Italian for Idiots

If your only Italian word is ‘Ciao’ and you’re a) tempted to spell it CHOW and b) not entirely sure if it means Hi or Bye – well, this is for YOU.

Here follows the essential words and phrases in Italian that I wish someone had handed me prior to my first visit to Il Bel Paese (so I’m including myself in the idiot-count, here). Stripped-back and no frills, this isn’t about making well-rounded sentences (buy yourself a phrasebook). Rather, the aim is to give you the best chance of understanding and being understood, when you prior knowledge is nil. Phrases are mostly in the formal third-person (the standard, when addressing a stranger) as I’m assuming you’re not on chummy terms with the locals, just yet. This is the list that you could practise on a 2/3 hour flight to Rome, and stand a chance of actually remembering and using.

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Greetings:

Hello – Salve salvay – use when entering a shop, or meeting new people, as a general greeting.

Hello/hi (informal) – Ciao chow – use only with people you know!

Good morning/Good day – Buongiorno bwonjorno – expect to hear this a lot in the morning as you pass people out & about.

Good evening – Buonasera bwonasaira – use after about 4pm (in the South of Italy, at least!) 

Goodnight – Buonanotte bwonanot-tay – strictly for bedtime!

Goodbye (formal) – Arrivederci ar-reevehdairchee

Goodbye (informal) – Ciao (yes, it’s both hi and bye)

How do you do – Piacere p-yachairay – use this when you are introduced to someone & shaking hands

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Basic expressions:

Yes – Sì see

No – No noh

Thanks – Grazie gratzee-ay – don’t forget that ‘ay’ on the end!

How are you? – Come sta? komay sta 

Fine, thanks – Bene, grazie baynay gratzee-ay  

Excuse me (to get attention) – Mi scusi mee skoozee

Sorry (apology) – Scusi skoozee

Sorry? (I didn’t catch that) – Prego? praygo (see other meanings of ‘prego’ below)

I don’t understand – Non capisco non kapeesko

Do you speak English? – Parla inglese? parla eenglayzay

Where is..? – Dov’è..? dovay

That’s fine/okay – Va bene va baynay –  but a simple ‘ok’ will be understood!

Please – Per favore pair favoray

Yes, please (ie.when offered something) – Si, grazie  see, gratzee-ay  

This/this one – questo kwesto

How much is it? – Quanto costa? kwanto costa 

Is there..? – C’è che (like the e-sound in ‘pet’) – e.g. C’è un ristorante? – Is there a restaurant?

Here – Qui kwee

I would like – Vorrei vorray

I need – Mi serve mee sairvay

I’m looking for – Cerco.. chairko

You’re welcome/don’t mention it/go ahead – Prego praygo – expect to hear this a lot – when you’ve said thank you (as in ‘you’re welcome’) when you’re waiting in a queue to be served (as in ‘next!’), when you’re being shown to your table in a restaurant (as in ‘follow me’)

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Numbers:

1 – Uno oono 2 – Due doo-ay 3 – Tre tray 4 – Quattro kwat-tro 5 – Cinque cheenkway

10 – dieci dee-aychee 20 – venti ventee 30 – trenta trenta 40 – quaranta kwaranta 50 – cinquanta cheenkwanta 100 – cento chento

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A very handy little word-list:

• biglietto bil-yet-toh– ticket (bus, concert)
• Il bagno eel ban-yoh toilet/bathroom e.g. ‘Dov’è il bagno?’ – where is the loo?
• Il conto eel kontoh – The bill
• A destra destra – On the right
• A sinistra seeneestra – On the left
• Uno scontrino skontreenoh –  A receipt e.g. ‘Vorrei uno scontrino..’ – I’d like a receipt
• Oggi oj-jee – Today
• Domani domanee – Tomorrow
• Un giorno un jorno /Due giorni doo-ay jornee– One day/Two days
• Aperto – Open
• Chiuso – Closed
• Soldi soldee – Money
• Carta di credito – Credit card

and for the Brits (and my Mum) – Una buona tazza di tè – A nice cup of tea (just don’t expect to get it with milk!)

Buon Viaggio! (have a good trip!)

Anything to add to this list of essentials? Let us know in the comments (at top of post)

 

*with thanks to Rough Guides for the totally idiot-proof transliterations to phonetic English 🙂