Italian Phrases for Travel: 50 Essentials
🇮🇹 Italian · 50 cards · A1 · by Giulia Ferrante
These are the fifty phrases my students actually reach for in their first week in Italy: ordering at a bar or a trattoria, buying a train ticket, checking in at a hotel, asking the way. Three things trip travellers up. Italian has a polite register, so nearly everything here is in the Lei form you use with waiters, ticket clerks and strangers — the informal tu version is in the notes. Adjectives change for men and women (vegetariano / vegetariana, perso / persa). And small prepositions merge: a + il = al, a + la = alla. Learn each card as one chunk, say it out loud, then swap in your own words.
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How to use this deck
Flip through the cards, then switch to Quiz. Tap the play button on any row to hear it. The full table below is there to read, print or copy into your own flashcard app.
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All 50 cards
| # | Italian | English | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buongiorno Standard greeting until mid-afternoon; safe with anyone. | Good morning, good day, hello | Buongiorno! Un cappuccino e un cornetto, per favore. Good morning! A cappuccino and a croissant, please. | |
| 2 | Buonasera Used from late afternoon onwards, both on arriving and on leaving. | Good evening | Buonasera, abbiamo prenotato per le otto. Good evening, we have a reservation for eight. | |
| 3 | Ciao Informal only: friends, young people. Not with a hotel receptionist or an older stranger — use buongiorno. | Hi, bye | Ciao, ci vediamo domani! Bye, see you tomorrow! | |
| 4 | Per favore Usually at the end of the request. 'Per piacere' means exactly the same. | Please | Un bicchiere d'acqua, per favore. A glass of water, please. | |
| 5 | Grazie mille Literally 'a thousand thanks'. To a woman: 'è stata molto gentile'. Plain 'grazie' works everywhere. | Thanks a lot | Grazie mille, è stato molto gentile. Thanks a lot, you've been very kind. | |
| 6 | Prego Also means 'after you', 'help yourself' or 'what can I get you?' depending on the situation. | You're welcome; go ahead | «Grazie!» «Prego, si accomodi.» "Thank you!" "You're welcome, have a seat." | |
| 7 | Mi scusi Formal (Lei), for stopping a stranger. Informal: 'scusa'. | Excuse me, sorry | Mi scusi, dov'è l'uscita? Excuse me, where's the exit? | |
| 8 | Permesso? For squeezing through a crowd or getting off a bus, and when entering someone's home. | May I get past? May I come in? | Permesso, devo scendere alla prossima. Excuse me, I need to get off at the next stop. | |
| 9 | Arrivederci Polite goodbye in shops, hotels and restaurants. | Goodbye | Grazie di tutto, arrivederci! Thanks for everything, goodbye! | |
| 10 | Parla inglese? Formal (Lei). Informal: 'Parli inglese?' | Do you speak English? | Scusi, parla inglese? Excuse me, do you speak English? | |
| 11 | Non parlo italiano Adding 'molto bene' softens it and usually makes people slow down and help. | I don't speak Italian | Mi dispiace, non parlo italiano molto bene. Sorry, I don't speak Italian very well. | |
| 12 | Non capisco 'Non ho capito' (I didn't catch that) is just as common in speech. | I don't understand | Non capisco, può parlare più lentamente? I don't understand, can you speak more slowly? | |
| 13 | Può ripetere, per favore? Formal (Lei). Informal: 'Puoi ripetere?' | Can you repeat that, please? | Non ho sentito: può ripetere, per favore? I didn't hear you: can you repeat that, please? | |
| 14 | Come si dice...? Your best tool for picking up words on the spot. (The answer here: 'la fermata dell'autobus'.) | How do you say...? | Come si dice 'bus stop' in italiano? How do you say 'bus stop' in Italian? | |
| 15 | Quanto costa? For several items: 'Quanto costano?' When paying, 'Quant'è?' is common. | How much does it cost? | Quanto costa questa sciarpa? How much does this scarf cost? | |
| 16 | Posso pagare con la carta? 'Contanti' is cash; small bars and markets sometimes still prefer it. | Can I pay by card? | Posso pagare con la carta o accettate solo contanti? Can I pay by card, or do you only take cash? | |
| 17 | Vorrei... Polite form of 'voglio' (I want), which sounds blunt. Use it for any order or request. | I would like... | Vorrei un gelato al pistacchio, grazie. I'd like a pistachio ice cream, thanks. | |
| 18 | Avete un tavolo libero? 'Libero' = free, available. In most cities dinner starts around 20:00. | Do you have a free table? | Siamo in tre: avete un tavolo libero? There are three of us: do you have a free table? | |
| 19 | Un tavolo per due Swap the number: per uno, per tre, per quattro. | A table for two | Un tavolo per due, fuori se possibile. A table for two, outside if possible. | |
| 20 | Il menù, per favore Stress on the last syllable: me-NÙ. The wine list is 'la carta dei vini'. | The menu, please | Il menù, per favore, e una bottiglia d'acqua. The menu, please, and a bottle of water. | |
| 21 | Che cosa mi consiglia? Formal (Lei). Informal: 'Che cosa mi consigli?' Waiters usually enjoy this question. | What do you recommend? | Non conosco questi piatti: che cosa mi consiglia? I don't know these dishes: what do you recommend? | |
| 22 | Acqua naturale o frizzante? The waiter will almost always ask this. Bottled water is the norm; tap water is rarely served. | Still or sparkling water? | «Acqua naturale o frizzante?» «Frizzante, grazie.» "Still or sparkling water?" "Sparkling, thanks." | |
| 23 | Un caffè, per favore 'Un caffè' means an espresso. Standing at the counter ('al banco') costs less than sitting at a table. | A coffee, please | Un caffè, per favore. Lo prendo al banco. A coffee, please. I'll have it at the counter. | |
| 24 | Sono vegetariano A woman says 'sono vegetariana'. Vegan: 'vegano / vegana'. | I'm vegetarian | Sono vegetariano: questo piatto ha carne? I'm vegetarian: does this dish have meat in it? | |
| 25 | Sono allergico a... A woman says 'allergica'. The 'a' merges with the article: al pesce, alle noci, ai crostacei. | I'm allergic to... | Sono allergico al pesce: c'è un altro secondo? I'm allergic to fish: is there another main course? | |
| 26 | Il conto, per favore The bill never comes automatically — you have to ask. 'Coperto' is a small per-person cover charge. | The bill, please | Abbiamo finito: il conto, per favore. We've finished: the bill, please. | |
| 27 | Da portare via The opposite is 'da mangiare qui' (to eat in). | To take away | Una pizza da portare via, per favore. One pizza to take away, please. | |
| 28 | Dov'è il bagno? 'Il bagno' or 'la toilette'. In a bar it's polite to order something first. | Where's the toilet? | Scusi, dov'è il bagno? Excuse me, where's the toilet? | |
| 29 | Dov'è la stazione? Same pattern for any feminine place: dov'è la fermata, la farmacia, la piazza. Masculine: dov'è il museo. | Where's the station? | Dov'è la stazione? Devo prendere il treno. Where's the station? I have to catch the train. | |
| 30 | Come arrivo a...? The preposition merges with the article: a + il = al (al Duomo, al museo), a + la = alla (alla stazione). | How do I get to...? | Come arrivo a piazza Maggiore? How do I get to Piazza Maggiore? | |
| 31 | È lontano? 'A piedi' = on foot. To ask how long: 'Quanto ci vuole a piedi?' | Is it far? | È lontano o posso andare a piedi? Is it far, or can I walk there? | |
| 32 | Qui vicino 'C'è...?' means 'is there...?' — you'll pair it with 'qui vicino' constantly. | Nearby, near here | C'è una farmacia qui vicino? Is there a pharmacy near here? | |
| 33 | Sempre dritto 'Vada' is the polite imperative of 'andare'. Also heard as 'sempre diritto'. | Straight ahead | Vada sempre dritto fino al semaforo. Go straight ahead as far as the traffic light. | |
| 34 | A destra 'Giri' = turn (polite). 'La prima a destra' = the first on the right. | On the right, to the right | Giri a destra dopo il ponte. Turn right after the bridge. | |
| 35 | A sinistra Easy to mix up with 'a destra' under pressure — drill the pair together. | On the left, to the left | La fermata è lì, a sinistra. The stop is there, on the left. | |
| 36 | Mi sono perso A woman says 'mi sono persa'. | I'm lost | Mi sono perso, mi può aiutare? I'm lost, can you help me? | |
| 37 | Un biglietto per Firenze, per favore Swap in any city. For two: 'due biglietti per...' | One ticket to Florence, please | Un biglietto per Firenze, per favore, seconda classe. One ticket to Florence, please, second class. | |
| 38 | Andata e ritorno One-way is 'solo andata'. | Return, round trip | Mi dà un biglietto di andata e ritorno? Could I have a return ticket? | |
| 39 | A che ora parte il treno? Use 'arriva' for arrivals. Timetables use the 24-hour clock. | What time does the train leave? | A che ora parte il treno per Napoli? What time does the train to Naples leave? | |
| 40 | Da quale binario parte? 'Binario' is the platform/track number; it can change at the last minute. Also 'Da che binario parte?' | Which platform does it leave from? | Da quale binario parte il regionale? Which platform does the regional train leave from? | |
| 41 | Devo convalidare il biglietto? Paper regional tickets must be stamped in the machine on the platform before boarding; skipping it means a fine. | Do I have to validate the ticket? | Devo convalidare il biglietto prima di salire? Do I have to validate the ticket before getting on? | |
| 42 | Il treno è in ritardo You'll hear 'in ritardo' in station announcements; 'in orario' means on time. | The train is late | Il treno è in ritardo di venti minuti. The train is twenty minutes late. | |
| 43 | È libero questo posto? 'Posto' = seat. On high-speed trains seats are assigned, so check your ticket. | Is this seat free? | Scusi, è libero questo posto? Excuse me, is this seat free? | |
| 44 | Ho una prenotazione Works at hotels and restaurants. At check-in they'll ask for 'un documento' (ID). | I have a reservation | Buonasera, ho una prenotazione per due notti. Good evening, I have a reservation for two nights. | |
| 45 | Avete camere libere? 'Camera' is a hotel room ('stanza' also works). Don't confuse it with 'cameriera' (waitress, chambermaid). | Do you have any rooms available? | Avete camere libere per due notti? Do you have any rooms available for two nights? | |
| 46 | Una camera doppia 'Matrimoniale' = one big bed; 'doppia con due letti' = twin beds; 'singola' = single. | A double room | Una camera doppia per tre notti, grazie. A double room for three nights, thanks. | |
| 47 | A che ora è la colazione? Hotel breakfast is usually 7:00–10:00. 'La colazione è inclusa?' = is breakfast included? | What time is breakfast? | A che ora è la colazione domani mattina? What time is breakfast tomorrow morning? | |
| 48 | Non funziona Useful for lifts, showers, keys and ticket machines alike. | It doesn't work, it's broken | L'aria condizionata non funziona. The air conditioning doesn't work. | |
| 49 | Posso lasciare la valigia qui? Most hotels keep bags after check-out; big stations have a 'deposito bagagli'. | Can I leave my suitcase here? | Partiamo alle tre: posso lasciare la valigia qui? We're leaving at three: can I leave my suitcase here? | |
| 50 | Ho bisogno di un medico For minor problems go to a 'farmacia' first. Emergency number in Italy: 112. | I need a doctor | Non sto bene, ho bisogno di un medico. I don't feel well, I need a doctor. |
Giulia Ferrante
Native Italian · Speaks English, French
From Bologna, where the food vocabulary alone could fill a deck. I teach Italian to travellers and expats and build decks around the situations they land in first.
Published
Questions about this deck
- Should I use the formal 'Lei' or informal 'tu' when travelling in Italy?
- With waiters, hotel staff, ticket clerks and strangers in the street, use the Lei forms in this deck: 'mi scusi', 'parla inglese?', 'può ripetere?', 'che cosa mi consiglia?'. Switch to tu ('scusa', 'parli inglese?', 'puoi ripetere?') only with people your own age in casual settings, or once they use tu with you. Using Lei when tu would do is never rude; using tu with an older shopkeeper can be.
- Do I really have to validate my train ticket in Italy?
- Yes, if it is a paper regional ticket with no date, train or seat printed on it. Stamp it in the small machine on the platform before boarding — an unstamped ticket counts as unpaid and carries a fine. Ask 'Devo convalidare il biglietto?' if you are unsure. High-speed tickets (Frecce, Italo) and app or e-tickets tied to a specific train and seat need no validation.
- How do I ask for the bill in an Italian restaurant?
- Say 'Il conto, per favore', or catch the waiter's eye and say 'Scusi, il conto!'. Staff will not bring it unasked, because that would look like rushing you out. The bill often includes 'coperto', a small fixed charge per person. Tipping is optional: rounding up or leaving a couple of euros is plenty.
- How do I order water and coffee like a local?
- For water you'll be asked 'Acqua naturale o frizzante?' — still or sparkling; answer 'naturale, grazie' or 'frizzante, grazie'. Tap water is rarely served in restaurants. 'Un caffè' means a single espresso, and it costs less standing at the counter ('al banco') than sitting at a table. Cappuccino is a morning drink and is not usually ordered after a meal.
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