What does 'km' mean on road signs?
'Chilometri' — ki-LO-me-tri. Four syllables; stress on the second. 'Km' is spoken as 'chilometri'.
Ask when learning to read Italian road signs and distance markers. Italy uses the metric system — all distances are in kilometres.
'Km' stands for 'chilometri' (kilometres). Italian road signs show distances in whole kilometres. Sub-kilometre distances are shown in 'metri' (m). This is completely metric — unlike the USA or UK. 'Chilometro' comes from Greek: 'chilo' (thousand) + 'metro' (metre).
Quanto è lontano in chilometri?
How far is it in kilometres?
Ask for a distance in metric units.
La velocità è in km/h?
Is the speed in km/h?
Confirm speed limits are in kilometres per hour.
Un miglio quanti km sono?
How many km is a mile?
Conversion question for travellers from imperial countries.
Italy's motorway (autostrada) speed limit is 130 km/h in dry conditions, 110 km/h in rain. Urban areas: 50 km/h. Extra-urban roads: 90 km/h. Speed cameras (autovelox) are widespread and heavily fined. Limits are strictly enforced — fines start at €41 for minor violations.