Visiting a foreign country can be an exciting experience, but it can also be a little daunting if you don’t know the language. If you’re going to be visiting Italy, it’s important to learn some basic Italian phrases so that you can get around and communicate with the locals. In this article, we will list some of the most essential Italian phrases that you need to know when traveling in Italy.
How to Say Thank You In Italian & More
One of the first things you should know before traveling to a new destination is how to say “hello” in the local language. It Italy, you can say “ciao” (chow) to someone informally, or “buongiorno” (bwohn-johr-noh) if you want to be more formal. It’s also polite to say “grazie” (grahts-yeh) when someone does something for you, and “permesso” (pehr-mehs-soh) when you need to excuse yourself.
If you’re looking for a place to eat, you can ask someone for directions by saying “dov’è il ristorante più vicino?” (doh-veh eel ree-stoh-rahn-teh pyooh vee-cheeno). When you’re ready to order, you can say “vorrei” (vohr-ray) followed by what you would like to eat or drink. And when you’re finished, you can say “grazie mille” (grahts-yeh mee-leh) to thank the waiter or waitress.
Basic Italian Phrases
grazie (grahts-yeh) – Thank you.
Arrivederci! (ah-ree-veh-dehrsi) – Goodbye!
Ciao! (chow) – Hello!/Bye!
Buonasera! (bwoh-nah-seh-rah) – Good evening!
Come stai? (koh-meh stye) – How are you?
Mi chiamo… (mee key-yahm-moh) – My name is…
Come ti chiami? (koh-meh tee key-yah-mee) – What’s your name?
Parla inglese?* (pahr-lah een-gleh-zeh) – Do you speak English?
Dov’è… (doh-veh) – Where is…
Posso avere… (pohs-soh ah-veh-reh) – Can I have…
Quant’è? (kwahn-teh) – How much is it?
Non parlo bene italiano. (nohn pahr-loh beh-neh ee-tah-lee-yah-noh) – I don’t speak Italian well.
Parlo un po’ d’italiano. (pahr-loh oon poh dee ee-tah-lee-yah-noh) – I speak a little Italian.
Mi scusi. (mee skoo-zee) – Excuse me.
Prego. (preh-goh) – You’re welcome.
Per favore. (pehr fah-voh-reh) – Please.
Grazie mille! (grahts-yeh mee-leh) – Thank you very much!
Buon appetito! (bwoh-nah-peh-tee-toh) – Enjoy your meal!
In bocca al lupo! (een bohk-kah ahl loo-poh) – Good luck!
C’è un problema? (cheh oon proh-bleh-mah) – Is there a problem?
Posso aiutarla?* (pohs-soh ah-yoo-tahr-lah) – Can I help you?
Non capisco. (nohn kah-pees-koh) – I don’t understand.
Mi dispiace. (mee dee-spee-yah-cheh) – I’m sorry.
Parla più lentamente, per favore. (pahr-lah pyoo lehn-tah-mehn-teh pehr fah-voh-reh) – Speak more slowly, please.
Dove si trova il bagno? (doh-veh see troh-vah eel bahn-yoh) – Where is the bathroom?
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Jenna Walker is a travel writer from Oklahoma who lives with her husband, two children, and three rescue pets. While out and about in the world, she loves spending time outdoors, exploring local culture, and trying new foods. Jenna knows that, often, we overlook our own backyard. You can also find her stories and guides on the website, The Oklahoma Experience.
Hey! I'm Jenna Walker and this is where I share stories and guides about adventure, culture, and good food. I hope this website inspires you to live your best travel life and encourages you to explore the world with an open mind and adventurous spirit.