Essential Italian Expressions

essential Italian expressions


Essential Italian Expressions

If you’re off on holiday to Italy this summer, or are just taking a short weekend break, you will want to have these useful expressions in your pocket.

Hello Buongiorno (bwohn jour-noh)
Goodbye Arrivederci (ah-ree-vah-dair-chee)
Please Per favore (pair fa-vohr-ray)
Thank you Grazie (grat-tzee-yay) 
Yes Si (see)
No No (no)
Excuse me/sorry Scusi (skoo-zee)
My name is…  Mi chiamo… (mee kee-ah-mo)
What is your name? Come si chiama? (koh-meh see kee-ah-mah)
Nice to meet you  Piacere / Molto lieto (pee-ah-cheh-reh / mohl-toh lee-eh-toh)
Where do you come from?  Di dov’è? (dee doh-veh)
 I come from Great Britain Sono del Regno Unito
How are you? Come sta? / Come stai? (koh-meh stah / koh-meh sty)
Where is…?  Dov’è…? (doh-veh) 
I would like Vorrei… (voar-ray)
How much is it?  Quanto costa? (kwan-toh cost-ah)
Can you help me?  Può aiutarmi? (pwoh ah-yoo-tar-mee)
I don’t understand  Non capisco (non kah-pees-koh)
I don’t speak Italian Non parlo italiano (non par-lo ee-tahl-ee-ah-no)
Do you speak English? Parli inglese? (par-lee een-gleh-zeh)


Cactus offers Italian Language Holidays all over Italy, and Italian Evening Language Courses across the UK.

Cactus language offers the following types of language courses:

Evening language courses: 19 different languages in 15 UK locations
Language holidays: worldwide immersion courses in the country of the language
Online courses: for teacher training, English and French
