I highly recommend my clients, friends, and family learn some beginner Italian before traveling to Italy. It is true, many people in most towns know some English. But greet them, thank them, etc in their language anyway. A little effort goes a long way in making your travel experience a memorable one.
Here are a few basic words to get you started:
Greetings:
Good day?Hello Buon giorno (bwohn-jor-no)
Hello (informal) Ciao (chow)
Goodbye Arrividerci (a-ree-vah-dare-chee)
Manners:
Please Per favore (pear fa-vo ray) Thank you Grazie (grah-tsee-ay) You’re welcome Prego (pray-go) Excuse me Scusi (skoo-zee)
Sorry Mi dispiace (mee dis-pee-ah-chay)
Introduction:
My name is… Mi chiamo… (mee kee-ah-mo)
Nice to meet you Piacere (pee-ah-chair-ray) How are you? Come sta? (ko-may st-eye) Very good Bene (ben-ay)
Language:
Do you speak English? Parla Inglese? (par-la een-glay-zay)
I don’t speak Italian Non parlo Italiano (non par-lo ee-tal-ee-ah-no)
I don’t understand Non capisco (non ka-pees-ko)
Shopping and Directions:
How much is it? Quanto costa? (kwahn-toe coast-a) Where is…? Dov’e (doe-vay) Where is the bathroom? Dov’e il bagno? (doe-vay eel bahn-yo)
A little tip from me:
Keep these on your phone somewhere so you can practice them again on the flight over so they are fresh n your mind when you land in Italy.
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