Italian is a Romance language spoken by around 60 million people in Italy. It is phonetic and consistent — words are pronounced exactly as they are written, making it one of the more approachable European languages. While English is spoken in tourist hotspots, stepping off the main circuit into the Amalfi Coast villages, Sicilian hill towns, or Umbrian countryside will require at least some Italian. The effort is always rewarded — Italians respond warmly to travellers who try.
Greetings and Basics
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Hello (informal) | Ciao | CHOW |
| Hello (formal) | Buongiorno | bwon-JOR-noh |
| Good evening | Buonasera | bwon-ah-SEH-rah |
| Goodbye | Arrivederci | ah-ree-veh-DAIR-chee |
| Yes / No | Sì / No | SEE / NOH |
| Please | Per favore | pair fah-VOH-reh |
| Thank you | Grazie | GRAH-tsee-eh |
| You’re welcome | Prego | PREH-goh |
| Excuse me | Scusi | SKOO-zee |
| I don’t understand | Non capisco | non kah-PEE-skoh |
| Do you speak English? | Parla inglese? | PAR-lah in-GLEH-zeh |
Getting Around
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Where is…? | Dov’è…? | doh-VEH |
| How much does it cost? | Quanto costa? | KWAN-toh KOS-tah |
| Left / Right | Sinistra / Destra | see-NEE-strah / DEH-strah |
| Straight ahead | Dritto | DREE-toh |
| Stop here | Si fermi qui | see FAIR-mee KWEE |
| Train station | Stazione | stah-tsee-OH-neh |
| Airport | Aeroporto | ah-eh-roh-POR-toh |
| Bus | Autobus | OW-toh-boos |
| A ticket, please | Un biglietto, per favore | oon beel-YEH-toh, pair fah-VOH-reh |
| Where is the toilet? | Dov’è il bagno? | doh-VEH eel BAHN-yoh |
Food and Dining
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|
| I would like… | Vorrei… | vor-RAY |
| Water (still / sparkling) | Acqua (naturale / frizzante) | AH-kwah (nah-too-RAH-leh / free-ZAHN-teh) |
| Wine (red / white) | Vino (rosso / bianco) | VEE-noh (ROH-soh / bee-AHN-koh) |
| Coffee | Un caffè | oon kah-FEH |
| The bill, please | Il conto, per favore | eel KON-toh, pair fah-VOH-reh |
| Delicious | Buonissimo | bwon-EE-see-moh |
| Bread | Pane | PAH-neh |
| Pizza | Pizza | PEET-sah |
| A table for two | Un tavolo per due | oon TAH-voh-loh pair DOO-eh |
| I am vegetarian | Sono vegetariano/a | SOH-noh veh-jeh-tah-ree-AH-noh/nah |
Numbers
| Number | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|
| 1 | Uno | OO-noh |
| 2 | Due | DOO-eh |
| 3 | Tre | TREH |
| 4 | Quattro | KWAH-troh |
| 5 | Cinque | CHEEN-kweh |
| 6 | Sei | SAY |
| 7 | Sette | SET-teh |
| 8 | Otto | OH-toh |
| 9 | Nove | NOH-veh |
| 10 | Dieci | dee-EH-chee |
Emergency Phrases
| English | Italian | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Help! | Aiuto! | ah-YOO-toh |
| I need a doctor | Ho bisogno di un medico | oh bee-ZOHN-yoh dee oon MEH-dee-koh |
| Police | Polizia | poh-lee-TSEE-ah |
| Hospital | Ospedale | oh-speh-DAH-leh |
| I am lost | Mi sono perso/a | mee SOH-noh PAIR-soh/sah |
| Call an ambulance | Chiami un’ambulanza | kee-AH-mee oon ahm-boo-LAHN-tsah |
Italian pronunciation is refreshingly consistent. Every letter is pronounced, double consonants are held slightly longer (so sette has a longer “t” than sete would), and stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable unless an accent mark says otherwise. The letter “c” before “e” or “i” becomes “ch” (as in ciao and cinque), while “ch” before “e” or “i” is a hard “k” sound. The letter “g” follows the same pattern — soft before “e/i” (gelato = jeh-LAH-toh), hard otherwise. Hand gestures are optional but culturally appreciated.
