Here are 60 Italian travel words, from l'aeroporto to l'incrocio, with their articles and in standard Italian. Learn these five first: la valigia (suitcase), il volo (flight), prenotare (to book), a destra (on the right) and a sinistra (on the left). Below: tricky plurals like la moto, asking the way, and when to say in or a.
- Words
- 60: transport, hotels, directions
- Variety
- Standard Italian
- Level
- A1–A2
- Read them in
- Contos stories (chapters 1–2 free)
60 Italian travel words
Nouns are listed with their article. Phrases such as a destra and all'estero are given whole, because that is how you will use them. The Contos web app uses this same pack for flashcard review.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| l'aeroporto | airport |
| il volo | flight |
| la carta d'imbarco | boarding pass |
| il passaporto | passport |
| il bagaglio | luggage |
| la valigia | suitcase |
| lo zaino | backpack |
| la camera matrimoniale | double room |
| la chiave della camera | room key |
| la reception | reception |
| il turista | tourist |
| la guida turistica | tour guide |
| l'attrazione turistica | tourist attraction |
| il museo | museum |
| il confine | border |
| la dogana | customs |
| la partenza | departure |
| l'arrivo | arrival |
| il ritardo | delay |
| la porta d'imbarco | gate |
| il sedile | seat |
| il corridoio | aisle |
| il posto al finestrino | window seat |
| il taxi | taxi |
| la metropolitana | underground |
| il tram | tram |
| il traghetto | ferry |
| la moto | motorbike |
| il distributore di benzina | petrol station |
| la strada | road |
| l'autostrada | motorway |
| l'ingorgo | traffic jam |
| il semaforo | traffic lights |
| il parcheggio | car park |
| prenotare | to book |
| fare il check-in | to check in |
| fare la valigia | to pack |
| disfare la valigia | to unpack |
| atterrare | to land |
| decollare | to take off |
| perdersi | to get lost |
| noleggiare un'auto | to rent a car |
| all'estero | abroad |
| il souvenir | souvenir |
| la cartolina | postcard |
| a sinistra | left |
| a destra | right |
| dritto | straight on |
| il nord | north |
| il sud | south |
| l'est | east |
| l'ovest | west |
| vicino | nearby |
| lontano | far |
| il pilota | pilot |
| il passeggero | passenger |
| l'isola | island |
| il campeggio | campsite |
| il porto | harbour |
| l'incrocio | crossroads |
Lo zaino, la moto, il pilota: which travel words break the rules?
Most nouns in this list are regular: -o for masculine (il volo, il porto), -a for feminine (la valigia, la strada). The ones below catch learners out.
| Singular | Plural | Why |
|---|---|---|
| lo zaino | gli zaini | masculine nouns starting with z take lo and gli |
| l'aeroporto | gli aeroporti | masculine before a vowel: l' becomes gli |
| l'isola | le isole | feminine before a vowel: l' becomes le |
| la moto | le moto | short for la motocicletta, so feminine and unchanged in the plural |
| il pilota | i piloti | masculine despite the -a; a woman pilot is la pilota |
| il turista, la turista | i turisti, le turiste | -ista words work for both genders |
| il taxi, il tram, il souvenir | i taxi, i tram, i souvenir | borrowed words do not change |
| la valigia | le valigie | le valige is also accepted |
The same rule applies to un and uno: a masculine noun starting with z or s + consonant takes uno, so it is un volo but uno zaino and uno sguardo (a look).
Marco arriva alla piccola locanda di Nonna Pina con una valigia grande e uno sguardo stanco.In treno or a Roma? Prepositions for getting around
Italian travel phrases are short, but the preposition changes with what follows.
- in + transport: in treno, in aereo, in macchina, in traghetto. The exception is on foot: a piedi.
- a + a town or city: vado a Roma, arrivo a Milano.
- in + a country or region: in Italia, in Sicilia, in Toscana. Abroad is all'estero.
- Directions: a destra (on the right), a sinistra (on the left), sempre dritto (straight on).
Scusi, per la stazione?
Excuse me, which way to the station?
Scusi is the polite form for a stranger.
Vada sempre dritto e poi giri a destra.
Go straight on and then turn right.
The polite (Lei) form you will hear from strangers giving directions.
Ho prenotato una camera doppia.
I've booked a room for two.
Il volo è in ritardo di un'ora.
The flight is an hour late.
Un biglietto per Firenze, per favore.
A ticket to Florence, please.
Il treno regionale arriva sempre puntuale a Milano Centrale.Biglietto: a ticket, or a note?
Il biglietto is a ticket for a train, bus, museum or cinema. It is also a short handwritten note, a greeting card (un biglietto d'auguri), and in speech a banknote (un biglietto da dieci euro). Context tells you which.
È un biglietto del treno.In other Contos chapters, characters keep finding a biglietto in a pocket or under a basket, and there it is a note, not a ticket. Paper tickets for regional trains that are not tied to a time are usually validated in a machine at the station before you board: the word is convalidare.
Read a short Italian story set on a commuter train: tap any word to see what it means.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you ask for directions in Italian?
Say Scusi, dov'è la stazione? (Excuse me, where is the station?) or simply Scusi, per la stazione? Listen for a destra (right), a sinistra (left), sempre dritto (straight on) and all'incrocio (at the crossroads).
What is the difference between camera doppia and matrimoniale?
Una camera matrimoniale has one double bed. Una camera doppia is a room for two, often with two single beds. If the bed matters, say so when you book: con letto matrimoniale or con due letti singoli.
Is it la moto or il moto?
La moto, a motorbike. It is short for la motocicletta, so it stays feminine and does not change in the plural: le moto. Il moto is a different word meaning movement or exercise, as in fare moto.
Is it in Italia or a Italia?
In Italia. Italian uses in with countries and regions (in Francia, in Puglia) and a with towns and cities (a Napoli, a Bari). For abroad in general, say all'estero.