Have you ever thought about learning a new language? It’s a great way to enrich your daily life and make your interactions with others even more special.
We’ve put together a guide to 200 handy Italian phrases for those just starting out. It’s perfect for beginners!
These essential phrases cover all the bases, from greetings and getting around to dining out. You’ll be able to chat away in Italian in no time!
Whether you’re off on a trip, studying or just meeting up with Italian friends, this guide will get you started on the road to fluency. So, why not give it a try today?
Saluti - Greetings
Learning greetings is one of the most fundamental aspects of any language. It’s a great way to connect with others and make a positive first impression!
- Ciao – Hello
Ciao, come stai? – Hello, how are you? - Buongiorno – Good morning
Buongiorno, signora! – Good morning, ma’am! - Buonasera – Good evening
Buonasera a tutti. – Good evening, everyone. - Buonanotte – Good night
Buonanotte e sogni d’oro. – Good night and sweet dreams. - Arrivederci – Goodbye
Arrivederci, ci vediamo domani. – Goodbye, see you tomorrow. - A presto – See you soon
A presto, amico mio. – See you soon, my friend. - Benvenuto – Welcome
Benvenuto a casa mia. – Welcome to my house. - Salve – Hi (formal)
Salve, piacere di conoscerla. – Hi, nice to meet you. - Come va? – How’s it going?
Come va oggi? – How’s it going today? - Tutto bene – Everything’s fine
Sì, tutto bene, grazie. – Yes, everything’s fine, thanks. - Buona giornata – Have a nice day
Buona giornata a te! – Have a nice day to you! - Ci vediamo – See you
Ci vediamo domani. – See you tomorrow. - Piacere – Nice to meet you
Piacere di conoscerti. – Nice to meet you. - Buon pomeriggio – Good afternoon
Buon pomeriggio a tutti. – Good afternoon, everyone. - Buon weekend – Have a good weekend
Buon weekend e divertiti! – Have a good weekend and have fun!
These phrases will help you start conversations, express your appreciation, and navigate social interactions with ease.
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Posso presentarmi - May I introduce myself
Whether you’re travelling to Italy or learning the language, these phrases will help you greet people, introduce yourself and communicate in basic Italian.
- Chiamo – Name
Mi chiamo Luca. – My name is Luca. - Sono – I am
Sono insegnante. – I am a teacher. - Ho – I have
Ho venticinque anni. – I am twenty-five years old. - Vengo da – I come from
Vengo da Roma. – I come from Rome. - Vivo – I live
Vivo a Milano. – I live in Milan. - Lavoro come – I work as
Lavoro come ingegnere. – I work as an engineer. - Studio – I study
Studio all’università. – I study at the university. - Parlo – I speak
Parlo inglese e italiano. – I speak English and Italian. - Piace – Like
Mi piace viaggiare. – I like to travel. - Hobby – Hobby
Il mio hobby è leggere. – My hobby is reading. - Appassionato – Passionate
Sono appassionato di musica. – I am passionate about music. - Famiglia – Family
Ho una famiglia numerosa. – I have a big family. - Sposato/a – Married
Sono sposato con Maria. – I am married to Maria. - Figli – Children
Ho due figli. – I have two children. - Sogno – Dream
Il mio sogno è visitare il Giappone. – My dream is to visit Japan.
Once you’ve got these basic Italian phrases down, you’ll be able to interact confidently in everyday situations.
Famiglia - Family
This block is all about the Italian words and phrases you need to talk about your family. Whether is’s about you or your family, these phrases will help you communicate effectively in Italian.
- Famiglia – Family
Ho una famiglia numerosa. – I have a large family. - Madre – Mother
Mia madre si chiama Maria. – My mother’s name is Maria. - Padre – Father
Mio padre è un insegnante. – My father is a teacher. - Fratello – Brother
Ho un fratello maggiore. – I have an older brother. - Sorella – Sister
Mia sorella minore si chiama Anna. – My younger sister’s name is Anna. - Figlio – Son
Ho un figlio di cinque anni. – I have a five-year-old son. - Figlia – Daughter
Mia figlia studia all’università. – My daughter is studying at the university. - Nonno – Grandfather
Mio nonno ha novant’anni. – My grandfather is ninety years old. - Nonna – Grandmother
La mia nonna cucina molto bene. – My grandmother cooks very well. - Zio – Uncle
Il mio zio abita in Spagna. – My uncle lives in Spain. - Zia – Aunt
Ho una zia che lavora come infermiera. – I have an aunt who works as a nurse. - Cugino – Cousin (male)
Mio cugino studia economia. – My cousin is studying economics. - Cugina – Cousin (female)
Mia cugina è molto simpatica. – My cousin is very nice. - Generazione – Generation
Appartengo alla mia generazione. – I belong to my generation. - Familiare – Family member
Sono tutti miei familiari. – They are all my family members.
It’s definitely worth learning some family-related vocabulary. If you practise these phrases, you’ll be able to take part in discussions about family relationships and understand Italian culture.
Wan to learn more? Here are my language learning guides:
L'amore è - Love is
This set introduces some essential Italian phrases related to love and affection. They’re great for anyone learning Italian, either for romantic reasons or just for everyday conversations. These phrases will help you to express your feelings effectively in Italian
- Amore – Love
L’amore è importante nella vita. – Love is important in life. - Sentimento – Feeling
Ho un sentimento forte per te. – I have strong feelings for you. - Cuore – Heart
Ti tengo nel mio cuore. – I hold you in my heart. - Bacio – Kiss
Ti mando un bacio. – I’m sending you a kiss. - Abbraccio – Hug
Ti abbraccio forte. – I hug you tightly. - Affetto – Affection
Ti voglio bene. – I care about you. - Romanticismo – Romance
Mi piace il romanticismo. – I like romance. - Passione – Passion
Vivo con passione. – I live passionately. - Compagnia – Company
Mi piace la tua compagnia. – I enjoy your company. - Felicità – Happiness
Il tuo sorriso mi dà felicità. – Your smile brings me happiness. - Innamorarsi – To fall in love
Mi sono innamorato/a di te. – I fell in love with you. - Dolcezza – Sweetness
Mi piace la tua dolcezza. – I like your sweetness. - Condivisione – Sharing
Amo la condivisione con te. – I love sharing with you. - Tenero – Tender
Sei molto tenero/a. – You are very tender.
These love-related phrases are really important if you want to be able to express your emotions fluently in Italian.
Fare la spesa al supermercato - Shopping at the supermarket
In this module, we’ll look at some key Italian phrases for getting around a supermarket. No matter what you’re shopping for or how much you want to chat while you’re shopping, these phrases will help you engage confidently in Italian.
- Supermercato – Supermarket
Vado al supermercato per fare la spesa. – I go to the supermarket to do the shopping. - Carrello – Cart
Prendo un carrello per portare la spesa. – I take a cart to carry the groceries. - Cibo – Food
Compro del cibo per la settimana. – I buy food for the week. - Bevande – Drinks
Ci sono molte bevande da scegliere. – There are many drinks to choose from. - Frutta – Fruit
Mi piace comprare della frutta fresca. – I like to buy fresh fruit. - Verdura – Vegetables
Ho bisogno di verdura per la cena. – I need vegetables for dinner. - Pane – Bread
Prendo sempre del pane fresco. – I always get fresh bread. - Formaggio – Cheese
Vorrei del formaggio per fare una cena speciale. – I would like some cheese to make a special dinner. - Carne – Meat
Ho comprato della carne per il barbecue. – I bought some meat for the barbecue. - Pesce – Fish
Preferisco comprare del pesce fresco. – I prefer to buy fresh fish. - Latticini – Dairy products
Devo comprare dei latticini per la colazione. – I need to buy some dairy products for breakfast. - Dolci – Sweets
Mia figlia adora i dolci. – My daughter loves sweets. - Pasta – Pasta
Compro sempre della pasta italiana. – I always buy Italian pasta. - Riso – Rice
Prendo del riso per fare un piatto esotico. – I get rice to make an exotic dish. - Salse – Sauces
Mi servono delle salse per condire la pasta. – I need some sauces to dress the pasta.
Once you’ve got these supermarket-related phrases down, you’ll be able to shop more easily and communicate in everyday situations.
Al ristorante - At the restaurant
In this article, we’ll look at some key Italian phrases for dining out. From how to order food to the best way to ask for the bill, these phrases will help you enjoy restaurant experiences in Italian-speaking countries.
- Ristorante – Restaurant
Andiamo al ristorante per cena stasera. – We’re going to the restaurant for dinner tonight. - Menu – Menu
Ho bisogno di vedere il menu prima di ordinare. – I need to see the menu before ordering. - Tavolo – Table
Vorrei prenotare un tavolo per due, per favore. – I would like to book a table for two, please. - Cameriere – Waiter
Posso avere il conto, per favore? – Can I have the bill, please? - Cibo – Food
Il cibo qui è davvero delizioso! – The food here is really delicious! - Bevande – Drinks
Che bevande avete? – What drinks do you have? - Antipasto – Appetizer
Vorrei un antipasto di bruschette, per favore. – I would like an appetizer of bruschetta, please. - Primo piatto – First course
Per primo prendo la pasta alla carbonara. – For the first course, I’ll have the carbonara pasta. - Secondo piatto – Second course
Come secondo piatto vorrei il filetto di manzo. – For the second course, I would like the beef fillet. - Contorno – Side dish
Vorrei un contorno di verdure grigliate. – I would like a side dish of grilled vegetables. - Dessert – Dessert
Qual è il dolce del giorno? – What is the dessert of the day? - Posate – Cutlery
Mi puoi portare delle posate in più? – Could you bring me some extra cutlery? - Sale e pepe – Salt and pepper
Mi puoi passare il sale e il pepe? – Could you pass me the salt and pepper? - Insalata – Salad
L’insalata è fresca e croccante. – The salad is fresh and crunchy. - Conto – Bill
Posso avere il conto, per favore? – Can I have the bill, please?
If you can master these phrases in Italian, you’ll have a better time at restaurants and you’ll feel more connected to the local culture.
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Calendario: Giorni, Settimane, Anni - Calendar: Days, Weeks, Years
In this section, you’ll find some key Italian words and phrases related to days, weeks and years. These are really useful when you organise your schedule, plan ahead and chatt about time.
Giorno – Day
Oggi è un bel giorno. – Today is a beautiful day.Settimana – Week
Questa settimana è stata intensa. – This week has been busy.- Anno – Year
Questo è l’anno del cambiamento. – This is the year of change. Lunedì – Monday
Il lunedì inizia la settimana. – Monday starts the week.Martedì – Tuesday
Il martedì ho una riunione. – On Tuesday I have a meeting.Mercoledì – Wednesday
Mercoledì andiamo al cinema. – On Wednesday we go to the cinema.Giovedì – Thursday
Giovedì sera c’è una festa. – Thursday evening there is a party.Venerdì – Friday
Venerdì è l’ultimo giorno della settimana lavorativa. – Friday is the last day of the work week.Sabato – Saturday
Sabato è il mio giorno libero. – Saturday is my day off.Domenica – Sunday
La domenica riposo. – On Sunday I rest.Ieri – Yesterday
Ieri ho visitato un museo. – Yesterday I visited a museum.Oggi – Today
Oggi ho molte cose da fare. – Today I have many things to do.Domani – Tomorrow
Domani sarà una giornata intensa. – Tomorrow will be a busy day.Fine settimana – Weekend
Non vedo l’ora che arrivi il fine settimana. – I can’t wait for the weekend.
Once you know these calendar terms, you’ll find it easier to plan ahead and manage your time more effectively in Italian.
Calendario: Mesi - Calendar: Months
Here you’ll find some key Italian words and phrases related to the months of the year. These will help you talk about dates, seasons and annual events in Italian.
Gennaio – January
Gennaio è il primo mese dell’anno. – January is the first month of the year.Febbraio – February
Febbraio ha solo ventotto giorni. – February has only twenty-eight days.Marzo – March
Marzo porta la primavera. – March brings the spring.Aprile – April
Ad aprile fioriscono i fiori. – In April, flowers bloom.Maggio – May
Maggio è il mese delle rose. – May is the month of roses.Giugno – June
Giugno è l’inizio dell’estate. – June is the beginning of summer.Luglio – July
A luglio fa molto caldo. – In July, it is very hot.Agosto – August
Agosto è il mese delle vacanze. – August is the month of vacations.Settembre – September
Settembre segna il ritorno a scuola. – September marks the return to school.Ottobre – October
Ottobre è il mese delle foglie cadenti. – October is the month of falling leaves.Novembre – November
Novembre è un mese freddo. – November is a cold month.Dicembre – December
Dicembre porta le feste natalizie. – December brings the Christmas holidays.Mese – Month
Un anno ha dodici mesi. – A year has twelve months.Calendario – Calendar
Ho segnato la data sul calendario. – I marked the date on the calendar.Stagione – Season
Ogni stagione ha tre mesi. – Each season has three months.
Once you’ve got a good grasp of these month-related words, you’ll find it much easier to discuss time and plans in Italian.
Orari e date - Times and Dates
This block is all about the essential Italian words and phrases you need to know for times and dates. These expressions are really useful for making plans and schedules, and for general day-to-day activities.
Ora – Time
Che ora è? – What time is it?Minuto – Minute
Aspetta un minuto. – Wait a minute.Secondo – Second
Ci vorrà solo un secondo. – It will take just a second.Mattina – Morning
Mi sveglio presto la mattina. – I wake up early in the morning.Pomeriggio – Afternoon
Ci vediamo nel pomeriggio. – See you in the afternoon.Sera – Evening
La sera mi piace leggere. – In the evening, I like to read.Notte – Night
Buona notte e sogni d’oro. – Good night and sweet dreams.Data – Date
Qual è la data di oggi? – What is today’s date?Stagione – Season
L’estate è la mia stagione preferita. – Summer is my favorite season.Decennio – Decade
Un decennio fa vivevo in Italia. – A decade ago, I lived in Italy.Secolo – Century
Il ventesimo secolo è stato molto importante.Orologio – Clock
Hai un orologio? – Do you have a clock – The twentieth century was very important.Millennio – Millennium
Stiamo vivendo nel terzo millennio. – We are living in the third millennium.Momento – Moment
Un momento, per favore. – One moment, please.
If you learn these words and phrases, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively in Italian about things like time and dates.
In città - In the city
In this section, you’ll find some key Italian words and phrases to help you get around and describe different places and activities in the city. These expressions are great for anyone looking to explore urban areas, make plans or just get a better understanding of city life.
Città – City
Questa città è bellissima. – This city is beautiful.Piazza – Square
Ci incontriamo in piazza. – We’ll meet in the square.Strada – Street
Questa strada è molto trafficata. – This street is very busy.Parco – Park
Andiamo al parco domani. – Let’s go to the park tomorrow.Museo – Museum
Il museo è chiuso oggi. – The museum is closed today.Mercato – Market
Il mercato è aperto di domenica. – The market is open on Sundays.Negozio – Shop
Devo andare al negozio. – I need to go to the shop.Scuola – School
La scuola è a due chilometri da qui. – The school is two kilometers from here.Stazione – Station
La stazione dei treni è lontana? – Is the train station far?Fermata – Stop
La fermata dell’autobus è qui. – The bus stop is here.Cinema – Cinema
Vuoi andare al cinema stasera? – Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?Albergo – Hotel
Abbiamo prenotato un albergo. – We booked a hotel.Biblioteca – Library
La biblioteca è silenziosa. – The library is quiet.Ufficio – Office
L’ufficio postale è vicino. – The post office is nearby.Teatro – Theater
Stasera c’è uno spettacolo al teatro. – There is a show at the theater tonight.
By using these words and phrases you’ll find you can communicate more easily in urban Italy.
Mangiare e bere - Eating and drinking
In this section, you’ll find some key Italian words and phrases related to food and drink. These expressions are really useful to know if you want to order food and drink or talk about your dietary preferences.
Mangiare – To eat
Mi piace mangiare la pizza. – I like to eat pizza.Bere – To drink
Vorrei bere un bicchiere d’acqua. – I would like to drink a glass of water.Colazione – Breakfast
Faccio colazione alle otto. – I have breakfast at eight.Pranzo – Lunch
Andiamo a pranzo insieme? – Shall we have lunch together?Cena – Dinner
La cena è pronta. – Dinner is ready.Caffè – Coffee
Prendiamo un caffè? – Shall we have a coffee?Vino – Wine
Mi piace il vino rosso. – I like red wine.Acqua – Water
Puoi passarmi l’acqua, per favore? – Can you pass me the water, please?- Biscotti – Cookies
Ho comprato dei biscotti al cioccolato. – I bought some chocolate cookies. Gelato – Ice cream
Voglio un gelato al limone. – I want a lemon ice cream.Zuppa – Soup
Questa zuppa è calda e gustosa. – This soup is hot and tasty.Tè – Tea
Bevo il tè al mattino. – I drink tea in the morning.Succo – Juice
Mi piace il succo d’arancia. – I like orange juice.- Frullato – Smoothie
Il frullato di fragole è delizioso. – The strawberry smoothie is delicious. Panino – Sandwich
Ho mangiato un panino per pranzo. – I ate a sandwich for lunch.
With these words and phrases, you’ll be all set to enjoy dining out and let people know what you like in Italian.
For more information check my articles listed below:
Aspetto umano - Human appearance
In this section, we’ll go over some key Italian words and phrases that you can use to describe human appearance. These words and phrases will help you talk about physical traits, hair colours and other things that make you or someone else different.
Capelli – Hair
Ha i capelli lunghi. – She has long hair.Occhi – Eyes
I suoi occhi sono verdi. – His eyes are green.Alto – Tall
Mio fratello è molto alto. – My brother is very tall.Basso – Short
Lei è piuttosto bassa. – She is quite short.Magro – Thin
Lui è molto magro. – He is very thin.Grasso – Fat
Il gatto è un po’ grasso. – The cat is a bit fat.Biondo – Blonde
Ha i capelli biondi. – She has blonde hair.Castano – Brown
Lui ha i capelli castani. – He has brown hair.Pelle – Skin
Ha la pelle chiara. – She has fair skin.Occhiali – Glasses
Porta gli occhiali. – He wears glasses.Barba – Beard
Ha una barba lunga. – He has a long beard.Baffi – Mustache
Lui ha i baffi. – He has a mustache.Carino – Cute
Il bambino è molto carino. – The baby is very cute.Sorriso – Smile
Il suo sorriso è contagioso. – Her smile is contagious.Rughe – Wrinkles
Ha qualche ruga sul viso. – She has some wrinkles on her face.
Use these phrases to describe people accurately and express observations, which will help you to improve your description skills in Italian.
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Pronomi personali - Personal pronouns
In this block, you’ll learn the essential Italian personal pronouns and phrases, and how to use them. These pronouns are really important for building sentences.
Io – I
Io vado al mercato. – I am going to the market.Tu – You (singular informal)
Tu sei mio amico. – You are my friend.Lui – He
Lui lavora in ufficio. – He works in an office.Lei – She
Lei cucina la cena. – She cooks dinner.Noi – We
Noi andiamo al cinema. – We are going to the cinema.Voi – You (plural)
Voi siete italiani. – You are Italian.Loro – They
Loro giocano a calcio. – They play soccer.Mi – Me
Mi piace il gelato. – I like ice cream.Ti – You (direct object)
Ti vedo ogni giorno. – I see you every day.Lo – Him/It (direct object)
Lo vedo in ufficio. – I see him in the office.La – Her/It (direct object)
La conosco bene. – I know her well.Ci – Us
Ci chiamano spesso. – They call us often.Vi – You (plural, direct object)
Vi invito alla festa. – I invite you to the party.Li – Them (masculine)
Li vedo spesso. – I see them often.Le – Them (feminine)
Le aiuto sempre. – I always help them.
Practice the phrases and you’ll soon feel more comfortable and fluent when talking and referring to others.
My Tip: Three Language Learning Apps For Everyday Conversation
There are so many language learning apps out there, and they can really help you improve your Italian! They all have different structures, methods, costs, and features, so it can be tricky to know which one is right for you.
I’m here to help! Based on my experience, I’ve found three top language learning apps for everyday conversation.
When there are so many options, it can be hard to choose, but these favourites stand out for their effectiveness and ease of use.
#1. Mondly
Mondly is a well-known online language school that offers Italian courses. With daily lessons, it provides a variety of fun and effective ways to learn. Unlike traditional methods, Mondly does not use long lists of vocabulary or boring grammar lessons. Instead, it teaches you common sentences that native speakers use.
Research shows that everyday conversations only need a small vocabulary. As you learn more, Mondly helps you understand the details of the language better. The lessons include audio and reading materials, focusing on real-life pronunciation and how to use what you learn in social situations. This makes learning Italian enjoyable and engaging.
#2. Babbel
Babbel is an incredibly popular online language learning platform used by millions of people to learn new languages! Launched in 2007, it was one of the first services to offer the amazing convenience of learning from home, and both users and experts loved it for this!
Babbel is an amazing tool for learning Italian, whether you’re just starting out or already at an intermediate level. While it might not be the best fit for advanced learners, it’s still a fantastic option for anyone looking to build a solid foundation in the language.
The app includes a wealth of detailed, interactive exercises that help you learn vocabulary, grammar, and even train your conversation skills. It starts with the basics, like personal pronouns and essential phrases, and then builds on that knowledge. While the app’s design might not be flashy, the variety of exercises makes learning Italian easy and fun!
#3. Pimsleur
Pimsleur is the perfect way to learn Italian! Their audio lessons focus on real-life pronunciation, so you can start speaking Italian in no time. There are five different levels for you to choose from, and if you’re just getting started, we highly recommend the first level to learn the basics of the language! The course also includes reading material to help you understand written Italian.
The best part is you can use Pimsleur on both the app and the website! Even if you don’t have a stable internet connection, you can still get lessons offline! Pimsleur is a fantastic choice for anyone who wants to speak Italian confidently! Many users love how it helps them apply what they learn in real-life situations.
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Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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