Italian Phrases and Phrases Each Traveler Ought to Know Earlier than a Go to

In most huge cities and closely touristed areas in Italy, lodge and restaurant employees, shopkeepers, and museum attendants will nearly definitely communicate no less than some English. However enterprise to smaller cities and out-of-the-way locations, and also you’re much less prone to be understood while you ask a query in English. And wherever you go in Italy, attempting to talk no less than some Italian with the individuals you encounter is a typical courtesy and is often very a lot appreciated. 

“Italians will assist you to while you attempt to communicate Italian,” a professor in Rome as soon as informed me, “as a result of they’re so grateful when anybody tries to be taught their loopy language.”

As my professor stated, Italians might be affected person with you while you attempt to communicate—and doubtlessly mangle—their language. Listed here are some pointers, phrases, and phrases to get you prepared to your subsequent journey to Italy.

Pronunciation Fundamentals 

A key distinction between Italian and French—and Italian and English for that matter—is that in Italian, there are nearly no silent letters—as an alternative we pronounce each letter within the phrase. Which means, for instance, essentially the most ubiquitous Italian phrase, grazie, will not be pronounced grat-zee, however graht-tzee-yey—with three syllables, with the i and the e distinct from each other.  

One other secret’s understanding how letters are pronounced in Italian. Listed here are some common examples:

A is pronounced as a brief A, so ah. Instance: space is pronounced ah-reh-ah.

E is pronounced as an extended A, so ay, and it’s by no means silent. Instance: carne (meat) is car-nay.

I is pronounced as an extended E, so ee. Instance: ieri (yesterday) is ee-yehr-ree.

U is a tough vowel, often pronounced oo. Instance: uva (grape) is oo-vah.

Right here’s one other vital one: CH creates a Ok sound, as when utilized in two of my favourite phrases, chianti (key-ahn-tee) and bruschetta (broo-skeh-tuh).

The one factor near a silent letter mixture is GN, which is a kind of nyee sound for which there’s no actual equal in English. So Bologna is buh-lon-yah, gnocchi is nyo-key, and bagno, which implies tub or lavatory, is bah-nyoh.

Greetings and Goodbyes

Buongiorno (bwohn-jor-noh) has lots of meanings for one little phrase. It actually interprets to “good day,” however is an umbrella time period for saying good day, particularly earlier than the afternoon, while you’d say buonasera (bwohn-ah sayr-ah) which implies good night. After all of the years I’ve lived right here, I’m nonetheless undecided when the cut-off level is between the 2 phrases, however I often say buonasera from about 3 or 4 p.m. 

When unsure, you can too say salve (sal-vay), which is a proper good day good for any time of day. As I shared in my article, unstated guidelines to observe while you go to Italy, ciao (chow) ought to solely be used as a salutation while you’re already on acquainted phrases with the particular person.

On the finish of a night, say, while you’re leaving a restaurant, buonanotte (bwohn-ah noh-tay) is the way you say goodbye or good night time. Arrivederci (ah-ree-vah-dehr-chee) actually means “till we meet once more” and is a extra formal goodbye—a very good one to make use of while you try of your lodge, for instance. 

Primary Italian Phrases and Phrases for Vacationers

Si (see) means sure, and no (no) means no. Add a please: per favore (pehr fah-vohr-ey), thanks: grazie (graht-tzee-yey), and also you’re welcome: prego (prey-go), and also you’ll have some vital bases lined. Be aware that prego has a number of connotations—it’s used when answering the telephone; your restaurant server could use the time period after serving your meals, and somebody holding open a door for it’s possible you’ll say it as a well mannered gesture.

To ask somebody in the event that they communicate English, say “parla inglese?” (par-lah een-gleh-zeh?).

To say “I don’t communicate Italian” (which they’ve in all probability already found out), say “non parlo italiano” (nohn par-low ee-tah-lyah-noh).

There are a number of types of “excuse me.” Mi scusi (mee skoo-zee) is used when that you must interrupt or get somebody’s consideration. Permesso (pehr-mehs-soh) applies while you’re shifting by means of a crowd or have to ask somebody to step out of your manner. Say scusa (skooz-ah) for those who bump them or step on their foot whereas doing so.

To ask the place one thing is, begin with: dov’è (doh-vey)…? 

• la stazione (lah stat-tzee-oh-neh): the station
• il bagno (eel bah-nyoh): the lavatory
• una farmacia (oo-nuh far-mah-chee-ah)?: a pharmacy 

To ask how a lot one thing prices, say: quanto costa (kwan-toh coh-sta)?

To ask for the examine at a restaurant, say: il conto, per favore (eel kon-toh pehr fah-vohr-ey).

Frequent Phrases to Know

• Quando (kwan-doh): When
• Oggi (oh-gee): In the present day
• Ieri (ee-yehr-ree): Yesterday
• Domani (doh-mah-nee): Tomorrow
• Colazione (coh-laht-tzee-ohn-ay): Breakfast
• Pranzo (prahn-zoh): Lunch
• Cena (chay-nah): Dinner
• Dolce (dohl-chay): Dessert

Numbers 1-10

• 1  uno (oo-noh)
• 2 due (doo-ay)
• 3  tre (tray)  
• 4 quattro (kwah-troh)
• 5 cinque (cheen-kway)
• 6  sei (say)
• 7 sette (set-tay)
• 8 otto (ott-oh)
• 9 nove (noh-vay)
• 10 dieci (dee-ay-chee)