Travelling in Italy requires a basic vocabulary to handle everyday situations. This list brings together over 120 expressions to help with getting around, eating out and interacting with locals.
Introducing yourself and breaking the ice
Knowing the basics of formal and informal address changes the way locals receive you.
- Come ti chiami? : What’s your name? Informal
- Come si chiama? : What is your name? Formal
- Mi chiamo… : My name is… Standard response
- Piacere : Pleased to meet you. When meeting someone
- Come stai? : How are you? Informal
- Come sta? : How are you? Formal
- Bene, grazie : Fine, thank you. Polite response
- Di dove sei? : Where are you from? Origin
- Sono francese : I am French. Nationality
- Parla italiano? : Do you speak Italian? Formal
- Parlo un po’ di italiano : I speak a little Italian. Useful modesty
- Non parlo italiano : I don’t speak Italian. Clarification
- Parla inglese / francese? : Do you speak English / French? Fallback option
- Capisco / Non capisco : I understand / I don’t understand. Indicating comprehension
- Può ripetere, per favore? : Could you repeat that, please? Asking for clarification
- Più lentamente : More slowly. To follow the conversation
Getting around
These terms help with navigating cities and using public transport.
- Dov’è…? : Where is…? Standard opening phrase
- Il bagno : The bathroom / toilet. Frequent need
- La stazione : The station. Trains
- L’aeroporto : The airport. Flights
- La fermata dell’autobus : The bus stop. Urban transport
- La metropolitana : The underground / metro. Large cities
- Il centro : The town centre. Tourist area
- Un biglietto per… : A ticket to… Buying at the counter
- Solo andata : One way. Ticket type
- Andata e ritorno : Return. Ticket type
- A destra : On the right. Direction
- A sinistra : On the left. Direction
- Dritto : Straight ahead. Direction
- Lontano : Far. Distance
- Vicino : Near. Distance
- Nord / Sud / Est / Ovest : North / South / East / West. Cardinal points
- La mappa : The map. Navigation
- L’entrata : The entrance. Access
- L’uscita : The exit. Access
- Giri qui : Turn here. Direction for a driver
Eating and drinking at a restaurant
Food is central to life in Italy and requires precise vocabulary.
- Vorrei prenotare un tavolo : I would like to book a table. Before arriving
- Un tavolo per due : A table for two. Arriving without a reservation
- Il menu, per favore : The menu, please. To order
- Vorrei… : I would like… Polite formula for ordering
- L’antipasto : The starter. Appetiser
- Il primo (piatto) : The first course. Usually pasta or risotto
- Il secondo (piatto) : The main course. Meat or fish
- Il contorno : The side dish. Vegetables served separately
- Il dolce : The dessert. End of the meal
- L’acqua naturale / frizzante : Still / sparkling water. Drink
- Un bicchiere di vino rosso / bianco : A glass of red / white wine. Drink
- Una birra alla spina : A draught beer. Drink
- Il caffè : Coffee. Standard espresso
- Il conto, per favore : The bill, please. Payment
- Il coperto : The cover charge. Fixed fee often added to the bill
- È piccante? : Is it spicy? Dish information
- Sono vegetariano/a : I am vegetarian. Dietary requirement
- Senza glutine : Gluten-free. Dietary requirement
- Ho un’allergia a… : I am allergic to… Health
- Buon appetito : Enjoy your meal. Courtesy
- Era buonissimo : It was delicious. Compliment
- La forchetta : The fork. Cutlery
- Il coltello : The knife. Cutlery
- Il cucchiaio : The spoon. Cutlery
- Un tovagliolo : A napkin. Table
Accommodation
Useful vocabulary for hotels, bed and breakfasts or Airbnb rentals.
- Ho una prenotazione : I have a reservation. Arrival
- A che nome? : Under what name? Receptionist’s question
- Vorrei fare il check-in : I would like to check in. Arrival
- A che ora è la colazione? : What time is breakfast? Practical information
- A che ora è il check-out? : What time is check-out? Departure
- Camera singola : Single room. Room type
- Camera doppia : Double room. Room type
- Il letto matrimoniale : Double bed. Bed type
- Letti singoli : Twin beds. Bed type
- C’è il Wi-Fi? : Is there Wi-Fi? Connection
- Qual è la password? : What is the password? Connection
- L’aria condizionata : Air conditioning. Comfort
- Il riscaldamento : Heating. Comfort
- Un asciugamano : A towel. Bathroom
- La carta igienica : Toilet paper. Bathroom
- La chiave : The key. Access
- L’ascensore : The lift. Floor access
- Posso lasciare i bagagli qui? : Can I leave my luggage here? Service
Shopping and money
Expressions for shopping, negotiating or managing payments.
- Quanto costa? : How much does it cost? Price
- È troppo caro : It’s too expensive. Negotiation
- C’è uno sconto? : Is there a discount? Negotiation
- Posso pagare con la carta? : Can I pay by card? Payment
- Solo contanti : Cash only. Common restriction
- Il resto : The change. Money
- Lo scontrino : The receipt. Proof of purchase
- Aperto : Open. Opening hours
- Chiuso : Closed. Opening hours
- Sto solo guardando : I’m just looking. Response to a shop assistant
- Posso provarlo? : Can I try it on? Clothing
- Il camerino : The fitting room. Clothing
- La taglia : The size. Clothing
- Il numero : The shoe size. Footwear
- Avete questo in un altro colore? : Do you have this in another colour? Choice
- Bancomat : ATM / cash machine. Withdrawing money
Emergencies and health
Priority words in case of a medical problem or safety issue.
- Aiuto! : Help! Immediate alert
- Chiami la polizia : Call the police. Safety
- Chiami un’ambulanza : Call an ambulance. Medical emergency
- Ho bisogno di un medico : I need a doctor. Health
- Dov’è l’ospedale? : Where is the hospital? Health
- La farmacia : The pharmacy. Medicine
- Mi sento male : I feel unwell. General condition
- Ho mal di testa : I have a headache. Symptom
- Ho la febbre : I have a fever. Symptom
- Ho perso il passaporto : I have lost my passport. Admin
- Mi hanno rubato il portafoglio : My wallet has been stolen. Theft
- Attenzione! : Watch out! Warning
Time and key numbers
Time and number references for organising your days.
- Oggi : Today. Time
- Domani : Tomorrow. Time
- Ieri : Yesterday. Time
- Adesso / Ora : Now. Time
- Più tardi : Later. Time
- La mattina : The morning. Time of day
- Il pomeriggio : The afternoon. Time of day
- La sera : The evening. Time of day
- Uno, due, tre : One, two, three. Basics
- Quattro, cinque, sei : Four, five, six. Basics
- Sette, otto, nove, dieci : Seven, eight, nine, ten. Basics
- Venti : Twenty. Counting
- Cinquanta : Fifty. Counting
- Cento : One hundred. Counting
- Mille : One thousand. Counting
Articles similaires
