Basic Italian phrases

what every traveler should know

Italian

phrase sheet

Your travel experience in Italy will be richer if you learn and use some basic phrases. Below is my personal learn-first list of Italian phrases:

Hi / bye (casual)

Ciao

chow

Note: Use to greet or say goodbye.

Good day  (formal)

Buon giorno

bwon zhor'-no

Note: Use to say hello, good morning or good afternoon

Good evening  (formal)

Buona sera

bwoh'-nah seh'-rah

Good night (formal)

Buona notte

bwoh'-nah noht'-teh

Goodbye

Arrivederci

ah-ree-vuh-dehr'-chee

Please

Per favore

pehr fah-voh'-reh

Thank you

Grazie

graht'-zee

You're Welcome

Prego

preh'-goh

Excuse me/sorry

Scusi

skoo'-zee

Excuse me/to pass

Permesso

per-mess'-soh

Yes

Si

see

No

No

noh

The check, please

Il conto, per favore

Eel kohn' toh, per fah-voh'-reh

How much is it?

Quanto?

kwahn'-to

What is your name?

Come ti chiami? (casual)

koh'-meh tee kee-ah'-mee

My name is ...

Mi chiamo ...

mee kee-ah'-mo

Where?

Dove

doh'-veh

Do you speak English?

Parla inglese?

pahr'-lah een-gleh'-zeh

Italian phrase

tips & insights

When in doubt, put the stress on the second to last syllable of a word. You will usually be right.

In nearly all cases, you pronounce each consonant distinctly. Don't blend it with the following consonant.

Print this phrase list and take it with you on your trip.

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Basic Italian Phrases page helps you enjoy your vacation, tour or trip

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