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From The Complete Italian Phrasebook

Complete first practical phrase chapter, including every subsection and phrase.

Content language: English · Learning language: Italian

Chapter 1

Survival Essentials

Basic Greetings

Hello.

Salve. (sal-veh)

Good morning.

Buongiorno. (bwon-jor-noh)

Good afternoon.

Buon pomeriggio. (bwon poh-meh-ree-joh)

Good evening.

Buonasera. (bwon-ah-seh-rah)

Good night.

Buonanotte. (bwon-ah-not-teh)

Goodbye.

Arrivederci. (ahr-ree-veh-dehr-chee)

See you later.

A più tardi. (ah pyoo tar-dee)

See you tomorrow.

A domani. (ah doh-mah-nee)

Nice to meet you.

Piacere di conoscerla. (pyah-cheh-reh dee koh-noh-sher-lah)

Welcome.

Male Form: Benvenuto. (ben-veh-noo-toh)

Female Form: Benvenuta. (ben-veh-noo-tah)

How are you?

Come sta? (koh-meh stah)

I’m fine.

Sto bene. (stoh beh-neh)

And you?

E lei? (eh lay)

Thank you, I'm well.

Grazie, sto bene. (graht-see-eh stoh beh-neh)

Not bad.

Non c'è male. (non cheh mah-leh)

Have a nice day.

Buona giornata. (bwoh-nah jor-nah-tah)

Have a good evening.

Buona serata. (bwoh-nah seh-rah-tah)

See you soon.

A presto. (ah prehs-toh)

Take care.

Si riguardi. (see ree-gwar-dee)

Hello. (answering the phone)

Pronto. (pron-toh)

Politeness & Basics

Please.

Per favore. (pehr fah-voh-reh)

Thank you.

Grazie. (graht-see-eh)

Thank you very much.

Grazie mille. (graht-see-eh meel-leh)

You’re welcome.

Prego. (preh-goh)

Excuse me.

Mi scusi. (mee skoo-zee)

I’m sorry.

Mi dispiace. (mee dees-pyah-cheh)

No problem.

Nessun problema. (nehs-soon proh-bleh-mah)

That’s okay.

Va bene così. (vah beh-neh koh-zee)

Of course.

Certamente. (chehr-tah-men-teh)

Don’t worry.

Non si preoccupi. (non see preh-oh-koo-pee)

Yes.

Sì. (see)

No.

No. (noh)

Maybe.

Forse. (for-seh)

I don't know.

Non lo so. (non loh soh)

Just a moment, please.

Un momento, per favore. (oon moh-men-toh pehr fah-voh-reh)

After you.

Dopo di lei. (doh-poh dee lay)

You are very kind.

È molto gentile. (eh mol-toh jen-tee-leh)

Excuse me. (when passing by)

Permesso. (pehr-mehs-soh)

I appreciate it.

Lo apprezzo molto. (loh ahp-prehts-soh mol-toh)

It doesn't matter.

Non importa. (non eem-por-tah)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern: I need …

Ho bisogno di … (oh bee-zoh-nyoh dee)

I need help.

Ho bisogno di aiuto. (oh bee-zoh-nyoh dee ah-yoo-toh)

I need a doctor.

Ho bisogno di un medico. (oh bee-zoh-nyoh dee oon meh-dee-koh)

I need a taxi.

Ho bisogno di un taxi. (oh bee-zoh-nyoh dee oon tahk-see)

I need water.

Ho bisogno di acqua. (oh bee-zoh-nyoh dee ah-kwah)

I need some time.

Ho bisogno di un po' di tempo. (oh bee-zoh-nyoh dee oon poh dee tem-poh)

Pattern: I want …

Voglio … (vol-yoh)

I want to pay.

Voglio pagare. (vol-yoh pah-gah-reh)

I want to go to the hotel.

Voglio andare all'hotel. (vol-yoh ahn-dah-reh ahl-oh-tel)

I want to rest.

Voglio riposare. (vol-yoh ree-poh-zah-reh)

I want to eat.

Voglio mangiare. (vol-yoh mahn-jah-reh)

I want this one.

Voglio questo. (vol-yoh kwes-toh)

Pattern: I would like …

Vorrei … (vor-ray)

I would like a coffee.

Vorrei un caffè. (vor-ray oon kahf-feh)

I would like the menu.

Vorrei il menù. (vor-ray eel meh-noo)

I would like to order.

Vorrei ordinare. (vor-ray or-dee-nah-reh)

I would like a ticket.

Vorrei un biglietto. (vor-ray oon beel-yet-toh)

I would like some information.

Vorrei delle informazioni. (vor-ray del-leh een-for-maht-syoh-nee)

Pattern: Can you …?

Può …? (pwoh)

Can you help me?

Può aiutarmi? (pwoh ah-yoo-tar-mee)

Can you repeat?

Può ripetere? (pwoh ree-peh-teh-reh)

Can you speak slowly?

Può parlare lentamente? (pwoh par-lah-reh len-tah-men-teh)

Can you write it down?

Può scriverlo? (pwoh skree-vehr-loh)

Can you call a taxi?

Può chiamare un taxi? (pwoh kyah-mah-reh oon tahk-see)

Pattern: Where is …?

Dov'è …? (doh-veh)

Where is the bathroom?

Dov'è il bagno? (doh-veh eel bah-nyoh)

Where is the train station?

Dov'è la stazione? (doh-veh lah staht-syoh-neh)

Where is the exit?

Dov'è l'uscita? (doh-veh loo-shee-tah)

Where is an ATM?

Dov'è un bancomat? (doh-veh oon bahn-koh-maht)

Where is the hospital?

Dov'è l'ospedale? (doh-veh los-peh-dah-leh)

This reading preserves the complete source section, including its original examples and any translations already in the book. It has not been rewritten or translated for this preview.