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I SPEAK ITALIANO!

 

Language is a big part of Italian culture and making an effort to understand and speak Italian on your trip, is a way to enhance your experience and boost positive emotions!

 

Italian is the most studied language in the world for culture and pleasure.

According to UNESCO most of the world’s cultural heritage sites are in Italy. With 51 Italian properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, Italy leads the world ranking. In fact, here there are more masterpieces per square mile than any other country in the world. WOW!

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Italian is the main language of:

  • melodrama, opera and lyric music

  • gastronomy and food

  • art and literature

  • fashion and motors.

 

The Italian authors (from Dante to Petrarca to Macchiavelli or Leopardi) are the most loved and red abroad.

 

The peculiarity of the Italian language lies in its musicality, its melodic and gentle being.

Throughout the world, Italian is renowned as one of the most loved languages there is.

 

“I'm really in love with this beautiful language, the most beautiful in the world. I just need to open my mouth and unintentionally become the source of all the harmony of this celestial idolatry. Yes, dear sir, for me there is no doubt that angels in the sky speak Italian. Impossible to imagine that these blessed creatures use a less musical language“

Confessions by Felix Krull”, by Thomas Mann, writer

 

So, you’ve lots of reasons to start learning Italiano. Here you’ll find some basic Italian words and phrases.

Let’s start… COMINCIAMO.

 

Basic Italian
 

  • Yes – Si – See

  • No – No – Noh

  • Please – Per favore – Pehr fah-voh-reh

  • Thank you – Grazie – Grah-tsee-eh

  • You’re welcome – Prego – Preh-goh

  • Cheers! (To your health) – Salute! – Sah-loo-tay

  • Excuse me (for attention) – Scusi – Skooh–zee

  • Excuse me (to pass by) – Permesso – Pehr-mehs-soh

  • I don’t understand – Non capisco – Non kah-pee-skoh

  • I’m sorry – Mi dispiace – Mee dees-pyah-cheh

Asking for directions in Italian

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  • Where is… ? – Dov’è…? – Doh-veh … ?

  • Entrance – Entrata –

  • Exit – Uscita – Ooh-shee-tah

  • Left – Sinistra –

  • Right – Destra – Deh

  • Straight ahead – Dritto – Dree-toh

  • Forward – Avanti – Ah

  • Back – Dietro – Dee-et-roh

Shopping words in Italian

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  • I would like… – Vorrei… – Vor-ray…

  • How much? – Quanto costa? – Kwahn-toh kohs-tah?

  • OK I’ll take it – Va bene, lo prendo – Vah beh-neh

  • I don’t want it – Non lo voglio – Nohn loh voh-lyoh

Common greetings
 

  • Good morning (formal) – Buon giorno – Bwohn-johr-noh

  • Good afternoon (formal) – Buona sera – Bwoh-nah-seh-rah

  • Good night (formal) – Buona notte – Bwoh–nah–noh–teh

  • Hi / Bye (informal) – Ciao! – C

  • Good bye (formal) – Arrivederci – Ahr-ree-veh-dehr-chee

  • My name is … – Mi chiamo –

  • What is your name? – – Koh-meh see kyah-mah?

  • Pleased to meet you – Piacere – Pyah-cheh-reh

  • How are you? (formal) – Come sta? – Koh-meh stah?

  • Good thank you – Bene grazie – Beh-neh grah-tsee-eh

Time and Days of the week

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  • In the morning – Di Mattina – Dee mah-teen-ah

  • In the afternoon – Di pomeriggio – Dee poh-meh-reed-joh

  • In the evening – Di Sera – Dee seh–rah

  • Noon – Mezzogiorno – Mehd-dzoh-johr-noh 

  • At what time? – A che ora? – Ah kay oar-ah? 

  • Today – Oggi – Ohd-jee

  • Yesterday – Ieri – Yeh-ree

  • Tomorrow – Domani – Doh-mah-nee

  • Monday – Lunedì –

  • Tuesday – – Mahr-teh-dee 

  • Wednesday – Mercoledì – Mehr-koh-leh-dee

  • Thursday – Giovedì – Joh-veh-dee

  • Friday – – Veh-nehr-dee 

  • Saturday – Sabato – Sah-bah-toh

  • Sunday – Domenica – Doh-meh-nee-kah

Useful phrases at restaurants

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  • Can I see the menu please? – Il menu, per favore – Eel men-oo, pehr fah-voh-reh

  • What do you recommend? – Che cosa ci consiglia? – Kay koh-za chee kon-seel-ya?

  • I’m allergic to… – Sono allergica/o a... –

  • Gluten / Dairy / Fish – Glutine / Lattecini / Pesce – Gloo-teen-ay /  Lah-tay-cheen-ee / Pesh-ay 

  • House wine – Vino della casa – -noh

  • Red / white wine – Vino rosso / bianco – Vee–n

  • A glass / bottle – Una bicchiere / una bottiglia – OO-nah beek-kyeh-reh

  • Appetizer –  –

  • First course – Primo – Pree-moh

  • Second course – Secondo – -kon-doh

  • Dessert – Dolci – Doll-chee

  • Two flavors please – Due gusti, per favore – Doo-eh goo-stee, pehr fah-voh-reh

  • Where’s the bathroom? – Dov’è il bagno? – Doh-veh eel bahn-yoh?

  • The check (bill) please – Il conto, per favore – kon-toh, pehr fah-voh-reh

  • Can I pay by card? – Posso pagare con la carta? – Pohs-soh pah-gah-reh kon la cahr-tah?

Useful words for transport and getting around

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  • Where is the train station? – Dov’è la stazione? – Doh-veh lah stah-tzee-oh-neh?

  • Where is the bus stop? – Dov’è la fermata – Doh-veh lah fur-mah-tah?

  • One / two ticket/s – Un / due biglietto/i – Oon beel-yet-toh / tee

  • One way – Andata –

  • Return – Ritorno –

  • What platform? – Da quale binario? – Dah kwah-lay bin-ah-rio?

  • A ride – Corsa

  • Seat – Posto

  • Row – Fila

  • Doors – Porte

  • Gate – Porta

  • Road - Strada

ITALIAN MEAT & FISH

 

  • Beef = Manzo

  • Cheese = Formaggio

  • Chicken = Pollo

  • Chips = Patatine fritte

  • Dessert = Dessert / Dolce

  • Eggs = Uova

  • Fish = Pesce

  • Ham = Prosciutto

  • Hamburger = Hamburger

  • Lamb = Agnello

  • Mashed potato = Purè di patate

  • Meat = Carne

  • Pasta = Pasta

  • Pizza = Pizza

  • Pork = Maiale

  • Salad = Insalata

  • Salami = Salame

  • Sausages = Salsicce

  • Tomato sauce = Salsa di pomodoro

  • Turkey = Tacchino

  • Veal = Vitello

ITALIAN FRUIT

 

  • Apple = Mela

  • Apricot = Albicocca

  • Blackberry = Mora

  • Blueberry = Mirtillo

  • Cherry = Ciliegia

  • Coconut = Cocco

  • Fig = Fico

  • Grapes = Uva

  • Kiwi = Kiwi

  • Lemon = Limone

  • Melon = Melone

  • Orange = Arancia

  • Peach = Pesca

  • Pear = Pera

  • Pineapple = Ananas

  • Plum = Prugna / Susina

  • Pomegranate = Melagrana

  • Raspberry = Lampone

  • Watermelon = Anguria

Numbers in Italian

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  • One – Uno – Oo-noh

  • Two – Due – Doo-eh

  • Three – Tre – Treh

  • Four – Quattro – Kwah-troh

  • Five – Cinque – Cheen-kweh

  • Six – Sei – Say

  • Seven – Sette – Seht

  • Eight – Otto – Oh-toh

  • Nine – Nove – Noh-veh

  • Ten – Dieci – Dee-EH-chee 

  • Eleven – Undici – Oon–dee-chee

  • Twelve – Dodici – Doh

VEGETABLES & LEGUMES

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  • Artichoke = Carciofo

  • Asparagus = Asparago

  • Aubergine = Melanzana

  • Beans = Fagioli

  • Beetroot = Barbabietola

  • Broccoli = Broccoli

  • Bell pepper = Peperone

  • Cabbage = Cavolo

  • Cauliflower = Cavolfiore

  • Celery = Sedano

  • Courgette = Zucchina

  • Cucumber = Cetriolo

  • Lentils = Lenticchie

  • Lettuce = Lattuga

  • Mushrooms = Funghi

  • Pumpkin = Zucca

  • Tomato = Pomodoro

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