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Italian - Commonly Used Words https://commonlyusedwords.com Many Words in Many Languages Fri, 14 Jan 2022 18:17:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.7 https://commonlyusedwords.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cropped-fav_com-32x32.jpg Italian - Commonly Used Words https://commonlyusedwords.com 32 32 2000 Most Common Italian Words https://commonlyusedwords.com/2000-most-common-italian-words/ https://commonlyusedwords.com/2000-most-common-italian-words/#respond Wed, 24 Nov 2021 15:02:18 +0000 https://commonlyusedwords.com/?p=7357   This is a list of the 2000 most commonly used words in the Italian language. Irish … … Japanese     Notice that you can download the Top 2000…

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This is a list of the 2000 most commonly used words in the Italian language.

Irish … <-- … 2000 Most Common Words … –> … Japanese



 

Top 2000 Italian Words

Generated by wpDataTables

 

Notice that you can download the Top 2000 Italian Words as PDF above the table.

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]]> https://commonlyusedwords.com/2000-most-common-italian-words/feed/ 0 How to learn Italian in a month https://commonlyusedwords.com/how-to-learn-italian-in-a-month/ https://commonlyusedwords.com/how-to-learn-italian-in-a-month/#respond Fri, 10 Apr 2020 03:37:26 +0000 https://commonlyusedwords.com/?p=6959 5 best tips to become fluent in no time! The decision has been made: you want to learn Italian, and you want to do it fast. Whether it’s part of…

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]]> 5 best tips to become fluent in no time!

The decision has been made: you want to learn Italian, and you want to do it fast. Whether it’s part of your new year’s resolutions, the consequence of meeting an Italian girl/guy, a work necessity or simply the desire to learn a new language and being able to use on your next trip, we’re here to give you answers. Is it possible to learn Italian in a month? In short, yes, as long as you follow our tips  and start this journey with dedication, effort and practice!

1. SPEND AT LEAST 1-2 HOURS PRACTISING EVERY DAY

We all know it. Practice makes perfect. If you really want to learn Italian in a month, you have no excuses. Work, children, family, no matter how busy your life is, it’s essential that you dedicate at least 1 or 2 hours everyday to learning Italian. The last you want after a long day in the office is learning how to conjugate a verb, however your patience and dedication will soon pay back, if you find time to learn Italian every day.

A trick to help you juggle your busy life and learning Italian is to take advantage of your daily commute to work. Do you spend 1 or 2 hours a day driving to work? Find some Italian music, radio or podcast to keep you company

2. INTERNET IS A LEARNER’S BEST FRIEND

Although a good grammar book is a good idea to learn the basics of a language, often Italian grammar books offer a very academic approach that doesn’t help you talk. A more modern approach involves more practical material to learn how to use a language in day to day life, rather than presenting you with a list of grammar topics.

Internet has plenty to offer. With thousands of videos to choose from, YouTube is certainly a great source of free videos: from educational videos to v-logs, interviews, documentaries etc.  In particular I would recommend to browse Italian videos made for foreigners, which often have subtitles and simpler dialogues.

Another great way to find useful free resources to learn Italian fast and effectively is to find a good reputable learning platform, with lots of videos, activities, games and authentic material to help you become fluent in no time!

3. FIND SOMETHING YOU LOVE AND USE IT TO LEARN ITALIAN

Learning Italian through something you’re passionate about will speed up the process and make it so much more fun! Do you love films? Choose one you know by heart and try to get the Italian version, you’ll learn a lot of new words. Are you a food fanatic? Well, needless to say Italian and food are a match made in heaven. Are you a music fan and would like to find some new Italian artists to add to your playlist? Find someone you love and use their songs and lyrics to expand your vocabulary and improve your pronunciation! This is an extremely effective way to learn a language whilst having fun!

4. BE PATIENT

As soon as you start, you’re super motivated, every new word you learn makes you feel great. After a couple of weeks you realise that the process is slower than you expected, and whenever you watch something in Italian you get frustrated on how fast Italians talk.

This is absolutely normal. Don’t give up! You WILL get fluent. The more effort and practice you put in learning, the smoother and quicker your journey will be.

5. STAY CALM AND GET OUR AMAZING AUDIO COURSE!

To help you become fluent in Italian in just one month we have a special treat for you. Our complete Audio Course takes you through all the most important Italian verbs and conjugations in a fun way, including over 3 hours of audio!

You can check it out here:
https://commonlyusedwords.com/courses/italian-audio-course/

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]]> https://commonlyusedwords.com/how-to-learn-italian-in-a-month/feed/ 0 How to say ‘How are you’ in Italian https://commonlyusedwords.com/how-are-you-in-italian/ https://commonlyusedwords.com/how-are-you-in-italian/#respond Fri, 22 Nov 2019 04:29:52 +0000 https://commonlyusedwords.com/?p=6218

Hi guys!

One of the very first things people learn in a new language is ‘How are you’. This article will teach you not only how to say how are you in Italian, but also some less academic versions which will make you sound even more Italian!

FORMAL OR INFORMAL?

Remember, in Italian we have a ‘formal’ way of talking to people, mainly used when talking to elderly people, important people (employer, doctor etc.) or people you don’t know very well, where TU (you) is replaced by LEI, and the verbs are conjugated in the 3rd person singular. This is something to keep in mind when we want to ask ‘how are you’.

To better understand this, look at the difference between the following sentences, in particular pay attention to how the verb changes.

  • Vuoi andare al cinema stasera? Would you like to go to the cinema tonight? (INFORMAL, the verb is conjugated in the second person singular of the present indicative).
  • Vuole andare al cinema stasera? Would you like to go to the cinema tonight? (FORMAL, the verb is conjugated in the third person singular of the present indicative).

COME STAI?

This is perhaps the most commonly taught way of asking ‘how are you’ in Italian. The verb in question is STARE, a regular verb which means something like ‘to stay’, ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’, and is used to ask someone how they are.

The translation for this expression is literally ‘how are you?’.

Come stai? (informal)

Come sta? (formal)

COME VA?

This is another common way of asking how are you, with a bonus: if you’re not sure whether to use the formal or the informal way, this expression is perfect, as it applies to both situations!

Literally, it means ‘How is it going?’, and it’s not referred to anyone in particular, this is why it can be used both with people you know well and with people you don’t know at all. Great, isn’t it?

TUTTO BENE?

When casually bumping into a friend or a family member, there are other options you can use, as sometimes ‘come stai’ can sound a bit too formal. Tutto bene is a perfect option, meaning: ‘Everything alright?’.

TUTTO A POSTO?

If you fancy using something a bit more ‘slang’ and less academic, this expression is perfect for the purpose. Tutto a posto is a similar expression to the previous one (tutto bene?), but it’s even less formal and more colloquial.

Tutto means everything, and a posto means ‘in place’ or ‘in order’. Just like tutto bene, tutto a posto means: everything OK?

HOW TO ANSWER TO ‘HOW ARE YOU’ IN ITALIAN

Now that you’ve learnt how to say how are you in Italian, you might want to learn a few ways of replying to this question, from the more diplomatic ways to the more ‘honest’ ones.

  • Bene, grazie e tu? I’m well, thank you, and you? (FORMAL)
  • Tutto bene, grazie. Everything OK, thank you (QUITE FORMAL)
  • Non c’è male / non male. Not too bad (INFORMAL)
  • Si va avanti / andiamo avanti… Usual life… (INFORMAL)
  • Sono stato meglio…. I’ve been better... (INFORMAL)

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]]> https://commonlyusedwords.com/how-are-you-in-italian/feed/ 0 Italian Exclamations https://commonlyusedwords.com/italian-exclamations/ https://commonlyusedwords.com/italian-exclamations/#respond Fri, 08 Nov 2019 04:00:32 +0000 https://commonlyusedwords.com/?p=6017

Just like Italian filler words, Italian exclamations are an essential part of spoken Italian. They are used to express a wide range of emotions, from happiness to disappointment. They often emphasise an idea or an opinion. Most importantly, sometimes, a simple word can summarise a whole concept or phrase.

Italian exclamations (or interjections) often come from regional dialects, and their use can vary from region to region. If your goal is to become fluent, especially in your conversational skills, it’s very important that you familiarise with these words, as you’d be hearing them a lot if you spent time around Italians!

If you have any Italian friends, you may already be familiar with these exclamations. Using them will make you sound more natural and closer to the way a native Italian would talk.

Are you ready to speak like a real Italian? If so, let’s learn how to convey a feeling, an idea or a whole sentence, just by saying a very short word!

 

An exquisitely Italian exclamation: meno male!

This expression is used when you want to express relief about you a bad situation or event that has been avoided, in other words, it’s like saying ‘Thank goodness’.

“Sono andato in macchina fino a Milano, ma non c’era traffico!” (“I drove to Milan, but there was no traffic at all!”)

“Meno male!”  (“Thank goodness!”)

Let’s have a look at some examples!

  • “Non sei ancora pronto? Dai!“ (You’re not ready yet? C’mon!)
  • “Cosa dovremmo fare questa sera?” “Boh!” (“What should we do tonight?“ “I don’t know!“)
  • “Non abbiamo ancora finito. Torneremo a casa fra 40 minuti.” “Uffa!” (“We’re not done yet. We’ll come home in 40 minutes.“ “Oh no!“)
  • “Allora, pensi che la tua squadra vincerà la partita?” “Figurati!” (“So, do you think your team is going to win this match?” “Absolutely not!”)
  • “Dunque, cosa ne pensi di questo problema?” “Bah!” (“So, what do you think about this issue?” “Meh!”)

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]]> https://commonlyusedwords.com/italian-exclamations/feed/ 0 The Imperative Mood in Italian https://commonlyusedwords.com/the-imperative-mood-in-italian/ https://commonlyusedwords.com/the-imperative-mood-in-italian/#respond Tue, 15 Oct 2019 10:39:38 +0000 https://commonlyusedwords.com/?p=6004 Just like in English, the imperative mood in Italian is used to give orders, advice or to urge someone. It is also used to give permission, offer something, give instructions…

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]]> Just like in English, the imperative mood in Italian is used to give orders, advice or to urge someone. It is also used to give permission, offer something, give instructions etc.

Because of the purpose and the essence of the imperative (giving advice or orders), this mood doesn’t exist for the first person singular (io), the third person singular (lui, lei) and the third person plural (loro).

The imperative has only one tense, the present, and has the same form as the indicative present, with one exception: for all regular verbs of the first conjugation (ARE), the second person singular ends with an -a.

 

TU

 MANGIARE

Mangia!

 PRENDERE

Prendi!

 SENTIRE

Senti!
VOI Mangiate! Prendete! Sentite!
NOI Mangiamo! Prendiamo! Sentiamo!

 

The same rule applies to all irregular verbs that follow an irregular pattern in the indicative present, although the irregular verb of the first conjugation don’t take the -a in the second person singular.

 

TU

 ANDARE

Vai!

 BERE

Bevi!

 VENIRE

Vieni!
VOI Andate! Bevete! Venite!
NOI Andiamo! Beviamo! Veniamo!

 

NOTE: The imperative doesn’t apply to the modal verbs (verbi servili) like potere (can), dovere (must) and volere (want), due to their meaning. In fact, you would never give an order like ‘can!’ or ‘want!’.

Here’s some examples which clarify the use of the imperative mood in Italian:

Finisci i compiti prima di uscire!
Finish your homework before you go out!

Vai subito a casa!
Go home immediately!

Prendi ancora un po’ di torta!
Have some more cake!

Vai sempre dritto e poi gira a destra.
Keep going straight and then turn right.

Imperative in the negative form

When using the Italian imperative mood in a negative sentence, with the second person singular (tu) you need to use non + the infinitive of the verb:

Non cambiare discorso!
Don’t change subject!

For the second person plural (voi), just use non + the second person plural of the present indicative.

Non andate a quella festa!
Don’t go to that party!

Imperative with reflexive verbs

The Italian imperative mood with reflexive verbs follow the same rule as the other verbs, with the only difference that you need to keep the reflexive pronoun and attach it to the end of the verb:

Alzati!
Alzatevi!
Get up!

Non alzarti!
Non alzatevi!
Don’t get up!

Irregular forms of imperative

 

ESSERE

 TU

Sii!

 VOI

Siate!
AVERE Abbi! Abbiate!
SAPERE Sappi! Sappiate!
DIRE Dì

 

Imperative and position of pronouns

When using direct and indirect pronouns, it’s important to know their position in a sentence in the imperative mood.

When using CI and NE, for example, you should attach these pronouns to the end of the verb in the second person singular (tu) and plural (voi):

Prendine!
Take some (of it)!

Andiamoci!
Let’s go (there)!

In the event of a double pronoun (direct + indirect) in the same sentence, generally speaking CI or  indirect pronouns precede NE or direct pronouns:

Parlategliene!
Talk to him about it!

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]]> https://commonlyusedwords.com/the-imperative-mood-in-italian/feed/ 0 The Hypothetical Period in Italian https://commonlyusedwords.com/hypothetical-period-in-italian/ https://commonlyusedwords.com/hypothetical-period-in-italian/#respond Fri, 11 Oct 2019 06:00:04 +0000 https://commonlyusedwords.com/?p=5962

The hypothetical period (periodo ipotetico) consists of two sentences (main clause and dependant clause) which express a type of ‘hypothesis/consequence’ situation. In English, an example of hypothetical period is:

If I had more money (dependant clause), I would buy a new car (main clause).

If I get there on time (dependant clause), I’ll book a table (main clause).

In the hypothetical period in Italian, the dependant clause is introduced by SE (if), whereas the main clause is the one which could exist on its own, and expresses the consequence of an hypothesis. When forming periodo ipotetico in Italian, the order of the two sentences is not essential. You can start either with the dependant clause, or with the main clause, depending on the one you wish to emphasize.

In order to use this structure properly, it’s highly beneficial to know the following verb tenses: indicative mood (present and future tense); imperative; present and past conditional; imperfect and past perfect subjunctive.

 

Three types of hypothetical period

Type 1: Periodo Ipotetico Della Realtà

The first type of hypothetical period is used to express a possible hypothesis. In this case, the verbs are normally in the simple present or future. Take a look at the following example:

PERIODO IPOTETICO DELLA REALTÀ 1

 

As you can see, in Italian it is possible to use two future tenses in the same sentence, whereas in English you would only use the future in the main clause.

Sometimes, the consequence (main clause) features a verb in the imperative:

PERIODO IPOTETICO DELLA REALTÀ 2

 

Type 2: Periodo Ipotetico Della Possibilità

The second type of hypothetical period is used to express something that might happen, or something that’s possible, but not probable. In this case, the tenses involved are congiuntivo imperfetto (imperfect subjunctive) and condizionale presente (present conditional).

 

Type 3: Periodo Ipotetico Della Irrealtà

The third type of hypothetical period is used to describe something which can’t happen, because the condition refers to the past. In other words, it’s something which is no longer possible, and this is way we call it ‘unreal’ (irrealtà). The tenses involved are congiuntivo trapassato (past perfect subjunctive) and condizionale passato (past conditional).

 

ALTERNATIVES TO THE USE OF ‘SE’ IN THE DEPENDANT CLAUSE

You have now learnt that the dependant clause (condition) is often introduced by the word SE (if). Sometimes, other alternatives are possible:

  • Avoiding the ‘se’, and starting directly with the verb:

Avessi più soldi, ti comprerei una casa.

If I had more money, I’d buy you a house.

  • Using the gerund:

Ascoltando più attentamente, potremmo capire la lezione.

By listening more carefully, we could understand the lesson.

  • Using the past participle:

Eseguita bene, potrebbe essere una canzone fantastica.

If it was well executed, it could be a great song.

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]]> https://commonlyusedwords.com/hypothetical-period-in-italian/feed/ 0 Figures of speech by Italian verb https://commonlyusedwords.com/figures-of-speech-by-italian-verb/ https://commonlyusedwords.com/figures-of-speech-by-italian-verb/#respond Fri, 04 Oct 2019 04:00:39 +0000 https://commonlyusedwords.com/?p=5857

Italian is a very inspired language: they always have the right word or figure of speech to express your ideas. In other words, if you can think of something, then you can find an Italian idiom to say it!

Whether you are a beginner or you already master some Italian, by learning idioms and figure of speech, you can enhance your knowledge of the language. Most importantly, colloquialisms tend to reflect particular historical and cultural circumstances. This can offer you an overview of Italian culture, as well as of the evolution of the language.

Here you can find a compilation of the most used Italian figures of speech. What are you waiting for? It is time to surprise your friends by starting using the following figures of speech in Italian! In bocca al lupo!

Essere

Avere

Fare

Figures of Speech

Dare

Prendere

Figures of speech

Tenere

Other Italian figures of speech

Italian has thousands of figures of speech. Although it is impossible to list all of them (also because they tend to change based on the geographical areas), here you can find some more of them that do not use any of the above-mentioned key verbs.

Figures of speech

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]]> https://commonlyusedwords.com/figures-of-speech-by-italian-verb/feed/ 0 How to flirt in Italian https://commonlyusedwords.com/how-to-flirt-in-italian/ https://commonlyusedwords.com/how-to-flirt-in-italian/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2019 10:02:16 +0000 https://commonlyusedwords.com/?p=5902

Some people go on holiday to see the sights, some want to try the local food and wine, and then there’s people who go on holiday….to find love, OK, maybe not to find their soulmate, but at least to practice their flirting skills and make some memorable memories abroad. But how do you actually flirt in Italian?

Italy is undoubtedly one of the most romantic destinations in the world, and Italians are very passionate, so if you’re single and looking for love, why not learn some Italian phrases to chat to the locals and learn the well renowned Italian art of flirting?

If this is something you’re planning on doing, or maybe you’ve met someone online from Italy, this article will take you through the basics of how to flirt in Italian.  So don’t worry if the only words you know are ciao, pizza, pasta, and bello! You’re about to learn everything you need to know to successfully flirt with an Italian, stage by stage, from the moment you’re trying to pick someone up in bar, right up to that stage where you’re ready to commit to something more serious.

You can use the following phrases with both men and women, of any age group or social background. These aren’t your typical ‘cheesy’ compliments or questions, instead they’re what Italians would actually say or ask when flirting: this way you’ll sound way more natural and charming.

NOTE. You’ll notice that some of the words have “/a” in the end: this means that you’re talking /referring to a girl/woman. For example, you would say sei bellissimo to a guy, and sei bellissima to a girl. In the same way, you’d say sono italiano if you’re a man, and sono italiana if you’re a woman. So remember, A for feminine, O for masculine.

TOP PHRASES TO USE WHEN MEETING SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST TIME

  • Vuoi qualcosa da bere? Would you like something to drink?
  • Bello il tuo vestito! I really like your dress!
  • Piacere, sono Marco. Posso offrirti da bere? Nice to meet you, I’m Marco. Can I get you anything to drink?
  • Non sono italiano/a. Puoi consigliarmi un buon ristorante qui vicino? I am not Italian, could you recommend a good restaurant nearby?

TOP PHRASES TO USE WHEN GOING ON A FIRST DATE

  • Stai molto bene vestito/a così! You look really good in that outfit.
  • Sei bellissimo/a. You are so beautiful.
  • Sono molto attratto/a da te. I’m very attracted to you.
  • Dammi un bacio. Give me a kiss.
  • Sei speciale. You’re special.
  • Mi fai impazzire. You’re driving me crazy (in a good way).
  • Sono troppo felice di averti conosciuto/a. I’m so happy to have met you.
  • Ti voglio bene. You mean a lot to me.

TOP PHRASES TO USE WHEN IN A STEADY RELATIONSHIP

  • Ti amo. I love you
  • Voglio passare il resto della mia vita con te. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
  •  Mi vuoi sposare? Will you marry me?
  • Non posso vivere senza di te. I can’t live without you.
  • Sei tutto per me. You’re everything to me.
  • Sono pazzo/a di te. I’m crazy about you.
  • Ti penso continuamente. I think about you all the time.

TI AMO vs TI VOGLIO BENE

This is a very important aspect of flirting in Italian, as the two expressions mean very different things, and you don’t want to end up saying the wrong thing when you’re trying to impress someone, do you?

TI AMO (I love you) is what you would say to your girlfriend, boyfriend, fiancé/e or spouse, and it’s something people don’t say very often, because it has a very profound meaning which some want to save for special moments or occasions.

Say you’ve been dating someone for a short period and you’re not ready to say ti amo. Luckily there’s another Italian expression which is perfect in this situation: TI VOGLIO BENE, which still means I love you, but in a different way, more like ‘I really care about you’, ‘you mean a lot to me’, perfect for friends, mothers, brothers, siblings, early days romance etc.

Ti voglio bene is a great start when you have feelings for someone, but you’re not ready to say I love you.

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]]> https://commonlyusedwords.com/how-to-flirt-in-italian/feed/ 0 The Italian Present Conditional https://commonlyusedwords.com/the-italian-present-conditional/ https://commonlyusedwords.com/the-italian-present-conditional/#respond Wed, 18 Sep 2019 10:00:10 +0000 https://commonlyusedwords.com/?p=5886

What is the Present Conditional and when should you use it in Italian?

The condizionale presente is one of the most frequently used tenses in conversation, together with presente, passato prossimo and imperfetto. It is the equivalent of the construction would + verb, and it has two tenses only: the present and the past. In this article, you’ll learn how to conjugate and use the present conditional (condizionale presente).

Generally speaking, it’s a tense which is used in independent clauses to express, in the present or in the future:

  • a wish or an intention
    Vorrei ordinare un bicchere d’acqua. I would like to order a glass of water.
  • a personal opinion
    Secondo me, le persone dovrebbero guidare più piano. In my opinion, people should drive slower.
  • an invitation
    Vorresti venire al cinema con me? Would you like to come to the cinema with me?
  • a polite request
    Potrei avere un bicchiere d’acqua? Could I have a glass of water?

How to form the present conditional in Italian

In English, you make the present conditional tense by putting would before the verb. In Italian, it’s the ending that changes.

The condizionale in Italian is formed by dropping the -e of the infinitive and by adding the following endings:

italian conditional regular verbs

Condizionale presente of irregular verbs

Regular verbs all follow the pattern above, whereas irregular verbs, in particular essere (to be), avere (to have), and the modal verbs (dovere, potere, volere) follow a slightly different pattern, for example:

italian conditional irregular verbs

Some exceptions

Verbs ending in -care/gare take an h in the present conditional:

italian conditional gare care verbs cercare

Verbs ending in -ciare/-giare drop the i in the present conditional

italian conditional giare ciare verbs mangiare

Present conditional with the hypothetical period

The condizionale presente uses to form the so called hypotetical period of the second type (periodo ipotetico della possibilità), to refer to something that might happen, or that is improbable, but possible. In the hypothetical period, the dependant clause is formed with congiuntivo imperfetto, whereas the main clause is formed with the condizionale presente.

Se fossi in te, non andrei a quella festa. If I were you (dependant clause), I wouldn’t go to that party (main clause).

 

More examples using the Italian present conditional

  • Mi piacerebbe comprare un’auto nuova. I would like to buy a new car.
  • Mi aiuteresti a portare questa valigia? Would you help me carry this suitcase?
  • Se fossi ricco, andrei in vacanza ogni mese. If I was rich, I would go on holiday every month.
  • Dovresti fare più attenzione. You should be more careful.

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]]> https://commonlyusedwords.com/the-italian-present-conditional/feed/ 0 How to order in Italian https://commonlyusedwords.com/how-to-order-in-italian/ https://commonlyusedwords.com/how-to-order-in-italian/#respond Thu, 12 Sep 2019 03:30:53 +0000 https://commonlyusedwords.com/?p=5866

When you’re on holiday in Italy, one of the first things you should learn is how to order food or drinks in Italian. If on the one hand asking for directions is becoming more and more obsolete, due to internet, online maps and apps that you can download to find anything you’re looking for, on the other hand knowing how to order and ask for things in Italian, at the coffee shop or at the restaurant, is fundamental if you want to get by, unless the locals can speak your language.

This article will teach you everything you need to know to order in Italian, whether it’s a pizza, an ice cream or a cocktail at the bar.

Asking politely

1) Vorrei…

Vorrei (I would like) comes from the verb volere (to want), and by using it in the conditional tense, your request will sound much more polite.

Vorrei una pizza margherita, per favore. I would like a margherita please.

Vorremmo due birre e un bicchiere di vino. We would like two beers and a glass of wine.

 

2) Posso avere…?

Another way of ordering food in Italian is by saying Posso avere? (Can I have?). Posso comes from the verb potere (can), whereas avere (to have) is used in the infinitive form.

Posso avere la bistecca? Could I have the steak?

Posso avere una bottiglia di Chianti? Can I have a bottle of Chianti?

 

For a more formal approach, you could replace posso with potrei (could):

Potrei avere due cappuccini per favore? Could I have two cappuccinos please?

Ask informally

3) Prendo

Prendo (I take) is the first person of prendere (to take) in the present tense. It means I’ll have. This is a more informal way of asking for things, whenever you feel like the environment is more friendly and doesn’t require a formal approach.

Prendo un caffè macchiato e due cornetti. I’ll have a macchiato coffee and two croissants.

Prendo l’insalata, ma senza carote per favore. I’ll have the salad, but without the carrots, please.

 

4) Per me…

If you’re in a restaurant with other people, and the waiter goes around the table asking each person what they would like, you could use the expression per me (for me), and in case you’re ordering on behalf of other people you could say per lei (for her) or per lui (for him).

Per me gli spaghetti al ragù, per lei la zuppa di pomodori. For me spaghetti al ragù, for her the tomato soup.

Or, if you want to keep it simple…

If you think you’d struggle to remember any of the words above, don’t worry! There’s a trick you could use to effectively order food or drinks in Italian.

If you’re asking for one thing only, all you need to do is say the item you want, followed by per favore (please).

Un latte macchiato, per favore. One latte, please

Un panino al prosciutto e formaggio, per favore. A ham and cheese sandwich, please.

 

If you’re asking for more than one item, just remember to say how many you’d like, and to change the ending of the word to reflect the plural.

Due gelati al cioccolato, per favore. Two chocolate ice creams, please.

Tre panini al prosciutto, per favore. Three ham sandwiches please.

(Remember: in Italian it’s panino (singular) and panini (plural)!)

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