Taking a trip to visit a country where your native tongue is not the primary spoken language can be intimidating. But there are a number of easy things you can do to make sure you are understood in Italy.
Speaking louder is not one of them; and neither is the commonplace gesticulation cliché. Italians use their hands, sure, but no less than any other expressive, passionate culture.
Knowing basic Italian words and phrases will make your time in Italy even more enjoyable. Here are a few key (tongue in cheek) expressions.
Ciao {chow}
Hi/Bye (informal)
Come ti chiami? {KOHmeh·tee KYAHmee}
What’s your name? (informal)
Mi piace viaggiare da sola. {mee·PYAtche·vyaJAReh·dah·SOWlah}
I like traveling alone.
Perché {pehrKEH}
Why/Because
Un cappuccino doppio, per favore. {OON kapooCHEEnoh dawPYO·pehr FAHvoreh}
A double cappuccino, please.
Sempre {SEHMpreh}
Always
Mai {my}
Never
Buon appetito! {bwon ahpehTEEtoh}
Have a nice meal! (bon appetit)
Forse {FORseh}
Perhaps/Maybe
Non so guidare con le marce. {known·SOH·gweeDAHRey·COHN·leh·MARchey}
I can’t drive a stick shift.
Mi dispiace. {mee·deeSPYAHcheh}
I’m sorry.
Amici {ahMEEchee}
Friends
Mi fa lo sconto? {mee·FAH·loh·SCONEtoh}
Will you give me a discount?
Aperitivo {ahpehreeTEEvoh}
Aperitif/Happy hour
Passami il vino, per favore. {PAHSsahmee eel VEEnoh pehr FAHvoreh}
Pass the wine, please.
Ti amo. {tee·AHmow}
I love you.
Mi manchi. {mee·MAHNkey}
I miss you.
Tre carati, a goccia. {treh·cahRAHtee·ah·GOtcha}
Three carat, pear cut.
Non capisco. {known kahPEESkoh}
I don’t understand.
Non ti preoccupare. {KNOWN·teeprehOHKkooPAHreh}
Don’t worry.
Quanto costa? {KWANtoh·KOHsta}
How much does it cost?
Paga tutto lui. {PAH gah·TOOtoh·LOUIE}
This gentleman will pay for everything.
Tenga le mani a posto. {TENgah·leh·MAHnee· ah·POSToh}
Keep your hands to yourself.
Ho una pistola. {OH·oona·PEEstohlah}
I have a gun.
Capisco benissimo l’Italiano. {capISKoh·benEES simoh·LEEtahleeanoh}
I understand Italian very well.
Sei bellissimo! {say·bellEESseemoh}
You’re very handsome!
Silenzio {seaLEHNtzeeoh}
Silence
Baciami. {BAHchahmee}
Kiss me.
Buon viaggio! {bwon VYAjoe}
Happy travels (bon voyage)
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Eleonora!
I am laughing! I am coming to Rome in September and I am looking forward to using the phrase “Baciami, ho una pistola….”
Fantastic! Thank you!
Prego, Leslie!
Ciao
Eleonora
Great list. My favorite is “Baciami.”
What I loved about Italy is that the Italians did not make me feel dumb when I tried to speak their language. They were always encouraging and patient with me.
Luckily, I didn’t have to use the phrase “Ho una pistola.” Umm…I’m curious to know: How do you say, “Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me.” LOL! Just joking… No, seriously…. Just joking.
Paz
Paz, Italians really appreciate when foreigners try to speak the language because they are proud of it! A communicative culture like this one will treasure the effort considering it like a personal compliment.
Mae West Italian style:
“Hai una pistola in tasca, o sei felice di vedermi?”
LOL! I love it! I’ll have to remember this one. Thanks!
Paz
Wish I’d had this phrase list when I traveled through Italy. My phrase book missed some of your best self-defense phrases. Perhaps pepper spray could replace a few of them. Hopefully, I can go back someday and tell you which works better. By then, perhaps I’ll be too old to worry about it. My husband and I sometimes dream of retiring there.
Loved your list! With a few exceptions (like eliminating “Mi piace viaggiare da sola” — you don’t want to get into that conversation with a Greek) I’m tempted to hijack/transribe your list for travelers to Greece.
Thank you!
Baciami. Ho una pistola… Now, that would be telling him!
Sorry, couldn’t stop myself.
Sto ridendo ; ) Baciami…Ho una pistola! Perfetto!