Phrasebook
Some common words and expressions to help you get by. If you’re planning on spending a longer time in Italy, or if you like it so much you intend to return often, we suggest you start with some Italian language classes in your home town. Consider educational travel - sign up for an intensive course in Italy; there are many schools in every large city as well as some in the countryside.
| Category | English | Italian |
| Daily use | Hello/ goodbye | Ciao |
| Thank you | grazie (”Graz-i-eh” to a canadian, “Grazieay” for the americans) | |
| Good day | Buongiorno | |
| Good evening (after 3pm) | Buonasera | |
| Goodnight (before bed only) | Buonanotte | |
| How much does it cost? | Quanta costa? | |
| I would like… | Vorrei … (point to object you want) | |
| Numbers | 1 | uno |
| 2 | due | |
| 3 | tre | |
| 4 | quattro | |
| 5 | cinque | |
| 6 | sei | |
| 7 | sette | |
| 8 | otto | |
| 9 | nove | |
| 10 | dieci | |
| 20 | vignti | |
| 50 | cinquanta | |
| 100 | cento | |
| 1000 | mille | |
| Food | meat | carne |
| vegetarian | vegetariano/a | |
| I am vegetarian | Sono vegetariano/a | |
| (pasta dish) | primo | |
| fish | pesce (”peh-scay”) | |
| chicken | pollo (”polo” like the sport) | |
| pork | maiale | |
| Body parts | head | testa |
| hand | mano | |
| back | schiena (”skayna”) | |
| butt/ rear end | culo (rude), posteriore | |
| face | faccia | |
| eye(s) | occhio/ occhi (”och-ee-oh, och-ee”) | |
| Clothing and accessories | glasses | occhiali |
| sun glasses | occhiali da sole | |
| I lost my glasses | Ho perso i miei occhiali! | |
| purse | borsa (same word for bag) | |
| My purse was stolen | Mia borsa e’ stata rubata! | |
| Wallet | portafoglio | |
| shoes | scarpe | |
| sandals | sandali | |
| boots | stivali | |
| pants | pantaloni | |
| skirt | gonna | |
| mens suit | abito | |
| womens’ suit | tailleur (as in french) | |
| undies | slip (women), mutanda (slightly casual) | |
| socks | calzini | |
| Stores/ Museums opening | open | aperto / aperta |
| closed | chiuso / chiusa | |
| Sunday | Domenica | |
| Monday | Lunedi (clothing stores are usually closed monday morning) | |
| Feriale | work days (often posted on parking meters!) | |
| Festivi | Holidays (which includes Sundays and National holidays) |
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