First Phrases

Sauna · Italiano

Sauna in Italian: 10 phrases for tonight

A sauna social is quiet and relaxed: short sentences, low voices. The one practical question is the dress rule, which differs by country and venue, so ask before you go in.

Register: Informal (friendly). "Tu" is normal. Check the dress rule: in Italy swimwear is common in many spas, while nudity is the rule in some saunas (often mixed). Ask or read the sign before entering.

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.

10 phrases, door to goodbye

  1. 01 · Arriving
    Ciao, come va?
    Say it like: chow, KOH-meh vah
    Hi, how's it going?
  2. 02 · Saying you're new
    È la prima volta che vengo, e sono venuto/venuta da solo/sola.
    Say it like: eh lah PREE-mah VOL-tah keh VEN-goh, eh SOH-noh veh-NOO-toh/veh-NOO-tah dah SOH-loh/SOH-lah
    It's my first time here, and I came on my own.
  3. 03 · Asking how it works
    Come funziona? Ci sono regole che devo sapere?
    Say it like: KOH-meh foon-TSYOH-nah? chee SOH-noh REH-goh-leh keh DEH-voh sah-PEH-reh
    How does it work? Are there rules I should know?
  4. 04 · Small talk
    Si sta proprio bene qui dentro, vero?
    Say it like: see stah PROH-pryoh BEH-neh kwee DEN-troh, VEH-roh
    It's really nice in here, isn't it?
  5. 05 · Small talk
    Eri già stato/stata qui?
    Say it like: EH-ree jah STAH-toh/STAH-tah kwee
    Have you been here before?
  6. 06 · Small talk
    Dove posso lasciare le mie cose?
    Say it like: DOH-veh POS-soh lah-SHAH-reh leh MEE-eh KOH-zeh
    Where can I leave my things?
  7. 07 · Dress code
    Si entra in costume o senza?
    Say it like: see EN-trah een kos-TOO-meh oh SEN-tsah
    Do you go in wearing swimwear or without?
  8. 08 · Water on the stones
    Posso versare un po' d'acqua sulle pietre?
    Say it like: POS-soh vehr-SAH-reh oon poh DAK-kwah SOOL-leh PYEH-treh
    May I pour a little water on the stones?
  9. 09 · Cooling off
    Esco un attimo a rinfrescarmi.
    Say it like: ES-koh oon AHT-tee-moh ah reen-fres-KAR-mee
    I'm stepping out for a moment to cool off.
  10. 10 · Leaving & keeping in touch
    Che relax! Alla prossima!
    Say it like: keh reh-LAKS! AHL-lah PROS-see-mah
    How relaxing! Until next time!

3 things you will probably hear

  1. H1 · You may hear
    Ricordati di bere acqua.
    Say it like: ree-KOR-dah-tee dee BEH-reh AK-kwah
    Remember to drink water.
  2. H2 · You may hear
    Metti l'asciugamano sotto di te, sulla panca.
    Say it like: MET-tee lah-shoo-gah-MAH-noh SOT-toh dee teh, SOOL-lah PAHN-kah
    Put your towel under you on the bench.
  3. H3 · You may hear
    Ti dispiace se verso un po' d'acqua?
    Say it like: tee dees-PYAH-cheh seh VEHR-soh oon poh DAK-kwah
    Do you mind if I pour some water?

Go and try it

Find sauna socials on Come Alone

Quick answers

What do I say when I arrive alone at a sauna social in Italian?

Start with: "Ciao, come va?" (Hi, how's it going?). Then say you are new: "È la prima volta che vengo, e sono venuto/venuta da solo/sola." (It's my first time here, and I came on my own.)

Should I use informal or formal Italian at a sauna social?

"Tu" is normal. Check the dress rule: in Italy swimwear is common in many spas, while nudity is the rule in some saunas (often mixed). Ask or read the sign before entering.

How do I ask to meet again after a sauna social in Italian?

Try: "Che relax! Alla prossima!" (How relaxing! Until next time!)

Same evening, another language

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Italian, another evening

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All 7 × 6 cards · Phrases for a specific event near you

How it works

  1. Pick the evening and the language people will speak.
  2. Read the ten phrases in order: they follow the evening from the door to goodbye. Tap the speaker to hear each one in your device's voice.
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending; a "check" mark flags a phrase we are least sure of.
  4. Find the event on Come Alone, open it in Meet & Mint to see who else is going, and say the first phrase for real.

firstphrases.app/tonight/sauna/it/ · Meet & Mint