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Italian is the official language of Italy, San Marino and the Swiss Canton Ticino. It is the de facto primary language of the Vatican City.

Even if in most of the touristic resorts along Italy English and German are widely spoken, most of the Italian people can't speak a foreign language (we are lazy, I know) so you'd better know some basic phrases in Italian, just to make yourself understood.

In Italian, you use the polite form ("lei") with all the people you don't know; it doesn't matter whether they are older or younger than you. You'll use the confidential form ("tu") with the people you know. The two forms differs in the use of the 2nd and 3rd persons in verbs.

Italian has two genders, masculine (-o, pl. -i) and feminine (-a, pl. -e), and some remnants of the neuter (uovo "egg", pl. uova). So a woman would say Mi sono persa while a man would say Mi sono perso.

Italian has a range of dialects from Lombard and Piemontese (which are influenced by French) to Calabrese and Sicilian. Some of these are mutually unintelligible, but you should be able to speak standard Italian with them. Standard Italian is Florentine Tuscan dialect spoken with a Roman accent. Sardinian is a different language entirely; it is no closer to Italian than to Spanish.

Pronunciation

Pronunciation is relatively easy in Italian since most words are pronounced exactly how they are written. Unless accented, words are normally pronounced with the emphasis on the second to last syllable. Double consonants are pronounced double; e.g. sono "I am" vs. sonno "sleep".

Vowels

a: as in "father"
e: as in "set", but more closed
i: as in "machine"
o: as in "close", but undiphthongized
u: like 'oo' in "hoop"

Consonants

b: like 'b' in "bed"
c: like 'ch' in "chipper" (before 'i' or 'e'), 'k' in "kid" (before 'a', 'o', 'u')
d: like 'd' in "dog"
f: like 'ph' in "phone"
g: like 'g' in "go", like 'j' in "jello"
h: silent
l: like 'l' in "love"
m: like 'm' in "mother"
n: like 'n' in "nice"
p: like 'p' in "pig"
q: like 'q' in "quest" (with "u", almost always)
r: trill with the tip of the tongue
s: like 'ss' in "hiss", like 'z' in "haze"
t: like 't' in "top"
v: like 'v' in "victory"
z: as in "pizza" or "adze"

Common diphthongs

ai: like 'i' in "fight"
au: like 'ow' in "brown"

ei: like 'ay' in "say"
eu: doesn't exist in English, run 'e' and 'u' together

ia: like "ya" in "yard"
ie: like 'ye' in "yes"
ii: not a diphthong but two syllables
io: like "yo" in "Yorick"
iu: like "ew" in "few"

oi: like 'oy' in "boy"

uo: like 'wo' in "won ton"

Digraphs

ch: like 'k' in "keep"
sc: before "e" or "i", like 'sh' in "sheep"
gh: like "g" in "get"

Phrase list

For this phrasebook, we use the polite form for all phrases, on the presumption that you'll mostly be talking to people you don't already know.

Basics

Hello.: Buongiorno. (bohn JYOHR-noh)
Hello. (informal): Ciao. (chow)
How are you?: Come sta? (koh-may STAH?)
Fine, thank you.: Bene, grazie. (BAY-nay, GRAHT-zee)
What is your name?: Come si chiama? (KOH-may see kee-AH-mah?)
My name is ______ .: Mi chiamo ______ . (mee kee-AH-moh _____)
Nice to meet you.: Piacere di conoscerla. (pyah-CHAY-ray dee koh-noh-SHAYR-lah)
Please.: Per favore. (PAYR fah-VOH-ray)
Thank you.: Grazie. (GRAHT-zee)
You're welcome.: Prego. (PRAY-goh)
Yes: S�. (SEE)
No: No. (NOH)
Excuse me: Mi scusi. (mee SKOO-zee)
I'm sorry.: Mi scusi. (mee SKOO-zee)
Goodbye.: Arrivederci. (ah-ree-vay-DAYR-chee)
I don't speak Italian.: Non parlo italiano. (non PAHR-loh ee-tahl-ee-AH-no)
Do you speak English?: Parla inglese? (PAHR-lah een-GLAY-zay?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Qualcuno parla inglese? (KWAHL-koo-noh PAHR-lah een-GLAY-zay?)
Help!: Aiuto! (ah-YOO-toh!)
Good morning.: Buongiorno. (bohn JYOHR-noh)
Good afternoon.: Buonasera. (bohn-ah-SAY-rah)
Good evening.: Buonasera. (bohn-ah-SAY-rah)
Good night.: Buonanotte. (bohn-ah-NOHT-tay)
I don't understand.: Non capisco. (NOHN kah-PEE-skoh)
Where is the toilet?: Dov'� il bagno? (doh-VAY eel BAHN-yo?)

Problems

Leave me alone.: Mi lasci solo/a. (mee LAH-shee SOH-loh/lah) (or Mi lasci stare (...STAH-ray))
Don't touch me!: Non mi tocchi! (NOHN mee TOK-kee!)
I'll call the police.: Chiamo la polizia. (KYAH-moh lah poh-LEE-tsyah!)
Police!: Polizia! (poh-LEE-tsyah!)
Stop! Thief!: Al ladro! (ahl LAH-droh!)
I need your help.: Ho bisogno del suo aiuto. (oh bee-ZON-yoh del swoh ah-YOO-toh)
It's an emergency.: È un'emergenza. (eh oon eh-mehr-JEN-tsah)
I'm lost.: Mi sono perso/a. (mee soh-noh PEHR-soh/sah)
I lost my bag.: Ho perso la mia borsa. (oh PEHR-soh lah MEE-ah BOHR-sah)
I lost my wallet.: Ho perso il mio portafoglio. (oh PEHR-soh eel myoh pohr-tah-FOL-yoh)
I'm sick.: Sono malato/a. (SOH-noh mah-LAH-toh/tah)
I've been injured.: Mi sono ferito/a. (mee SOH-noh feh-REE-toh/tah)
I need a doctor.: Ho bisogno di un dottore. (oh bee-ZON-yoh dee oon dot-TOH-ray)
Can I use your phone?: Posso usare il suo telefono? (POS-soh oo-ZAH-ray eel swoh teh-LEH-foh-noh?)

Numbers

1: uno (...)
2: due (...)
3: tre (...)
4: quattro (...)
5: cinque (...)
6: sei (...)
7: sette (...)
8: otto (...)
9: nove (...)
10: dieci (...)
11: undici (...)
12: dodici (...)
13: tredici (...)
14: quattordici (...)
15: quindici (...)
16: sedici (...)
17: diciassette (...)
18: diciotto (...)
19: diciannove (...)
20: venti (...)
21: ventuno (...)
22: ventidue (...)
23: ventitr� (...)
30: trenta (...)
40: quaranta (...)
50: cinquanta (...)
60: sessanta (...)
70: settanta (...)
80: ottanta (...)
90: novanta (...)
100: cento (...)
200: duecento (...)
300: trecento (...)
1,.000: mille (...)
2,000: duemila (...)
1,000,000: un milione (...)
1,000,000,000: un miliardo (...)
1,000,000,000,000: mille miliardi (...) or un bilione (...)
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): number _____ (...)
half: mezzo (...)
less: meno (...)
more: pi� (...)

Time

now: adesso (...) - ora
later: pi� tardi (...) - dopo
before: prima (...)
morning: mattino (...)
afternoon: pomeriggio (...)
evening: sera (...)
night: notte (...)

Clock time

one o'clock AM: l'una (...)
two o'clock AM: le due (...)
noon: mezzogiorno (...)
one o'clock PM: le tredici (...)
two o'clock PM: le quattordici (...)
midnight: mezzanotte (...)

Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ minuto/i (mee-NOO-toh/tee)
_____ hour(s): _____ ora/e (OH-rah/ray)
_____ day(s): _____ giorno/i (JOR-noh/nee)
_____ week(s): _____ settimana/e (set-tee-MAH-nah/nay)
_____ month(s): _____ mese/i (MAY-zay/zee)
_____ year(s): _____ anno/i (AHN-noh/nee)

Days

today: oggi (OHD-jee)
yesterday: ieri (YEH-ree)
tomorrow: domani (doh-MAH-nee)
day after tomorrow: dopo domani ( doh-poh doh-MAH-nee)
this week: questa settimana (QUES-tah set-tee-MAH-nah)
last week: la settimana scorsa (lah set-tee-MAH-nah SKOR-sah)
next week: la prossima settimana (lah PROSS-see-mah set-tee-MAH-nah)

Sunday: domenica (...)
Monday: luned� (...)
Tuesday: marted� (...)
Wednesday: mercoled� (...)
Thursday: gioved� (...)
Friday: venerd� (...)
Saturday: sabato (...)

Months

January: gennaio (...)
February: febbraio (...)
March: marzo (...)
April: aprile (...)
May: maggio (...)
June: giugno (...)
July: luglio (...)
August: agosto (...)
September: settembre (...)
October: ottobre (...)
November: novembre (...)
December: dicembre (...)

Writing time and date

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

First: the day Second: the month Third: the year

For example: 23/1/2005

And also in letters:

23 gennaio 2005

To write clock times:

The hour . The minutes

For example: 6.43

You read: sei e quarantatre

Colors

black: nero (...)
white: bianco (...)
gray: grigio (...)
red: rosso (...)
blue: blu (...)
yellow: giallo (...)
green: verde (...)
orange: arancione (...)
purple: viola (...)
brown: marrone (...)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: Quanto costa un biglietto per _____? (...)
One ticket to _____, please.: Un biglietto per _____, per favore. (...)
Where does this train/bus go?: Dove va questo treno / quest'autobus? (...)
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Dov'� il treno/l'autobus per _____? (...)
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Questo treno/quest'autobus si ferma in _____? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: Quando parte il treno/l'autobus per _____? (...)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: Quando arriva a _____ questo treno/quest'autobus? (...)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: Come si arriva a _____ ? (...)
...to the train station?: ...alla stazione ferroviaria? (...)
...to the bus station?: ...alla stazione dell'autobus? (...)
...to the airport?: ...all'aeroporto? (...)
...downtown?: ...in centro? (...)
...the youth hostel?: ...all'ostello della gioventù? (...)
...the _____ hotel?: ...all'albergo ____ / all'hotel ___? (...)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ...al consolato Americano/Canadese/Australiano/Inglese? (...)
Where are there a lot of...: Dove ci sono molti (...)

more usally

Dove trovo molti (...)

...hotels?: ...hotels? (...)
...restaurants?: ...ristoranti? (...)
...bars?: ...bar? (...)
...sites to see?: ...cose da vedere? (...) or luoghi da vedere (...)
Can you show me on the map?: Potete mostrarmelo sulla carta? (...)
street: strada (...)
Turn left.: Giri a sinistra. (...)
Turn right.: Giri a destra. (...)
left: sinistra (...)
right: destra (...)
straight ahead: diritto (...)
towards the _____: verso il _____ (...)
past the _____: dopo il _____ (...)
before the _____: prima del _____ (...)
Watch for the _____.: Guarda il _____. (...) or Cerca il _____. (...)
intersection: incrocio (...)
north: nord (...) abbreviation N
south: sud (...) abbreviation S
east: est (...) abbreviation E
west: ovest (...) abbreviation O
uphill: (in) su (...)
downhill: (in) giù (...)

Taxi

Taxi!: Taxi! (...)
Take me to _____, please.: Portatemi a _____, per favore. (...)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: Quanto costa andare a _____? (...)
Take me there, please.: Portatemi lì, per favore. (...)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Avete camere libere? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: Quanto costa una stanza singola/doppia? (...)
Does the room come with...: La stanza ha ... (...)
...bedsheets?: ...lenzuola? (...)
...a bathroom?: ...un bagno? (...)
...a telephone?: ...un telefono? (...)
...a TV?: ...un televisore? (...)
May I see the room first?: Posso prima vedere la stanza? (...)
Do you have anything quieter?: Ha una stanza pi� silenziosa? (...)
...bigger?: ...pi� grande? (...)
...cleaner?: ...pi� pulita? (...)
...cheaper?: ...pi� economica? (...)
OK, I'll take it.: Va bene, la prendo. (...)
I will stay for _____ night(s).: Mi fermo per _____ notte/i. (...)
Can you suggest another hotel?: Potete suggerirmi un altro hotel? (...)
Do you have a safe?: Avete una cassaforte (centrale)? (...)
...lockers?: ...Avete una cassaforte (nella stanza)? (...)
Is breakfast/supper included?: � inclusa la colazione / la cena? (...)
What time is breakfast/supper?: A che ora � la colazione / la cena? (...)
Please clean my room.: Pulite la mia camera, per favore. (...)
Can you wake me at _____?: Potete svegliarmi alle _____? (...)
I want to check out.: Voglio andare via. (...) or voglio partire

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

Accettate dollari Americani/Australiani/Canadesi? (...)

Do you accept British pounds?

Accettate sterline inglesi? (...)

Do you accept credit cards?

Accettate carte di credito? (...)

Can you change money for me?

Potete cambiare delle banconote per me? (...)

Can you change British pounds for me?

Potete cambiare delle Sterline Inglesi per me? (...)

Can you change American/Australian/Canadian dollars for me?

Potete cambiare dei dollari Americani/Australiani/Canadesi per me? (...)

Where can I get money changed?

Dove posso cambiare delle banconote? (...)

Where can I get foreign money changed?

Dove posso cambiare della valuta straniera? (...)

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

Potete cambiare questi traveller's cheque per me? (...)

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

Dove posso cambiare un traveller's cheque? (...)

What is the exchange rate?

Quanto è il (tasso di) cambio? (...)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

Dove posso trovare un distributore automatico di banconote? (...)

in Italy it is more common to say "Bancomat" for "ATM"

Dove posso trovare un Bancomat?

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: Un tavolo per uno/due, per favore. (...)
Can I look at the menu, please?: Posso vedere il menù, per favore? (...)
Can I look in the kitchen?: Posso dare un occhiata in cucina? (...)
Is there a house specialty?: Vi è una specialità della casa? (...)
Is there a local specialty?: È una specialità locale? (...)
I'm a vegetarian.: Sono vegetariano/a (...)
I don't eat pork.: Non mangio il maiale. (...)
I don't eat beef.: Non mangio il manzo. (...)
I only eat kosher food.: Mangio solamente cibo kosher (...); It is better if you explain what does it means
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): Potete farlo leggero, per favore? (...); or Potete farlo con pochi grassi? (with little fat) or Potete farlo con poco olio? (with little oil)
fixed-price meal: pranzo a prezzo fisso (...)
� la carte: � la carte (...)
breakfast: la prima colazione (...)
lunch: il pranzo (...)
tea (meal): tè (...); if you are meaning the meal at the 4 or 5 in the afternoon, in Italian is called merenda but usually is only for kids
supper: la cena (...)
I would like _____.: Vorrei _____. (...)
I would like a dish containing _____.: Vorrei un piatto con _____. (...)
chicken: il pollo (...)
beef: il manzo (...)
fish: il pesce (...)
ham: il prosciutto (...)
sausage: salsiccia (...)
cheese: il formaggio (...)
eggs: le uova (...)
salad: l'insalata (...)
(fresh) vegetables: le verdure fresche (...)
(fresh) fruit: la frutta fresca (...)
bread: il pane (...)
toast: toast (...)
noodles: tagliatelle (...)
rice: il riso (...)
beans: i fagioli (...) or fagiolini (similar to beans but different)
May I have a glass of _____?: Posso avere un bicchiere di _____? (...)
May I have a cup of _____?: Posso avere una tazza di _____? (...)
May I have a bottle of _____?: Posso avere una bottiglia di _____? (...)
coffee: il caff� (...)
tea (drink): il t� (...)
juice: il succo (...)
water: l'acqua (...)
bubbly water: l'acqua minerale con gas (...)
beer: la birra (...)
red/white wine: il vino rosso/bianco (...)
May I have some _____?: Posso aver del _____? (...) or Posso avere un po' di ____? (...)
salt: il sale (...)
black pepper: il pepe (...)
butter: il burro (...)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Scusi? (...)
I'm finished.: Ho finito. (...)
It was delicious.: � squisito. (...)
Please clear the plates.: Potete pulire il tavolo, per favore. (...)
The check, please.: Il conto, per favore. (...)

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: servite alcolici? (...); Rather formal, more usally : Avete bevande alcoliche
Is there table service?: C'è il servizio al tavolo? (...)
A beer/two beers, please.: Una birra/due birre, per favore. (...)
A glass of red/white wine, please.: Un bicchiere di vino rosso/bianco, per favore. (...)
A pint, please.: Un boccale, per favore. (...)
A bottle, please.: Una bottiglia, per favore. (...)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: _____ and _____, please. (...)
whiskey: whiskey (...)
vodka: vodka (...)
rum: rum (...)
water: acqua (...)
club soda: club soda (...)
tonic water: acqua tonica (...)
orange juice: succo di arancia (...)
Coke (soda): Coca Cola (...)
Do you have any bar snacks?: C'è un bar con spuntini? (...)
One more, please.: Un altro, per favore. (...)
Another round, please.: Un altro giro, per favore. (...)
When is closing time?: Qual è l'ora di chiusura? (...)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Avete questo nella mia taglia? (...)
How much is this?: Quanto costa questo? (...)
That's too expensive.: � troppo caro/a. (...)
Would you take _____?: Prendereste _____? (...)
expensive: caro (...)
cheap: economico (...)
I can't afford it.: Non posso permettermelo. (...); very unusual to be said in Italian. Better I am looking for something cheeper Cerco qualcosa di più economico
I don't want it.: Non lo voglio. (...)
You're cheating me.: Mi state imbrogliando. (...)
I'm not interested.: Non son interessato. (..)
OK, I'll take it.: Va bene, lo prendo. (...)
Can I have a bag?: Posso avere una borsa? (...)
Do you ship (overseas)?: Potete spedirlo (all'estero)? (...)
I need...: Ho bisogno di... (...)
...toothpaste.: ...dentifricio. (...)
...a toothbrush.: ...uno spazzolino. (...)
...tampons.: ...tampone/assorbente. (...)
...soap.: ...sapone. (...)
...shampoo.: ...shampoo. (...)
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ...analgesico (aspirina). (...)
...cold medicine.: ...medicina per il raffreddore. (...)
...stomach medicine.: ...medicina per lo stomaco. (...)
...a razor.: ...un rasoio. (...)
...an umbrella.: ...un ombrello. (...)
...sunblock lotion.: ...lozione/crema contro il sole. (...)
...a postcard.: ...una cartolina. (...)
...postage stamps.: ...francobolli. (...)
...batteries.: ...batterie. (...)
...writing paper.: ...carta. (...)
...a pen.: ...una penna. (...)
...English-language books.: ...libri in inglese. (...)
...English-language magazines.: ...riviste in inglese. (...)
...an English-language newspaper.: ...un giornale in inglese. (...)
...an English-Italian dictionary.: ...un dizionario Inglese-Italiano. (...)

Driving

I want to rent a car.: Desidero noleggiare una macchina. (...) or Vorrei noleggiare una macchina
Can I get insurance?: Posso avere un'assicurazione? (...)
stop (on a street sign): stop (...)
one way: senso unico (...)
yield: dare la precedenza (...)
no parking: vietata la sosta (...) or vietato parcheggiare
speed limit: limite di velocità (...)
gas (petrol) station: benzinaio (...) or stazione di rifornimento or (in an highway) area di servizio
petrol: petrol (...) benzina (you have to clarify benzina verde benzina senza piombo benzina super benzina normale)
diesel: diesel (...) or gasolio

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: Non ho fatto nulla di male. (...)
It was a misunderstanding.: È stato un malinteso. (...)
Where are you taking me?: Dove mi state portando? (...)
Am I under arrest?: Sono in arresto? (...)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: Sono un/una cittadino/a americano(a)/australiano(a)/britannico(a)/canadese. (...)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: Voglio parlare con l'ambasciata/il consoloato Americano/Australiano/Inglese/Canadese. (...)
I want to talk to a lawyer.: Voglio parlare con un avvocato. (...)
Can I just pay a fine now?: Posso semplicemente pagare una multa adesso? (...)

Learning more

This is where you'd give more information on learning the language, such as links to online courses or textbooks, or suggestions for in-person courses to take.

Travel in Italian phrasebook

Informations on Italian: history, politics, economy, culture, Did you mean: ItalianFor an other version of this travel guide, please visit Ooaj.com: Travel in Italian + Hotels