Italian For Dummies
Book image
Explore Book Buy On Amazon

Courtesy is important no matter what country you're in. Use these courtesy phrases when speaking in Italian so you can be considerate and polite; they'll also help you communicate easily:

  • Per favore (pehr fah-voh-reh) (Please.)

  • Per piacere (pehr pyah-cheh-reh) (Please.)

  • Grazie (grah-tsee-eh) (Thank you.)

  • Prego! (preh-goh) (You're welcome!; By all means, after you.)

  • Non c'è di che. (nohn cheh dee keh) (You're welcome.)

  • Mi dispiace. (mee dees-pyah-cheh) (I'm sorry.)

  • Mi scusi. (mee skooh-zee) (Excuse me, formal.)

  • Scusi, un informazione, per favore. (skooh-zee oohn-een-fohr-mats-yoh-neh pehr fah-voh-reh) (Excuse me, I need some information, please.)

  • Scusa. (skooh-zah) (Excuse me, I'm sorry, informal)

  • Permesso? (pehr-mehs-soh) (Excuse me — when walking through a crowded train compartment; also, "May I come in?" when crossing the threshold of someone's house.)

  • Sì. (see) (Yes.)

  • No. (noh) (No.)

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book authors:

Berlitz has taught languages to millions of people for more than 130 years. Francesca Romana Onofri and Karen Antje Moller are veteran language teachers. Teresa L. Picarazzi, PhD, teaches Italian at The Hopkins School and has lived and worked in Cortona, Florence, Ravenna, Siena, and Urbino.

This article can be found in the category: