Italian is a very simple language (especially if you speak Spanish) to learn, though at the same time it's confusing. Italian is my second language (my mom's family is Italian, and it's impossible to speak to them without an Italian vocabulary). I'm fluent, and I have decided to share a few simple phrases and sayings. Though simple, they're very useful whether you have an Italian friend, or if you're visiting Italy. Enjoy!

Alphabet- by learning this, you should be able to say Italian words without mispronunciation.

Aa as in the word “ask” and never as in the word “able”

Bb same as in English

Cc like “tsh” before “i” or “e”, otherwise like "k” in Creole.

Dd same as in English

Ee as in “elevated”

Ff same as in English

Gg like the "dg", before “i” or “e”, otherwise like the "g" in "Good".

Hh silent most of the time.

Ii as in the word “ink” never as in the word “island”

Jj as in “Job”, or the “s” of “pleasure”.

Kk same as in English

Ll same as in English

Mm same as in English

Nn same as in English

Oo ame as in English “Old” never as in “Hot” which is pronounced somehow like {hat}

Pp same as in English

Qq same as in English

Rr Spanish “r”

Ss between vowels as “z”, and as “s” otherwise.

Tt same as in English not as sharp.

Uu as in the “ultra”, never as in the word “up” or “university”

Vv same as in English

Ww as in English, sometimes as “v”

Xx same as in English

Yy same as in English although rare.

Zz as in “ts”, or “dz”.

cc as “tshee” before “i” and “e”, or as “kee” elsewhere.

ch like “k” as in “kid”.

gg as in “dgee” before “I” and “e”, or as the “gee” in “geese”.

gh like “g” in “God”

gli as in “gli”

gn like “n” in “news”

qu like “kw” in “quest”

sc like “sh” before “i” and “e”, or like “k” elsewhere.

J- K- W- X- Y appear mainly in foreign loan words.

Greetings

Hi!- Ciao!

Good morning!- Buongiorno!

Good evening!- Buona sera!

Welcome! (to greet someone) -Benvenuto!/ Benvenuta! (female)

How are you?- Come stai?/ Come state (polite)?

I'm fine, thanks!- Bene, grazie!

And you?- e tu? e lei? (polite)

Good/ So-So.- Bene/ così e così.

Thank you (very much)!- Grazie (molto)!

You're welcome! (for "thank you")- Prego!

Hey! Friend!- Ciao! Amico! (Notice how similar the Italian word for friend is compared to the Spanish (Amigo). Only one letter is changed.)

I missed you so much!- Mi sei mancato molto!

What's new?- che c'è di nuovo?

Nothing much- Non molto

Good night!- Buona notte!

See you later!- A dopo

Good bye!- Arrivederci!

Asking for Help and Directions

I'm lost- Mi sono perso/ persa (feminine)

Can I help you?- Posso aiutarti?/ posso aiutarla (polite)?

Can you help me?- Potresti aiutarmi?/ potrebbe aiutarmi? (polite)

Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)?- Dove posso trovare (il bagno/ la farmacia?)

Go straight! then turn left/ right!- Vada dritto! e poi giri a destra/ sinistra!

I'm looking for John.- Sto cercando John.

One moment please!- Un momento prego!

Hold on please! (phone)- Attenda prego!

How much is this?- Quanto costa questo?

Excuse me ...! (to ask for
something)- Scusami!/ Mi scusi! (polite)

Excuse me!- ( to pass by) Permesso

Come with me!- Vieni con me!/
Venga con me! (polite)

Italian Vocabulary

Common Animals

Bear- Orso

Bird- Bird (easy, right? Haha.)

Cat- Gatto

Cow- Cow (another easy one)

Dog- Cane (remember, this isn't pronounced 'keyn'. The correct pronunciation is 'Cah-ney")

Fish- Pesce

Horse- Cavallo

Monkey- Monkey

Mouse- Mouse

Pig- Maiale

Sheep- Ovini

Body Parts

Arm- Arm

Back- Indietro

Chest- Petto

Ear- Orecchio

Eye- Eye

Face- Volto

Finger- Finger

Fingers- Fingers

Foot- Piede

Hair- Capelli (Look familar? A type of pasta is named after this.)

Hand- Mano

Head- Testa

Heart- Cuore

Leg- Leg

Mouth- Bocca

Neck- Collo

Nose- Naso

Shoulder- Spalla

Stomach- Stomaco

Teeth- Denti

Tongue- Tongue

Tooth- tooth

Adjectives (Aggettivi)

Angry- Arrabbiato

Bad- Cattivo

Beautiful- Bella (this is often used as a pet name)

Cheap- Economico

Clean- Pulito (I love how it looks sort of like 'Pollution')

Cold- Freddo

Different- Diversi

Difficult- Difficile

Early (this can also mean 'hurry' or 'quickly')- Presto

Easy- Facile

Friendly- Amicale

Good- Buono

Heavy- Pesante

Important- Importante

Married- Coniugato

Natural- Naturale

Nice- Carino

Open- Aperto

Polite- compito

Poor- Povero (think of 'poverty')

Rich- ricco

Sad- Triste

Simple- Semplice

Slow- Lentro

Small- Piccolo

Sweet- Dolce

Tall- Alto (think of 'altitude')

Warm- Caldo

Well- Bene

Worst- Cattivissima/Cattivissima

Wrong- Colpevole

Objects (Oggetti)

Bathroom- Bagno

Bed- Letto

Bedroom- Camera da letto

Ceiling- Soffito

Chair- Sedia

Clothes- Abiti

Coat- Cappotto

Cup- Coppa

Desk- Scrivania

Dress- abbigliare

Fork- Forcella


(I apologize for any mistakes. It's about four am here. (I'm such a geek))

Hope this helped.