Basic Italian Phrases for Travelers

Grover Laughton6 min
Created: Dec 25, 2024Last updated: Jul 28, 2025
Basic Italian Phrases

Melodic, rich, and full of passion—that’s Italian. Its smooth pronunciation and rhythm make it stand out, and more people are learning it every year. Italy is an ideal destination for short visits or a leisurely, relaxing vacation. 

Want to connect more with this culture? Today, we’ll look at some basic Italian phrases and how to pronounce them correctly.

Mastering the Basics: Greetings in Italian

Basic Italian Phrases for Travelers

Whether you’re walking into a café or meeting someone new, using basic Italian greetings is a great way to make a positive first impression. These phrases will help you sound polite and friendly from the very beginning of any conversation.

Word/PhraseTranscriptionTranslation
CiaochowHello / Bye
Buongiornobwohn-jor-nohGood morning
Buonaserabwoh-nah-seh-rahGood evening
Buonanottebwoh-nah-not-tehGood night
Salvesahl-vehHello (formal)
Arrivederciah-ree-veh-dehr-cheeGoodbye
A prestoah preh-stohSee you soon
Come ti chiami?koh-meh tee kyah-mee?What’s your name?
Mi chiamo…mee kyah-moh…My name is…
Piacerepyah-cheh-rehNice to meet you

Greeting someone the right way is one of the simplest ways to make Italian locals feel respected and welcomed. Use these phrases daily to start building comfort with the language!

Polite Expressions in Italian

Being polite goes a long way when traveling, especially in cultures like Italy that value manners and formality. These polite expressions will help you ask for things kindly, express gratitude, and interact more respectfully with locals.

Word/PhraseTranscriptionTranslation
Per favorepehr fah-voh-rehPlease
Graziegrah-tsyehThank you
Pregopreh-gohYou’re welcome / Please go ahead
Mi scusimee skoo-zeeExcuse me (formal)
Scusaskoo-zahSorry / Excuse me (informal)
Mi dispiacemee dee-spyah-chehI’m sorry
Non c’è problemanon cheh pro-bleh-mahNo problem
Posso…?pohs-soh...?May I...?
Certochehr-tohOf course
Va benevah beh-nehThat’s fine / Okay

These polite words and phrases are useful for every situation, from restaurants and hotels to casual conversations. They’ll help you leave a good impression and make your interactions smoother and more enjoyable.

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Essential Italian Phrases for Asking for Directions

When you're exploring Italy, knowing how to ask for directions can save time and stress. Whether you're looking for a train station, a café, or just your hotel, these essential phrases will help you navigate confidently and respectfully.

Word/PhraseTranscriptionTranslation
Dov’è…?doh-veh…?Where is…?
Come posso arrivare a…?koh-meh pohs-soh ah-ree-vah-reh ah…?How can I get to…?
È lontano?eh lon-tah-no?Is it far?
A destraah deh-strahTo the right
A sinistraah see-nee-strahTo the left
Sempre drittosehm-preh dree-tohStraight ahead
Vicinovee-chee-noNear
Lontanolon-tah-noFar
La fermata dell’autobuslah fehr-mah-tah dell ow-too-boosThe bus stop
La stazione ferroviarialah stah-tsyo-neh fehr-roh-vyah-ree-ahThe train station
L’aeroportolah-eh-roh-por-tohThe airport
La metropolitanalah meh-troh-poh-lee-tah-nahThe subway/metro
Dov’è il bagno?doh-veh eel bah-nyoh?Where is the bathroom?
Mi sono perso/amee soh-no per-so/per-sahI’m lost (male/female speaker)
Può aiutarmi, per favore?pwoh ah-yoo-tar-mee, pehr fah-voh-reh?Can you help me, please?

Understanding these phrases will give you peace of mind when traveling and help you feel more connected to your surroundings. Don’t be afraid to ask locals; many will appreciate your effort and will be happy to help!

Basic Phrases in Italian for Dining & Shopping

Italy is world-famous for its cuisine and vibrant markets. Knowing a few essential phrases will help you order delicious meals and drinks, explore shops with ease, and fully enjoy every bite and bargain to the fullest. 

These practical expressions are ideal for use in restaurants, cafés, stores, and by local vendors.

PhraseTranscriptionTranslation
Vorrei ordinare…vohr-ray or-dee-nah-reh…I’d like to order…
Il menù, per favoreeel meh-noo pehr fah-voh-rehThe menu, please
Il conto, per favoreeel con-toh pehr fah-voh-rehThe check, please
È piccante?eh pee-kahn-teh?Is it spicy?
Sono allergico/a a…soh-noh ah-lehr-zhee-koh/kah ah…I’m allergic to… (m/f)
È incluso il servizio?eh een-cloo-so eel sehr-vee-tsoh?Is service included?
Posso pagare con la carta?pohs-so pah-gah-reh con lah car-tah?Can I pay with card?
Quanto costa?kwan-toh cohs-tah?How much does it cost?
Avete questa in un’altra taglia?ah-veh-teh kwehs-tah een oon-al-trah tah-lyah?Do you have this in another size?
Posso provarlo/la?pohs-so proh-var-loh/lah?Can I try it on?
Solo guardo, graziesoh-loh gwar-doh, grah-tsyehI’m just looking, thank you
Vorrei questovohr-ray kwehs-tohI’d like this
È troppo caroeh troh-poh cah-rohIt’s too expensive
Avete uno sconto?ah-veh-teh oo-no skon-toh?Do you have a discount?
Posso avere una borsa?pohs-so ah-veh-reh oo-nah bor-sah?Can I have a bag?

These simple yet powerful phrases will help you feel confident in Italian dining and shopping settings. Whether ordering pasta in Rome or bargaining at a local market, a few friendly words go a long way!

Practical Italian: Emergencies & Asking for Help

While we hope your trip goes smoothly, it’s always wise to know a few phrases that can help in case of trouble. Whether you need medical or police assistance, or have lost something, these essential Italian expressions will help you stay calm and get the help you need.

Word/PhraseTranscriptionTranslation
Aiuto!ah-yoo-toh!Help!
Ho bisogno di aiutooh bee-zon-yo dee ah-yoo-tohI need help
Chiamate la polizia!kyah-mah-teh lah poh-lee-tsee-ahCall the police!
Mi hanno derubatomee ahn-noh deh-roo-bah-tohI've been robbed
Ho perso il mio passaportooh pehr-soh eel mee-oh pahs-sah-por-tohI lost my passport
Mi sono perso/amee soh-no pehr-soh / pehr-sahI'm lost (m/f)
Non mi sento benenon mee sen-toh beh-nehI don’t feel well
Ho bisogno di un medicooh bee-zon-yo dee oon meh-dee-kohI need a doctor
Dov’è l’ospedale più vicino?doh-veh loh-speh-dah-leh pyoo vee-chee-nohWhere is the nearest hospital?
C’è una farmacia qui vicino?cheh oo-nah far-mah-chee-ah kwee vee-chee-no?Is there a pharmacy nearby?
Ho avuto un incidenteoh ah-voo-toh oon een-chee-den-tehI had an accident
C’è un’emergenzacheh oo-neh-mehr-jen-tsahThere’s an emergency
Ho bisogno di chiamareoh bee-zon-yo dee kyah-mah-rehI need to make a call
Parla inglese?par-lah een-gleh-zeh?Do you speak English?
Non parlo italianonon par-loh ee-tah-lyah-noI don’t speak Italian

Knowing how to ask for help in Italian can make a big difference in unexpected situations. Even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect, most locals will be able to understand you and be more willing to assist.

Travel More Comfortably With Promova

Starting to speak a new language can feel difficult at first, but Promova can help! 

Promova is an all-in-one app designed for anyone looking to learn a language using modern methods. These are just a few of the benefits of using Promova to learn more common Italian phrases:

  • Easy to use: Promova’s clean, beginner-friendly interface is designed to make learning stress-free, even if you're just starting out.
  • Flexibility: Study anytime, anywhere, right from the comfort of your smartphone, tablet, or PC.
  • Interactivity: Enjoy learning with colorful flashcards, quizzes, tests, and fun game-based lessons.
  • Versatility: Improve your reading and grammar, choose the topics you are most interested to learn about, and track your daily progress!
  • Cultural insights: Discover local Italian sayings and expressions, as well as slang and cultural context to speak more naturally and understand how language is used in real life.

Promova offers online language courses in Italian, English, Chinese, Spanish, and many more. English learners can also join private groups or one-on-one lessons and even attend a free Conversation Club, all led by certified English tutors.

Conclusion

Italy and tourism go hand in hand. With its stunning cities, gorgeous coastlines, and rich history, it’s no wonder travelers from around the world keep falling in love with the country and its beautiful language. But what really makes the experience special? The people.

Italians are friendly, cheerful, and fun to talk to, and speaking even a little Italian goes a long way. It shows respect, opens up conversations, and makes your trip feel more personal and authentic.

So, take this chance to practice your Italian with the help of the Promova app, connect with new people, and create memories that extend beyond sightseeing. Buon viaggio! (Have a good trip!)

FAQ

Why should I learn basic Italian phrases before traveling to Italy?

Learning a few simple phrases can help you navigate daily situations, such as ordering food at a restaurant or café, asking for directions, or greeting locals. It also shows respect for the culture, which often leads to more positive interactions with native speakers.

Are Italian greetings formal or informal?

Italian has both formal and informal greetings. For example, “Ciao” is an informal greeting used among friends, while “Buongiorno” (meaning “Good morning”) is a polite and appropriate expression in most settings. Using the right tone helps create a good first impression.

What are the most common Italian phrases to learn first?

Start with practical Italian phrases to know, like

  • Ciao (Hi/Bye)
  • Per favore (Please)
  • Grazie (Thank you)
  • Dov’è il bagno? (Where is the bathroom?)
  • Non parlo italiano (I don’t speak Italian)

Is Italian for travel hard to learn for beginners?

Not all! In fact, Italian is considered one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn, since it has consistent pronunciation rules, and many words are similar to English due to their shared Latin roots. Learning common Italian phrases through the Promova app makes it even easier.

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