How good is your Italian really? I propose a quick test to find out, without stopwatches and without a hundred questions. All you need are 20 words: if you know them all, your level is (at least) B1. They are the fundamental words that really matter in real life, when you take a train in Italy, when you order at a restaurant, when you talk about your job or when you complain about household chores. And we won’t just see the meaning: we’ll also discover the most common mistakes, the curiosities and the little traps that all foreign students fall into.
Are You Really B1 in Italian?
The 20 words are divided into four categories, with five words in each category: travel, food and restaurants, work and school, and everyday life. If you want to review the essential Italian phrases for beginners, you can check the dedicated guide.
First Area: the Words of Travel
Let’s start with the words you’ll need when you move around Italy: at the station, at the airport, when you prepare your luggage or buy a ticket. If you want to deepen your knowledge, you can check the guide on useful verbs for traveling to Italy.
1. Binario
Example: “Il treno per Bologna parte dal binario 12.” [The train to Bologna departs from platform 12.]
The binario is the pair of rails on which the train travels. Here many students make mistakes: in English it’s called platform, and many try to translate it with “piattaforma”, but it doesn’t work. To be precise: the space where you wait standing is called banchina (or marciapiede), while the binario is the pair of rails. In everyday language, however, and in station announcements, Italians always and only say binario.
Etymological curiosity: the word comes from Latin binarius, meaning “double”, precisely because the rails are two. To learn all the specific vocabulary of the station, you can read the dialogue at the station to take a train in Italy.
2. Coincidenza
Example: “Il treno era in ritardo e ho perso la coincidenza per Firenze.” [The train was late and I missed the connection for Florence.]
In Italian coincidenza has two completely different meanings. The first is the transport one: the second train (or the second flight) you have to take to reach your destination. The second meaning is that of “combination”, “lucky or unlucky case”.
So the perfect sentence that combines both meanings is: “Ho perso la coincidenza. Che coincidenza, l’ho persa anche la settimana scorsa!” [I missed the connection. What a coincidence, I missed it last week too!]
3. Valigia
Example: “Ho messo troppe cose in valigia e adesso non si chiude più!” [I put too many things in the suitcase and now it won’t close!]
The valigia is the hard or soft container where you put your clothes when you leave for a trip. The two fundamental expressions you’ll always use are: fare la valigia [to pack the suitcase] (before leaving) and disfare la valigia [to unpack the suitcase] (when you come back).
The Plural of Valigia: Why “Valigie” with the I?
What’s the plural of valigia? Le valigie, with the I! There’s a practical rule: if before the group -cia / -gia there’s a vowel, in the plural the I stays (valigia → valigie, camicia → camicie, ciliegia → ciliegie); if instead there’s a consonant, the I disappears (spiaggia → spiagge, arancia → arance).
Historical note: until the mid-20th century, the form “valige” was also quite widespread, and it can still be found around today. But the current and recommended spelling is valigie.
4. Andata e Ritorno
Example: “Vorrei un biglietto di andata e ritorno per Napoli, per favore.” [I’d like a round-trip ticket to Naples, please.]
Andata e ritorno is the expression you use to buy a ticket that allows you to go to a place and then come back. If instead you leave and don’t come back, it’s called “di sola andata” [one-way]. It’s also a very used metaphor: when a foreigner comes to Italy for a vacation and then decides to stay here forever, that was a one-way ticket.
5. Prenotare
Example: “Ho prenotato un tavolo per due alle otto e mezza.” [I reserved a table for two at eight thirty.]
The verb is prenotare [to reserve, to book], the noun is la prenotazione [the reservation]. You say: prenotare un tavolo [to reserve a table], prenotare una camera [to reserve a room], prenotare un volo [to book a flight], prenotare una visita dal medico [to book a doctor’s appointment]. And when you arrive at the restaurant, you say: “Buonasera, ho una prenotazione a nome Rossi.” [Good evening, I have a reservation under the name Rossi.]
Watch out for the classic mistake: in English you say reservation, and many students invent “riservazione”, but in modern Italian that word isn’t used in this sense. The correct noun is prenotazione. The verb riservare [to reserve] exists and is correct (“riservare un tavolo”, “posti riservati”), but in everyday language Italians almost always use prenotare.
In the example, “ho prenotato” is a passato prossimo with the auxiliary avere: the past participle remains invariable and always ends in -o, even if the direct object is feminine or plural (ho prenotato una camera, ho prenotato due camere).
Second Area: the Words of Food
Let’s move on to the second area, the one no Italian can resist: food and restaurants. To deepen your knowledge, you can check the guide on words and expressions at the restaurant.
6. Conto
Example: “Scusi, ci porta il conto, per favore?” [Excuse me, could you bring us the bill, please?]
The conto at the restaurant is the sum you have to pay at the end of the meal. And here there’s a very important cultural curiosity for those who come to Italy: in Italian restaurants the waiter almost never brings you the bill if you don’t ask for it. It’s not rudeness, it’s the opposite: bringing you the bill without you asking for it would mean “now get up and leave”. So you can stay seated chatting for two hours. But if you don’t ask, you stay there forever.
Other meanings: the word conto also has other common uses, like the conto in banca [bank account], and the expression fare i conti [to do the math, to calculate].
7. Mancia
Example: “Il servizio è stato ottimo, lasciamo una mancia al cameriere.” [The service was excellent, let’s leave a tip for the waiter.]
The mancia is the extra money you leave the waiter to thank them. In Italy the tip is not mandatory, unlike the United States. It’s a free gesture, done when you’re particularly satisfied, and often people simply leave the coins from the change.
The Coperto: What It Is and Why You Find It on the Bill
One reason why the tip isn’t mandatory: in many restaurants you already find an item on the bill called “coperto” [cover charge], meaning a small fixed sum per person (usually between 1.50 and 3 euros) for the tablecloth, tableware, bread and table setting. It’s not a scam: it just has to be clearly written on the menu, before you order.
Curiosity for those visiting Rome: in Lazio a 2006 regional law prohibits charging the coperto, although, in practice, many restaurants continue to apply it or simply call it “service”.
Linguistic curiosity: dictionaries trace the word mancia back to the Old French manche, meaning “sleeve”, because in the Middle Ages the sleeve of the lady’s dress was asked for as a gift.
8. Assaggiare
Example: “Vuoi assaggiare il mio tiramisù? È buonissimo!” [Do you want to taste my tiramisu? It’s really good!]
Assaggiare means to eat or drink a small quantity of something to feel its taste. The noun is un assaggio [a taste, a bite].
Cultural warning: if you’re at an Italian family’s home and the grandmother tells you “Assaggia solo un pochino” [Just have a little taste], you should know that “a little” corresponds to a full plate. And that afterwards there will be another one. Saying no is considered almost a personal offense.
9. Sparecchiare
Example: “Ho cucinato io, quindi stasera tocca a te sparecchiare la tavola!” [I cooked, so tonight it’s your turn to clear the table!]
Sparecchiare means to remove plates, glasses and cutlery from the table after eating. The opposite is apparecchiare: to set everything on the table before eating.
The “Privative S”: a Rule That Will Change Your Life
That initial S- in Italian often works as a “privative S”: it serves to express the opposite of the base verb or adjective. Some examples:
- apparecchiare → sparecchiare [to set the table → to clear the table]
- montare → smontare [to assemble → to disassemble]
- cucire → scucire [to sew → to unstitch]
- caricare → scaricare [to load → to unload]
- comodo → scomodo [comfortable → uncomfortable]
- fortunato → sfortunato [lucky → unlucky]
Watch out however: it’s not an automatic rule, so don’t invent new verbs. From “parlare” [to speak], for example, “sparlare” doesn’t come with this meaning: sparlare exists but it means “to speak badly of someone”.
10. Goloso
Example: “Mia sorella è molto golosa: non riesce a resistere al cioccolato.” [My sister is very sweet-toothed: she can’t resist chocolate.]
Goloso (masculine) and golosa (feminine) describe a person who loves sweets and food in general very much. You say essere goloso di qualcosa [to have a sweet tooth for something]: “Sono golosa di gelato al pistacchio.” [I have a sweet tooth for pistachio ice cream.]
Etymological curiosity: the word comes from gola [throat, gluttony], which is also the name of one of the seven capital vices. In Italy, however, telling someone “sei goloso” isn’t an offense: it’s almost a compliment. And if a dessert is described as goloso, it means it’s irresistible.
One place to learn Italian
Join the LearnAmo AcademyThird Area: the Words of Work and School
Here are the words that will be useful in the office, at school and in all conversations that begin with “e tu che lavoro fai?” [and what do you do for work?]. They are terms that Italians use daily to talk about their professional activity.
11. Riunione
Example: “Non posso rispondere al telefono adesso: sono in riunione con il capo.” [I can’t answer the phone now: I’m in a meeting with the boss.]
The riunione is a work meeting between colleagues to discuss something. The verb is riunirsi [to meet].
Watch out for the false friend for English speakers: reunion in English is usually a gathering between old friends or relatives. The Italian “riunione”, on the other hand, is that thing in the office that lasts two hours and that, as everyone says, could easily have been an email. To discover other false friends in Italian, you can check the dedicated guide.
12. Stipendio
Example: “Alla fine del mese ricevo lo stipendio e pago tutte le bollette.” [At the end of the month I receive my salary and pay all the bills.]
The stipendio is the money you receive every month for your work. An elegant synonym is salario.
Beautiful historical curiosity: the synonym salario comes from Latin salarium, a word built on sal, meaning salt. You often hear that Roman soldiers were paid with salt, but historians are much more cautious: salarium was, more likely, a sum of money destined specifically to buy salt, which at that time was very precious because it served to preserve food. That’s why in English we say salary.
The Tredicesima: an Extra Salary
A cultural information that always surprises foreigners: in Italy employees receive the tredicesima, meaning an extra salary that arrives in December. In some contracts there’s also the quattordicesima, in summer. Yes, you understood correctly: thirteen salaries in twelve months. It’s the reason why in December Italian cities are full of people shopping.
13. Ferie
Example: “Ad agosto l’azienda chiude: andiamo tutti in ferie.” [In August the company closes: we all go on paid leave.]
Ferie are the paid days off you’re entitled to from work. Watch out: this word is used only in the plural. Never say “una feria”!
Ferie, Vacanze, Feriale, Festivo: the Differences
The ferie are the paid days off you’re entitled to from work. The vacanze are a more general concept: Christmas vacation, summer vacation, students on vacation. So: “Sono in ferie” is said by someone who works, “Sono in vacanza” can be said by anyone.
And now the meanest trap of Italian: the adjective feriale does NOT mean “of vacation”! Giorno feriale means working day, the opposite of giorno festivo. So if you read on a sign “aperto solo nei giorni feriali”, it means from Monday to Saturday.
Why this reversal? Because feriale comes from ecclesiastical Latin, where feria simply indicated the days of the week different from Sunday.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ferie | Paid days off from work (plural only) |
| Vacanze | General concept of rest (also students) |
| Giorno feriale | Working day (Monday to Saturday) |
| Giorno festivo | Sunday and public holidays |
14. Colloquio
Example: “Domani ho un colloquio di lavoro: devo mettere la camicia elegante.” [Tomorrow I have a job interview: I have to put on the elegant shirt.]
The colloquio is the formal meeting in which a candidate meets an employer for a possible job. It’s also used at school: “il colloquio con i professori” [the meeting with the teachers].
False friend lurking: in English you say interview, but in Italian you have to distinguish. Il colloquio is the job interview. L’intervista, on the other hand, is the one a journalist does with a famous person. So if you say “domani ho un’intervista di lavoro”, whoever listens will understand that you’re very famous and that journalists want to know about your new employment.
15. Compiti
Example: “Luca non può uscire: deve ancora finire i compiti per domani.” [Luca can’t go out: he still has to finish his homework for tomorrow.]
Compiti are the exercises that teachers give students to do at home. It’s used almost always in the plural: fare i compiti [to do the homework].
In the singular, the word changes nuance: un compito can be a duty, a task (“il mio compito è controllare le email” [my task is to check the emails]). At school, moreover, il compito in classe is the written test, the one done in the classroom.
Fourth Area: the Words of Everyday Life
We’re at the last area: here you find the words that Italians use every single day, from morning to evening. They are words you’ll hear at home, among friends, in any informal conversation.
16. Sveglia
Example: “Ogni mattina la sveglia suona alle sei e io la spengo subito.” [Every morning the alarm rings at six and I turn it off immediately.]
The sveglia is the clock (or the phone app) that wakes you up in the morning.
Svegliarsi or Alzarsi? They Are Not the Same Thing
Here’s a classic doubt at the A2 level: svegliarsi [to wake up] and alzarsi [to get up] are not the same thing. Svegliarsi means to open your eyes, to stop sleeping. Alzarsi means to physically get out of bed. Between the two moments, for many people, twenty minutes to two hours pass. To deepen the reflexive verbs in Italian, you can check the dedicated guide.
One last interesting use: if someone tells you “Sveglia!” suddenly, they’re not talking about the clock. It means “wake up, pay attention, come back to Earth!”.
17. Bucato
Example: “C’è il sole: approfittiamone per fare il bucato e stenderlo fuori.” [It’s sunny: let’s take advantage of it to do the laundry and hang it out.]
The bucato is the set of clothes to be washed (or just washed). The two fundamental expressions are fare il bucato [to do the laundry] and stendere il bucato [to hang out the laundry].
Linguistic curiosity: bucato is also the past participle of the verb bucare, meaning “to make a hole”. So the sentence “nel bucato ho trovato un calzino bucato” [in the laundry I found a sock with a hole] is perfectly correct.
Cultural curiosity: in Italy the dryer is still less widespread than in many other countries. Italians hang their clothes outside, on the balcony, and look at them with anxiety if the sky turns gray.
18. Chiacchierare
Example: “Ho incontrato Marta al bar e siamo rimaste a chiacchierare per due ore.” [I met Marta at the bar and we stayed chatting for two hours.]
Chiacchierare means to talk in an informal and relaxed way about light topics. You can also say fare due chiacchiere [to have a chat]. A person who talks a lot is un chiacchierone or una chiacchierona. For other useful expressions to start a conversation in Italian, you can check the dedicated guide.
First curiosity: this word is a real nightmare for pronunciation, with all those CHIAC-CHIE. Try to repeat it slowly: chiac-chie-ra-re.
Second curiosity: le chiacchiere are also a typical Carnival dessert, fried, crunchy and covered with powdered sugar. And it changes name in almost every Italian region: frappe, bugie, cenci, crostoli, galani. One dessert, many different names.
19. Ritardo
Example: “Scusa, sono in ritardo: c’era traffico e non trovavo parcheggio.” [Sorry, I’m late: there was traffic and I couldn’t find parking.]
The ritardo is the time gap between the expected time and the actual arrival time. The opposite is being puntuali [punctual] or being in anticipo [early].
Watch out for the difference (which seems small but isn’t): “sono in ritardo” is said of the person; “è tardi” is said of the time. So: “È tardi e io sono in ritardo!” [It’s late and I’m late!]
This word will also be useful at the station: “Il treno viaggia con 40 minuti di ritardo.” [The train is running with a 40-minute delay.]
20. Testardo
Example: “Non cambierà mai idea: è testardo come un mulo!” [He will never change his mind: he’s as stubborn as a mule!]
Testardo describes a person who never changes their opinion, who always insists. It comes, obviously, from testa [head].
Useful synonyms: cocciuto, ostinato, caparbio (this last one more elegant and with a positive nuance: someone who is caparbio never gives up). The most used expression is precisely the one from the example: testardo come un mulo [as stubborn as a mule], because the mule, when it decides not to move, doesn’t move.
Summary Table of the 20 Words
Here’s a summary of all 20 words divided by area, perfect to consult quickly for review:
| Area | Words |
|---|---|
| Traveling | Binario / Coincidenza / Valigia / Andata e ritorno / Prenotare |
| At the table | Conto / Mancia / Assaggiare / Sparecchiare / Goloso |
| Work and school | Riunione / Stipendio / Ferie / Colloquio / Compiti |
| Everyday life | Sveglia / Bucato / Chiacchierare / Ritardo / Testardo |
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Difference between “Ferie” and “Vacanze”?
The ferie are specifically the paid days off you’re entitled to from work: only an employee can say “sono in ferie”. The vacanze, on the other hand, are a more general concept, indicating any period of rest or leisure: Christmas vacation, summer vacation, students going on vacation. Be careful not to confuse everything with the adjective feriale, which means working (the opposite of festivo).
Why Is the Plural of “Valigia” “Valigie” with the I?
Because in Italian, for nouns ending in -cia or -gia, there’s a practical rule: if before this group there’s a vowel, the I stays in the plural (valigia → valigie, camicia → camicie); if instead there’s a consonant, the I disappears (spiaggia → spiagge, arancia → arance). In the case of valigia, before the group -gia there’s the vowel I, so in the plural the I stays: valigie.
What Does the “Privative S” Mean in Italian?
The privative S is an initial S that, added to a verb or an adjective, expresses its opposite. Some classic examples: apparecchiare / sparecchiare, montare / smontare, caricare / scaricare, comodo / scomodo, fortunato / sfortunato. However, it’s not an automatic rule: not all verbs accept this transformation, and in some cases the verb with the S has a completely different meaning. An example to remember: parlare (to say something) and sparlare (to speak badly of someone) are not opposites, but different verbs.
What’s the Difference between “Colloquio” and “Intervista”?
The difference is clear and important. The colloquio is a formal meeting between two or more people in a professional or school context: the colloquio di lavoro [job interview] between a candidate and an employer, or the colloquio con i professori [meeting with the teachers] at school. The intervista, on the other hand, is the conversation conducted by a journalist (on TV, on the radio, in newspapers) with a famous or competent person, with the purpose of publishing or broadcasting it. So “domani ho un colloquio” means I have a professional meeting; “domani ho un’intervista” means I’m famous and a journalist will ask me questions.
What Are “Coperto” and “Mancia” in Italian Restaurants?
They are two completely different things, even though both are linked to the bill. The coperto [cover charge] is a small fixed sum per person (usually between 1.50 and 3 euros) that is charged on the bill for the tablecloth, tableware, bread and table setting: it’s a mandatory cost (where provided) and must be clearly written on the menu. The mancia [tip], on the other hand, is an extra payment that you freely decide to leave the waiter to thank them for the service: it’s optional and it’s not a fixed rule like in the United States. Generally people simply leave the coins from the change or round up the bill.
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