Italian Phrases Every Traveler Should Know
If a vacation to Italy is in your future, now is the best time to learn some general Italian phrases. Complete fluency isn’t required – Italian words and phrases for travelers can enhance your cultural experience and help you more comfortably navigate Italy.
And it’s not like you need a list of Italian phrases that’s as long as Dante’s The Divine Comedy to get the most out of your trip. Here at Pimsleur, we know a thing or two about learning Italian, so we’ve put together a rundown on some basic Italian phrases for travel!
Directions, Dining, Minimal Duress & More: Why Learning Italian Phrases Is Essential for Your Trip
Stuck in Sicily? Lost in Lombardy? Looking for authentic pasta in Padua? You’ll need some common Italian travel phrases to help you out of a jam. Many English-speaking travelers to Italy are under the assumption that every corner of the country has someone who speaks English.
While that’s somewhat true in Rome, Turin, Milan, and other large cities, it’s not always the case. If you venture out into the Italian countryside, the chances of finding that hard-to-find Inglese speaker fall dramatically.
Thus, aside from the regular travel must-haves in your backpack or suitcase, you should have basic Italian travel phrases to communicate with locals. This not only makes your vacation more efficient, but you’ll also have that extra assurance – and less stress – as you’re exploring Italy.
Essential Italian Phrases Every Traveler Should Know
For easy reference, we’ve categorized the following common Italian phrases for traveling. Practice them (preferably with an Italian speaker, if you know one), store them away, and get ready to use these expressions at a moment’s notice.
| Hello, Goodbye, and Other Polite Expressions | |
|---|---|
| Hello. | Ciao. |
| Goodbye. | Arrivederci (“Ciao” – the same word for hello – is also acceptable for farewells.) |
| Good morning. | Buongiorno. |
| Good afternoon. | Buona sera. |
| Good evening. | Buona notte. |
| Thank you. | Grazie. |
| You’re welcome. | Prego. |
| Please. | Per favore. |
| Excuse me. | Mi scusi. |
| Do you speak English? | Parla Inglese? |
| Can you please speak more slowly? | Può parlare più lentamente, per favore? |
| I don’t know any Italian. | Non parlo Italiano. |
| What’s your name? | Come ti chiama? |
| My name is… | Mi chiamo… |
| I don’t understand what you said. | Non capisco. |
Getting lost in Italy isn’t on anyone’s travel to-do list. With these common Italian phrases for traveling, you’ll be able to navigate the country with skill, from the Italian Alps all the way down to Calabria.
| Italian Phrases for Navigating Travel | |
|---|---|
| Where is…? | Dov’e…? |
| Pardon me, how do I get to… | Scusi, come arrivo a…? |
| Train station | Stazione ferroviaria |
| Bus station | Stazione degli autobus |
| Taxi | Taxi |
| Airport | L’aeroporto |
| Main road | Strada principale |
| Beach | Spiaggia |
| Dining | Pranzo |
| Shops | Negozi |
| Bathroom | Bagno |
| One ticket, please. | Un biglietto, per favore. |
| Left | Sinistra |
| Right | Destra |
| Basic Italian Travel Phrases – Dining & Shopping | |
|---|---|
| Can I get a better price for this? | Potete offrire uno sconto migliore? |
| I’d like to try this on. | Vorrei provare questo. |
| That’s too expensive. | È troppo caro. |
| I’ll buy this. | Lo prendo. |
| I’ll order… | Vorrei… |
| I’ll have the check / bill, please. | Il conto, per favore. |
| Breakfast | La colazione |
| Lunch | Il pranzo |
| Dinner | La cena |
| Dessert | Il dolci |
| I’ll pay with cash. | Pagherò in contanti. |
| I’ll pay with credit card. | Pagherò con carta di credito. |
| Italian Phrases for Emergencies | |
|---|---|
| Can you help me, please? | Mi aiuti, per favore? |
| Police | Polizia Stradale |
| Hospital | Ospedale |
| I’m having an emergency. | Ho un’emergenza. |
Tips for Practicing Italian Phrases Before Your Trip
You could keep this article on your phone and pull it up whenever you need to use one of these common travel phrases…or you could ditch the crutch and recall them from memory. Devoting a few minutes each day to listening and speaking a new language provides time for repetition and review. Adding these reps into your routine helps build that vocabulary reservoir that you’ll need for your next Italian adventure. Pimsleur uses this model – listening and speaking – with real-time pronunciation feedback to help you achieve your language learning goals.
Prepare for Your Italian Trip with Confidence
The benefits of learning essential Italian phrases for travel are as obvious as the Tower of Pisa’s four-degree lean – you can confidently embark to Italy the right way!
But those advantages hardly stop on your vacation. If you’re a novice Italian language learner, basic Italian phrases for travel are the ultimate gateway toward a greater understanding of perhaps the most famous of the Romance languages.
Pimsleur’s Italian courses and lessons are designed for novice learners – and if you’re looking into Italian words and phrases for travelers, you’re probably in that group!If you’re ready to take your Italian language knowledge to the next level and speak the lyrical language conversationally, you’re right where you need to be! Get started with a Premium or All Access subscription, and you’ll be speaking core Italian phrases and words after the first lesson!