Ever heard someone say Buon Giorno, and you do not know how to respond? When it comes to traveling to Italy, learning the most common Italian phrases will give you the chance to authentically express who you are, connect with the locals, and ask for help when needed. In today’s post, we will you through the basic Italian phrases you need to master so that you won’t ever feel overwhelmed during your travel.
If you have ever been to another country before, then we bet that you understand how scary it feels when someone comes up to you and talks in their native language. Now, imagine if someone suddenly tells you In bocca al lupo and pats your back while you are in Italy… what could that mean, right?
A quick trip to Italy is perhaps one of the highlights in everyone’s bucket lists. Aside from the rich Italian culture, the country is best known for its fashion, cuisine, and World Heritage Sites, making it an ideal travel destination. One way you can truly understand the country, connect with the locals (since not everyone speaks English), and show respect is by making an effort to learn at least a little Italian language.
Luckily, learning how to speak Italian proves to be easy, especially if your first language is English. Moreover, since it is a Romance language, it is also related to other similar languages in the family (like Spanish and French). In fact, the FSI notes Italian as a category one language which means that you only need less than 800 class hours to master it alone!
Get started in the language learning journey today by focusing on the basic phrases and words in this post.
25 Most Basic Italian Phrases
If there is one important set of phrases that you must learn in Italian, that would be the greetings. Aside from speaking the basic ones, you also have to take note that the locals love giving hugs or kisses on both cheeks regardless of gender. So speak Italian like a pro by using the phrases below.
| Italian | Meaning |
| Ciao | Hi/ Bye |
| Salve | Hello |
| Buon giorno | Good morning |
| Buon pomeriggio | Good afternoon |
| Una buona giornata | Have a good day |
| Buona serata | Have good evening |
| Buona notte | Good night |
| Buonasera | Good evening |
| Arrivederci | Goodbye |
| Si | Yes |
| No | No |
| Grazie | Thank you |
| Per favore | Please |
| Prego / Grazie mille | You are welcome |
| Mi scusi / Permesso | Excuse me |
| Mi dispiace | I’m sorry |
| Non capisco | I do not understand |
| Parla Inglese | Do you speak English? |
| Mi chiamo | My name is |
| Sono americano | I am an American |
| Piacere | Nice to meet you |
| A presto | See you soon |
| A dopo | See you later |
| Come sta / come va | How are you |
| Sto bene grazie | I am good, thank you for asking |
Now that you know the essential Italian phrases let’s focus on the more specific aspects you need to learn. You can also check out our guide regarding the most common Italian insults, which you might hear the locals say casually.
25 Common Italian Phrases For Traveling
Learning at least the basic common Italian phrases and words allows you to have an easier time navigating Italian streets. Check out the expressions that you can use to get around and avoid being branded as “the lost tourist.”
| Italian | Meaning |
| Dove sono? | Where are… |
| Dov’è… | Where is… |
| Bagno | Toilet |
| L’aeroporto | Airport |
| La fermata dell’autobus | Bus stop |
| La stazione | Train station |
| Un taxi | Taxi |
| A destera | To the right |
| A sinistra | To the left |
| Uscitaa | Exit |
| Entrata | Entrance |
| Dritto | Straight ahead |
| Avanti | Forward |
| Dietro | Back |
| Dove si trova la stazione del treno? | Where is the train station? |
| Dov’è la stazione degli autobus? | Where is the bus stop? |
| Quanto dista il Colosseo? | How far is the colosseum? |
| Posso pagare con la carta? | Can I pay with card? (for busses) |
| Aereo | Airplane |
| Pilota | Pilot |
| Assistente di volo | Flight attendant |
| Ho prenotato | I have a reservation |
| Quanto costa il biglietto? | How much is the ticket? |
| Quando passa l’autobus? | When does the bus come? |
| Posso pagare con carta di credito? | Can I pay with a credit card? |
16 Essential Italian Phrases For Emergencies
In order to ask for help in case of an emergency, it is better if you try to communicate using the local language since not all Italians know (and are comfortable) in speaking English.
| Italian | Meaning |
| Mi aiuti per favore | Please help me |
| Mi sento male | I feel ill |
| Mi fa male qui | I feel pain in this part |
| Mi sento molto male | I feel very sick |
| Attento | Lookout |
| Aiuto | Help |
| Emergenza | Emergency |
| Ho bisogno di un medico | I need a doctor |
| Chiamate la polizia | Call the police |
| Dov’è l’ospedale? | Where is the hospital? |
| Sono stato assalito | I have been robbed |
| Ho perso il mio passaporto | I lost my passport |
| C’è stato un incidente | There’s an accident |
| C’é un incendio | There’s fire |
| La stazione di polizia | Police station |
| Al ladro | Stop, thief! |
25 Must-know Italian Phrases For Shopping And Dining
As part of the travel adventure, it is wise to check out the local Italian markets (also known as mercato) and purchase locally-made items. Some of the top things you should not miss are bags, accessories, shoes, and local snacks. Read on below to find out more about the common Italian phrases for shopping and for ordering food.
| Italian | Meaning |
| Possiamo ordinare? | Can we order? |
| Siamo pronti e vorremmo ordinare | We are ready to order |
| Vorrei il menu, per favore | I’d like to see the menu please |
| C’è una specialità locale? | What is the specialty here? |
| Mi piacerebbe questo | I’d like that one… |
| Che cosa mi consiglia? | What do you recommend? |
| Il conto per favore | The bill, please |
| Che cos’è | What is this? |
| Cosa vuole dire? | What does that mean? |
| Quanto costa questo? | How much is this? |
| Non capisco | I do not understand |
| Quando si apri? | When are you open? |
| Dove posso comprare i biglietti? | Where can I purchase tickets? |
| Dov’è la guardaroba? | Where is the cloakroom? |
| Sono allergica/o a… | I am allergic to… |
| Vino rosso | Red wine |
| Una bicchiere | A glass |
| Una bottiglia | A bottle |
| Antipasto | Appetizer |
| Primo | First course |
| Secondo | Second course |
| Dolci | Dessert |
| Posso pagare con la carta? | Can I pay by card? |
| Mi scusi, quanto costa? | Excuse me, how much does this cost? |
| C’è uno sconto? | Is there a discount? |
Ready To Learn Italian?
Planning a trip to Italy or to say I love you with your special someone? Well, worry no more because speaking Italian is not as hard as it seems! Get your language learning journey started on the right foot by using Ling App to learn Italian today! By using this FREE platform, you’d be able to unlock comprehensive lessons for over 60+ languages from across the world! Aside from teaching the essential vocabulary words and phrases, it also gives you the chance to master Italian expressions as well as grammatical structure.
Download it today and discover a new type of learning that is motivating and fun!
