Phrasebook · Italy
Italian for your trip
35 words and phrases that get you through a day in Italy.
Compare with other languages →How it sounds
The syllable in capitals is the one to stress.
- c and g before e or i
- ch in church and j in jam: ciao, gelato
- ch and gh
- a hard k and g: chiuso is KYOO-soh
- gli
- the lli in million
- gn
- the ny in canyon
- z
- ts or ds: pizza, zero
- double letters
- held a beat longer: notte, birra
Essentials
35 phrasesBasics
Food and drink
Getting around
Money
Help
Only in Italy
Help
Emergency numbers
Eating out
24 phrasesWhat you'll hear back
Diet cards
Getting around
27 phrasesTaxis and tickets
Signs you'll see
- oo-SHEE-tahExit
- ehn-TRAH-tahEntrance
- ah-PEHR-tohOpen
- KYOO-sohClosed
- BAH-nyeeToilets
- WOH-mee-neeMen
- DOHN-nehWomen
- SPEEN-jeh-rehPush
- tee-RAH-rehPull
- vyeh-TAH-toh leen-GREHS-sohNo entry
Time and opening hours
Shopping
14 phrasesNumbers and prices
Prices are said as euros 'e' cents: tre e cinquanta (treh eh cheen-KWAHN-tah) is €3.50.
Outdoors
8 phrasesOn the trail
Culture
9 phrasesNo word for it in English
Festival words
German · South Tyrol
Slovene · Trieste and the Karst
Where other languages are spoken
- German
- Slovene
- French
- Sardinian
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Greet with buongiorno when you walk into a shop, and arrivederci when you leave.
- Drink cappuccino in the morning; after a meal, Italians order an espresso.
- In busy bars, pay at the till first and take the receipt to the counter.
Don't
- Don't mistake the coperto for a tip: tipping is optional, and rounding up is plenty.
- Don't sit at a café table for a quick coffee unless you're happy to pay more than at the bar.
Gestures
- Pinched fingersFingertips pressed together, pointing up, the hand shaken gently. "What do you want?" or "What are you on about?"; not praise for the food.
- The cheek screwAn index finger pressed into the cheek and twisted. Delicious.
On the map
Heard at our spots
The words you'll use at the places we filmed. Pick a place to see it on the map.
TriesteVista ViewFotocamera CameraCiao Hi, and bye tooNapoleonica ViewSee it on the map
TriesteSentiero TrailMontagna MountainBuona sera Good eveningNapoleonica HikeSee it on the map
TriesteChiesa ChurchCiao Hi, and bye tooSantuario di Monte GrisaSee it on the map
TriesteVista ViewTramonto SunsetBuon giorno Good morningMonte Grisa ViewSee it on the map
TriesteBuon appetito Enjoy your mealVino WineIl conto, per favore The bill, pleasePizzeria Ristorante Pam PamSee it on the map
TriesteVista ViewFotocamera CameraBuon giorno Good morningPanorama MiramareSee it on the map
TriesteSpiaggia BeachMare SeaBuona sera Good eveningSpiaggia dei FiltriSee it on the map
TriesteSpiaggia BeachMare SeaBuona sera Good eveningCanovella degli ZoppoliSee it on the map
DolomitesLago LakeAcqua WaterCiao Hi, and bye tooLago di AntornoSee it on the map
DolomitesSee Lake · GermanFoto Photo · GermanDanke schön Thank you · GermanLago di LandroSee it on the map
DolomitesBerg Mountain · GermanWasser Water · GermanGuten Tag Good day · GermanPeitlerkofelSee it on the map
DolomitesBerg Mountain · GermanPfad Trail · GermanDanke schön Thank you · GermanPeitlerkofel Via FerrataSee it on the map
DolomitesBerg Mountain · GermanPfad Trail · GermanGuten Tag Good day · GermanPeitlerkofel Hiking CircuitSee it on the map
DolomitesBerg Mountain · GermanHütte Hut · GermanDanke schön Thank you · GermanPeitlerkofel Little CabinSee it on the map
Aci TrezzaIsola IslandMare SeaBuon giorno Good morningIsole dei CiclopiSee it on the map
Aci CastelloCastello CastleMare SeaBuona sera Good eveningCastello NormannoSee it on the map
TaorminaTeatro TheatreVista ViewBuon giorno Good morningTeatro Antico di TaorminaSee it on the map
StromboliIsola IslandTramonto SunsetBuona sera Good eveningStrombolicchioSee it on the map
TaorminaIsola IslandMare SeaGrazie Thank youIsola BellaSee it on the map
TaorminaGiardino pubblico GardensFiore FlowerBuon giorno Good morningVilla ComunaleSee it on the map
TaorminaVia StreetFiore FlowerBuon giorno Good morningVia degli ArtistiSee it on the map
Aci TrezzaPorto HarbourMare SeaBuon giorno Good morningAci TrezzaSee it on the map
TaorminaVista ViewFotografia PhotoBuona sera Good eveningBelvedere di Via PirandelloSee it on the map
PanareaIsola IslandMare SeaBuon giorno Good morningPanareaSee it on the mapTake it with youJust the words, in two columns. Print it, or save it as a PDF for when there's no signal.
Where the words come fromPhrases and pronunciation adapted from Wikivoyage's Italian phrasebook, German phrasebook, Slovenian phrasebook and Wiktionary, under CC BY-SA 4.0.