This Italian lesson is on basic Italian words. If you plan on visiting Italy or you are new to Italian and you’d like to jump in and play with the language, these series of basic words in Italian can be very useful.
Get started with these basic Italian words!
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.
Resources for further reading:
Greetings are the foundation of a good dialogue! Depending on the situation, choose one of the following:
Rocket Record lets you perfect your Italian pronunciation. Just listen to the native speaker audio and then use the microphone icon to record yourself. Once you’re done, you’ll get a score out of 100 on your pronunciation and can listen to your own audio playback. (Use a headset mic for best results.) Problems? Click here!
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
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)
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
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!
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
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?
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)
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
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
Mela
Apple
Pera
Pear
Arancia
Orange
Ciliegia
Cherry
Mandarino
Tangerine
Uva
Grapes
Pizza
Pizza
Pasta
Pasta
Tonno
Tuna
Riso
Rice
Pane
Bread
Uova
Eggs
Acqua
Water
Vino
Wine
Succo d’arancia
Orange juice
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…?
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
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
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!
A presto!
Maria DiLorenzi and the Rocket Italian Team
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