How to practice your conversational skills in Italian

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.

group of friends around a table eating some pizza, having fun and practicing Italian conversation

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Why learn basic conversational Italian? 

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 

EnglishItalian
HelloCiao
Nice to meet youPiacere
What’s your name?Come ti chiami?
My name is…Mi chiamo…
How are you?Come stai?
Good, thanksBene, 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

EnglishItalian
WelcomeBenvenuto/a
Come inEntra
How are you?Come stai?
Cheers!Salute!
Thanks for comingGrazie per essere venuto/a
Please, have a seatPrego, siediti
GoodbyeArrivederci
  • 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 

EnglishItalian
HelloPronto 
Can I speak with…?Posso parlare con…?
Who’s calling?Chi parla?
Hold onAspetta 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

EnglishItalian
hobbyil passatempo
I like…mi piace…
musicla musica
readingleggere
sportslo sport
cookingcucinare
travelingviaggiare
watching moviesguardare film
photographyla fotografia
artl’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?)

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Eating and dining in Italian 

Ordering coffee and pastries 

EnglishItalian
coffeeil caffè
pastryil pasticcino
croissantil cornetto
sugarlo zucchero
milkil latte
cup/mugla tazza
tableil tavolo
  • Vorrei un cappuccino senza zucchero. (I’d like a cappuccino without sugar.)
  • Avete cornetti freschi? (Do you have fresh croissants?)
  • Posso averlo da portare via? (Can I have it to go?)
  • Avete opzioni vegane? (Do you have any vegan options?)

Ordering and paying at a restaurant

EnglishItalian
dish/mealil piatto
waiteril cameriere
recommendationil consiglio
starter/appetizerl’antipasto
dessertil dolce
billil conto
cashi contanti
cardla carta
  • Vorrei il menù, per favore. (I’d like the menu, please.)
  • Cosa consiglia come antipasto? (What do you recommend as an appetizer?)
  • Abbiamo una prenotazione per due. (We have a reservation for two.)
  • Vorrei un secondo di pesce, per favore. (I’d like a fish main course, please.)
  • Posso pagare con carta di credito? (Can I pay with a credit card?)

Shopping at the market

EnglishItalian
marketil mercato
fruitsla frutta
vegetablesle verdure
priceil prezzo
basketil cestino
freshfresco
organic producei prodotti biologici (pl.)
  • Quanto costa un chilo di mele? (How much does a kilo of apples cost?)
  • Vorrei un cestino di pomodori freschi. (I’d like a basket of fresh tomatoes.)
  • Dove si trova il mercato? (Where is the market located?)
  • Posso pagare in contanti? (Can I pay in cash?)
  • Queste verdure sono biologiche? (Are these vegetables organic?)

Transportation and directions 

Using public transport

EnglishItalian
ticketil biglietto
stationla stazione
trainil treno
busl’autobus
metro/subwayla metropolitana
stopla fermata
platformil binario
schedule/timetablel’orario
ticket machinela macchinetta
  • Vorrei un biglietto per Milano. (I’d like a ticket to Milan.)
  • Il binario è il numero 5. (The platform is number 5.)
  • Dov’è la fermata dell’autobus? (Where is the bus stop?)
  • Questo treno va a Roma? (Does this train go to Rome?)

At the airport

EnglishItalian
passportil passaporto
boarding passla carta d’imbarco
flightil volo
seatil posto
bag/luggageil bagaglio
securityla sicurezza
customsla dogana
arrivall'arrivo
  • Dov’è il check-in per questo volo? (Where is the check-in for this flight?)
  • Ho bisogno della carta d’imbarco. (I need the boarding pass.)
  • Quanto pesa il bagaglio? (How much does the luggage weigh?)
  • L’arrivo è alle 8:00. (The arrival is at 8:00.)
  • Dov’è il check-in per questo volo? (Where is the check-in for this flight?)

Taking a taxi or rideshare 

EnglishItalian
driverl’autista
addressl’indirizzo
farela tariffa
reservationla prenotazione
destinationla destinazione
nearbyil vicino
pick-up pointil punto di ritiro
  • Vorrei prenotare un taxi. (I’d like to book a taxi.)
  • Dov’è il punto di ritiro? (Where is the pick-up point?)
  • Quanto costa la tariffa? (How much does the fare cost?)
  • Portami a questo indirizzo, per favore. (Take me to this address, please.)
  • Accettate i contanti? (Do you accept cash?)

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Handling practical situations 

At the pharmacy

EnglishItalian
medicinela medicina, il medicinale
painil dolore
feverla febbre
headacheil mal di testa
coughla tosse
allergic reactionla reazione allergica
prescriptionla ricetta
pharmacyla farmacia
bandageil bendaggio
stomachacheil mal di stomaco
  • 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 

EnglishItalian
roomla camera, la stanza
keyla chiave
check-inla registrazione
bedil letto
bathroomil bagno
elevatorl’ascensore
breakfastla 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

EnglishItalian
helpaiuto
policela polizia
doctoril medico, il dottore
hospitall’ospedale
emergencyl’emergenza
ambulancel’ambulanza
firel’incendio
dangeril pericolo
accidentl’incidente
to callchiamare
  • 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!

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Imanol Rodríguez Guridi

Imanol Rodríguez Guridi

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.