Being able to navigate an Italian conversation early in your learning journey can be deeply rewarding and inspire you to keep progressing. But how do you jump from learning grammar and vocabulary to connecting with real Italian speakers? It starts with having the confidence to make mistakes and the patience to learn as you go.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to handle practical, real-life scenarios in Italian. Some of your first conversations may be short and to the point, whether you’re checking into a hotel, shopping at a farmer’s market or ordering at a coffee shop. We’ll get you ready for those scenarios and also share some key phrases for emergencies, hobbies and meeting new people. Even a little conversational Italian can open the doors to meaningful interactions and memorable adventures.
Developing basic conversational skills early on can make learning Italian less intimidating. Additionally, it’ll give you the tools necessary to interact with native speakers. Italians are generally very welcoming and friendly, and many of them will warmly value your efforts to communicate in their own language.
Socializing and daily interactions
Introductions and small talk
English
Italian
Hello
Ciao
Nice to meet you
Piacere
What’s your name?
Come ti chiami?
My name is…
Mi chiamo…
How are you?
Come stai?
Good, thanks
Bene, grazie
Where are you from?
Di dove sei?
I’m from…
Vengo da…
Do you speak Italian?
Parli italiano?
Ciao, piacere! Come ti chiami? (Hi, nice to meet you! What’s your name?)
Mi chiamo Luca. Di dove sei? (My name is Luca. Where are you from?)
Vengo da Roma, e tu? (I’m from Rome, and you?)
Da quanto tempo sei qui? (How long have you been here?)
Che lavoro fai? (What do you do for a living?)
Invitations, social gatherings and visiting friends or family
English
Italian
Welcome
Benvenuto/a
Come in
Entra
How are you?
Come stai?
Cheers!
Salute!
Thanks for coming
Grazie per essere venuto/a
Please, have a seat
Prego, siediti
Goodbye
Arrivederci
Benvenuto! Entra, come stai? (Welcome! Come in, how are you?)
Prego, siediti. Cosa desideri? (Please, have a seat. What would you like?)
Grazie per essere venuto. Arrivederci! (Thanks for coming. Goodbye!)
Grazie per avermi invitato. (Thanks for inviting me.)
Vuoi una mano? (Would you like some help?)
Making appointments and talking on the phone
English
Italian
Hello
Pronto
Can I speak with…?
Posso parlare con…?
Who’s calling?
Chi parla?
Hold on
Aspetta un attimo
I’d like to book…
Vorrei prenotare…
Is it possible…?
È possibile…?
What time?
A che ora?
Posso parlare con Andrea? (Hello, can I speak with Andrea?)
Aspetta un attimo, per favore. (Hold on a moment, please.)
A che ora siete aperti? (What time are you open?)
Posso annullare o riprogrammare? (Can I cancel or reschedule?)
Talking about your hobbies and interests
English
Italian
hobby
il passatempo
I like…
mi piace…
music
la musica
reading
leggere
sports
lo sport
cooking
cucinare
traveling
viaggiare
watching movies
guardare film
photography
la fotografia
art
l’arte
Qual è il tuo passatempo preferito? (What’s your favorite hobby?)
Adoro viaggiare e guardare film. (I love traveling and watching movies.)
Ti piace la fotografia o l’arte? (Do you like photography or art?)
Che tipo di musica ti piace? (What kind of music do you like?)
Avete qualcosa per la febbre? (Do you have something for a fever?)
Penso di avere una reazione allergica. (I think I’m having an allergic reaction.)
Dov’è la farmacia? (Where is the pharmacy?)
Posso avere una ricetta per questo? (Can I have a prescription for this?)
Reserving and checking into a hotel
English
Italian
room
la camera, la stanza
key
la chiave
check-in
la registrazione
bed
il letto
bathroom
il bagno
elevator
l’ascensore
breakfast
la colazione
Posso avere la chiave della mia camera, per favore? (Can I have the key to my room, please?)
A che ora è servita la colazione? (What time is breakfast served?)
C’è un ascensore? (Is there an elevator?)
Vorrei prenotare una camera per due notti. (I’d like to book a room for two nights.)
Emergencies and seeking help
English
Italian
help
aiuto
police
la polizia
doctor
il medico, il dottore
hospital
l’ospedale
emergency
l’emergenza
ambulance
l’ambulanza
fire
l’incendio
danger
il pericolo
accident
l’incidente
to call
chiamare
Ho bisogno di aiuto! (I need help!)
Chiamate un’ambulanza, per favore! (Call an ambulance, please!)
Dov’è l’ospedale? (Where is the hospital?)
C’è stato un incidente. (There’s been an accident.)
Ho bisogno di parlare con la polizia. (I need to talk to the police.)
FAQs
What does ‘prego’ mean?
Prego can mean “you’re welcome,” “please” or “go ahead,” depending on the context.
How do you respond to ‘Ciao’?
You can respond with ciao (hello or goodbye) or salve (hello; formal).
What is the meaning of ‘mamma mia’?
Possibly the most recognizable Italian expression, it conveys surprise or emotion, not unlike the phrase “Oh my goodness!”
Time to make some Italian conversation
You can conquer Italian conversations in less time than you’d imagine, especially if you focus your efforts on learning vocabulary that applies in many practical situations. Building confidence with these words and conversational phrases can make a big difference in your daily interactions, propelling your learning progress forward with minimal stress. At Lingoda, we make learning Italian convenient with small group classes that ensure plenty of speaking practice, flexible scheduling to fit your busy life, and native-level teachers. Whether you’re a beginner or just brushing up, we’re here to help you feel confident and connected in Italian!
Imanol Rodríguez Guridi is a Uruguayan polyglot writer with a moderate obsession for world music research. As a former Literature student who realized he should’ve aimed for Ethnography instead, he has spent serious amounts of time thoroughly traveling through over 40 countries, engaging with locals to a maximum degree with the hopes of understanding their traditions, habits, languages, religions, virtues and vices directly from the source. Writing and traveling aside, he’s an Abhyanga massage therapist and loves mixing music.
