How much Italian do I actually need to know?

[Deleted]

You won't *need* to know any Italian in those places, but it is helpful/polite to know:

Grazie (thank you)
Prego (you're welcome, though it is used for broader purposes as well -- like a waiter will say it after serving you something)
Buongiorno (good morning/day)
Buona sera (good afternoon)
ancora del vino [rosso/bianco] per favore (more [red/white] wine please -- though others may have much more polished suggestions)
Dove...? (where is...?)
Dove il bagno? (where is the bathroom?)
Perdona (pardon)

[mdgirl]

I just went in April (Rome, with a day trip to Orvieto, Venice, Lake Como, and a night in Milan before our flight). I used this, mostly the CD-ROM, which gave me some good basics. I took Spanish in high school and I think that helped, too. I wouldn't say I needed Italian anywhere though.

[Deleted]

Jun 5, 2014 11:04:13 GMT -5 Adora Belle Dearheart said:

Jun 5, 2014 10:50:32 GMT -5 mdgirl said:

I just went in April (Rome, with a day trip to Orvieto, Venice, Lake Como, and a night in Milan before our flight). I used this, mostly the CD-ROM, which gave me some good basics. I took Spanish in high school and I think that helped, too. I wouldn't say I needed Italian anywhere though.

Thanks. Also, tell me all about Orvieto!

It is lovely and peaceful and the wine is very, very cheap there

Definitely take a tour of the Etruscan underground.  It is really cool.

[Deleted]

I was in Rome in April and the ONLY person who didn't speak English was the guy at a gas station where we asked for directions.

[clseale]

I've been working my way through the Duolingo app, and DH picked up a workbook. I don't expect to know much before I go, but trying to learn some stuff is simple enough. Like you, I just want to be able to say hello, ask how they are doing, basic niceties, ask for the essentials, etc. We'll be in Rome, Positano, Florence, and Venice, so I don't anticipate it being any more difficult than when we were in Paris. We managed.

[anna7602]

Italian people are SO amazingly nice when you make any effort at all to say something in Italian, even if it's just "per favore." You should be fine with English in most places, but brushing up on the kinds of basic phrases v posted above will win you friends and perhaps even some free profiteroles here and there.

If you plan to send any post cards, stamps are called "francobolli."

Knowing your basic gelato flavors also helps if you're traveling off the beaten path. DD still remembers the word "fragola" (strawberry) because of this, and we were in Italy together over a year ago.

[Deleted]

One more, sorry!

Il conto, per favore (the check, please)

They won't bring it until you ask for it.

[Deleted]

anna7602 -- That is a good point. "Stracciatella" is an important part of my vocabulary in Italy (AND at home)

[Deleted]

For gelato - also know nocciola (hazelnut) :-)

I always find it helpful to ask in their language if they speak English...so "lei parla Inglese"?

[dorothyinAus]

I don't speak Italian, but when I go to places where I don't speak the language, I tend to concentrate on directional words, so if I'm lost (or more likely need the bathroom), I can understand the directions I'm given.

I also check out menu words so I can avoid things I'm allergic to, or really do not like.

[GilliC]

Jun 5, 2014 11:07:27 GMT -5 Adora Belle Dearheart said:

Jun 5, 2014 10:50:04 GMT -5 v said:

You won't *need* to know any Italian in those places, but it is helpful/polite to know:

Grazie (thank you)
Prego (you're welcome, though it is used for broader purposes as well -- like a waiter will say it after serving you something)
Buongiorno (good morning/day)
Buona sera (good afternoon)
ancora del vino [rosso/bianco] per favore (more [red/white] wine please -- though others may have much more polished suggestions)
Dove...? (where is...?)
Dove il bagno? (where is the bathroom?)
Perdona (pardon)

I think I'm pretty much set with what I need to know

I'm probably just being paranoid after our near run-in with the soccer riots in Paris in May. We were on the metro and there was some announcement about Trocadero station and the train didn't stop there. So we got off at the next stop and started walking back to where we were going. And then noticed crowds of guys with covered faces. Oops. 

Even though I speak a fair amount of Norwegian, I can't always understand transit announcements. If it's something that seems important, or it results in lots of people getting up suddenly, I typically just ask someone if they can tell me what the announcement was. I've found that most people are quite willing to help when something unusual is going on.