Meeting Someone New – Essential italian Vocabulary
In the United States, particularly on the East Coast, if someone you don’t know talks to you on a bus or train, you may immediately check for your pepper spray and start looking for a different seat. In other parts of the world, however, striking up conversations with strangers is not only accepted, it’s the norm.
In Italy, you can expect to meet a wide variety of new people, especially the farther south you travel. So don’t be surprised if an Italian sits next to you on the bus or on the train and starts chatting with you, even if there is plenty of space elsewhere.
Instead of being wary, why not take the opportunity to expand your community of friends?
Here are some preliminary phrases to get you started on the path to new adventures:
| |
Phrase in Italian |
Phrase in English |
Pronunciation |
|
Buongiorno. |
Hello. / Good day. |
Buh-ohn johr-noh. |
|
Piacere. |
It is a pleasure (meeting you). |
Piah-cheh-reh. |
|
Mi chiamo… |
My name is… |
Mee kee-ah-moh… |
|
Come ti chiami? |
What is your name? |
Koh-meh tee kee-ah-mee? |
|
Di dove sei? |
Where are you from? |
Dee doh-veh seh-ee? |
|
Sei Italiano? |
Are you Italian? |
She-ee ee-tah-lee-ah-noh? |
|
Sono… |
I am… |
Soh-noh… |
|
Americano. |
American. |
Ah-meh-ree-cah-noh. |
|
Inglese. |
English. |
Een-gleh-seh. |
|
Australiano. |
Australian. |
Aoo-strah-lee-ah-noh. |
|
Canadese. |
Canadian. |
Cah-nah-deh-seh. |
|
Parla Inglese? / Parli Inglese? |
Do you speak English? (Formal / Informal) |
Pahr-lah een-gleh-seh? / Pahr-lee een-gleh-seh? |
|
Mi piace l'Italia. |
I like Italy. |
Mee piah-che l'ee-tah-lee-ah. |
|
Sto studiando l'Italiano. |
I am studying Italian. |
Stoh stoh-dee-ahn-doh l'ee-tah-lee-ah-noh. |
|
Mi scusi. / Scusa. |
Excuse me. (Formal/Informal) |
Mee scuh-see. / Scuh-sah. |
|
Può ripetere? / Puoi ripetere? |
Could you repeat? (Formal/Informal) |
Poo-oh ree-peh-teh-reh? / Poo-oy ree-peh-teh-reh? |
|
Può tradurre? / Puoi tradurre? |
Can you translate? (Formal/Informal) |
Poo-oh trah-door-reh? / Poo-oy trah-door-reh? |
|
Più lentamente. |
More slowly. |
Pee-oo lehn-tah-mehn-teh. |
|
Signor. |
Mr. |
See-nyohr. |
|
Signora. |
Mrs. |
See-nyohr-ah. |
|
Signorina. |
Miss. |
See-nyohr-ee-nah. |
|
Amico/a. |
Friend. |
Ah-mee-koh. / Ah-mee-kah. |
|
Come si dice … in italiano? |
How do you say … in Italian? |
Koh-meh see dee-che … een ee-tah-lee-ah-noh? |
|
Cosa significa …? |
What does … mean? |
Koh-sah See-nee-fee-kah? |
|
A domani! |
See you tomorrow! |
Ah doh-mah-nee! |
|
A dopo! |
See you later! |
Ah doh-poh! |
|
Posso entrare? |
May I come in? |
Pohs-soh ehn-trah-reh? |
|
E' stato un piacere. |
It was a pleasure (meeting you). |
Eh stah-toh oon piah-che-reh. |
|
Spero di rivederla. / Spero di rivederti. |
I hope to see you again. (Formal/Informal) |
Speh-roh dee ree-veh-dehr-lah. / Speh-roh dee ree-veh-dehr-tee. |
|
Grazie mille. |
Thank you very much. |
Grah-zee-eh meel-leh. |
Slang/Commonly Used Expressions
|
Expression in Italian |
Expression in English |
Pronunciation |
|
Amo l'italia! |
I love Italy! |
Ah-moh l'ee-tah-lee-ah! |
|
Ti amo! |
I love you! |
Tee ah-moh! |
|
Salute! / Cin cin! |
Cheers! |
Sah-loo-teh! / Chin chin! |
|
Permesso! |
Coming in! (Expression when entering someone's home) |
Pehr-mehs-soh! |
|
Ciao! |
Hi! / Bye! (only Informal) |
Chee-ah-oh! |
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