Planning a trip to Italy, working with Italian colleagues or just wanting to connect with locals? Learning Italian phrases is your shortcut to building meaningful connections and navigating everyday situations. If you’re struggling to get by with single vocabulary words, memorizing a few choice phrases can give you more confidence and a better sense of how Italians actually communicate.
In this guide, we’ll explore phrases associated with greetings, dining, shopping and travel, along with pronunciation tips and a few quirky idioms. If you’re interested in practicing any of these phrases with a native-level teacher, you can continue your education in one of Lingoda’s Italian courses.
Want to charm Italians and spark a smile? Try using some of their colorful idiomatic expressions!
Instead of saying “good luck,” you can say, “In bocca al lupo!” (literally, “In the wolf’s mouth!”), to which the proper reply is, “Crepi il lupo!” (“May the wolf die!”).
If someone is all talk and no action, you might hear them described as tutto fumo e niente arrosto (all smoke and no roast), a playful jab at empty promises.
When someone is in a tough spot, they might exclaim, “Sono nei guai fino al collo!” (“I’m in trouble up to my neck!”).
These phrases showcase Italy’s flair for blending humor with wisdom, and using them will surely make locals appreciate your effort to connect with their culture.
FAQs
What is a very Italian thing to say?
Mamma mia! (Oh my goodness!)
What is a beautiful short quote in Italian?
La vita è bella. (Life is beautiful.)
What is the most common Italian phrase?
Ciao! (hello/goodbye) is by far the most common word or phrase heard in Italian. It’s used universally in casual settings. Another popular one is allora, which is usually used to introduce an explanation. It roughly translates to “so” or “then” in English.
‘In bocca al lupo’ with these Italian phrases!
Learning Italian phrases is about more than just mastering words. It’s about diving into the culture, connecting with the people and learning to navigate everyday situations with ease. From simple greetings to essential travel phrases, you’re now equipped to engage with locals and enjoy all that Italy has to offer.
Remember that language is best learned through practice, and that’s where Lingoda can help. Our lessons are focused on real-life conversational skills, and they’re taught by native-level teachers who encourage you to speak confidently and naturally from day one. Ready to start your journey?
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.
