Get started with these basic Italian words!

How to pronounce basic Italian greetings

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

Buongiorno - Good morning, good day
Buona giornata - (Have a) good day
Buon pomeriggio - Good afternoon (from noon to 6 pm)
Buonasera - Good evening (used after 6pm)
Buona serata - Good night (when wishing someone to have fun out)
Buonanotte - Good night (when going to bed)
Ciao - Hello (informal)
Arrivederci - Goodbye (to one person or to a group, formal)
ArrivederLa - Goodbye (to one person only, formal)
Ci vediamo - See you

Resources for further reading:
How to improve your pronunciation of Italian words
The best Italian software: what you need to know

Greetings are the foundation of a good dialogue! Depending on the situation, choose one of the following:

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Buongiorno

Good morning, good day (can be used throughout the whole day until 6pm)

Buona giornata

(Have a) good day

Buon pomeriggio

Good afternoon (from noon to 6 pm)

Buonasera

Good evening (used after 6pm)

Buona serata

Good night (when wishing someone to have fun out)

Buonanotte

Good night (when going to bed)

Ciao

Hello (informal)

Arrivederci

Goodbye (to one person or to a group, formal)

ArrivederLa

Goodbye (to one person only, formal)

Ci vediamo

See you

A più tardi

See you later

A dopo

See you later

A presto

See you soon

A domani

See you tomorrow

Addio

Farewell

Basic Italian words for Presentations

Benvenuti!

Welcome! (plural)

Ti presento…

This is… (informal, lit. “I present to you”)

Le presento…

This is… (formal)

Piacere di conoscerti

Pleasure to meet you (informal)

Piacere di conoscerLa

Pleasure to meet you (formal)

Molto lieto

Nice to meet you

Molto lieta

Nice to meet you (female subject)

Come va?

How are you doing?

Come stai?

How are you? (informal)

Come sta?

How are you? (formal)

Sto bene

I'm well

Sto così così

I'm so and so

Non c’è male

Not bad

Come ti chiami?

What's your name? (informal)

Come si chiama?

What's your name? (formal)

Mi chiamo…

My name is…

Quanti anni hai?

How old are you? (informal)

Quanti anni ha?

How old are you? (formal)

Ho … anni

I'm … years old

Parli italiano?

Do you speak Italian? (informal)

Parla italiano?

Do you speak Italian? (formal)

Parlo inglese e italiano

I speak English and Italian

No, non parlo italiano

No, I don't speak Italian

Di dove sei?

Where are you from? (informal)

Di dov’è Lei?

Where are you from? (formal)

Dealing with Misunderstandings in Italian

Mi scusi

Excuse me (formal)

Scusami

Excuse me (informal)

Mi dispiace

I'm sorry

Mi scusi, potrebbe ripetere?

Excuse me, could you repeat?

Per favore

Please

Grazie

Thanks

La ringrazio

I thank you (formal)

Ti ringrazio

I thank you (informal)

Stai parlando troppo velocemente

You are speaking too fast (informal)

Non riesco a seguirti, puoi ripetere?

I can't follow you, can you repeat? (informal)

Potrebbe parlare più lentamente, per favore?

Could you please speak more slowly?

Non capisco

I don't understand

Non ho capito

I didn't understand

Come?

Pardon me?

Puoi aiutarmi?

Can you help me? (informal)

Mi scusi, può aiutarmi?

Excuse me, can you help me? (formal)

Come si dice … in italiano?

How do you say … in Italian?

Non lo so

I don't know

Giving Wishes in Italian

Buon compleanno!

Happy birthday!

Tanti auguri!

Many wishes!

Buona fortuna!

Good luck!

In bocca al lupo!

Break a leg!

Fai buon viaggio!

Have a great trip! (informal)

Passa una bella giornata!

Have a great day! (informal)

Congratulazioni!

Congratulations!

Saying "I am..." in Italian

Would you like to say you are hungry, thirsty, or tired? These are the words for you.

Ho fame

I am hungry

Ho sete

I am thirsty

Sono stanco

I am tired (male)

Sono stanca

I am tired (female)

Ho freddo

I am cold

Ho caldo

I am hot

Mi annoio

I am bored

Italian Indications

Dov’è…?

Where is…?

Mi scusi, potrebbe dirmi…?

Excuse me, could you tell me...? (formal)

Potrebbe aiutarmi?

Could you help me? (formal)

Potresti dirmi come raggiungere…?

Could you tell me how to reach…? (informal)

Che cos’è?

What is it?

Aiuto, mi sono perso!

Help, I'm lost! (male)

Aiuto, mi sono persa!

Help, I'm lost! (female)

Potrebbe dirmi dove siamo?

Could you tell me where we are? (formal)

Grazie mille

Many thanks

Di nulla!

Not a problem!

Si figuri!

Not a problem!

Dove posso trovare un bagno pubblico?

Where can I find a public toilet?

Arguing in Italian

Mi lasci in pace!

Leave me alone! (formal)

Lasciami in pace!

Leave me alone! (informal)

Smettila!

Stop it! (informal)

La smetta!

Stop it! (formal)

Ora basta!

That's enough!

Taci!

Shut up! (informal)

Sta’ zitto!

Keep quiet! (informal)

Stia zitto!

Keep quiet! (formal, addressing a male)

Stia zitta!

Keep quiet! (formal, female)

Silenzio!

Silence!

Sei pazzo!

You are crazy! (informal)

Lei è pazzo!

You are crazy! (formal, male)

Lei è pazza!

You are crazy! (formal, female)

Mi sono stancato

I got tired (male)

Mi sono stancata

I got tired (female)

Basic Italian Numbers

Uno

One

Due

Two

Tre

Three

Quattro

Four

Cinque

Five

Sei

Six

Sette

Seven

Otto

Eight

Nove

Nine

Dieci

Ten

Undici

Eleven

Dodici

Twelve

Tredici

Thirteen

Venti

Twenty

Trenta

Thirty

Quaranta

Fourty

Cinquanta

Fifty

Cento

One hundred

Mille

One thousand

Un millione

One million

Un miliardo

One billion

Basic Italian Colors

Bianco

White

Nero

Black

Azzurro

Light blue

Blu

Blue

Verde

Green

Giallo

Yellow

Rosa

Pink

Rosso

Red

Viola

Violet

Marrone

Brown

Grigio

Grey

Arancione

Orange

Pronouncing food and drinks in Italian

Mela

Apple

Pera

Pear

Arancia

Orange

Ciliegia

Cherry

Mandarino

Tangerine

Uva

Grapes

Pizza

Pasta

Tonno

Tuna

Riso

Rice

Pane

Bread

Uova

Eggs

Acqua

Water

Vino

Wine

Succo d’arancia

Orange juice

Italian Transportation

Macchina

Car, machine

Auto

Car

Treno

Train

Aereo

Airplane

Nave

Ship

Strada

Street

Via

Road

Metropolitana

Subway

Stazione

Station

Aeroporto

Airport

Porto

Haven

Biglietto

Ticket

Posto a sedere

Seat

Quanto costa un biglietto per…?

How much is it for a ticket to…?

Common household objects in Italian

Porta

Door

Pavimento

Floor

Tavolo

Table

Cucina

Kitchen

Salotto

Living room

Camera da letto

Bedroom

Bagno

Bathroom

Chiave

Key

Finestra

Window

Frigo

Fridge

Televisione

Television

Lampada

Lamp

Libro

Book

Everyday Italian life

Che lavoro fai?

What do you do? (informal)

Che lavoro fa?

What do you do? (formal)

Che cosa studi?

What are you studying? (informal)

Lavoro

Job

Lavorare

To work

Scuola

School

Università

University

Studiare

To study

Sightseeing in Italy

Turista

Tourist

Viaggio

Trip

Vacanza

Vacation

Andare in vacanza

To go on vacation

Sono in vacanza

I'm on holiday

Mare

Sea, seaside

Montagna

Mountain

Spiaggia

Beach

Monumento

Monument

Città

City

Campagna

Country

Albergo

Hotel

Nuotare

To swim

Sciare

To skii

Our lesson ends here. I hope you learned tons of new words with this free lesson! If you want more on Italian words then check these out!

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Maria DiLorenzi and the Rocket Italian Team

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Basic Italian words