First Phrases

Post office and parcels · Italiano

Post office and parcels in Italian: 12 survival phrases

Collect a parcel with your delivery notice, send a letter or parcel abroad, ask for tracking and a receipt, and find the nearest post office. Short phrases for the counter.

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). Use "Lei" (polite you) at the counter in Italy. At a post office you usually take a numbered ticket from a machine and wait. If you missed a delivery you get a notice ("avviso di giacenza"); bring it and a valid ID to collect the item.

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.

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Official names used

On this card: ufficio postale, pacco, avviso di giacenza. Operator website checked on 2026-10-24:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Buongiorno. Devo ritirare un pacco.
    Say it like: bwon-JOR-noh. DEH-voh ree-tee-RAH-reh oon PAK-koh
    Good morning. I need to pick up a parcel.
    Register: Polite; "ritirare" is the word for collecting.
  2. 02Polite
    Ho un avviso di giacenza. Ecco.
    Say it like: oh oon av-VEE-zoh dee jah-CHEN-tsah. EK-koh
    I have a pick-up notice. Here it is.
    Register: The notice is left in your mailbox.
  3. 03Neutral
    Non ero in casa alla consegna. Dove posso ritirare il pacco?
    Say it like: non EH-roh in KAH-zah AL-lah kon-SEN-nyah. DOH-veh POS-soh ree-tee-RAH-reh eel PAK-koh
    I wasn't home for the delivery. Where can I collect the parcel?
    Register: Neutral; works for any courier.
  4. 04Polite
    Ecco il mio passaporto. Va bene?
    Say it like: EK-koh eel MEE-oh pas-sah-POR-toh. vah BEH-neh
    Here is my passport. Is that OK?
    Register: Polite; ask if you have no Italian ID card.
  5. 05Neutral
    Devo prendere il numero?
    Say it like: DEH-voh PREN-deh-reh eel NOO-meh-roh
    Do I need to take a number?
    Register: Common at busy counters.
  6. 06Polite
    Vorrei spedire questo pacco in …
    Say it like: vor-RAY speh-DEE-reh KWES-toh PAK-koh in
    I'd like to send this parcel to …
    Register: "Vorrei" is the polite "I would like".
  7. 07Neutral
    Quanto costa spedirlo in …?
    Say it like: KWAN-toh KOS-tah speh-DEER-loh in
    How much does it cost to send it to …?
    Register: Neutral question.
  8. 08Neutral
    Un francobollo per una lettera, per favore.
    Say it like: oon fran-koh-BOL-loh per OO-nah LET-teh-rah, per fah-VOH-reh
    One stamp for a letter, please.
    Register: "Francobollo" is the stamp.
  9. 09Polite
    Posso avere il codice di tracciamento?
    Say it like: POS-soh ah-VEH-reh eel KOH-dee-cheh dee trat-chah-MEN-toh
    Can I have the tracking code?
    Register: Polite; you can also ask for "la ricevuta" with it.
  10. 10Neutral
    Quanti giorni ci vogliono per arrivare?
    Say it like: KWAN-tee JOR-nee chee VOL-yoh-noh per ar-ree-VAH-reh
    How many days does it take to arrive?
    Register: Neutral question.
  11. 11Polite
    Posso avere la ricevuta, per favore?
    Say it like: POS-soh ah-VEH-reh lah ree-cheh-VOO-tah, per fah-VOH-reh
    Can I have a receipt, please?
    Register: Polite; keep it as proof of sending.
  12. 12Neutral
    Dov'è l'ufficio postale più vicino?
    Say it like: doh-VEH loof-FEE-choh pos-TAH-leh pyoo vee-CHEE-noh
    Where is the nearest post office?
    Register: Neutral; ask anyone on the street.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the post office in Italian?

Start with: "Buongiorno. Devo ritirare un pacco." (Good morning. I need to pick up a parcel.)

Should I use informal or formal Italian at the post office?

Use "Lei" (polite you) at the counter in Italy. At a post office you usually take a numbered ticket from a machine and wait. If you missed a delivery you get a notice ("avviso di giacenza"); bring it and a valid ID to collect the item.

How do I say I have a delivery notice in Italian?

Try: "Ho un avviso di giacenza. Ecco." (I have a pick-up notice. Here it is.)

Same errand, another language

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Italian, another errand

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