A handy dandy Italian phrase sheet

A traveler's cheat sheet on how to say the basics and ask important questions in Italian

Web Translators
Here are some free online translators, handy for finding words and pasting in chunks of text from Italian-only websites:
• Google Translate
• Babelfish
• Bing Translator
• Dictionary.com

Free language lessons!
The venerable BBC provides free audio and video language courses at: bbc.co.uk/languages

Italian phrase books
• Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book and Dictionary
• Eyewitness Italian Travel Phrasebook
• Lonely Planet: Italian Phrasebook
• Berlitz Italian Phrase Book

Translator apps
Unlike the vast majority of translator apps for the iPhone—merely interfaces to the Google translate engine—those listed below work without Internet access (so you won't incur huge roaming fees); the boldface are the better choices in each price range:
• World Nomads (free)
• 24/7 Tutor (free)
• Cool Gorilla (99¢)
• Word Roll (99¢)
• Odyssey ($9.99)
• Lonely Planet ($9.99)

The computerized travel phrase book

It's the size of a calculator, and it literally speaks 20 languages. The Lingo Xplorer 52 Talking Translator knows 1,000,000 words and 100,000 useful phrases in 52 languages. What's more, it can speak them in a native's crisp, local accent.

This makes it a much better learning tool than puzzling over the pronunciation guide in a Berlitz, and also provides a wimp's way out of actually learning the lingo. Just walk up to a hotel clerk, select the right phrase, and the Lingo will ask for the price of a double room on your behalf.

But wait, there's more! (Always wanted to say that.) It has a built-in FM radio, world alarm clock, voice recorder, calculator, calendar, metric and currency converter, and eight games for long train rides (since Mine Sweeper and Sudoku are the same in any language). My favorite phrase: "I have been bitten by a dog" in German. $249.99 from Magellan's.

(There's also cheaper Lingo Eurotalk 6-Language Translator does 360,000 words and 20,000 phrases—plus currency and metric conversions—in English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, and Greek for just $99.85.)

iTRAVL® Multilingual Communicator and Dictionary

Or you can really upgrade into the realm of Star Trek instant translators and get the Ectaco NTL-8C iTRAVL Talking 2-Way Multilingual Language Communicator and Electronic Dictionary.

You speak into it, and it (a) recognizes your language and what you said, (b) translates it into any of eight other languages of your choice, and then (c) spits it back out in the foreign tongue. Wow.

It knows 3,370,000 words, and 14,000 travel phrases, in English, Italian, French, German, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish.

You can carry on entire, albeit stilted conversations by asking a question in English, having it repeat your question in Italian for the local, then they say their answer in Italian and the iTRAVL translates it into English for you.

Oh, and it also comes with a built-in language teacher so you can actually learn some Italian, plus a talking calculator, cultural notes, time zone maps, and Fodor's restaurant, hotel, and sightseeing info on 50 major destinations on five continents and the CIA World Factbook. Did I mention it can play MP3s and audio books (some travel ones are already included)?

There is, of course, a price to be paid for this technological Wunderkind: $499.95 from Amazon.

Kwikpoint point-and-choose translator card

Or go really low-tech (and cheap: $14.85) with the laminated, foldable Kwikpoint card covered with cartoonish pictures off all the things a traveler might need—double bed, taxi, AAA battery, ice skates, pig, computer printer, toothpaste, cheese, gas station, can opener, policeman, etc. You just unfold it like a map, point at the thing you want, and throw on the local word for "please?"

Tours & Activities

The following phrase sheets are all on one page (so you can print this out), but are broken down into these useful categories.

general terms	car travel	numbers
lodging	train travel	calendars
dining	air travel
sightseeing

General Italian phrases and terms (the basics)

English (Inglese)	Italian (Italiano)	Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun
thank you	grazie	GRAT-tzee-yay
please	per favore	pair fa-VOHR-ray
yes	si	see
no	no	no
Do you speak English?	Parla Inglese?	PAR-la een-GLAY-zay
I don't understand	Non capisco	non ka-PEESK-koh
I'm sorry	Mi dispiace	mee dees-pee-YAT-chay
How much is it?	Quanto costa?	KWAN-toh COST-ah
That's too much	É troppo	ay TROH-po

Good day	Buon giorno	bwohn JOUR-noh
Good evening	Buona sera	BWOH-nah SAIR-rah
Good night	Buona notte	BWOH-nah NOTE-tay
Goodbye	Arrivederci	ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee
Excuse me (to get attention)	Scusi	SKOO-zee
Excuse me (to get past someone)	Permesso	pair-MEH-so

Where is?	Dov'é	doh-VAY
...the bathroom	il bagno	eel BHAN-yoh
...train station	la ferroviaria	lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah
to the right	à destra	ah DEH-strah
to the left	à sinistra	ah see-NEEST-trah
straight ahead	avanti [or] diritto	ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh
information	informazione	in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay

Useful Italian phrases and terms for lodging

English (Inglese)	Italian (Italiano)	Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun
Where is?	Dov'é	doh-VAY
...a hotel	un albergo	oon al-BEAR-go
...a B&B	un bed-and-breakfast	oon bet hand BREK-fust
...a rental room	un'affittacamera	oon ah-feet-ah-CAH-mair-ra
...an apartment for rent	un appartamento	oon ah-part-tah-MENT-toh
...a farm stay	un agriturismo	oon ah-gree-tour-EES-moh
...a hostel	un ostello	oon oh-STEHL-loh
a single room	una singola	OO-nah SEEN-go-la
double room for single use [will often be offered if singles are unavailable]	doppia uso singola	DOPE-pee-ya OO-so SEEN-go-la
a double room with two beds	una doppia con du letti	OO-nah DOPE-pee-ya cone DOO-way LET-tee
a double room with one big bed	una matrimoniale	OO-nah mat-tree-moan-nee-YAAL-lay
triple room	una tripla	OO-nah TREE-plah
with private bathroom	con bagno	cone BAHN-yoh
without private bathroom	senza bagno [they might say con bagno in comune—"with a communal bath"]	SEN-zah BAHN-yoh
for one night	per una notte	pair OO-nah NOH-tay
for two nights	per due notti	pair DOO-way NOH-tee
for three nights	per tre notti	pair tray NOH-tee
Is breakfast included?	É incluso la prima colazione?	ay in-CLOO-soh lah PREE-mah coal-laht-zee-YOAN-nay
May I see the room?	Posso vedere la camera?	POH-soh veh-DAIR-eh lah CAH-mair-rah
Is there a cheaper one?	C'é una più economica?	chay OO-nah pew eh-ko-NO-mee-kah

Useful Italian phrases and terms for dining

English (Inglese)	Italian (Italiano)	Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun
Where is?	Dov'é	doh-VAY
...a restaurant	un ristorante	oon rees toh-RAHN-tay
...a casual restaurant	una trattoria un'osteria	oo-nah trah-toar-RHEE-yah oon ohst-air-EE-yah
I would like to reserve...	Vorrei prenotare...	voar-RAY pray-note-ARE-eh
a table for two	una tavola per due	oo-nah TAH-voal-lah pair DOO-way
...for 8pm	per le otto	pair lay OH-toh

I would like	Vorrei...	voar-RAY
...some (of)	un pó (di)	oon POH (dee)
...this	questo	KWAY-sto
...that	quello	KWEL-loh
and	e	ay
...a glass of	un bicchiere di	oon bee-key-YAIR-eh
...fizzy water	acqua gassata	AH-kwah gah-SAHT-tah
...still water	acqua non gassata	AH-kwah noan gah-SAHT-tah
...red wine	vino rosso	VEE-noh ROH-so
...white wine	vino bianco	VEE-noh bee-YAHN-koh
...beer	birra	BEER-a
Check, please	Il conto, per favore	eel COAN-toh pair fah-VOAR-eh
Is service included?	É incluso il servizio?	ay een-CLOU-so eel sair-VEET-zee-yo

Useful Italian phrases for train travel

English (Inglese)	Italian (Italiano)	Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun
Where is?	Dov'é	doh-VAY
...train station	la ferroviaria [or] la stazione	lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah [or] lah stat-zee-YO-nay
ticket	un biglietto	oon beel-YET-toh
first class	prima classe	PREE-mah CLAH-say
second class	seconda classe	say-CONE-dah CLAH-say
one way	solo andata	SO-low ahn-DAHT-tah
round trip (return)	andata e ritorno	ahn-DAH-tah ay ree-TOUR-noh
Just the supplement	Soltanto il supplemento	soul-TAHN-toh eel sou-play-MEN-toh
Just a seat reservation	Soltanto una prenotazione	soal-TAHN-toh oo-nah pray-no-tah-tsee-YOH-nay
I have a Eurailpass	Ho il Eurailpass	oh eel YOO-rail-pahs
sleeping couchette	una cucetta	oo-nah koo-CHET-tah
berth in a sleeping car	un posto nel vagone letto	oon POH-sto nell vah-GOAN-nay LET-toh
track	binario	been-AR-ree-yoh
train	treno	TRAY-no
departures	partenze	par-TEN-zay
arrivals	arrivi	ah-REE-vee
information	informazione	in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay
left luggage	deposito bagagli	day-PO-zee-toh ba-GAHL-yee
the bathroom	il bagno	eel BAHN-yoh
thank you	grazie	GRAT-tzee-yay
please	per favore	pair fa-VOHR-ray
yes	si	see
no	no	no
Do you speak English?	Parla Inglese?	PAR-la een-GLAY-zay
I don't understand	Non capisco	non ka-PEESK-koh
How much is it?	Quanto costa?	KWAN-toh COST-ah

Useful Italian phrases for car travel

English (Inglese)	Italian (Italiano)	Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun
car	automobile	ow-toh-MO-bee-lay
gas	benzina	ben-ZEE-nah
diesel	gasolio [or] diesel	gah-ZOH-lee-oh [or] DEE-zell
Fill it up, please	al pieno, per favore	ahl pee-YAY-noh, pair fa-VOHR-ray
Where is...	Dov'é	doh-VAY
...the highway	l'autostrada	lout-oh-STRA-dah
...the state highway	la statale [written "SS"]	lah sta-TAHL-eh
...the road for Rome	la strada per Roma	lah STRA-dah pair RO-mah
to the right	à destra	ah DEH-strah
to the left	à sinistra	ah see-NEEST-trah
straight ahead	avanti [or] diritto	ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh
keep going straight	sempre diritto	SEM-pray dee-REE-toh

Useful Italian phrases for air travel*

English (Inglese)	Italian (Italiano)	Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun
Where is...	Dov'é	doh-VAY
the airport	l'aeroporto	LAHW-ro-port-oh
the airplane	l'aereo	LAIR-reh-oh
terminal	terminal	TEAR-me-nahl
flight	volo	VOH-lo
gate	uscita d'imbarco	oo-SHEE-tah deem-BARK-oh
to the right	à destra	ah DEH-strah
to the left	à sinistra	ah see-NEEST-trah
straight ahead	avanti [or] diritto	ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh
keep going straight	sempre diritto	SEM-pray dee-REE-toh
departures	partenze	par-TEN-zay
arrivals	arrivi	ah-REE-vee
delayed	in ritardo	een ree-TAR-doh

* Note that English is the de facto language in most airports and for most aspects of air travel. It still helps to know the Italian, though.

Days, months, and other caldendar items in Italian

English (Inglese)	Italian (Italiano)	Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun
When is it open?	Quando é aperto?	KWAN-doh ay ah-PAIR-toh
When does it close?	Quando si chiude?	KWAN-doh see key-YOU-day
At what time...	a che ora	a kay O-rah

Yesterday	ieri	ee-YAIR-ee
Today	oggi	OH-jee
Tomorrow	domani	doh-MAHN-nee
Day after tomorrow	dopo domani	DOH-poh doh-MAHN-nee

Monday	Lunedí	loo-nay-DEE
Tuesday	Martedí	mar-tay-DEE
Wednesday	Mercoledí	mair-coh-lay-DEE
Thursday	Giovedí	jo-vay-DEE
Friday	Venerdí	ven-nair-DEE
Saturday	Sabato	SAH-baa-toh
Sunday	Domenica	doh-MEN-nee-ka

Numbers in Italian

English (Inglese)	Italian (Italiano)	Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun
1	uno	OO-no
2	due	DOO-way
3	tre	tray
4	quattro	KWAH-troh
5	cinque	CHEEN-kway
6	sei	say
7	sette	SET-tay
8	otto	OH-toh
9	nove	NO-vay
10	dieci	dee-YAY-chee
11	undici	OON-dee-chee
12	dodici	DOH-dee-chee
13	tredici	TRAY-dee-chee
14
15
16
17
18
19
20	venti	VENT-tee
21*	vent'uno*	vent-OO-no
22*	venti due*	VENT-tee DOO-way
23*	venti tre*	VENT-tee TRAY
30	trenta	TRAYN-tah
40	quaranta	kwa-RAHN-tah
50	cinquanta	cheen-KWAN-tah
60	sessanta	say-SAHN-tah
70	settanta	seh-TAHN-tah
80	ottanta	oh-TAHN-tah
90	novanta	no-VAHN-tah
100	cento	CHEN-toh
1,000	mille	MEEL-lay
5,000	cinque milla	CHEEN-kway MEEL-lah
10,000	dieci milla	dee-YAY-chee MEEL-lah

* You can use this formula for all Italian ten-place numbers—so 31 is trent'uno, 32 is trenta due, 33 is trenta tre, etc. Note that—like uno (one), otto (eight) also starts with a vowel—all "-8" numbers are also abbreviated (vent'otto, trent'otto, etc.)

Useful Italian phrases and terms for sightseeing

English (Inglese)	Italian (Italiano)	Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun
Where is?...	Dov'é	doh-VAY
...the museum	il museo	eel moo-ZAY-yo
...the church	la chiesa	lah key-YAY-zah
...the cathedral	il duomo [or] la cattedrale	eel DUO-mo [or] lah cah-teh-DRAH-leh
When is it open?	Quando é aperto?	KWAN-doh ay ah-PAIR-toh
When does it close?	Quando si chiude?	KWAN-doh see key-YOU-day
ticket	biglietto	beel-YET-toh
two adults	due adulti	DOO-way ah-DOOL-tee
one child	un bambino	oon bahm-BEE-no
one student	uno studente	OO-noh stu-DENT-ay
one senior	un pensionato	oon pen-see-yo-NAH-toh

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This material was last updated March 2010. All information was accurate at the time.

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