If you are planning to visit Italy some time in the future, you could do much worse than learn a few basic words and phrases in Italian. This will make a very good impression on the people you meet, and maybe gain you some new friends.
First of all, remember to always greet people when you enter a bar, a restaurant, or a store, and say goodbye when you leave. If the sun is still up in the sky, you should say
, while the use of
is recommended when the sun is going down. If you are on friendly terms with somebody, a simple
will suffice as a greeting, or when taking your leave in place of the more formal
. At the end of a pleasant evening out, don't forget to wish your friends
!
When you order a nice cup of espresso at a bar, always ask
, and say
when the barista hands you the cup. If you want to emphasize your thanks, you can add
, meaning "one thousand". In the US, the Italian counterpart of "you're welcome",
, is the name of a pasta sauce that, in any case, is nowhere as as good as the one made from scratch. If, instead, you need to attract someone's attention, or apologize for stepping on someone's foot on the bus,
is the word you need to use.
When you are introduced to someone,
is how you express "nice to meet you". If you want to introduce yourself, you can simply say
- meaning "I am" - followed by your name. When you meet someone and want to inquire about their health or welfare, you can ask
: the other person will usually answer
, and thank you for asking. Speaking of what, if someone sneezes, you wish them
, which means "health". This is also what you say when making a toast.
If you are planning to be in Italy during the Christmas holidays,
is a useful expression to know, as is
if you are going to be there for the New Year. If you just want to wish someone happy holidays,
is the phrase you need. At Easter, you would say
. The general word for best wishes is
, which can be used on birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and other happy occasions.
Obviously, there is much more to Italian than these few simple words and expressions. However, Italians as a whole appreciate any effort to speak their language on the part of visitors, and you will see that even a little will go a long way towards making your stay more enjoyable.
