toilet_bathroom_tile_232069_l

Are you about to fulfill a lifelong dream and take that long-awaited holiday to Italy?  Are you desperately thrilled or desperately terrified at the prospect of throwing yourself into the deep end of learning Italian?  For the aficionado of language-learning, traveling to a foreign country can be the ultimate immersion experience, but it can also be frustrating and overwhelming if you arrive without the proper linguistic skills.  Italy especially can be tough to navigate, as in more rural areas, especially in the south, you’ll run into a good deal of local dialects and a considerable lack of people who know English.  If your trip is coming up and you’re starting to panic, here are the top ten useful phrases that, along with pantomime and a friendly demeanor, will get you through your travels in one piece.

  1. Non capisco – io non parlo italiano.  “I don’t understand – I don’t speak Italian.”  If you don’t understand someone when they’re talking to you, at least you can explain why you don’t understand.  Then, hopefully, they will switch to English.
  2. Lei parla inglese?  “Do you speak English?”  Another indispensable one, this will get you the help you need if you’re stuck in a bind.  Note: “lei” is the “formal you” in Italian, which you should always use when speaking to strangers, just to be polite.
  3. Dov’è…? “Where is…?”  From hotels to bus terminals to train stations, this simple contraction is key in getting you where you want to go.
  4. Salve, mi chiamo… “Hello, my name is…”  If you intend to meet anyone in Italy, you will be grateful you know how to introduce yourself in a civilized manner.  Like other romance languages, it literally translates to, “I call myself…”
  5. florentino-escena_2238887Mi scusi.  “Excuse me.”  Good manners are especially important when traveling, as the last thing you want to do is give off a poor impression of your home country.  This phrase can be used in any situation, from knocking into someone on the street to wanting to catch the attention of a barista in a café.
  6. Quanto costa…?  “How much?” Good for ordering in restaurants, hailing taxis, and booking hotel rooms.
  7. Una birra, per favore.  “One beer, please.”  A useful phrase in any language – if you’re in a more upscale restaurant, you may wish to substitute “birra” with “bottiglia di vino.”
  8. Grazie.  “Thank you.”  Even foreigners can’t sound inelegant when thanking someone in Italian.
  9. C’è un bagno qui?  “Is there a toilet here?”  Again, a crucial phrase for anyone to know when traveling, especially if you’re with children.
  10. Arrivederci.  “Goodbye.”  Or you could go local and call back as you speed away on your Vespa, “Ciao!”

Of course, as useful as these phrases are, they are only the beginning.  To truly appreciate your travels in Italy, it’s imperative that you go with at least a fundamental understanding of the language.  Get started by taking a look at our list of Italian courses, or send us an enquiry for more information.