Italy Pocket Phrasebook 🗣️
The stuff a family actually needs around town. Italian is phonetic, just say it as written (italics = rough sound). With strangers, polite/formal is the safe default.
Two words that do the most work: Prego (you're welcome / go ahead / after you / here you go / can I help you — it means all of them, context tells you which) and Scusi (excuse me + sorry). Master those two and "grazie" and you're 80% there.
👋 Greetings & politeness
Buongiorno bwon-JOR-no
Good morning / hello (daytime)
Buonasera bwona-SEH-ra
Good evening (from ~afternoon on)
Ciao chow
Hi / bye — informal only (friends, kids, casual)
Salve SAL-veh
Neutral "hello" — safe if unsure formal/informal
Arrivederci arreeveh-DER-chee
Goodbye (polite). Casual: Ciao ciao
Per favore / Per piacere
Please (two ways — both fine)
Grazie / Grazie mille
Thank you / thanks a lot
Prego
You're welcome — and go ahead / after you / here you are
Scusi / Mi scusi
Excuse me / sorry (to a stranger, formal)
Permesso
"Coming through" — to squeeze past people
Sì / No / Va bene
Yes / no / okay, fine
Buona giornata / serata
Have a good day / evening (as you leave)
🆘 Getting by
Parla inglese?
Do you speak English?
Non capisco / Non parlo italiano
I don't understand / I don't speak Italian
Può ripetere? / Più lentamente
Can you repeat? / more slowly
Come si dice…?
How do you say…?
Quanto costa?
How much is it?
🍝 Eating & drinking
Un tavolo per… (quattro / sette)
A table for… (four / seven)
Il menù, per favore
The menu, please
Vorrei… / Prendo…
I'd like… / I'll have…
Acqua naturale / frizzante
Still / sparkling water (they'll ask)
Il conto, per favore
The bill, please
Coperto
Per-person cover charge on the bill (not a tip)
Senza… (glutine / noccioline)
Without… (gluten / nuts) — for allergies
È buonissimo!
It's delicious!
📋 On a menu you'll see: Antipasti (starters) · Primi (pasta/rice) · Secondi (mains) · Contorni (sides) · Dolci (desserts) · Bevande (drinks) · Coperto / Servizio (cover / service charge).
🛍️ Shopping & paying
Sto solo guardando
I'm just looking
Posso pagare con carta?
Can I pay by card?
In euro, per favore
In euros, please (decline the CAD conversion!)
Lo scontrino / la ricevuta
The receipt
Avete i saldi?
Do you have sales on? (it's saldi season)
🚉 Getting around
Un biglietto / due biglietti
One ticket / two tickets
Biglietteria
Ticket office
Binario bee-NAH-ryo
Platform (trains) — "binario 5" = platform 5
Fermata
Stop (tram / bus / metro)
A destra / a sinistra / dritto
Right / left / straight ahead
Vicino / lontano
Near / far
Un taxi, per favore
A taxi, please
🪧 Signs & words to RECOGNIZE
You won't say these, but you'll see/hear them and want to get it right.
Entrata / Ingresso — Uscita
Entrance — Exit
Spingere — Tirare
Push — Pull (on doors, easy to mix up)
Aperto — Chiuso
Open — Closed
Chiuso per ferie
Closed for holidays — common in summer! (esp. August)
Vietato… (fumare / l'ingresso)
Forbidden… (no smoking / no entry)
Cassa
Till / checkout / pay here
Bagno / Servizi / Toilette / WC
Restroom (all mean the same)
Signori — Signore · Uomini — Donne
Men — Women (watch the last letter!)
Libero — Occupato
Free / vacant — Occupied (toilets, seats)
Guasto / Fuori servizio
Broken / out of order
Saldi / Sconti
Sales / discounts
Spinta / Tirare la catena
(minor) push / flush
🚆 At stations, recognize these fast: Ritardo = delay · In orario = on time · Soppresso / Cancellato = cancelled · Coincidenza = connection · Sciopero = strike (Italian transport strikes happen — if you see this word, check your train) · Convalidare / Obliterare = validate your ticket (stamp it before boarding regional trains or get fined).
🔢 Numbers
1-5
uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque
6-10
sei, sette, otto, nove, dieci
20 / 50 / 100
venti / cinquanta / cento
"…e mezzo" / "…e cinquanta"
prices: "trenta e cinquanta" = €30.50
👨👩👧 Handy with kids & help
Farmacia
Pharmacy (green cross; they help with minor stuff)
Un medico / l'ospedale
A doctor / the hospital
Chiami la polizia
Call the police
Ho perso… / Siamo persi
I've lost… / we're lost
C'è un bagno?
Is there a toilet?
112
EU emergency number (police/ambulance/fire)