Is there a ticket inspector on board?
'Controllore' — con-trol-LO-re. Stress on the third syllable; four syllables total.
You might hear locals say this to each other before boarding. However, note that not having a valid ticket is illegal — use this phrase to understand the system, not to evade fares.
'Controllore' is the person who checks (controlla) tickets. 'A bordo' means on board. This phrase illustrates how Italian uses 'a bordo' for vehicles just as English does. Inspectors can be plain-clothes (in borghese) making detection impossible.
I controllori salgono spesso?
Do inspectors get on often?
Asks about frequency of inspection.
Ho il biglietto valido.
I have a valid ticket.
What to say when an inspector approaches.
Dove devo mostrare il biglietto?
Where do I show my ticket?
Ask when unsure whether to show physical or app ticket.
On Rome and Milan metros, plain-clothes inspectors board randomly and check all passengers in a carriage simultaneously, blocking exits. Fines are €54–€100 plus the ticket price. Foreign tourists are not exempt and are often targeted.