More basic expressions...

 

- attract someone’s attention: click to listen>

Scusi!

 

- say Please:

Per favore

Per piacere

 

- say Thank you, and Thanks a lot:

Grazie

Grazie mille

 

Capisce? (Do you understand?)

Capisco. (I understand.)

Ha capito? (Did you understand?)

Ho capito. (I did understand.)

Non capisco. (I don’t understand)

Come? (What did you say?)

Ripeta, per favore. (Repeat, please.)

Come si dice “museum”? (How do you say “museum”?) when you want someone to translate an English word into Italian

Cosa vuol dire “museo”?  (What does “museo” mean?)  when you want someone to translate an Italian word into English

 

- the waiter wants to take your order when he/she (cameriere/cameriera) says one of the following:

Prego?

Dica?

Desidera?

Desiderano? (asking more than one customer)

E Lei? (and you?)

 

- ask the waiter for something simply by saying the thing and adding “Please”:

Un caffè, per favore.

 

- the waiter has understood your order when the he/she says one of the following:

Benissimo

Va bene

Subito

 

- thank your waiter when he/she brings your order:

Grazie.

 

- get someone’s attention and ask if the thing you need is here (like a telephone or a bathroom, for example): click to listen>

Scusi, c’è un telefono qui?

Scusi, c’è un bagno qui?

 

- get someone’s attention and ask if what you need is nearby (like a bank machine or a bus stop, for example):

Scusi, c’è un bancomat qui vicino?

Scusi, c’è una fermata qui vicino?

 

- ecco can be used to point out (Here is, here are) a person or a thing.

Ecco Mario! (Here’s Mario.)

Ecco la chiave! (Here’s the key.)

Ecco le chiavi! (Here are the keys.)

 

Vorrei (I would like something (or) I would like to do something)

Vorrei un cappuccino.  (I would like a cappuccino.)

Vorrei pagare. (I would like to pay.)

 

Cerco... (I am looking for...)

Cerco la fontana di Trevi. (I’m looking for the Trevi fountain.)

Cerco le mie valige. (I’m looking for my suitcases.)

Cerco Maria.  (I’m looking for Maria.)