Imagine: you’re in Italy and you have to do the grocery shopping, but you can’t find anything at the supermarket. Then you get on a bus and don’t know where to get off. Later you walk into an ice cream shop with twenty flavors in front of you and you have to choose quickly. And what if you don’t feel well and have to go to the doctor? Or if at the beach you want to rent an umbrella? Would you know what to say — and get by smoothly — in all these situations?
Could You Survive in Italy? Useful Phrases for Different Contexts
In this guide we work on your ability to communicate in real situations, not just on vocabulary. You’ll learn to be polite and natural like a native speaker, to use the condizionale di cortesia (vorrei, potrei, mi servirebbe…) and to understand when to use Lei and when to use tu. We’ll visit five places — supermarket, public transport, ice cream shop, doctor’s office and the beach — and for each place I’ll suggest three situations: an easy one, an intermediate one and an advanced one. To dive deeper into the art of polite communication, you can check out the guide on the Italian conditional.
Place 1 — At the Supermarket
Here you have to do your grocery shopping, but addressing the staff or going to the counter isn’t always obvious. To expand your vocabulary, there’s a dedicated guide on the Italian dialogue at the supermarket.
Easy Situation — Finding a Product
You can’t find the frozen food. What do you ask?
- “Scusi, dove posso trovare i surgelati?” [Excuse me, where can I find the frozen food?]
- “Avete i surgelati? Non li trovo.” [Do you have frozen food? I can’t find it.]
- “Scusi, mi può indicare il reparto dei surgelati?” [Excuse me, can you point me to the frozen food section?]
Useful word: “reparto” is the section of the supermarket (il reparto frutta, il reparto pane…).
Intermediate Situation — Buying at the Counter
You’re at the deli counter and you order some ham and mozzarella for dinner.
- “Vorrei tre etti di prosciutto crudo e mezzo chilo di mozzarelle, per favore.” [I’d like three “etti” of cured ham and half a kilo of mozzarellas, please.]
- “Mi dà tre etti di prosciutto crudo e mezzo chilo di mozzarelle?” [Could you give me three “etti” of cured ham and half a kilo of mozzarellas?]
- “Prendo questo prosciutto crudo qui, tre etti, e poi aggiunga anche mezzo chilo di mozzarelle.” [I’ll take this cured ham here, three “etti”, and then also add half a kilo of mozzarellas.]
Watch out: in Italy you buy by etti (one etto = 100 grams). And in spoken Italian you’ll often hear “Quanto vengono?” instead of “Quanto costano?”.
Advanced Situation — There’s a Mistake at the Checkout
The total on the receipt is wrong because the toilet paper has been scanned twice.
- “Scusi, c’è un errore sullo scontrino: ho preso solo una confezione di carta igienica.” [Excuse me, there’s a mistake on the receipt: I only took one pack of toilet paper.]
- “Mi scusi, mi sembra che la carta igienica sia stata battuta due volte.” [Excuse me, it seems to me that the toilet paper has been scanned twice.]
- “Scusi, credo che la carta igienica sia passata due volte: sullo scaffale costava 4 euro ma io qui ne vedo 8.” [Excuse me, I think the toilet paper has been scanned twice: on the shelf it cost 4 euros but here I see 8.]
To stay polite we use “credo che…” or “mi sembra che…” with the congiuntivo (sia), much more polite than “avete sbagliato”.
Fun Fact about the Italian Supermarket
In Italy, at the supermarket, fruit and vegetables often can’t be touched with bare hands: you use plastic gloves and weigh them yourself on a special scale. If you forget to weigh them and put the label on before going to the checkout, you’ll have to go back!
Place 2 — On Public Transport
Bus, tram, metro: here’s how to get around the city. To discover more about transport vocabulary, check out the guide on means of transport in Italian.
Easy Situation — The Ticket
You need a ticket and you don’t know where to get it.
- “Scusi, dove posso comprare un biglietto per l’autobus?” [Excuse me, where can I buy a ticket for the bus?]
- “Chi è che fa i biglietti dell’autobus qui?” [Who is the one who sells bus tickets here?]
- “Cerco una tabaccheria per i biglietti dell’autobus, ce n’è una nei paraggi?” [I’m looking for a tobacconist for bus tickets, is there one nearby?]
Intermediate Situation — Asking About the Stop
You have to go downtown but you don’t know where to get off.
- “Scusi, questo autobus va in centro?” [Excuse me, does this bus go downtown?]
- “Qual è la fermata per il centro?” [Which is the stop for downtown?]
- “Mi può dire quando devo scendere per il centro?” [Can you tell me when I have to get off for downtown?]
Key verbs: you sale onto the bus and you scende off the bus (watch out, never “uscire”!).
Advanced Situation — Something Goes Wrong
You took the wrong bus to go to the museum, you have to change.
- “Scusi, per il museo devo cambiare autobus? Dove scendo?” [Excuse me, do I have to change buses for the museum? Where do I get off?]
- “Scusi, mi sono accorta di aver preso l’autobus sbagliato per il museo. Sa dove posso cambiare?” [Excuse me, I realized I took the wrong bus for the museum. Do you know where I can change?]
- “Mi sono resa conto di essere sull’autobus sbagliato. Quale va al museo?” [I’ve realized I’m on the wrong bus. Which one goes to the museum?]
Fun Fact about the Bus Ticket
In Italy the bus ticket is usually bought before getting on — at the tobacconist or at the newsstand — and then validated on board. Skipping this step can cost you a fine!
Place 3 — At the Ice Cream Shop
Many choices, little time: learn to order like a real Italian.
Easy Situation — Ordering a Two-Flavor Ice Cream
What do you say when you reach the counter?
- “Vorrei un cono pistacchio e fondente, per favore.” [I’d like a pistachio and dark chocolate cone, please.]
- “Un cono piccolo alla nocciola e caffè, grazie.” [A small cone of hazelnut and coffee, thanks.]
- “Mi fa una coppetta media? Mi metta stracciatella e fragola.” [Could you make me a medium cup? Give me stracciatella and strawberry.]
Basic vocabulary: cono or coppetta (ice cream in a cone or in a cup), and each flavor is a gusto.
Intermediate Situation — Asking for Advice
You don’t know what to choose and want a recommendation from the ice cream maker.
- “Quale gusto mi consiglia?” [Which flavor do you recommend?]
- “Qual è la vostra specialità?” [What’s your specialty?]
- “C’è un gusto che proprio non posso non provare?” [Is there a flavor I really can’t miss?]
- “Qual è il gusto più gettonato?” [Which is the most popular flavor?]
Advanced Situation — A More Elaborate Request
You want to customize your ice cream by adding whipped cream.
- “Mi può mettere la panna sopra?” [Can you put whipped cream on top?]
- “È possibile avere anche la panna o si paga un extra?” [Is it possible to also have whipped cream or do you pay extra?]
- “Se volessi della panna sopra?” [If I wanted some whipped cream on top?]
Useful verb: “assaggiare” = to taste a flavor. And “ci mette la panna?” is the natural way to ask to have it added.
Fun Fact about Italian Ice Cream
In many ice cream shops the whipped cream on top of the ice cream is free, you just have to ask for it! And “artigianale” means homemade ice cream, usually better than the “industriale” one.
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Place 4 — At the Doctor’s
Here the register is more formal: you use Lei and you address the doctor with “dottore” or “dottoressa”. For the specific vocabulary, there’s a dedicated guide on the vocabulary of illnesses in Italian.
Easy Situation — You Have a Fever and Ask for Medicine
You’ve had a fever since the day before and don’t know how to bring it down.
- “Dottore, ho la febbre da ieri e non so cosa prendere. Che faccio?” [Doctor, I’ve had a fever since yesterday and I don’t know what to take. What do I do?]
- “Ho la febbre e mi sento indolenzita. Secondo lei dovrei prendere qualcosa?” [I have a fever and I feel sore. In your opinion, should I take something?]
- “Mi sono beccata la febbre e vorrei sapere se posso farla scendere in qualche modo.” [I caught a fever and I’d like to know if I can bring it down somehow.]
Informal but super useful expression: “beccarsi” an illness means to catch it, to contract it. It’s colloquial but very used even by doctors!
Intermediate Situation — Describing the Symptoms of a Sunburn
You got too much sun at the beach and now your skin hurts.
- “Dottore, mi sono scottato al mare: la pelle è molto rossa, brucia e mi dà fastidio anche solo toccarla.” [Doctor, I got sunburned at the beach: the skin is very red, it burns and it bothers me even just to touch it.]
- “Sono stato troppo al sole e adesso ho una scottatura sulle spalle e sulla schiena. Sento la pelle calda e dolorante.” [I stayed too long in the sun and now I have a sunburn on my shoulders and back. The skin feels hot and sore.]
- “Credo di aver preso una brutta scottatura: la zona è arrossata, mi pizzica e in alcuni punti sembra quasi gonfia.” [I think I got a bad sunburn: the area is red, it stings and in some spots it almost looks swollen.]
Useful vocabulary to describe pain: brucia, pizzica, mi dà fastidio, è arrossata, è gonfia. These are the words the doctor expects to hear!
Advanced Situation — Asking for Blood Tests
You always feel tired and want to get blood tests.
- “Dottore, ultimamente mi sento sempre stanco, anche quando dormo abbastanza. Vorrei fare delle analisi per capire il motivo.” [Doctor, lately I always feel tired, even when I sleep enough. I’d like to do some tests to understand the reason.]
- “Da qualche settimana ho poca energia e mi affatico facilmente. Secondo lei sarebbe meglio controllare il sangue?” [For a few weeks I’ve had little energy and I get tired easily. In your opinion, would it be better to check my blood?]
- “Mi sento spesso debole e senza forze. Vorrei fare degli esami per vedere se c’è qualche carenza o altro problema.” [I often feel weak and without strength. I’d like to do some tests to see if there’s any deficiency or other problem.]
Fun Fact about the Italian Healthcare System
In Italy everyone has a “medico di base”, that is, a free family doctor through the National Health Service, whom you go to for initial visits and prescriptions. For resident foreigners, this is the first person to contact in case of health problems.
Place 5 — At the Beach
Last stop, at the lido (the beach club): here you rent the umbrella and the sun loungers. To discover other useful words for your vacation, there’s a dedicated guide on the beach vocabulary in Italian.
Easy Situation — Renting the Spot
What do you ask when you arrive? You want an umbrella and two sun loungers for the day.
- “Buongiorno, vorremmo prendere un ombrellone e due lettini per oggi. Avete disponibilità?” [Good morning, we’d like to get an umbrella and two sun loungers for today. Do you have availability?]
- “Salve, è possibile avere un ombrellone con due lettini vicino al mare, se c’è posto?” [Hi, is it possible to have an umbrella with two sun loungers near the sea, if there’s room?]
- “Buongiorno, siamo in due e ci servirebbero un ombrellone e due lettini per tutta la giornata.” [Good morning, we’re two people and we’d need an umbrella and two sun loungers for the whole day.]
Beach vocabulary: the ombrellone (beach umbrella), the lettino (sun lounger) or the sdraio (deck chair), and the verb “noleggiare” = to rent for a short time.
Intermediate Situation — Asking About the Closing Time
You want to know until what time you can stay at the beach.
- “A che ora chiude lo stabilimento?” [What time does the beach club close?]
- “Fino a quando si può rimanere?” [Until when can one stay?]
- “Qual è il vostro orario di chiusura?” [What’s your closing time?]
Again the impersonal “si può”, perfect for asking what’s allowed. To dive deeper, there’s a guide on the si impersonale in Italian.
Advanced Situation — A Reservation for the Next Day
You want to book also for the next day, but with four people.
- “Vorremmo prenotare anche per domani, ma saremo in quattro. Avete un ombrellone con quattro lettini disponibile?” [We’d like to book also for tomorrow, but we’ll be four. Do you have an umbrella with four sun loungers available?]
- “È possibile riservare lo stesso posto anche per domani? Domani però saremo quattro persone, quindi ci servirebbero quattro lettini.” [Is it possible to reserve the same spot also for tomorrow? Tomorrow though we’ll be four people, so we’d need four sun loungers.]
- “Vorremmo un ombrellone anche domani, per quattro persone. Ci può dire se c’è posto e quanto viene?” [We’d like an umbrella also tomorrow, for four people. Can you tell us if there’s room and how much it costs?]
“Sarebbe possibile…?” is a very elegant formula to ask a favor with grace, perfect in many situations.
Fun Fact about Italian Beaches
In Italy many beaches are private beach clubs where you pay for the umbrella; finding a spot on a “spiaggia libera” (the free one) in August is almost a treasure hunt!
Summary Table of the 5 Places
Here’s a table summarizing the 5 places with the keywords to remember for each one.
| Place | Keywords | Typical sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Supermarket | reparto, etti, scontrino, banco | “Vorrei tre etti di prosciutto.” [I’d like three “etti” of ham.] |
| Public transport | fermata, biglietto, salire, scendere, convalidare | “Scusi, a quale fermata devo scendere?” [Excuse me, at which stop do I have to get off?] |
| Ice cream shop | cono, coppetta, gusto, panna, artigianale | “Vorrei un cono pistacchio e fondente.” [I’d like a pistachio and dark chocolate cone.] |
| At the doctor’s | dottore, sintomi, scottatura, analisi, medico di base | “Dottore, mi sono beccata la febbre.” [Doctor, I caught a fever.] |
| Beach | ombrellone, lettino, sdraio, lido, stabilimento, noleggiare | “Vorremmo noleggiare un ombrellone.” [We’d like to rent an umbrella.] |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Order in Italy at the Supermarket Counter?
In Italy at the deli counter you order by etti (one etto = 100 grams), not in grams like in many other countries. So if you want 300 grams of ham, you’ll say “tre etti”. To ask the price, Italians often use “Quanto vengono?” instead of “Quanto costano?”. And remember the conditional of courtesy: “Vorrei…” is always better than “Voglio…”.
Do You Say “Uscire dall’Autobus” or “Scendere dall’Autobus”?
You say scendere dall’autobus! It’s one of the most common mistakes foreigners make. In Italian, for means of transport you use the pair salire/scendere: you sale onto the bus (the train, the metro) and you scende off the bus. The verb “uscire” is only used for buildings and closed places (esco di casa, esco dal ristorante).
When Do You Use “Lei” and When “Tu” in Italy?
You use Lei in formal contexts: with strangers, in shops, restaurants, at the doctor’s, at work with superiors or clients. You use tu with friends, family, children, colleagues you have familiarity with and in many informal contexts (especially among young people). When in doubt, always use Lei: it’s safer, and if the other person wants, they’ll tell you “Diamoci del tu!”.
What Does “Beccarsi” an Illness Mean?
“Beccarsi” an illness is a colloquial but very common expression that means to catch, contract an illness. “Mi sono beccato l’influenza” = “Ho preso l’influenza”. It’s also used for negative situations in general: “Mi sono beccato una multa”. Watch out: despite being informal, you hear it said even by doctors and in family contexts.
What’s the Difference Between “Noleggiare” and “Affittare”?
“Noleggiare” is used for objects that you take for a short time: a car, a bike, a beach umbrella, a sun lounger, a kayak. “Affittare” is usually used for real estate or things for longer periods: a house, a room, an apartment for vacation. So “noleggio un’auto per il weekend” [I rent a car for the weekend] but “affitto una casa per tre mesi” [I rent a house for three months].
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