43 phrases · Levels: A1A2B1B2
Buongiorno.
Good morning / Good day.
Say when entering any shop, restaurant, office, or when passing anyone in a small town or building. In Italy, greeting people upon entering is mandatory, not optional. Silence is considered rude.
Posso darle del tu?
May I address you informally?
Ask before switching from formal 'Lei' to informal 'tu' with someone you've just met in a professional context. Always wait for permission or clear invitation before switching. In casual social contexts, 'tu' is often used immediately.
Scusi il ritardo.
I apologise for being late.
Say when arriving late to a formal appointment, business meeting or professional context. For social occasions, lateness is often expected — but for formal contexts, apologising sincerely matters.
Lasciamo la mancia?
Shall we leave a tip?
Discuss with your companion after a meal. Tipping in Italy is customary but not obligatory, and the amounts are modest compared to North America. The question is common among friends splitting the bill.
In Italia il cappuccino si beve solo al mattino.
In Italy cappuccino is only drunk in the morning.
Mention or know this rule when ordering coffee in Italy. Ordering a cappuccino after lunch or dinner marks you as a foreigner. Italians find the combination of milk and food after a meal digestively wrong.
È necessario coprirsi per entrare in chiesa?
Is it necessary to cover up to enter the church?
Ask before entering any Italian church, cathedral or basilica. Essential in summer when shorts and sleeveless tops are normal tourist attire. Dress codes are enforced at major churches.
A tavola si sta fino alla fine.
You stay at the table until the end.
Understand or explain this Italian dining norm. Leaving the table before everyone has finished is considered rude. The meal is a collective social event — not a fuel stop.
Non si mette il parmigiano sul pesce.
You don't put Parmesan on fish.
Know this rule before asking for Parmesan in an Italian restaurant. Asking for Parmesan on a seafood dish or on a carbonara will cause visible discomfort to your waiter. The rule extends to several other dishes.
Bisogna fare bella figura.
One must make a good impression.
Use or understand this central Italian concept in any social context — meeting people, presenting yourself, giving gifts, hosting meals. 'Fare bella figura' underlies an enormous range of Italian behaviour.
Ho portato un piccolo pensiero.
I brought a little gift.
Say when presenting a gift at an Italian home. 'Un piccolo pensiero' (a little thought/gesture) is the standard modest phrase for presenting a gift. Saying 'I brought you a present' sounds too direct; this phrase is humbler.
In Italia non si mangia camminando per strada.
In Italy you don't eat while walking in the street.
Know this before eating street food in Italy. While Italy has a vibrant street food culture (arancini, pizza al taglio, panino), consuming food while walking is not the norm — you stop, you eat, you walk on.
I negozi sono chiusi nel pomeriggio.
The shops are closed in the afternoon.
Know this before planning shopping in Italy. Traditional Italian shops still close for 'riposo' (rest) from approximately 1–4 pm. This varies by city, season and shop type. Missing this causes much frustration for tourists.
Ci si saluta con due baci sulle guance.
You greet each other with two kisses on the cheeks.
Know this before meeting Italian friends or being introduced in social contexts. The double-cheek-kiss greeting is standard among adults who know each other, and at introductions in social settings.
In Italia non si parla di soldi in pubblico.
In Italy you don't talk about money in public.
Know this before asking an Italian how much they earn or what something cost. Discussing personal income, prices of possessions, or asking about wealth is considered very intrusive in Italian culture.
Il pranzo è sacro in Italia.
Lunch is sacred in Italy.
Understand or explain why Italians take a real lunch break. Do not schedule meetings during the Italian lunch hour (13:00–14:30). Do not call people during lunch. Do not eat a sandwich at your desk — culturally inconceivable.
La ringrazio moltissimo.
I thank you very much.
Use in formal situations — thanking a host after a dinner, a professional after help, an elder after a favour. More emphatic than 'grazie mille'. The formal 'La ringrazio' is specifically for 'Lei' register.
In Italia è normale parlare tutti insieme.
In Italy it's normal for everyone to talk at the same time.
Understand this before joining an Italian conversation group. What sounds like chaos or rudeness to northern Europeans or North Americans is normal enthusiastic Italian conversation style.
Gli italiani sono molto fisici nel saluto.
Italians are very physical in their greetings.
Understand before meeting Italian friends or being introduced. Italians use physical contact — cheek kisses, embraces, hand on shoulder — as normal social affirmation. Do not withdraw from this.
Al bar si paga prima o dopo?
At the bar do you pay before or after?
Ask before ordering at a traditional Italian bar. Many Italian bars have a two-system approach: pay at the cashier first, then show the receipt at the counter. Getting this wrong creates confusion.
Eviti di fare rumore durante il riposo pomeridiano.
Avoid making noise during the afternoon rest period.
Know this when renting accommodation, staying in a residence, or even walking through quiet neighbourhoods in the early afternoon. The Italian 'riposo' is taken seriously.
Offro io il caffè.
I'm paying for the coffee.
Say when you want to pay for someone's coffee at the bar. 'Offrire' means both to offer and to pay/treat in Italian. At Italian bars, treating someone to a coffee is a common and valued social gesture.
In Italia si rispettano molto gli anziani.
In Italy the elderly are greatly respected.
Understand this cultural value when interacting with older Italians. Always use 'Lei' with elderly people unless invited to do otherwise. Offer your seat on public transport. Speak with patience.
Ogni città italiana è orgogliosa della propria tradizione.
Every Italian city is proud of its own tradition.
Understand before comparing Italian cities to each other in front of locals. 'Campanilismo' — fierce local pride — means that telling a Venetian that Rome is better or a Neapolitan that Milanese pizza is good can cause genuine offence.
Il calcio in Italia è una religione.
Football in Italy is a religion.
Know this cultural fact to navigate social interactions in Italy. Asking someone their football team ('Che squadra tifosi?') is an important social icebreaker. Show interest in Italian football — it opens doors.
Non si rifiuta il cibo offerto da un italiano.
You don't refuse food offered by an Italian.
Know this before visiting Italian homes or being offered food in any Italian context. Refusing food is interpreted as a rejection not just of the food but of the person offering it.
Che buono! Complimenti alla cuoca.
How delicious! Compliments to the cook.
Say during or after a meal at an Italian home. Complimenting the food is mandatory. 'Complimenti alla cuoca/al cuoco' (compliments to the female/male cook) is the classic phrase — even if said directly to the cook.
In Italia è maleducato fare domande troppo personali.
In Italy it is rude to ask overly personal questions.
Know this before asking Italians about age, salary, relationship status or family planning. While Italians are open and expressive, certain personal questions are considered intrusive.
In Italia si cena tardi.
In Italy dinner is eaten late.
Know this when planning dinner in Italy or accepting dinner invitations. Arriving at a restaurant at 6 pm will find it empty. Italian dinner begins at 8 pm at the earliest — 8:30–9:30 is standard in most of Italy.
Facciamo la passeggiata?
Shall we go for the evening stroll?
Ask in the early evening when you want to join the Italian ritual of the passeggiata — the communal evening walk. Done between roughly 18:00 and 20:00. Particularly strong in small and medium-sized Italian towns.
A tavola non si parla di politica o religione.
At the table you don't talk about politics or religion.
Know this guideline for Italian dinner conversation, especially in mixed company. While Italians are passionate about politics, raising divisive political or religious topics with people you don't know well is considered bad form at the table.
Al mercato si contratta il prezzo?
Do you bargain over price at the market?
Ask or know before trying to bargain at Italian markets. The answer depends entirely on the type of market — food markets: no. Antique/flea markets: yes, expected.
In Italia ci si veste con cura.
In Italy people dress with care.
Know this before packing for Italy. Italians judge and are judged by their dress — not harshly, but continuously. 'Sprezzatura' (studied carelessness that looks effortless) is the Italian style ideal.
Come si chiama?
What is your name?
Ask when meeting someone formally. 'Come si chiama?' uses the formal 'si' form. In informal contexts, 'come ti chiami?' is used. Always use the formal with strangers until invited to informality.
Non si taglia la pasta con il coltello.
You don't cut pasta with a knife.
Know this before eating long pasta (spaghetti, tagliatelle, linguine) at an Italian table. Cutting it with a knife signals that you don't know Italian food etiquette. Using a fork correctly is expected.
Grazie per la bellissima serata.
Thank you for the wonderful evening.
Say at the end of an Italian dinner or social evening when leaving. A mandatory parting phrase after any hospitality. Follow up the next day with a message or call to reiterate thanks.
Non ci si siede sulle fontane pubbliche.
You don't sit on public fountains.
Know this when visiting Italian piazzas and historic sites. Many Italian cities have enacted specific fines for sitting on fountains, steps of historic buildings, and eating in restricted areas.
Ad agosto molti italiani sono in vacanza.
In August many Italians are on holiday.
Know this when planning any business or service interactions in August in Italy. Many things simply close. Many restaurants close. Many professionals are unavailable. August is Italy's collective holiday month.
In Italia la coda non è sempre rispettata.
In Italy queues are not always respected.
Know this before joining any Italian queue — at the post office, market stall, or government office. What looks like a queue may not function as one. Asserting your place politely is sometimes necessary.
Tanti auguri a te!
Happy birthday to you!
Sing or say on someone's birthday. 'Auguri' is a versatile wish used for birthdays, Christmas, Easter, name days and any celebratory occasion. Learning the full birthday song in Italian is a social asset.
Rifiutare un caffè offerto è scortese.
Refusing an offered coffee is impolite.
Know this when visiting any Italian home, office or shop. Being offered coffee ('le offro un caffè?') is a standard Italian hospitality gesture. Refusing without reason seems cold and unfriendly.
In chiesa si parla sottovoce.
In church you speak quietly.
Remember when entering Italian churches, even as a tourist. Many Italian churches are active places of worship. Speaking in normal voices, laughing loudly or making phone calls is considered very disrespectful.
Buon onomastico!
Happy name day!
Say to someone on the feast day of the saint they were named after. Widely celebrated in Italy — some people celebrate their 'onomastico' as much as their birthday. Knowing someone's onomastico shows cultural awareness.
La ringrazio ma purtroppo non posso.
I thank you but unfortunately I cannot.
Decline an invitation or request politely in formal Italian contexts. The combination of thanks + 'purtroppo' is the most gracious way to say no in Italian without giving offence.