Italy Vibe

Italian phrasebook for travellers

The words and phrases you really need on a trip to Italy, each with a simple romanization for easy pronunciation. Because a few words of Italian make all the difference.

Greetings & basics

  • Hello (casual)

    Ciao

    CHOW

  • Hello (polite)

    Buongiorno

    bwon-JOR-noh

  • Good evening

    Buonasera

    bwoh-nah-SEH-rah

  • Thank you

    Grazie

    GRAH-tsyeh

  • Thank you very much

    Grazie mille

    GRAH-tsyeh MEE-leh

  • Please

    Per favore

    pehr fah-VOH-reh

  • You are welcome

    Prego

    PREH-goh

  • Yes

    Sì

    SEE

  • No

    No

    NOH

  • Excuse me

    Scusi

    SKOO-zee

  • Goodbye

    Arrivederci

    ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee

  • Do you speak English?

    Parla inglese?

    PAR-lah een-GLEH-zeh

  • I do not understand

    Non capisco

    nohn kah-PEES-koh

Food & restaurants

  • The bill, please

    Il conto, per favore

    eel KOHN-toh, pehr fah-VOH-reh

  • Water

    Acqua

    AH-kwah

  • A coffee

    Un caffè

    oon kah-FEH

  • Red wine

    Vino rosso

    VEE-noh ROH-soh

  • Very delicious

    Buonissimo

    bwoh-NEES-see-moh

  • Cheers

    Salute

    sah-LOO-teh

  • The menu, please

    Il menu, per favore

    eel meh-NOO, pehr fah-VOH-reh

  • I am vegetarian

    Sono vegetariano

    SOH-noh veh-jeh-tah-RYAH-noh

Transport & getting around

  • Where is...?

    Dov'è...?

    doh-VEH

  • Left

    A sinistra

    ah see-NEES-trah

  • Right

    A destra

    ah DEHS-trah

  • Straight ahead

    Sempre dritto

    SEHM-preh DREE-toh

  • The train station

    La stazione

    lah stah-TSYOH-neh

  • Stop here, please

    Si fermi qui

    see FEHR-mee kwee

  • How much is the ticket?

    Quanto costa il biglietto?

    KWAN-toh KOH-stah eel bee-LYEH-toh

Shopping & money

  • How much is it?

    Quanto costa?

    KWAN-toh KOH-stah

  • Too expensive

    Troppo caro

    TROH-poh KAH-roh

  • I am just looking

    Sto solo guardando

    stoh SOH-loh gwar-DAHN-doh

  • I will take this

    Prendo questo

    PREHN-doh KWEH-stoh

  • Can I pay by card?

    Posso pagare con carta?

    POH-soh pah-GAH-reh kohn KAR-tah

Emergencies & health

  • Help

    Aiuto

    ah-YOO-toh

  • I need a doctor

    Ho bisogno di un medico

    oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee oon MEH-dee-koh

  • Hospital

    Ospedale

    oh-speh-DAH-leh

  • Police

    Polizia

    poh-lee-TSEE-ah

  • I do not feel well

    Non mi sento bene

    nohn mee SEHN-toh BEH-neh

  • Pharmacy

    Farmacia

    far-mah-CHEE-ah

Common questions

How do you say thank you in Italian?

Thank you in Italian is "Grazie" (GRAH-tsyeh). For thank you very much you say "Grazie mille" (GRAH-tsyeh MEE-leh).

How do you say hello in Italian?

The casual, friendly hello is "Ciao" (CHOW). The polite version, used during the day, is "Buongiorno" (bwon-JOR-noh), and in the evening "Buonasera" (bwoh-nah-SEH-rah).

Do you need to speak Italian to travel in Italy?

Not at all. In the big cities and tourist sites there is English signage and plenty of people happy to help. But a few Italian words, especially "grazie", "per favore" and "scusi", open doors and are warmly received. This phrasebook gives you the basics, with simple romanization for pronunciation.