Basic Italian phrases

Want to blend in with Italian speakers? This free audio lesson is full of basic Italian phrases you need to know! Just a few minutes with the Rocket Italian team and you'll have a range of common Italian expressions to use when socializing with Italian people.

Perhaps you want to wish someone well, or apologize – either way, this Italian language lesson is not to be missed. Listen carefully to the Italian pronunciation and practice saying the phrases aloud until you’re ready to try them out in Italian conversation for real!

Resources for further reading:

How to pronounce basic Italian phrases

Here are some of the most basic Italian phrases to get you started. Further on in this lesson we will look at the pronunciation of these and more Italian phrases.

  • I migliori auguri! - All the best!
  • Buona fortuna! - Good luck!
  • Divertiti! / Buon divertimento! - Have fun!
  • Fai buon viaggio! / Buon viaggio! - Have a good trip!
  • Buon appetito! - Enjoy your meal!
  • Salute! - Cheers!
  • Tanta salute! - Good health!
  • Sii felice! - Be lucky!
  • Ben fatto! - Well done!
  • Stammi bene! - Take care! (casual)

Let's begin!

Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record

Rocket Record lets you perfect your Italian pronunciation. Just listen to the native speaker audio and then use the microphone icon to record yourself. Once you’re done, you’ll get a score out of 100 on your pronunciation and can listen to your own audio playback. (Use a headset mic for best results.) Problems? Click here!

I migliori auguri!

All the best!

Buona fortuna!

Good luck!

Divertiti! / Buon divertimento!

Have fun!

Fai buon viaggio! / Buon viaggio!

Have a good trip!

Buon appetito!

Enjoy your meal!

Salute!

Cheers!

Tanta salute!

Good health!

Sii felice!

Be lucky!

Ben fatto!

Well done!

Stammi bene!

Take care! (casual)

Mi stia bene!

Take care! (formal)

Have a nice vacation!

I migliori auguri da…

Best wishes from...

I migliori auguri a…

Best wishes to...

Congratulazioni! / Felicitazioni!

Congratulations!

Benvenuto/a!

Welcome!

Tanti auguri di buon compleanno!

Best wishes on your birthday!

Salute!

Bless you!

Fai una buona vacanza! or Buona vacanza!

Have a nice vacation!

Buona Pasqua!

Happy Easter!

Buon Natale!

Merry Christmas!

Felice anno nuovo!

Happy New Year!

Let's review how to apologize again. The easiest way to apologize in Italian is to say…

Scusi!

Excuse me!

Or in a more casual way…

Scusa!

Excuse me!

You could also say…

Mi dispiace!

I'm sorry to hear that!

A very polite, but less common way of apologizing in Italian is to say…

Perdono!

Forgiveness!

No problem!

If someone stepped on your toes and apologized you might want to say…

Non c'è problema!

No problem!

Why not check out some more lessons on Italian phrases next?

A presto!

Maria DiLorenzi and the Rocket Italian Team

Make It Stick With Rocket Reinforcement

Reinforce your learning from this lesson with the Rocket Reinforcement activities!