34 phrases · Levels: A1A2B1B2
Buongiorno! Come va?
Good morning! How are you?
Use this every morning when you encounter neighbours in the hallway, at the letterboxes, or on the street. In Italy, greeting neighbours is a social obligation — failing to say buongiorno is considered rude and creates social distance.
Sono il nuovo inquilino del terzo piano.
I am the new tenant on the third floor.
Use this when introducing yourself after moving into an Italian apartment building. It is considered polite (and practically useful) to introduce yourself to immediate neighbours within the first few days of moving in.
Scusi, c'è troppo rumore. Potrebbe abbassare il volume?
Excuse me, there is too much noise. Could you lower the volume?
Use this when a neighbour's noise is disturbing you — music, TV, a party — especially after 22:00. The formal Lei form (potrebbe) is essential here to prevent the complaint from sounding aggressive.
L'ascensore è guasto. Quando lo riparano?
The lift is out of order. When will they repair it?
Use this with neighbours or the building administrator when the lift breaks down. In Italian apartment buildings, a broken lift is a major issue — especially for elderly residents or those with young children.
È arrivata della posta per te — era nella mia cassetta.
Some post arrived for you — it was in my letterbox.
Use this when you receive mail addressed to a neighbour — which happens frequently in Italian apartment buildings where postmen sometimes place letters in the wrong cassetta delle lettere (letterbox).
C'è una riunione di condominio la settimana prossima.
There is a building meeting next week.
Use this to inform neighbours about an upcoming condominium assembly, or when you receive the formal notice. Attending is important — decisions made in your absence still bind you as a condomino (resident).
Quel posto è riservato ai disabili.
That space is reserved for disabled people.
Use this when pointing out that someone has parked in a reserved disabled space. In Italian street culture, a calm, factual statement is more effective than an emotional approach. If ignored, note-taking for the vigili urbani is the next step.
Il giardino condominiale è a disposizione di tutti.
The shared building garden is available for everyone.
Use this to inform new residents about shared outdoor spaces or to remind neighbours of communal access rights. Italian apartment buildings with shared gardens (giardini condominiali) have specific rules about use and maintenance.
È il tuo turno per pulire il pianerottolo.
It is your turn to clean the landing.
Use this in apartment buildings where cleaning of shared spaces (landings, staircases, halls) is done by rotation among residents. This rotating cleaning system (pulizia a rotazione) is common in smaller Italian buildings without a portiere.
Il vostro cane abbaia tutta la notte.
Your dog barks all night.
Use this formally when a neighbour's dog's barking is disrupting your sleep. This is one of Italy's most common neighbourhood complaints — approach it calmly but clearly, and use the formal register.
Il portiere può ritirare la posta per me.
The caretaker can collect my post for me.
Use this when arranging for the building caretaker to assist with post, deliveries, or other services while you are away. In Italian buildings with a portiere, this is a normal and expected part of the service.
Quando scadono le spese condominiali?
When are the building charges due?
Use this when asking about the payment schedule for shared building expenses. Spese condominiali are a fixed cost of apartment life in Italy and must be paid whether you are a resident or absent owner.
Il vicino anziano ha bisogno di aiuto.
The elderly neighbour needs help.
Use this when you notice or want to help an elderly neighbour who may be struggling. Italian neighbourhood culture traditionally includes caring for anziani (elderly residents) — checking on them, helping with shopping, and sharing meals.
Organizziamo una cena di condominio.
We are organising a building dinner.
Use this to propose or announce a building community dinner or party — an Italian tradition for building solidarity. Cene di condominio (building dinners) are common in Italian palazzi and strengthen the bonds between residents.
Non si possono lasciare le biciclette nell'atrio.
Bicycles cannot be left in the entrance hall.
Use this to politely inform a neighbour (especially a new one) of a building rule about bicycles. In Italian apartment buildings, leaving bicycles in shared entrance areas is a common point of conflict.
Hai visto l'avviso in bacheca?
Have you seen the notice on the noticeboard?
Use this to direct a neighbour's attention to a posted notice in the building — from the administrator, a utility company, or a neighbour. The bacheca (noticeboard) is the primary communication channel in Italian apartment buildings.
I bambini giocano sulle scale? Non è sicuro.
Children are playing on the stairs? It's not safe.
Use this to raise a safety concern about children playing in a potentially dangerous shared space. The approach frames the concern as safety (sicurezza), not a complaint about noise — which is more likely to be received constructively.
C'è dell'umidità nel muro che condividiamo.
There is dampness in the wall we share.
Use this when you discover damp in a shared or party wall. This is a potentially contentious situation requiring professional assessment to determine the source — especially if the damage is in one apartment but the cause is in the adjacent one.
Il posto auto nel cortile è in comune.
The parking space in the courtyard is shared.
Use this to clarify the status of a parking space when there is confusion about whether it is private or shared. Parking disputes are one of the most common sources of conflict in Italian condominium buildings.
I fumi della cucina entrano nel mio appartamento.
The cooking smells from the kitchen enter my apartment.
Use this when cooking smells from a neighbour's kitchen (especially strong spices or frequent frying) enter your apartment through shared ventilation systems. This is a common problem in Italian apartment buildings with centralised exhaust shafts.
Le grondaie sono ostruite: l'acqua tracima.
The gutters are blocked: the water is overflowing.
Use this to report a maintenance problem with the building's gutters to the administrator or to a neighbour. Blocked gutters (grondaie) are a common cause of water damage in Italian apartment buildings.
Stiamo traslando il fine settimana. La avviso in anticipo.
We are moving this weekend. I'm giving you advance notice.
Use this to give neighbours advance warning of a move-in or move-out. In Italian apartment buildings, a trasloco (removal/move) creates significant noise, lift occupation, and temporary blocking of the entrance — advance notice is both courteous and practically important.
In questo condominio i rifiuti vanno nell'apposito locale.
In this building, rubbish goes in the designated room.
Use this to explain building waste rules to a new resident. Many Italian apartment buildings have a designated waste room (locale rifiuti) where sorted waste is stored before collection — not left in the stairwell or hallway.
La lampadina delle scale si è bruciata.
The staircase light bulb has blown.
Use this to report a blown bulb in a common area of the building — staircase, entrance, car park. It is a simple maintenance report that should go to the amministratore or the portiere.
I vicini litigano spesso. È molto stressante.
The neighbours argue frequently. It is very stressful.
Use this to describe a situation to a friend, building administrator, or mediator. Frequent and intense arguments between neighbours constitute a form of noise pollution and can be addressed through the building administrator or, in serious cases, the authorities.
C'è un gatto randagio nel cortile.
There is a stray cat in the courtyard.
Use this to discuss a stray cat with neighbours or the building administrator. In Italy, stray cats (gatti randagi) in public spaces are legally protected and cannot be removed or killed. They may be managed through the gattile municipale (city cat shelter).
A Capodanno ci saranno i fuochi d'artificio.
At New Year there will be fireworks.
Use this to prepare or warn neighbours (and their pets) about New Year's fireworks. In Italian apartment buildings, Capodanno (New Year's Eve) fireworks noise is intense and expected — but worth communicating about, especially with neighbours who have animals.
Dobbiamo discutere la ripartizione delle spese straordinarie.
We need to discuss the allocation of extraordinary expenses.
Use this in a condominium assembly when unexpected significant expenses arise — roof repair, lift replacement, facade restoration. The ripartizione (allocation) of costs is a major and often contentious decision.
Il portone si chiude sempre alle 22.
The main entrance door always closes at 10pm.
Use this to inform new residents or guests about the building's entrance door closing time. In Italian apartment buildings, the portone (main street door) is often set to lock automatically in the evening.
Posso mettere i fiori sul balcone?
Can I put flowers on the balcony?
Use this to ask about rules for balcony decoration — flowers, plants, drying laundry, or other personal touches. Italian balcony culture is rich and expressive, but building regulations may restrict certain uses.
Puoi abbassare la televisione? Si sente molto.
Can you turn down the TV? It's very audible.
Use this (informal tu form) with a neighbour you know reasonably well. For a more formal approach with someone you don't know, switch to potrebbe abbassare (could you lower). This is one of the most common Italian neighbourhood requests.
Il cortile è uno spazio comune a tutti.
The courtyard is a space shared by everyone.
Use this to remind a neighbour of the shared nature of the courtyard and the rights and responsibilities that come with it. The cortile is the Italian apartment building's shared outdoor heart — both a practical space and a social hub.
La mancia al portiere si dà a Natale.
You give the caretaker a tip at Christmas.
Use this to explain or ask about the Italian custom of giving a Christmas tip (mancia) to the building caretaker. This is a deeply embedded Italian social custom that newcomers may not be aware of.
Siamo fortunati ad avere buoni vicini.
We are lucky to have good neighbours.
Use this warm expression when you want to express appreciation for your neighbours — to them directly or to a friend. In Italian culture, good neighbours (buoni vicini) are genuinely valued and recognised as an important part of a quality life.