Italian Phrases for Travel: 40+ Essentials, Signs and Manners

You can travel in Italy without speaking Italian, especially in big cities. But in small restaurants, local shops, markets and country towns, a few phrases make everything easier, and they are always appreciated. This guide gives you more than forty of them, with audio, grouped by what you will actually be doing.

• Good morning

  Buongiorno

  bwohn-JOR-noh

  Use it when you walk into a shop, bar or restaurant. See our hello guide.
• Thank you

  Grazie

  GRAH-tsee-eh

  "Grazie mille" means thanks a lot.
• Excuse me

  Scusi

  SKOO-zee

  Gets attention, says sorry and asks to pass.
• I'm sorry

  Mi dispiace

  mih dees-pih-AH-cheh
• Do you speak English?

  Parla inglese?

  PAR-lah een-GLEH-zeh

  Ask after you say "Scusi".
• I don't understand

  Non capisco

  nohn kah-PEES-koh
• I would like...

  Vorrei...

  vor-REH-ee

  Never "Voglio" (I want), which sounds blunt.
• The bill, please

  Il conto, per favore

  eel KOHN-toh per fah-VOH-reh
• Where is the bathroom?

  Dov'è il bagno?

  doh-VEH eel BAH-nyoh

  Il bagno is the everyday word for the toilet.
• How much does this cost?

  Quanto costa questo?

  KWAN-toh KOS-tah KWES-toh

  Say it while pointing at the item.

Each of these has its own guide: hello, ordering food, the bathroom and prices.

Greetings and politeness

Italians greet in shops, bars and lifts, so say “Buongiorno” or “Buonasera” when you walk in. A handshake is usual on first meeting, and friends kiss on both cheeks. Read the full guide on how to say hello in Italian.

• Good evening

  Buonasera

  bwoh-nah-SEH-rah
• Hello

  Ciao

  chow

  Informal. For friends and young people.
• Nice to meet you

  Piacere

  pee-ah-CHEH-reh

  Piacere. Also the reply.
• Please

  Per favore

  per fah-VOH-reh

  Add it to every request.
• Yes

  Sì

  see

When you do not understand

• Can you speak slowly, please?

  Può parlare lentamente, per favore?

  pwoh par-LAH-reh len-tah-MEN-teh per fah-VOH-reh

  Slows the conversation down for everyone.
• Pardon?

  Scusi?

  SKOO-zee
• I don't speak the language

  Non parlo italiano

  nohn PAHR-loh ee-tah-lee-AH-noh

  Meaning "I do not speak Italian".

Getting around: trains, taxis and directions

Italian trains are fast and cheap. If you buy a regional ticket without a date, validate it in the machine on the platform before you board, or you can be fined. Read our full guide to Italian train phrases.

• Where is the train station?

  Dov'è la stazione dei treni?

  doh-VEH lah stah-tsee-OH-neh day TREH-nee
• One ticket, please

  Un biglietto, per favore

  oon bee-LYET-toh per fah-VOH-reh
• Which platform does this train leave from?

  Da quale binario parte questo treno?

  dah KWAH-leh bee-NAH-ree-oh PAHR-teh kwehs-toh TREH-noh

  In big stations the platform is announced late.
• Do I need to change trains?

  Devo cambiare treno?

  DEH-voh kahmb-YAH-reh TREH-noh
• Do I need to validate my ticket?

  Devo convalidare il mio biglietto?

  DEH-voh kohn-vah-lee-DAH-reh eel mee-oh bee-LYEH-toh

  Important for regional tickets without a date.
• What's the next stop?

  Qual è la prossima fermata?

  KWAHL eh lah PROHS-see-mah fehr-MAH-tah

  Fermata means a stop.
• What time is the last train?

  A che ora parte l'ultimo treno?

  ah keh OH-rah PAHR-teh LOOL-tee-moh TREH-noh

  Check before you go out in the evening.
• I would like a taxi

  Vorrei un taxi

  vor-REH-ee oon TAHK-see
• Turn left

  Giri a sinistra

  JEE-ree ah see-NEES-trah

  The words you will hear when someone gives you directions.
• Turn right

  Giri a destra

  JEE-ree ah DEHS-trah

  Sinistra is left, destra is right.
• Go straight

  Vada dritto

  VAH-dah DREE-toh

  Dritto means straight ahead.
• Can you show me on the map?

  Può mostrarmelo sulla mappa?

  pwoh mohs-TRAR-meh-loh SOOL-lah MAP-pah
• I am lost

  Mi sono perso/a

  mee SOH-noh PEHR-soh

  Add "Scusi" first.

Eating and drinking

Restaurants in Italy have their own habits: a cover charge, courses, and a bill that only comes when you ask. Read the full guide on how to order food in Italian.

• Do you have a menu in English?

  Avete un menu in inglese?

  ah-VEH-teh oon meh-NOO een een-GLEH-zeh
• I am vegetarian

  Sono vegetariano/a

  SOH-noh veh-jeh-tah-ree-AH-noh

  Use "vegetariana" if you are a woman.
• Water, please

  Acqua, per favore

  AH-kwah per fah-VOH-reh
• A coffee, please

  Un caffè, per favore

  oon kahf-FEH pehr fah-VOH-reh

  An espresso. Drink it standing at the bar for the lowest price.

Shopping and money

Prices are fixed in shops, and include tax. Cards are widely accepted, but keep some cash for markets and small places. See our guide on how much is it in Italian.

• Can I pay by card?

  Posso pagare con la carta?

  POS-soh pah-GAH-reh kon lah KAR-tah
• Where is the nearest ATM?

  Dov'è il bancomat più vicino?

  doh-VEH eel BAN-koh-maht pew vee-CHEE-noh

  A bancomat is a cash machine.
• Can I have the receipt, please?

  Mi dà lo scontrino, per favore?

  mee DAH loh skohn-TREE-noh pehr fah-VOH-reh
• Do you offer tax-free shopping?

  Fate il tax free?

  FAH-teh eel tahks FREE

  Bring your passport. Not every shop takes part.

Hotels

• I have a reservation

  Ho una prenotazione

  oh OO-nah preh-noh-tah-tsee-OH-neh
• I would like to check in

  Vorrei fare il check-in

  vor-REH-ee FAH-reh eel check-in
• The Wi-Fi password, please

  La password del wifi, per favore

  lah password del WEE-fee per fah-VOH-reh
• Can I store my luggage after checkout?

  Posso depositare i miei bagagli dopo il check-out?

  PAWS-soh deh-poh-zee-TAH-reh ee myeh-ee bah-GAH-lyih DOH-poh eel CHEH-keh-NOW-teet

  Very useful if your train is later than check-out.

For more, read our guide to Italian hotel phrases.

Emergencies

In an emergency, call 112, the single European emergency number. You can also call 113 for the police and 118 for an ambulance. Read our full guide to Italian emergency phrases.

• Help!

  Aiuto!

  ah-YOO-toh
• Call the police

  Chiami la polizia

  kee-AH-mee lah poh-lee-TSEE-ah
• Call an ambulance

  Chiami un'ambulanza

  kee-AH-mee oon-am-boo-LAHN-tsah
• I need a doctor

  Ho bisogno di un medico

  oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee oon MEH-dee-koh
• Is there an English-speaking doctor?

  C'è un medico che parla inglese?

  cheh oon MEH-dee-koh keh PAHR-lah eengg-LEH-zeh

  Useful at a hospital or clinic.
• My wallet was stolen

  Il mio portafoglio è stato rubato

  eel mee-oh pohr-tah-FAW-lyoh eh STAH-toh roo-BAH-toh
• My passport is lost/stolen

  Ho perso il passaporto / Mi hanno rubato il passaporto.

  oh PEHR-soh eel pahs-sah-POHR-toh / mee AHN-noh roo-BAH-toh eel pahs-sah-POHR-toh

  The first half means "I have lost my passport", the second "My passport has been stolen". Say only the one that applies.
• I want to file a police report

  Voglio sporgere denuncia alla polizia.

  VOH-lyoh SPAWR-jeh-reh deh-NOON-chah ahl-lah poh-leet-SEE-ah

  Denuncia is a formal report. Ask for a copy.

Signs worth recognizing

• Exit

  Uscita

  oo-SHEE-tah
• Entrance

  Entrata / Ingresso

  ehn-TRAH-tah / een-GREHS-soh
• Open / Closed

  Aperto / Chiuso

  ah-PEHR-toh / KYOO-zoh
• Push / Pull

  Spingere / Tirare

  SPEEN-jeh-reh / tee-RAH-reh
• No smoking

  Vietato fumare

  vyeh-TAH-toh foo-MAH-reh
• Platform

  Binario

  bee-NAH-ryoh

Manners that help you fit in

Phrases are only half of it. A few habits will help you more than perfect grammar.

• Greet when you walk in. “Buongiorno” or “Buonasera” in shops, bars and restaurants.
• Coffee. An espresso is “un caffè”. Cappuccino is a morning drink. It is cheaper standing at the bar.
• Dress in churches. Cover your shoulders and knees when you visit one.
• Restaurants. A cover charge (coperto) is normal, and tipping is not expected.
• Opening hours. Many small shops close for a break in the afternoon, often from about 1 to 4 pm.
• Validate your train ticket if it has no date.

Where to go next

• How to order food in Italian
• Where is the bathroom in Italian
• How much is it in Italian
• How to say hello in Italian
• Italian train phrases
• Italian hotel phrases
• Italian emergency phrases