Yes, no and the essentials in Italian
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Italian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Italian phrases in this lesson
- SìSEE
- Yes
- NoNO
- No
- Va beneva BEH-neh
- Okay
- Non capisconon ka-PIS-ko
- I don't understand
- Parla inglese?PAR-la in-GLEH-zeh
- Do you speak English?
- Può ripetere?pwoh ree-PEH-teh-reh
- Can you repeat that?
- Più piano, per favorepyoo PYAH-noh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
- Slowly, please
- Cos'è questo?koh-ZEH KWES-toh
- What is this?
- Ho bisogno di...oh bee-ZOHN-yoh dee
- I need...
- Può aiutarmi?pwoh ah-yoo-TAR-mee
- Can you help me?
The accent is written to distinguish it from "si" (the reflexive pronoun). Pronounced with a clear, short vowel.
Straightforward and universal. Italians often soften a refusal by adding "grazie" or by explaining briefly.
Literally "it goes well." One of the most versatile phrases in Italian. It signals agreement, acknowledgement, and that everything is fine.
Follow it with "può ripetere?" (can you repeat?) or "più lentamente, per favore" (more slowly, please) to keep the conversation going.
This is the formal form, using "Lei." With a young person or peer, you could say "parli inglese?" The formal version is safer with strangers.
Literally "more softly".