These pages teach the Italian phrases you use every day, one phrase per page: greetings, please and thank you, excuse me and sorry, prices, the bill and directions. Each one has a pronunciation guide in standard Italian, the tu and Lei forms, the usual reply and the slips English speakers make. Start with buongiorno, grazie and scusi.
- Italian taught
- Standard Italian
- Level
- A1
- On each page
- Pronunciation, tu and Lei forms, replies, common mistakes
- You
- Lei for strangers, staff and older people; tu for friends, family and people your age
- Real usage
- Most pages quote a line from a Contos story chapter
- How to say beautiful in ItalianBello, bella, bel or bellissimo? How to say beautiful in Italian, make bello agree, and use che bello, carino and stupendo naturally.
- How to say cheers in ItalianSalute, cin cin or alla nostra? How to say cheers in Italian, make a toast, and what to say instead when cheers means thanks.
- How to say delicious in ItalianBuonissimo, delizioso or squisito? How to say delicious in Italian, compliment the cook with tu or Lei, and avoid the food-word mistakes.
- How to say "Do you speak English?" in ItalianParla inglese or parli inglese? How to ask do you speak English in Italian, say you only speak a little Italian, and understand the reply.
- How to say excuse me in ItalianScusi, permesso or senta? How to say excuse me in Italian to get attention, squeeze past people, enter a home, or ask a stranger for help.
- How to say good morning in ItalianBuongiorno, buondì or ben svegliato? How to say good morning in Italian, when to switch to buonasera, and buongiorno vs buona giornata.
- How to say good night in ItalianBuonanotte, buonasera or sogni d'oro? How to say good night in Italian, wish someone sweet dreams, and say you're going to bed.
- How to say goodbye in ItalianCiao, arrivederci or a presto? How to say goodbye in Italian, formally and informally, say you have to go, and why addio is not for every day.
- How to say happy birthday in ItalianBuon compleanno or tanti auguri? How to say happy birthday in Italian, write it in a card, say someone's age and reply to the wishes.
- How to say hello in ItalianCiao, salve or buongiorno? How to say hello in Italian to friends and strangers, answer the phone, and reply to a greeting.
- How to say "How are you?" in ItalianCome stai, come sta or come va? How to ask how someone is in Italian, with tu and Lei, and every way to answer, from benissimo to così così.
- How to say "How much is it?" in ItalianQuanto costa, quanto costano or quant'è? How to ask how much something is in Italian, understand prices in euros and pay politely.
- How to say "I don't understand" in ItalianNon capisco or non ho capito? How to say I don't understand in Italian, ask someone to repeat or slow down, and use capire correctly.
- How to say I love you in ItalianTi amo or ti voglio bene? How to say I love you in Italian to a partner, family and friends, reply to it, and use amore and other pet names.
- How to say I miss you in ItalianMi manchi, mi manchi tanto or mi sei mancato? How to say I miss you in Italian, reply to it, and use mancare the right way round.
- How to say "my name is" in ItalianMi chiamo, sono or il mio nome è? How to say my name is in Italian, ask someone's name with tu or Lei, and avoid the classic mistakes.
- How to say nice to meet you in ItalianPiacere, piacere di conoscerti or molto lieto? How to say nice to meet you in Italian with tu or Lei, reply, and say goodbye after.
- How to say please in ItalianPer favore, per piacere or per cortesia? How to say please in Italian, make polite requests, and when Italians say prego instead.
- How to say see you later in ItalianA dopo, a più tardi or ci vediamo? How to say see you later in Italian, name a day or time, and pick the right one with tu or Lei.
- How to say sorry in ItalianScusa, scusi or mi dispiace? How to say sorry in Italian, apologise for something specific, offer sympathy, and accept an apology.
- How to say thank you in ItalianGrazie, grazie mille or La ringrazio? How to say thank you in Italian, thank someone for something, and pronounce grazie properly.
- How to ask for the bill in ItalianIl conto, per favore: how to ask for the bill in Italian, pay at a bar, split it, and what coperto, servizio and the scontrino are.
- How to ask where the toilet is in ItalianDov'è il bagno? How to ask where the toilet or bathroom is in Italian, politely, in a bar or someone's home, and understand the answer.
- How to say yes and no in ItalianSì, no, certo, d'accordo? How to say yes and no in Italian, agree and refuse politely, and why sì needs its accent.
- How to say you're welcome in ItalianPrego, di niente or figurati? How to say you're welcome in Italian, the other jobs prego does, and why benvenuto is the wrong word.
Which Italian phrases should a beginner learn first?
These five cover most short exchanges in a shop, a bar or a station:
- Buongiorno with strangers until the afternoon, then buonasera. Keep ciao for people you call tu.
- Grazie, and the answer you will hear, prego.
- Per favore at the end of a request: un caffè, per favore.
- Scusi to stop someone or call a waiter, and permesso to get past on a crowded bus.
- Non ho capito, I didn't catch that, then può ripetere, per favore?
For a trip, add quant'è? at the till, dov'è il bagno? and il conto, per favore.
Tu or Lei: how formal should your Italian be?
Italian uses Lei, grammatically "she", as the polite "you", so the verb takes the third-person form: scusa to a friend becomes scusi to a stranger, puoi becomes può. Use Lei with shop staff, officials, older people and anyone you address as signora or signore. Young people switch to tu quickly, and among friends Lei would sound cold.
Formality also follows roles. In this A2 Contos chapter the town baker, late for choir practice, calls out to the new choir director with the Lei form and her title:
"Scusi, maestra! Il pane non aspetta!"Frequently asked questions
What are the most common Italian phrases?
Ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, grazie, prego, per favore, scusi, permesso, quanto costa? and arrivederci. With those you can greet, thank, order, apologise and leave politely anywhere in Italy.
What does prego mean?
Several things. It is the usual reply to grazie, but Italians also say it when they invite you in, offer you a seat, hand something over or ask what you would like at a counter. Its exact sense comes from the moment it is said.
Is ciao rude with strangers?
Not rude, but too familiar for a shopkeeper or an older stranger, especially at first. Use buongiorno or buonasera, or salve if you are unsure. Once someone uses ciao with you, it is fine to say it back.
How can I practise Italian phrases?
See them in action. Contos stories, written for learners from A1 to B2, are full of characters greeting, thanking and apologising in everyday Italian. Tap any word to see what it means and save it as a flashcard.