The first week in Italy was wonderful; I knew how to tell the time, date, and year in Italian. I knew the days of the week, the months of the year. Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to ask the hotel maid for a bar of soap, or how to locate a bathroom. I’d sit at a restaurant table wondering how to pay the bill. Which way was left or right? In front of me or behind me?
While knowing the days, months, and time are all well and good, there are certain phrases you should learn before leaving the states. I’ve included a version of phonics to help with pronunciation (using English words for certain sounds):
| English Phrase | In Italian | Phonetically |
| Where is the bathroom? | Dov’e il bano? | (Doe-vay ILL ban-yo) |
| The bill, please. | Il conto, per favore. | (ILL con-toe pear f-ah-VOR-ay) |
| How much is this? | Quente costa? | (qwan-TA coast-A?) |
| Is this discounted? | Questo ha un sconto? | (qwest-oh ah uhn SCON-to?) |
| I need… | Ho bisogno di… | (Oh bee-zone-yo dee…) |
Soap | sapone | (sA-po-Nay) |
| A towel | un asciugamano | (uhn a-SHOE-gah-mahn-o) |
Toothpaste | dentifricio | (DENT-ee-freet-cho) |
Matches | fiammifieri | (FI-am-mee-fi-ury) |
| Left | Sinistra | (sin-EASE-tra) |
| Right | Destra | (deh-Stra) |
| Straight ahead. | Avanti | (ah-VON-tee) |
| Behind you. | Devanti. | (deh-VON-tee) |
| Are we near? (are we there yet?) | Siamo viccino? | (SEE-ah-mo vi-CHEE-no?) |
| Do you speak English? | Parla ingles e ? | (PAR-la IN-glaze-ay?) |
| Please. | Per favore. | (pear f-ah-VOR-ay) |
| Thank you. | Grazie. | (grot-ZEE-ay) |
| You’re welcome. | Prego. | (pray-go) |
| Excuse me. | Mi scusa. | (mee SCOO-sa) |
| Where is the hotel (insert name)…? | Dov’e l’albergo…[name] | (doe-VAY L’AL-bear-go…) |
| Where is the train station? | Dov’e il stazione del traino? | (doe-VAY ill STAT-zee-own-ay dell train-o?) |
| Where is the bus stop? | Dov’e la ferma del’autobus? | (doe-VAY la FIRM-ah dell-auto-boos) |
| Stop! | Ferma! | (FIRM-a) |
| In the back (for opening rear doors). | Nel fundo, per favore. | (nell fun-doe, pear f-ah-VOR-ay) |
| What is this? | Que ‘e? | (KEY eh?) |
| Help me. | Aiuta mi | (I-oo-ta may) |