Planning a dream trip to Italy? Nothing’s worse than freezing up whenever a local asks a question or you need to ask for help. In this guide, you’ll learn the most essential Italian phrases you actually need, from greetings to ordering food and asking for the restroom, plus a few mistakes tourists make that can accidentally offend Italians.
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Essential Italian Travel Phrases for Tourists
If you’re visiting Italy, learning a few basic Italian travel phrases can make your trip much smoother. Simple greetings, polite expressions, and restaurant phrases help you connect with locals and avoid awkward situations.
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Italian Greetings
- Buongiorno (bwohn-JOR-noh)
“Good morning.” Used in the morning and early afternoon in formal or polite situations like shops, hotels, and restaurants. - Buonasera (bwoh-nah-SEH-rah)
“Good evening.” Used from the late afternoon onward when greeting someone politely. - Ciao (chow)
“Hi / Bye.” An informal greeting used with friends, family, or people your age.
In Italy it’s expected that you greet people when entering a place like a café, shop, hotel, or restaurant. If you walk in and immediately say “A coffee please” without saying buongiorno (bwohn-JOR-noh), it can come across as rude or abrupt, even if you didn’t mean it that way. Many Italians see the greeting as basic respect, not just politeness.
- Arrivederci (ah-ree-veh-DER-chee)
“Goodbye.” A polite and slightly formal way to say goodbye in Italian, often used in shops, restaurants, or hotels.
Introducing Yourself
- Come ti chiami? (KOH-meh tee kee-AH-mee)
“What’s your name?” Informal way to ask someone’s name. - Mi chiamo… (mee kee-AH-moh)
“My name is…” Used when introducing yourself. - Di dove sei? (dee DOH-veh say)
“Where are you from?” Informal way to ask someone’s origin. - Sono di… (SOH-noh dee)
“I’m from…” Used with a city or place (e.g., sono di Roma (SOH-noh dee ROH-mah)). - Sono… (SOH-noh)
“I am…” Used with a nationality adjective (e.g., sono americano (SOH-noh ah-meh-ree-KAH-noh)).
Asking How Someone Is
- Come stai? (KOH-meh sty)
“How are you?” Informal version used with friends or people you know well. - Come sta? (KOH-meh stah)
“How are you?” Formal version used with strangers or in professional situations. - Come va? (KOH-meh vah)
“How’s it going?” A casual way to ask how things are going. - Sto bene, grazie. E tu? (stoh BEH-neh, GRAHT-tsyeh. eh too)
“I’m well, thank you. And you?” A common response when someone asks how you are. - Sto benissimo (stoh beh-NEES-see-moh)
“I’m very well.” A more enthusiastic version of sto bene (stoh BEH-neh). - Sto alla grande (stoh AHL-lah GRAHN-deh)
“I’m doing great.” A natural conversational expression Italians often use. - Va tutto bene (vah TOOT-toh BEH-neh)
“Everything is going well.” A relaxed response to come va (KOH-meh vah).
Polite Words Everyone Should Know
- Per favore (pehr fah-VOH-reh)
“Please.” Used to make polite requests. - Per piacere (pehr pya-CHEH-reh)
Another way to say “please.” Interchangeable with per favore (pehr fah-VOH-reh). - Grazie (GRAHT-tsyeh)
“Thank you.” The most common way to express gratitude. - Grazie mille (GRAHT-tsyeh MEEL-leh)
“Thank you very much.” Literally “a thousand thanks.” - Prego (PRAY-goh)
“You’re welcome.” Also used to mean “go ahead” or “after you.”
Excuse Me and Apologies
- Scusa / Scusami (SKOO-zah / skoo-ZAH-mee)
“Sorry / Excuse me” (informal). Used with friends or people you know well. - Scusi (SKOO-zee)
“Sorry / Excuse me” (formal). Used with strangers or in shops and restaurants. - Mi scusi (mee SKOO-zee)
“Excuse me / I’m sorry” (formal). Used politely to get someone’s attention. - Permesso (pehr-MEHs-soh)
Literally “permission,” but Italians use permesso (pehr-MEHs-soh) when politely moving past someone, entering a room, or squeezing through a crowded space.
Many tourists say scusa (SKOO-zah) instead, but permesso (pehr-MEHs-soh) is actually the more natural and polite choice in these situations.
- Mi dispiace (mee dee-SPYA-cheh)
“I’m sorry.” Used for emotional situations or when expressing sympathy.
Useful Travel Questions
- Dov’è? (doh-VEH)
“Where is…?” Used to ask where something is located. - Dov’è il bagno? (doh-VEH eel BAH-nyoh)
“Where is the bathroom?” One of the most useful travel phrases. - Quanto costa? (KWAHN-toh KOH-stah)
“How much does it cost?” Used to ask the price of something.
Ordering Food and Drinks
- Mi può dare…? (mee pwoh DAH-reh)
“Can you give me…?” A polite way to ask for something in shops or cafés. - Vorrei… (vohr-RAY)
“I would like…” A polite phrase for ordering food or drinks. - Prendo… (PREHN-doh)
“I’ll take…” A common way to order something in bars or cafés. - Prendo un caffè per favore (PREHN-doh oon kahf-FEH pehr fah-VOH-reh)
“I’ll take a coffee please.” A typical way to order coffee in Italy. - Ci porti il conto, per favore? (chee POR-tee eel KOHN-toh, pehr fah-VOH-reh)
“Could you bring us the bill, please?” A polite way to ask for the check in a restaurant.
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