Useful Italian Travel Phrases: Your Pocket Guide to Italy

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Ordering your first coffee in Italy can feel surprisingly difficult when there’s a queue behind you and the words you practiced have disappeared from memory.

A few useful Italian travel phrases can make that moment easier. You need a way to greet someone, explain what you want, and ask them to repeat an answer you didn’t catch.

This guide follows the situations you’ll encounter during a trip: arriving at the airport, taking trains, ordering meals, checking into accommodation, and asking for help. Alongside the phrases, you’ll find pronunciation support, likely replies, and short conversations to practice before you go.

Start with the essentials, then learn the sections that match your itinerary. The compact cheat sheet at the end is designed to save on your phone.

Start With Five Essential Italian Phrases

These five expressions give you the beginning, middle, and end of many everyday exchanges.

Italian	English	Approximate pronunciation
Buongiorno	Good morning / Good day	bwon-JOR-noh
Mi scusi	Excuse me	mee SKOO-zee
Vorrei…	I would like…	vor-RAY
Per favore	Please	pehr fah-VOH-reh
Grazie	Thank you	GRAH-tsyeh

Put them together:

Buongiorno. Vorrei un cappuccino, per favore. Grazie.
Good morning. I’d like a cappuccino, please. Thank you.

The pronunciation guides here are approximate aids for English speakers. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable. Listening to native audio will help with sounds that English spelling cannot represent accurately.

Italian Pronunciation: The Rules Worth Knowing

Clear pronunciation matters more than speaking quickly. Give each vowel its sound, and avoid swallowing the ends of words.

Keep the vowels clear

Vowel	Approximate sound	Example
A	“ah”	Pasta
E	“eh,” with open and closed varieties	Bene
I	“ee”	Vino
O	“oh,” with open and closed varieties	Nome
U	“oo”	Uno

The final vowel is usually pronounced. In grazie, for example, don’t drop the ending and say only “grats.”

Watch C, CH, G, and GH

Before e or i, c usually sounds like “ch”: cena, meaning dinner, begins with “CHEH.”

The combination ch keeps a hard “k” sound: che sounds like “keh.”

Before e or i, g usually sounds like the “j” in “jam,” as in gelato. The combination gh keeps a hard “g,” as in spaghetti.

Listen closely to GN, GLI, and double consonants

The gn in bagno sounds roughly like “ny” in “canyon.”

The gli in biglietto is less familiar to English speakers. Listening and repeating is more useful than trying to pronounce every letter separately.

Double consonants should be held slightly longer. In notte, meaning night, give the double t a distinct pause before releasing it.

Greetings and Polite Expressions

Use buongiorno or buonasera when greeting unfamiliar adults, including shopkeepers and hotel staff. Ciao is informal and can mean both hello and goodbye. Arrivederci is a dependable polite farewell. Daily Italian Words

Italian	English	Approximate pronunciation
Salve	Hello	SAL-veh
Ciao	Hi / Bye, informal	chow
Buonasera	Good evening	bwoh-nah-SEH-rah
Buonanotte	Good night	bwoh-nah-NOT-teh
Arrivederci	Goodbye	ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee
Grazie mille	Thank you very much	GRAH-tsyeh MEEL-leh
Prego	You’re welcome	PREH-goh
Mi dispiace	I’m sorry	mee dees-PYAH-cheh
Permesso?	Excuse me / May I pass?	pehr-MEHS-soh

There isn’t a single fixed hour when everyone changes from buongiorno to buonasera. If someone greets you first, replying with the same greeting is an easy choice.

Buonanotte is used when parting for the night or going to bed, rather than as your usual greeting when entering a restaurant.

Scusi or scusa?

Scusi is polite singular; scusa is informal. When approaching an unfamiliar adult, use mi scusi.

You’ll see the same distinction in:

• Parla inglese? — Do you speak English? Polite singular.
• Parli inglese? — Do you speak English? Informal singular.

Learn the polite versions as complete phrases; you don’t need to master the grammar before using them.

Understanding prego

After grazie, prego means “you’re welcome.” At a counter, it can also invite you to order or step forward. Look at the situation as well as listening to the word.

When You Don’t Understand

Knowing how to ask for a slower explanation is useful from your first day.

Italian	English	Approximate pronunciation
Parla inglese?	Do you speak English?	PAR-lah een-GLEH-zeh
Parlo poco italiano	I speak a little Italian	PAR-loh POH-koh ee-tah-LYAH-noh
Non capisco	I don’t understand	non kah-PEE-skoh
Può ripetere, per favore?	Can you repeat that, please?	pwo ree-PEH-teh-reh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Può parlare più lentamente?	Can you speak more slowly?	pwo par-LAH-reh pyoo len-tah-MEN-teh
Può scriverlo?	Can you write it down?	pwo SKREE-vehr-loh
Può indicarmelo sulla mappa?	Can you show me on the map?	pwo een-dee-KAR-meh-loh SOOL-lah MAP-pah

For an address, platform number, or departure time, asking someone to write it down may be easier than hearing the explanation again.

You can begin with:

Mi scusi, parlo poco italiano. Parla inglese?
Excuse me, I speak a little Italian. Do you speak English?

If the conversation switches to English, continue comfortably. You can still use Italian for your greeting and thanks.

At the Airport: Arrivals, Shuttles, and Missing Bags

Keep your flight number, baggage receipt, and accommodation address available on your phone. They give staff something concrete to check if you cannot explain the problem fully.

Italian	English
Dov’è il ritiro bagagli?	Where is baggage claim?
Dove parte la navetta per il centro?	Where does the shuttle to the city center leave from?
Dove sono i taxi?	Where are the taxis?
Qual è il terminal del mio volo?	Which terminal is my flight in?
Dov’è il banco del check-in?	Where is the check-in desk?
Il mio bagaglio non è arrivato	My luggage hasn’t arrived
Dove posso segnalare un bagaglio smarrito?	Where can I report missing luggage?
Ecco la ricevuta del bagaglio	Here is the baggage receipt

Two phrases worth practicing aloud are:

Dov’è il ritiro bagagli?
doh-VEH eel ree-TEE-roh bah-GAH-lyee

Il mio bagaglio non è arrivato.
eel MEE-oh bah-GAH-lyoh non eh ar-ree-VAH-toh

If asked ha il numero del volo?, the staff member wants your flight number. You can say sì, eccolo—“Yes, here it is”—and show your booking.

Ordering Coffee, Breakfast, and Gelato

Use vorrei… followed by what you want. For a brief order, naming the item and adding per favore also works.

Italian	English	Approximate pronunciation
Un caffè, per favore	A coffee, please	oon kaf-FEH, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Un cappuccino, per favore	A cappuccino, please	oon kap-poot-CHEE-noh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Un tè, per favore	A tea, please	oon teh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Un decaffeinato	A decaf coffee	oon deh-kaf-feh-ee-NAH-toh
Avete latte d’avena?	Do you have oat milk?	ah-VEH-teh LAT-teh dah-VEH-nah
Senza zucchero	Without sugar	SEN-tsah DZOOK-keh-roh
Da portare via	To take away	dah por-TAH-reh VEE-ah
Pago qui?	Do I pay here?	PAH-goh kwee

At an Italian café, un caffè normally means an espresso. Name a different drink if that is what you want. Latte on its own means milk; ask for un caffè latte if you want coffee with milk. Short Girl Travels

Payment routines differ between cafés. If you’re unsure, ask pago qui? or devo pagare prima?—“Do I need to pay first?”

What staff might ask

You hear	Meaning	A possible reply
Altro?	Anything else?	Basta così, grazie — That’s everything, thank you
Al banco o al tavolo?	At the counter or at a table?	Al banco, grazie — At the counter, thank you
Da portare via?	To take away?	Sì, grazie — Yes, thank you
Contanti o carta?	Cash or card?	Carta, grazie — Card, thank you

A café conversation

You: Buongiorno. Un cappuccino e un cornetto, per favore.
Good morning. A cappuccino and a cornetto, please.

Staff: Altro?
Anything else?

You: Basta così, grazie. Pago qui?
That’s everything, thank you. Do I pay here?

Ordering gelato

• Un cono — A cone.
• Una coppetta — A cup.
• Piccolo / Piccola — Small, matching the noun.
• Due gusti — Two flavors.

For example:

Una coppetta piccola, cioccolato e limone, per favore.
A small cup, chocolate and lemon, please.

If you hear quali gusti?, you’re being asked which flavors you want.

Restaurant Phrases: Getting a Table, Ordering, and Paying

Restaurant conversations usually follow a predictable sequence. Learn the phrases in that order so they’re easier to retrieve.

Finding a table

Italian	English	Approximate pronunciation
Un tavolo per due, per favore	A table for two, please	oon TAH-voh-loh pehr DOO-eh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Siamo in quattro	There are four of us	SYAH-moh een KWAHT-troh
Ho una prenotazione a nome Taylor	I have a reservation under Taylor	oh OO-nah preh-noh-tah-TSYOH-neh ah NOH-meh Taylor
Possiamo sederci fuori?	Can we sit outside?	pohs-SYAH-moh seh-DEHR-chee FWOH-ree
Quanto c’è da aspettare?	How long is the wait?	KWAHN-toh cheh dah ahs-peht-TAH-reh

To book ahead:

Vorrei prenotare un tavolo per due, domani alle otto di sera.
I’d like to reserve a table for two tomorrow at eight in the evening.

Reading the menu

These headings tell you how dishes are grouped:

Menu word	Meaning
Antipasti	Starters
Primi	First courses, often pasta, rice, or soup
Secondi	Main courses, often meat or fish
Contorni	Side dishes
Dolci	Desserts

You can choose the dishes that suit your appetite; the categories help you understand what you’re ordering.

Ordering food and drinks

Italian	English
Possiamo vedere il menù?	Can we see the menu?
Cosa ci consiglia?	What do you recommend for us?
Che cos’è questo piatto?	What is this dish?
Per me…, per favore	For me…, please
Una bottiglia d’acqua naturale	A bottle of still water
Una bottiglia d’acqua frizzante	A bottle of sparkling water
Un bicchiere di vino rosso	A glass of red wine
Senza formaggio, per favore	Without cheese, please

If asked naturale o frizzante?, choose still or sparkling water.

A restaurant conversation

Staff: Avete prenotato?
Have you booked?

You: Sì, a nome Taylor.
Yes, under Taylor.

Staff: In quanti siete?
How many are you?

You: Siamo in due.
There are two of us.

Paying and checking the bill

Il conto, per favore.
The bill, please.
eel KON-toh, pehr fah-VOH-reh

Useful follow-up questions are:

• Posso pagare con la carta? — Can I pay by card?
• Possiamo pagare separatamente? — Can we pay separately?
• Il servizio è incluso? — Is service included?
• Può controllare il conto? — Can you check the bill?

To ask about a specific charge, point to it and say che cos’è questa voce?—“What is this item?”

Food Preferences, Allergies, and Coeliac Disease

For a preference, state what you don’t eat:

• Non mangio carne. — I don’t eat meat.
• Non mangio pesce. — I don’t eat fish.
• Avete piatti vegani? — Do you have vegan dishes?
• Questo piatto contiene latte o formaggio? — Does this dish contain milk or cheese?

For an allergy or coeliac disease, be explicit.

Italian	English
Ho un’allergia alle arachidi	I have a peanut allergy
Ho un’allergia alle noci	I have a walnut allergy
Ho un’allergia al latte	I have a milk allergy
È un’allergia, non una preferenza	It’s an allergy, not a preference
Questo piatto contiene uova?	Does this dish contain eggs?
Ho la celiachia	I have coeliac disease
È possibile evitare la contaminazione crociata?	Is it possible to avoid cross-contact?

Arachidi means peanuts; noci means walnuts. Use the exact ingredient that applies to you.

For pronunciation:

Ho un’allergia alle arachidi.
oh oon-al-lehr-JEE-ah AL-leh ah-RAH-kee-dee

Ho la celiachia.
oh lah cheh-lee-ah-KEE-ah

For a serious allergy or coeliac disease, carry a professionally translated card explaining your exact requirements. Show it before ordering so staff can assess ingredients and preparation methods.

For the wider preparation behind those conversations, see our guide to traveling with severe food allergies, including translation cards and restaurant communication.

Asking for Directions and Understanding the Answer

Begin with dov’è…?, meaning “where is…?”

Italian	English
Dov’è la stazione?	Where is the station?
Dov’è la fermata dell’autobus?	Where is the bus stop?
Dov’è il bagno?	Where is the bathroom?
Dov’è l’ingresso?	Where is the entrance?
Dov’è l’uscita?	Where is the exit?
È lontano?	Is it far?
Posso arrivarci a piedi?	Can I get there on foot?
Cerco questo indirizzo	I’m looking for this address

Two especially useful questions are:

Dov’è il bagno?
doh-VEH eel BAH-nyoh

Dov’è la stazione?
doh-VEH lah staht-TSYOH-neh

Keep the address or place name visible on your phone so you can show it.

Words to listen for

Italian	Meaning
A destra	To the right
A sinistra	To the left
Sempre dritto	Keep going straight
Vicino	Near
Lontano	Far
Qui / Lì	Here / There
Di fronte	Opposite / In front
Accanto a	Next to
All’angolo	At the corner
Al semaforo	At the traffic light

You don’t need to catch every word to understand a useful instruction. To confirm it, say:

Quindi, dritto e poi a sinistra?
So, straight ahead and then left?

Trains, Buses, and Taxis

At a station, focus on your destination, departure time, platform, and any connection.

Buying tickets and finding the platform

Italian	English	Approximate pronunciation
Un biglietto per Firenze	One ticket to Florence	oon bee-LYEHT-toh pehr fee-REN-tseh
Solo andata	One way	SOH-loh an-DAH-tah
Andata e ritorno	Round trip	an-DAH-tah eh ree-TOR-noh
Questo treno va a Bologna?	Does this train go to Bologna?	KWEH-stoh TREH-noh vah ah boh-LOH-nyah
Devo cambiare treno?	Do I need to change trains?	DEH-voh kam-BYAH-reh TREH-noh
Dove devo scendere?	Where do I need to get off?	DOH-veh DEH-voh SHEN-deh-reh

For the platform, ask:

Da quale binario parte il treno per Roma?
Which platform does the train to Rome leave from?

You may hear dal binario cinque—“from platform five.”

Other useful questions include:

• A che ora parte il prossimo treno? — What time does the next train leave?
• Questo posto è libero? — Is this seat free?
• Devo convalidare questo biglietto? — Do I need to validate this ticket?

Validation procedures depend on the operator and ticket type. Ask staff and follow the instructions for your ticket.

A ticket-counter conversation

You: Un biglietto per Firenze, per favore.
One ticket to Florence, please.

Staff: Solo andata o andata e ritorno?
One way or round trip?

You: Solo andata. Devo cambiare treno?
One way. Do I need to change trains?

If your journey is disrupted

Italian	English
Ho perso la coincidenza	I missed my connection
Il mio treno è stato cancellato	My train has been cancelled
Quale treno posso prendere?	Which train can I take?
Questo biglietto è valido sul prossimo treno?	Is this ticket valid on the next train?
Da dove parte l’autobus sostitutivo?	Where does the replacement bus leave from?

Ask staff to confirm which service you can use before boarding an alternative train.

Recognize these words on boards and announcements:

• Partenze: departures.
• Arrivi: arrivals.
• Binario: platform or track.
• Ritardo: delay.
• Cancellato / Soppresso: cancelled.
• Carrozza: carriage.
• Posto: seat.

Check the full station name against your booking. Italian names include Roma, Firenze, Venezia, Milano, Napoli, and Torino.

Buses and taxis

• Questo autobus va in centro? — Does this bus go to the city center?
• Dove posso comprare un biglietto? — Where can I buy a ticket?
• Mi può portare a questo indirizzo? — Can you take me to this address?
• Quanto costa la corsa fino all’aeroporto? — How much is the ride to the airport?
• Può fermarsi qui, per favore? — Can you stop here, please?

Show taxi drivers the complete address to avoid confusion over similar place names.

Hotels and Apartment Check-In

Have your reservation name ready, then ask about anything you need for your stay.

Italian	English
Ho una prenotazione a nome Taylor	I have a reservation under Taylor
A che ora devo lasciare la camera?	What time do I need to leave the room?
La colazione è inclusa?	Is breakfast included?
Qual è la password del Wi-Fi?	What is the Wi-Fi password?
C’è un ascensore?	Is there an elevator?
Posso lasciare qui i bagagli?	Can I leave my luggage here?
Come funziona l’aria condizionata?	How does the air conditioning work?
L’acqua calda non funziona	The hot water isn’t working
La chiave non funziona	The key isn’t working

Practice:

Posso lasciare qui i bagagli?
POHS-soh lah-SHAH-reh kwee ee bah-GAH-lyee

La chiave non funziona.
lah KYAH-veh non foon-TSYOH-nah

A hotel conversation

You: Buonasera. Ho una prenotazione a nome Taylor.
Good evening. I have a reservation under Taylor.

Staff: Per quante notti?
For how many nights?

You: Per tre notti. La colazione è inclusa?
For three nights. Is breakfast included?

For an apartment arrival, useful messages include:

Sono davanti al portone.
I’m in front of the main entrance door.

Qual è il codice d’ingresso?
What is the entrance code?

If arriving late:

Arriverò verso le ventidue. Come posso ritirare le chiavi?
I’ll arrive around 10 p.m. How can I collect the keys?

Shopping and Paying

These phrases cover prices, sizes, purchases, and politely declining help.

Italian	English
Quanto costa questo?	How much does this cost?
Quanto costano questi?	How much do these cost?
Posso provarlo?	Can I try it on?
Avete una taglia più grande?	Do you have a larger size?
Avete una taglia più piccola?	Do you have a smaller size?
Sto solo guardando, grazie	I’m just looking, thank you
Lo prendo	I’ll take it
No, grazie	No, thank you
Posso avere lo scontrino?	Can I have the receipt?

Quanto costa questo? sounds approximately like KWAHN-toh KOH-stah KWEH-stoh.

For a feminine item, such as una giacca—a jacket—use posso provarla? and la prendo.

At a food market, un etto means 100 grams, due etti means 200 grams, and mezzo chilo means half a kilogram.

Vorrei due etti di questo formaggio.
I’d like 200 grams of this cheese.

Attractions and Accessibility

Italian	English
Due biglietti per adulti, per favore	Two adult tickets, please
È necessario prenotare?	Is booking necessary?
A che ora apre?	What time does it open?
A che ora chiude?	What time does it close?
C’è una visita guidata in inglese?	Is there a guided tour in English?
Si possono fare fotografie?	Is photography allowed?
Dove posso lasciare lo zaino?	Where can I leave my backpack?

For accessibility, describe the feature or assistance you need:

• C’è un ingresso senza gradini? — Is there a step-free entrance?
• C’è un percorso senza gradini? — Is there a step-free route?
• C’è un bagno accessibile? — Is there an accessible bathroom?
• Ho bisogno di assistenza per salire sul treno. — I need assistance boarding the train.
• L’ascensore è abbastanza grande per una sedia a rotelle? — Is the elevator large enough for a wheelchair?

If a particular dimension or assistance arrangement matters, send those details to the venue or operator before traveling.

Numbers, Times, and Days

Numbers are useful for reservations, prices, platforms, and room numbers.

Number	Italian	Number	Italian
1	Uno	7	Sette
2	Due	8	Otto
3	Tre	9	Nove
4	Quattro	10	Dieci
5	Cinque	11	Undici
6	Sei	12	Dodici

Other useful numbers are venti (20), trenta (30), cinquanta (50), and cento (100).

Practice them in phrases: due persone, tre biglietti, quattro notti, and dieci euro.

Understanding the time

Timetables commonly use the 24-hour clock: 18:30 is 6:30 p.m., and 21:00 is 9 p.m. Untold Italy

• A che ora? — At what time?
• Alle otto. — At eight.
• Alle otto e mezza. — At half past eight.
• All’una. — At one.
• Oggi. — Today.
• Domani. — Tomorrow.
• Stasera. — This evening.

Days of the week

Italian	English
Lunedì	Monday
Martedì	Tuesday
Mercoledì	Wednesday
Giovedì	Thursday
Venerdì	Friday
Sabato	Saturday
Domenica	Sunday

Chiuso il lunedì means “closed on Mondays.”

Asking for Help in an Emergency

For an emergency in Italy, call 112. Italy’s official tourism website identifies it as the number to call for emergency assistance. Italia.it

Italian	English	Approximate pronunciation
Aiuto!	Help!	ah-YOO-toh
È un’emergenza	It’s an emergency	eh oo-neh-mehr-JEN-tsah
Chiami un’ambulanza!	Call an ambulance!	KYAH-mee oo-nam-boo-LAN-tsah
Chiami la polizia!	Call the police!	KYAH-mee lah poh-lee-TSEE-ah
Ho bisogno di un medico	I need a doctor	oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee oon MEH-dee-koh
Non mi sento bene	I don’t feel well	non mee SEN-toh BEH-neh
Non riesco a respirare	I can’t breathe	non RYEH-skoh ah reh-spee-RAH-reh

To give your location, say sono a…—“I’m at…”—then give the address, station, or landmark.

For example:

Sono in Via Roma, numero dieci.
I’m at 10 Via Roma.

For lost belongings:

• Ho perso il passaporto. — I’ve lost my passport.
• Mi hanno rubato il portafoglio. — Someone has stolen my wallet.
• Dov’è la farmacia più vicina? — Where is the nearest pharmacy?

Keep your accommodation address saved offline so it’s available when you need it.

How to Practice Before Your Trip

Choose a small set of phrases that matches your plans, then practice both the request and a likely response.

1. Read five phrases aloud. Keep the final vowels clear.
2. Listen to native pronunciation. Copy the stress and rhythm.
3. Cover the Italian. Recall the phrase from its English meaning.
4. Rehearse one exchange. Order breakfast or buy a train ticket.
5. Save your personal essentials offline. Include addresses and any dietary information.

If you forget a sentence, pause and show it on your phone. A short, clear request is easier to follow than a longer phrase spoken in a rush.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I travel around Italy without speaking Italian?

You can manage many tourist interactions with English and translation tools, but availability varies. Basic Italian helps with short requests, signs, and conversations with people who speak little English. Keep booking details and addresses in writing.

What is the most useful phrase for making a request?

Vorrei…, meaning “I would like…,” works for ordering food, buying tickets, and asking for items. Add the item and per favore.

Is it rude to say ciao?

Ciao is informal. With an unfamiliar adult, buongiorno, buonasera, or salve is a more dependable opening.

Do I need different phrases for different regions?

Standard Italian is useful across Italy. You may hear regional accents, dialects, and local vocabulary, but you can keep using the phrases in this guide.

Your Italian Travel Pocket Cheat Sheet

Save this table for quick reference while you’re out.

Italian	English
Buongiorno / Buonasera	Good day / Good evening
Mi scusi	Excuse me
Per favore / Grazie	Please / Thank you
Arrivederci	Goodbye
Parla inglese?	Do you speak English?
Non capisco	I don’t understand
Può ripetere più lentamente?	Can you repeat that more slowly?
Può scriverlo?	Can you write it down?
Vorrei…	I would like…
Basta così, grazie	That’s everything, thank you
Quanto costa?	How much does it cost?
Dov’è il bagno?	Where is the bathroom?
Dov’è la stazione?	Where is the station?
Un biglietto per…, per favore	One ticket to…, please
Ho una prenotazione a nome…	I have a reservation under…
Il conto, per favore	The bill, please
Posso pagare con la carta?	Can I pay by card?
Può aiutarmi?	Can you help me?
Ho bisogno di un medico	I need a doctor
È un’emergenza	It’s an emergency

Use your first few conversations as practice. A greeting at the hotel desk or a simple café order gives you a manageable place to begin, and you can build from there.