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Which is the more common usage: to ask someone if they understand Italian or if they speak Italian?

Ciao M89, if you would like to ask someone if he/she understand Italian you will need to say: -capisci l'italiano? (friendly form) -capisce l'italiano? (formal form) if you would like to ask someone if he/she speaks Italian you will need to say: -parli italiano? (friendly form) -parla italiano? (formal form) I hope this helps. Ciao

Grazie Maria!

E' un piacere (My pleasure ) Ciao

Is it common (proper) for a foreign traveler in Italy to ask someone they do not know if they "parli italiano?"? It seems to me they should be asking "parla italiano?, unless they are asking a child. I do not feel comfortable using the "tu" version with someone I do not know. Please advise.

Ciao Jim, the correct way to address to someone that you don't know is by using the pronoun "lei" therefore the question will be "parla italian. Being a foreigner Italians won't be offended if you ask the question using the friendly version. I hope this helps. Ciao