First Phrases

First 48 hours · Italiano

First 48 hours in Italian: 25 phrases for meeting people

Introduce yourself, say you are new here and ask for tips, ask to join a table, ask where people meet, leave politely, and swap contacts. Short, natural phrases for the first two days in a new country.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). In Italy use "Lei" with people you do not know, especially older people and staff. Among young people at bars, hostels and meetups "tu" comes quickly; if they say "diamoci del tu" (let's use tu), switch. The "tu" version is given in each note.

How to read the sounds: Italian is spoken as written. Double consonants (tt, ll, zz) are held longer. c before e/i = ch, g before e/i = j, gn = ny, gli = ly, sc before e/i = sh. Stress is in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

25 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Ciao, sono …. Piacere!
    Say it like: CHOW, SOH-noh … pyah-CHEH-reh
    Hi, I'm …. Nice to meet you!
    Register: "Piacere" works for everyone and has no gender. "Piacere di conoscerla" is more formal.
  2. 02Polite
    Come si chiama?
    Say it like: KOH-meh see KYAH-mah
    What's your name?
    Register: Tu: "Come ti chiami?"
  3. 03Neutral
    Di dov'è?
    Say it like: dee doh-VEH
    Where are you from?
    Register: Tu: "Di dove sei?" Also "Da dove viene?"
  4. 04Neutral
    Sono di …. E lei?
    Say it like: SOH-noh dee … eh LEH-ee
    I'm from …. And you?
    Register: Add your country or city. Tu: "E tu?"
  5. 05Neutral
    Sono qui da poco.
    Say it like: SOH-noh kwee dah POH-koh
    I've only been here a short while.
    Register: Gender-free and natural. "Mi sono appena trasferito/a" = I've just moved here.
  6. 06Neutral
    Sono qui da poco e non conosco ancora nessuno. Ha qualche consiglio?
    Say it like: SOH-noh kwee dah POH-koh eh non koh-NOS-koh ahn-KOH-rah nes-SOO-noh. ah KWAL-keh kon-SEE-lyoh
    I'm new here and I don't know anyone yet. Any tips?
    Register: Tu: "Hai qualche consiglio?" Italians enjoy giving advice.
  7. 07Neutral
    Abita da queste parti?
    Say it like: AH-bee-tah dah KWES-teh PAR-tee
    Do you live around here?
    Register: Tu: "Abiti da queste parti?"
  8. 08Neutral
    È libero questo posto?
    Say it like: eh LEE-beh-roh KWES-toh POS-toh
    Is this seat free?
    Register: Answers: "Prego, si accomodi" (please, sit) or "È occupato" (taken).
  9. 09Neutral
    Posso unirmi a voi?
    Say it like: POS-soh oo-NEER-mee ah VOY
    Can I join you?
    Register: Works for a group. Also "Vi dispiace se mi siedo qui?" (do you mind if I sit here?).
  10. 10Polite
    Vuole unirsi a noi?
    Say it like: VWOH-leh oo-NEER-see ah NOY
    Would you like to join us?
    Register: Tu: "Vuoi unirti a noi?" Warm and common.
  11. 11Neutral
    Dove si ritrova di solito la gente, qui?
    Say it like: DOH-veh see ree-TROH-vah dee SOH-lee-toh lah JEN-teh KWEE
    Where do people usually meet up around here?
    Register: Casual: "Dove si va di solito, qui?" (where does everyone go?).
  12. 12Neutral
    C'è un gruppo o un evento per chi è nuovo in città?
    Say it like: cheh oon GROOP-poh oh oon eh-VEN-toh per kee eh NWOH-voh in cheet-TAH
    Is there a group or event for people new to the city?
    Register: Also look for "aperitivo" meetups and "scambio linguistico" (language exchange).
  13. 13Polite
    Può consigliarmi un posto qui vicino?
    Say it like: pwoh kon-see-LYAR-mee oon POS-toh kwee vee-CHEE-noh
    Could you recommend a place nearby?
    Register: Add what you want: "per un caffè" or "per mangiare". Tu: "Puoi consigliarmi...?"
  14. 14Polite
    Mi scusi, il mio italiano è ancora molto basilare.
    Say it like: mee SKOO-zee, eel MEE-oh ee-tah-LYAH-noh eh ahn-KOH-rah MOL-toh bah-zee-LAH-reh
    Excuse me, my Italian is still very basic.
    Register: Tu: "Scusa". Italians appreciate any effort.
  15. 15Polite
    Può ripetere, per favore?
    Say it like: pwoh ree-PEH-teh-reh per fah-VOH-reh
    Could you repeat that, please?
    Register: Tu: "Puoi ripetere?"
  16. 16Polite
    Può parlare un po' più piano, per favore?
    Say it like: pwoh par-LAH-reh oon poh pyoo PYAH-noh per fah-VOH-reh
    Could you speak a little more slowly, please?
    Register: "Più piano" = more slowly or quietly. Tu: "Puoi parlare...?"
  17. 17Neutral
    Le andrebbe di prendere un caffè uno di questi giorni?
    Say it like: leh ahn-DREB-beh dee PREN-deh-reh oon kahf-FEH OO-noh dee KWES-tee JOR-nee
    Would you like to have a coffee one of these days?
    Register: Friendly, low pressure. Tu: "Ti andrebbe di...?"
  18. 18Neutral
    Grazie dei consigli, mi sono molto utili.
    Say it like: GRAH-tsyeh day kon-SEE-lyee, mee SOH-noh MOL-toh OO-tee-lee
    Thanks for the advice, it's very useful.
    Register: "Mi sono utili" = they are useful to me.
  19. 19Neutral
    È stato un piacere chiacchierare con lei.
    Say it like: eh STAH-toh oon pyah-CHEH-reh kyahk-kyeh-RAH-reh kon LEH-ee
    It was a pleasure chatting with you.
    Register: Tu: "...con te."
  20. 20Neutral
    Beh, ora devo andare. A presto!
    Say it like: beh, OH-rah DEH-voh ahn-DAH-reh. ah PRES-toh
    Well, I have to go now. See you soon!
    Register: Natural exit. "Ti lascio" (I'll leave you) is also common among friends.
  21. 21Neutral
    Mi scusi, mi sta aspettando qualcuno. È stato un piacere!
    Say it like: mee SKOO-zee, mee stah ah-spet-TAHN-doh kwahl-KOO-noh. eh STAH-toh oon pyah-CHEH-reh
    Excuse me, someone is waiting for me. It was a pleasure!
    Register: A polite, honest reason to leave. Tu: "Scusa".
  22. 22Neutral
    Ci scambiamo i numeri?
    Say it like: chee skahm-BYAH-moh ee NOO-meh-ree
    Shall we swap numbers?
    Register: Casual and mutual, same with "tu" and "Lei".
  23. 23Neutral
    Ha WhatsApp?
    Say it like: ah WOT-sahp
    Do you have WhatsApp?
    Register: Tu: "Hai WhatsApp?" Everyone in Italy uses it.
  24. 24Neutral
    Restiamo in contatto!
    Say it like: res-TYAH-moh in kon-TAHT-toh
    Let's stay in touch!
    Register: Also "Ci sentiamo!" (we'll talk).
  25. 25Neutral
    Buona serata!
    Say it like: BWOH-nah seh-RAH-tah
    Have a good evening!
    Register: Earlier in the day say "Buona giornata!" The reply is "Altrettanto!" (same to you).

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Quick answers

How do you introduce yourself in Italian?

Say: "Ciao, sono …. Piacere!" (Hi, I'm …. Nice to meet you!)

Should I use informal or formal Italian with people I have just met?

In Italy use "Lei" with people you do not know, especially older people and staff. Among young people at bars, hostels and meetups "tu" comes quickly; if they say "diamoci del tu" (let's use tu), switch. The "tu" version is given in each note.

How do I ask to join a table in Italian?

Try: "Posso unirmi a voi?" (Can I join you?)

How do I say I am new here in Italian?

Try: "Sono qui da poco e non conosco ancora nessuno. Ha qualche consiglio?" (I'm new here and I don't know anyone yet. Any tips?)

First 48 hours in another language

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How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you have just moved to.
  2. Read the phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Then open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/first48/it/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint