Asking for Directions –
Essential Italian Vocabulary List
Even though most Italian cities are smaller than many cities in the US, they have a complex street system which doesn't follow any type of pattern or grid.
The ancient Romans weren't too big on formal city planning, so sometimes the way the roads are laid out can be confusing, and it's easy to get lost, especially when your brain is in a fog from eating too much pasta and gelato.
When exploring the public transportation system, it's vitally important to know the basic words and phrases you will need to make your way around.
This guide will come in handy when trying to navigate the system.
| |
Phrase in Italian |
Phrase in English |
Pronunciation |
|
Mi scusi / Scusa |
Excuse me (Formal/Informal) |
Mee scuh-see / Scuh-sah |
|
Dove si trova... |
Where is... |
Doh-veh see troh-vah |
|
Dove sono? |
Where am I? |
Doh-veh soh-noh |
|
La mappa |
The map |
Lah mah-pah |
|
Destra |
Right |
Dehs-trah |
|
Sinistra |
Left |
See-nee-strah |
|
Diritto |
Straight |
Dee-reet-toh |
|
Indietro |
Back |
Een-dee-eh-troh |
|
Di là |
Over there |
Dee lah |
|
Di qua |
Over here |
Dee qu-ah |
|
Semaforo |
Stoplight |
She-mah-foh-roh |
|
Piazza |
Plaza |
Piahz-zah |
|
Strada / Via |
Street |
Strah-dah /Vee-ah |
|
Ristorante |
Restaurant |
Ree-stoh-rahn-teh |
|
Metropolitana |
Subway |
Meh-troh-poh-lee-tah-nah |
|
Autobus |
Bus |
Aoo-toh-boos |
|
Taxi |
Taxi |
Taxi |
|
Macchina |
Car |
Mah-kee-nah |
|
In macchina |
By car |
Een Mah-kee-nah |
|
A piedi |
By foot |
Ah piehd-dee |
|
Albergo / Hotel |
Hotel |
Ahl-behr-goh |
|
E' lontano? |
Is it far away? |
Eh lohn-tah-noh |
|
Indirizzo |
Address |
Een-dee-ree-tsoh |
|
Nord |
North |
Nohrd |
|
Sud |
South |
Sood |
|
Est |
East |
Ehst |
|
Ovest |
West |
Oh-vehst |
|
Sciopero |
Strike |
Sho-peh-roh |
|
Stazione |
Station |
Stah-zee-oh-neh |
|
Aeroporto |
Airport |
Ah-eh-roh-pohr-toh |
| |
Slang/Commonly Used Expressions: |
|
|
Expression in Italian |
Expression in English |
Pronunciation |
|
Mi sono perso/a! |
I'm lost! |
Mee soh-noh pehr-soh / Mee soh-noh pehr-sah |
|
C'è uno sciopero? |
Is there a strike? |
Cheh oo-noh sho-peh-roh |
|
Autostop |
Hitchhike |
Aoo-toh-stohp |
|
Mi potrebbe portare a... / Mi potresti portare a... |
Could you take me to... (Formal/Informal) |
Mee poh-trehb-beh pohr-tah-reh ah / Mee poh-treh-stee pohr-tah-reh ah |
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