Catalog / Italian Language Basics Cheatsheet
Italian Language Basics Cheatsheet
A quick reference guide to essential Italian grammar, vocabulary, and phrases for beginners.
Basic Greetings & Introductions
Greetings
Ciao |
Hello / Goodbye (informal) |
Buongiorno |
Good morning / Good day (formal) |
Buonasera |
Good evening / Good night (formal) |
Salve |
Hello (formal, anytime) |
Buonanotte |
Good night (when going to sleep) |
Introductions
Come ti chiami? (informal) |
What’s your name? |
Come si chiama? (formal) |
What’s your name? |
Mi chiamo… |
My name is… |
Piacere |
Nice to meet you |
Molto lieto/a |
Pleased to meet you (formal, m/f) |
Basic Phrases
Come stai? (informal) |
How are you? |
Come sta? (formal) |
How are you? |
Sto bene, grazie. |
I’m fine, thank you. |
E tu? (informal) |
And you? |
E Lei? (formal) |
And you? |
Scusa/Scusi |
Excuse me/Sorry (informal/formal) |
Essential Grammar
Definite Articles
il |
the (masculine, singular, consonant) |
lo |
the (masculine, singular, z, s + consonant) |
la |
the (feminine, singular) |
l’ |
the (singular, vowel) |
i |
the (masculine, plural, consonant) |
gli |
the (masculine, plural, z, s + consonant, vowel) |
le |
the (feminine, plural) |
Subject Pronouns
io |
I |
tu |
you (informal) |
Lui/Lei/Lei |
He/She/You (formal) |
noi |
we |
voi |
you (plural, informal) |
loro |
they |
Verb 'Essere' (To Be)
io sono |
I am |
tu sei |
you are (informal) |
Lui/Lei/Lei è |
He/She is/You are (formal) |
noi siamo |
we are |
voi siete |
you are (plural, informal) |
loro sono |
they are |
Basic Vocabulary
Common Nouns
acqua |
water |
pane |
bread |
vino |
wine |
libro |
book |
casa |
house |
città |
city |
Common Adjectives
bello/a |
beautiful |
buono/a |
good |
grande |
big |
piccolo/a |
small |
nuovo/a |
new |
vecchio/a |
old |
Common Verbs (Infinitive)
parlare |
to speak |
mangiare |
to eat |
bere |
to drink |
leggere |
to read |
scrivere |
to write |
dormire |
to sleep |
Useful Phrases
Asking for Directions
Dov’è…? |
Where is…? |
Come arrivo a…? |
How do I get to…? |
È lontano da qui? |
Is it far from here? |
A destra |
To the right |
A sinistra |
To the left |
Dritto |
Straight ahead |
At a Restaurant
Un tavolo per uno/due, per favore. |
A table for one/two, please. |
Il menu, per favore. |
The menu, please. |
Vorrei… |
I would like… |
L’acqua frizzante/naturale |
Sparkling/Still water |
Il conto, per favore. |
The bill, please. |
È tutto delizioso! |
Everything is delicious! |
Numbers 1-10
Uno |
One |
Due |
Two |
Tre |
Three |
Quattro |
Four |
Cinque |
Five |
Sei |
Six |
Sette |
Seven |
Otto |
Eight |
Nove |
Nine |
Dieci |
Ten |