "hello" and "goodbye" can create an instant connection with native speakers. In many languages, "hello" is a universal term, but learning the specific greeting for the language you're interested in can show respect and appreciation. Similarly, learning how to say "goodbye" will help you leave a positive impression.
| Hi | Ciao |
|---|---|
| Hello | Ciao |
| Good day | Buongiorno |
| Good morning | Buongiorno |
| Good afternoon | Buon pomeriggio |
| Good evening | Buonasera |
| Good night | Buona notte |
| Goodbye | Arrivederci |
| See you later! | Arrivederci! |
| Have a nice day! | Buona giornata! |
| Bye | Ciao |
Conversations
Next, let's explore basic conversation starters. Asking "how are you?" or "what's your name?" in another language is a friendly way to engage with others. These simple phrases can pave the way for more meaningful conversations and help you build rapport.
| How are you? | Come stai? |
|---|---|
| I'm fine | Sto bene |
| Good, thank you! | Bene, grazie! |
| And you? | E tu? |
| Nice to meet you! | Felice di conoscerti! |
| Pleased to meet you! | Piacere di conoscerti! |
| What is your name? | Come ti chiami? |
| My name is … | Mi chiamo … |
| Where are you from? | Da dove viene? (frm) Da dove vieni? (inf) |
| I am from … | Vengo da … (frm) Sono di ... (inf) |
| I don't speak Italian | Non parlo italiano |
| Do you speak English? | Lei parla inglese? |
| I understand | Capisco |
| I do not understand | Non capisco |
| I like it | Mi piace |
| I don't like it | Non mi piace |
| How is the weather today? | Com'è il tempo oggi? |
| Can you recommend any local attractions? | Puoi consigliare alcune attrazioni locali? |
Hotel
When staying at a hotel in a foreign country, it's helpful to be familiar with some phrases that can assist you during your stay. Here are a few key phrases you can use in a hotel.
| Hotel | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Reception | Reception |
| Reservation | Prenotazione |
| Hotel room | Camera d'albergo |
| Key | Chiave |
| Breakfast | Colazione |
| I have a reservation | Ho una prenotazione |
| I would like to book a room | Vorrei prenotare una camera |
| Do you have any rooms available? | Avete camere disponibili? |
Restaurant
When dining at restaurants in a foreign country, it's helpful to know phrases that can assist you during your meal. Being able to request a table, order food and drinks, and ask for the bill are important for a pleasant dining experience.
| Restaurant | Ristorante |
|---|---|
| Menu | Menù |
| A table for one, please | Un tavolo per uno, per favore |
| A table for two, please | Un tavolo per due, per favore |
| I would like a coffee, please | Un caffè, per favore |
| Enjoy your meal! | Buon appetito! |
| Can I have the bill, please? | Posso avere il conto, per favore? |
| Can you bring me the bill, please? | Puoi portarmi il conto, per favore? |
| I would like to pay, please | Vorrei pagare, per favore |
| The bill, please | Ci porti il conto, per favore |
| Can I pay with cash? | Posso pagare in contanti? |
| Can I pay with card? | Posso pagare con la carta? |
| Can I pay with credit card? | Posso pagare con carta di credito? |
| Could you suggest something for me? | Potreste suggerirmi qualcosa? |
| Can I have a glass of water, please? | Posso avere un bicchiere d'acqua, per favore? |
| Do you have any local specialties? | Avete delle specialità locali? |
Food and drinks
Being able to order food and drinks, ask for recommendations, and express preferences or dietary restrictions will enhance your dining experience and allow you to explore the local cuisine.
| Breakfast | Colazione |
|---|---|
| Lunch | Pranzo |
| Dinner | Cena |
| Food | Cibo |
| Drinks | Bevande |
| Bread | Pane |
| Sandwich | Panino |
| Cheese | Formaggio |
| Meat | Carne |
| Fish | Pesce |
| Vegetables | Verdure |
| Fruit | Frutta |
| Vegetarian | Vegetariano |
| I am a vegetarian | Sono vegetariano |
| Coffee | Caffè |
| Tea | Tè |
| Beer | Birra |
| Wine | Vino |
| Juice | Succo |
| Water | Acqua |
| Milk | Latte |
| Dessert | Dolce |
| Salad | Insalata |
| Soup | Zuppa |
Places and Services
Just like how saying hello helps you connect with others, exploring phrases related to locations and services can greatly enhance your travel experience. Whether you're looking for important places like banks or post offices, these expressions can open up doors to immersing yourself in the local culture.
| ATM | Bancomat |
|---|---|
| Bank | Banca |
| Beach | Spiaggia |
| Library | Biblioteca |
| Museum | Museo |
| Park | Parco |
| Pharmacy | Farmacia |
| Post Office | Ufficio postale |
| School | Scuola |
| Tourist Information | Informazioni turistiche |
Shopping
Knowing how to ask for the price, request a different size or color, or simply say "I'm just looking" can be useful when shopping in local markets or stores.
| Store | Negozio |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | Supermercato |
| Grocery store | Negozio di alimentari |
| Market | Mercato |
| Bakery | Panetteria |
| Bookstore | Libreria |
| How much does this cost? | Quanto costa? |
| Can I get a receipt? | Posso avere una ricevuta? |
| I'm just looking | Sto solo guardando |
| Sunglasses | Occhiali da sole |
| Umbrella | Ombrello |
Directions
Learning phrases related to asking for directions, understanding common landmarks, and getting around the city will help you navigate unfamiliar places with ease.
| Where is the toilet? | Dov'è la toilette? |
|---|---|
| Where is the beach? | Dov’è la spiaggia? |
| How do I get to the airport? | Come posso arrivare in aeroporto? |
| Left | A sinistra |
| Right | A destra |
| Straight ahead | Dritto |
| Is it far from here? | È lontano da qui? |
| Can you show it on the map? | Puoi mostrarlo sulla mappa? |
| How long does it take to walk there? | Quanto tempo ci vuole per arrivarci a piedi? |
Transport
Familiarizing yourself with phrases for using public transportation, such as asking for a ticket, stating your destination, or inquiring about schedules, will make your travel experience smoother and more efficient.
| Airport | Aeroporto |
|---|---|
| Plane | Aeroplano |
| Train station | Stazione di treni |
| Train | Treno |
| Bus station | Stazione degli autobus |
| Bus | Autobus |
| Taxi | Taxi |
| Ticket | Biglietto |
| Can I get a ticket to Rome? | Posso avere un biglietto per Roma? |
| I would like a ticket to Rome | Vorrei comprare un biglietto per Roma |
| I need a ticket to Rome | Ho bisogno di un biglietto per Roma |
| A ticket to Rome, please | Un biglietto per Roma, per favore |
| What time is the next train to Rome? | A che ora è il prossimo treno per Roma? |
| When is the next train to Rome? | Quando parte il prossimo treno per Roma? |
| When does the next train to Rome leave? | Quando parte il prossimo treno per Roma? |
Emergencies
When you're in a different country, it's really important to be aware of emergency phrases such as 'help,' 'hospital,' and 'police.' Using expressions like 'emergency' and 'I need help' can help you overcome language barriers and make sure you're ready for any unexpected situations that might occur. Having a good grasp of these phrases will help keep you safe and give you peace of mind while traveling.
| Help! | Aiuto! |
|---|---|
| Help me! | Aiutami! |
| I need help | Ho bisogno di aiuto |
| I need assistance | Ho bisogno di assistenza |
| I need a doctor | Ho bisogno di un dottore |
| Police | Polizia |
| Police Station | Stazione di polizia |
| Hospital | Ospedale |
| Ambulance | Ambulanza |
| Doctor | Dottore |
| Fire department | Vigili del fuoco |
| Fire! | Fuoco! |
Time
Effortlessly asking and telling the time enhances your travel experience, from coordinating schedules to catching transportation, adding a valuable layer to your linguistic toolkit for effective communication during your stay.
| What time is it? | Che ora è? |
|---|---|
| It is one o'clock | È l'una |
| It is half past two | Sono le due e mezza |
| Morning | Mattina |
| Afternoon | Pomeriggio |
| Evening | Sera |
| Night | Notte |
| Today | Oggi |
| Tomorrow | Domani |
| Yesterday | Ieri |
Numbers
Learning numbers is essential for tasks like counting, ordering quantities, or understanding prices.
| Zero | Zero |
|---|---|
| One | Uno |
| Two | Due |
| Three | Tre |
| Four | Quattro |
| Five | Cinque |
| Six | Sei |
| Seven | Sette |
| Eight | Otto |
| Nine | Nove |
| Ten | Dieci |
| Eleven | Undici |
| Twelve | Dodici |
| Thirteen | Tredici |
| Fourteen | Quattordici |
| Fifteen | Quindici |
| Sixteen | Sedici |
| Seventeen | Diciassette |
| Eighteen | Diciotto |
| Nineteen | Diciannove |
| Twenty | Venti |
| Twenty-one | Ventuno |
| Twenty-two | Ventidue |
| Twenty-three | Ventitré |
| Twenty-four | Ventiquattro |
| Twenty-five | Venticinque |
| Twenty-six | Ventisei |
| Twenty-seven | Ventisette |
| Twenty-eight | Ventotto |
| Twenty-nine | Ventinove |
| Thirty | Trenta |
| Forty | Quaranta |
| Fifty | Cinquanta |
| Sixty | Sessanta |
| Seventy | Settanta |
| Eighty | Ottanta |
| Ninety | Novanta |
| Hundred | Centinaio |
| Two hundred | Duecento |
| One thousand | Mille |
| Two thousand | Duemila |
| Three thousand | Tremila |
| Hundred thousand | Centomila |
| Million | Milione |
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers play a crucial role in conveying sequence and order. Whether you're navigating travel itineraries, selecting seats, or exploring historical sites, understanding expressions like 'first,' 'second,' and so on is essential.
| First | Primo |
|---|---|
| Second | Secondo |
| Third | Terzo |
| Fourth | Quarto |
| Fifth | Quinto |
| Sixth | Sesto |
| Seventh | Settimo |
| Eighth | Ottavo |
| Ninth | Nono |
| Tenth | Decimo |
| Eleventh | Undicesimo |
| Twelfth | Dodicesimo |
| Thirteenth | Tredicesimo |
| Fourteenth | Quattordicesimo |
| Fifteenth | Quindicesimo |
| Sixteenth | Sedicesimo |
| Seventeenth | Diciassettesimo |
| Eighteenth | Diciottesimo |
| Nineteenth | Diciannovesimo |
| Twentieth | Ventesimo |
Days of the week
Knowing the names of the days of the week will help you schedule activities, make appointments, or plan your itinerary.
| Monday | Lunedi |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Martedì |
| Wednesday | Mercoledì |
| Thursday | Giovedì |
| Friday | Venerdì |
| Saturday | Sabato |
| Sunday | Domenica |
Months
Being familiar with the names of the months will allow you to discuss dates, make reservations, or talk about specific time frames.
| January | Gennaio |
|---|---|
| February | Febbraio |
| March | Marzo |
| April | Aprile |
| May | Maggio |
| June | Giugno |
| July | Luglio |
| August | Agosto |
| September | Settembre |
| Oktober | Ottobre |
| November | Novembre |
| December | Dicembre |
Question Words
Understanding basic question words like who, what, where, when, why, and how will enable you to ask for information or clarification in various situations.
| What? | Che (cosa)? |
|---|---|
| What is that? | Che cos'è? |
| What time is it? | Che ora è? |
| What day is it today? | Oggi, che giorno è? |
| What do you like? | Cosa ti piace? |
| Where? | Dove? |
| Where is the toilet? | Dov'è il bagno? |
| When? | Quando? |
| When is the next train? | Quando c'è il prossimo treno? |
| Why? | Perché? |
| Why is it expensive? | Perché è costoso? |
| How? | Come? |
| How far is this? | Quanto è lontano? |
| Which? | Quale? |
| Which sandwich is yours? | Qual è il tuo panino? |
| Who? | Chi? |
| Who is that? | Chi è? |
| Who is your travel companion? | Chi è il tuo compagno di viaggio? |
| Whose? | Di chi? |
| How many? | Quanti? |
| How many people were at the concert? | Quante persone c'erano al concerto? |
| How much? | Quanto? |
| How much does this cost? | Quanto costa? |
Hey there! I'm Rainier and I'm the person behind Roaming with Rainier. I've always been really into traveling and photography. I've been fortunate enough to visit incredible destinations and there are still so many more on my bucket list. My plan is to explore breathtaking places around the world and share my experiences through articles and reviews.
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