For this phrasebook, we use the polite form for all phrases, on the presumption that you’ll mostly be talking to people you don’t already know.
- Hello.
- Buon giorno. (bwohn JOHR-noh)
- Hello. (informal)
- Ciao. (chow)
- How are you?
- Come stai? (informal)(koh-meh STAI?), Come sta? (formal)(koh-meh STAI?)
- Fine, thank you.
- Bene, grazie. (BEH-neh, GRAHT-tsyeh)
- What is your name?
- Come ti chiami? (informal)(KOH-meh tee kee-AH-mee?), Come si chiama? (formal)(KOH-meh see kee-AH-mah?)
- My name is ______ .
- Mi chiamo ______ . (mee kee-AH-moh _____)
- Nice to meet you.
- Piacere di conoscerla. (pyah-CHEH-reh dee koh-noh-SHEHR-lah)
- Please.
- Per favore. (PEHR fah-VOH-reh)
- Thank you.
- Grazie. (GRAHT-tsyeh)
- You’re welcome.
- Prego. (PREH-goh)
- No problem.
- Non c’è problema (non cheh proh-BLEH-mah)
- Yes
- Sì. (SEE)
- No
- No. (NOH)
- Excuse me
- Mi scusi. (formal)(mee SKOO-zee), Scusa (informal)(SKOO-sah)
- I’m sorry.
- Mi dispiace. (mee dee-SPYA-chee)
- Goodbye.
- Arrivederci. (ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee)
- See you.
- Ci vediamo. (chee veh-DYAH-moh)
- Sure.
- Certamente, or Certo (cher-TAH-men-teh or CHEHR-toh)
- Really?
- Davvero? (dahv-VEH-roh?)
- I don’t speak Italian.
- Non parlo italiano. (non PAHR-loh ee-TAH-lyah-noh)
- Do you speak English?
- Parli inglese? (Informal)(PAHR-lee een-GLEH-zeh?) Parla inglese? (Formal)(PAHR-lah een-GLEH-zeh?)
- Speak more slowly, please.
- Parli più lentamente/piano, per favore. (PAHR-lee pyoo lehn-TAH-mehn-teh/ PYAH-noh, pehr fah-VOH-reh)
- I understand Italian a little.
- Io capisco l’Italiano solo un po’. (EE-oh kah-PEES-koh lee-TAH-lyah-noh SOH-loh oon poh)
- I speak just a few words of Italian.
- Conosco solo alcune parole in italiano. (koh-NOHS-koh SOH-loh ahl-KOO-neh pah-ROH-leh een ee-TAH-lyah-noh)
- Is there someone here who speaks English?
- Qualcuno parla inglese? (kwahl-KOO-noh PAHR-lah een-GLEH-zeh?)
- What does it mean?
- Che cosa significa? or, Che cosa vuol dire? (keh KOH-zah see-NYEE-fee-kah?, keh KOH-zah vwohl DEE-reh?)
- I forgot.
- Ho dimenticato. (oh dee-MEHN-tee-kah-toh)
- Now I remember.
- Ora ricordo. (OH-rah ree-KOHR-doh)
- I don’t know.
- Non lo so. (nohn loh soh)
- After
- Dopo (DOH-poh)
- Before
- Prima (PREE-mah)
- Wait!
- Aspetta! (ahs-PEHT-tah)
- I have a question.
- Ho una domanda. (oh OO-nah doh-MAHN-dah)
- Can you tell me…
- Lei può dirmi… (lay pwoh DEER-mee)
- How to get to…
- Come arrivare a… (KOH-meh ahr-REE-vah-reh ah)
- Where/When do we meet?
- Dove/Quando ci incontriamo? (DOH-veh/ KWAHN-doh chee een-KOHN-tryah-moh?)
- How is the weather?
- Che tempo fa? (keh TEHM-poh fah)
- While
- Mentre (MEHN-treh)
- So
- Così (koh-ZEE)
- Because
- Perché (pehr-KEH)
- Pardon?
- Come? (KOH-meh?)
- Help!
- Aiuto! (ah-YOO-toh!)
- Good morning.
- Buon giorno. (bwohn JOHR-noh)
- Good afternoon.
- Buon pomeriggio. (bwohn poh-meh-REE-joh)
- Good evening.
- Buona sera. (bwohn-ah-SEH-rah)
- Good night.
- Buona notte. (bwohn-ah-NOHT-teh)
- I don’t understand.
- Non capisco. (nohn kah-PEES-koh)
- Where is the toilet?
- Dov’è il bagno? (doh-VEH eel BAA-nii-ooh?)