The best way to pick up a new language is by fully immersing yourself in the culture and environment of that country… but even before then, I like to brush up on a few basic communication essentials that will help make my first few hours (or days) easier. Simple words like hello… yes… no… excuse me… please… thank you… are essentials that make a great first impression on locals which in turn opens up a door of interactions and accelerates any language learning you’ll do when in a place. Here are few essential phrases to take with you on your Italian adventures and make exploring and learning so much easier.
Communication essentials
Hello / good morning Buon giorno (bwon jor-noh)
Goodbye arrivederci (ah-ree-veh-dair-chee)
Yes / No si/ no (see/noh)
Please per favore (pair-fah-vor-eh)
Thank you grazie (grah-tsee-eh)
Excuse me mi scuzi (mee skoo zee)
Useful phrases
How are you? Come sta? (koh-meh-stah?)
Very well, thank you molto bene, grazie (moll-toh beh-neh, grah-tsee-eh)
See you soon a piu tardi (ah pee-oo tar-dee)
Where is / are…? Dove / dove sono…? ( dov-eh / doveh soh noh?)
How do I get to…. Come faccio per arrivare a….? (koh-meh fah-choh pair arri-var-eh ah…?)
Do you speak English? Parla inglese? (par-lah een-gleh-zeh?)
I don’t understand Non capisco (non ka-pee-skoh)
In an emergency
Help! – Aiuto! (eye-yoo-toh)
Stop! Ferma! (fair-mah)
Call a…. Chiama un… (kee-ah-mah-oon)
Doctor medico (meh-dee-koh)
Ambulance ambulanza (am-boo-lan-tsa)
Police poliza (pol-ee-tsee-ah)
Useful words
Big grande (gran-deh)
Small piccolo (pee-koh-loh)
Hot caldo (kal-doh)
Cold freddo (fred-doh)
Good buono (bwoh-noh)
Bad male (mal-eh)
Open aperto (ah-pair-toh)
Closed chiuso (kee-oo-zoh)
Left a sinistra (ah see-nee-strah)
Right a destra (ah dess-trah)