Customaries & Phrases

Question 1

Please

Answer 1

per favore

(pehr fah-VOH-reh)

Question 2

Hi

Answer 2

Ciao
• Pronunciation: chow
• Informality: It’s informal and used primarily with friends, family, or people you know well.
• Usage: Can be used for both hello and goodbye.
• Example: Ciao, come stai? (Hello, how are you?)
• Example: Ciao, a presto! (Goodbye, see you soon!)

Salve
• Pronunciation: SAHL-veh
• Formality: It’s more formal and polite, but still not overly stiff. You’d use it with someone you don’t know very well, or in a more respectful context (e.g., with elders or in professional settings).
• Usage: It’s only used for hello, not for saying goodbye.
• Example: Salve, come sta? (Hello, how are you?)

Question 3

Thank you / Thank you very much

Answer 3

Thank you:
Grazie
(GRAHT-tsee-eh)

Thank you very much:
Grazie mille
(GRAHT-tsee-eh MEEL-leh)
→ literally “a thousand thanks”

Question 4

Goodbye

Answer 4

Arrivederci
(ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee)
→ Goodbye (formal or general use)

For a more informal, casual goodbye, you can say:

Ciao
(chow)
→ Bye (also means “hello”)

Question 5

Nice to meet you

Answer 5

Piacere di conoscerti
(Pee-ah-CHAIR-eh dee koh-noh-SHEHR-tee)
→ Used in informal situations (e.g., when meeting someone you’re familiar with or someone younger than you).

For a more formal version, you can say:

Piacere di conoscerla
(Pee-ah-CHAIR-eh dee koh-noh-SHEHR-lah)
→ Used when speaking to someone in a formal manner.

Question 6

Excuse me

Answer 6

• Scusi (SKOO-zee) — formal

• Scusa (SKOO-zah) — informal

Question 7

Where are you from?

Answer 7

“Di dove sei?” (informal)
(dee DOH-veh say?)

Or, if you’re using the formal form, you would say:

“Di dove è lei?”
(dee DOH-veh eh lay?)

Question 8

Sir

Answer 8

signore

(see-NYOH-reh)

Question 9

Madam

Answer 9

signora

(see-NYOH-rah)

Question 10

You’re welcome

Answer 10

Prego (PREH-goh)

Example:
• Grazie per l’aiuto!
(Thank you for the help!)
Prego!
(You’re welcome!)

Question 11

Good morning

Answer 11

Buongiorno
(BWOHN-jor-noh)

Example:
• Buongiorno! Come stai?
(Good morning! How are you?)

Question 12

See you soon

Answer 12

A presto

(ah PREH-stoh)

Question 13

I’m sorry

Answer 13

Mi dispiace

Phonetic pronunciation: mee dee-SPEE-ah-cheh

Question 14

Don’t worry

Answer 14

Singular: Non preoccuparti

Phonetic Pronunciation: noh-preh-oh-koo-PAHR-tee

Plural: Non preoccupatevi

Phonetic Pronunciation: noh-preh-oh-koo-PAH-teh-vee