How to use this
You do not need to pronounce these well. Italian is read as it is written and nobody expects a foreigner to be perfect — what matters is that the right words are in the sentence. Say the first half in Italian and the room warms up, even if you finish in English.
The pronunciation guide reads as English. Capitals mark the stressed syllable, which is the part that matters most.
Getting into a taxi at Fiumicino or Ciampino
Say this AS YOU GET IN, before the meter starts. The fixed fare exists by council decree, but you have to invoke it.
Tariffa fissa, cinquantacinque.
ta-REEF-fa FEES-sa, cheen-kwan-TAH-cheen-kweh
“Fixed fare, fifty-five.” The official rate from Fiumicino to anywhere inside the Aurelian Walls. From Ciampino say quaranta (kwa-RAN-ta) instead. Per car, everything included.
Scusi, il tassametro è acceso?
SKOO-zee, eel tas-SA-me-tro eh a-CHEH-zo
“Excuse me, is the meter on?” Ask it politely at the start of any metered journey. You are entitled to see it running.
Mi può fare la ricevuta, per favore?
mee pwoh FA-reh la ree-cheh-VOO-ta, per fa-VO-reh
“Can you give me a receipt, please?” The licence number on it is what any complaint depends on. Ask before you pay, not after.
At the car rental desk
Before you leave the counter. Nobody offers these; you have to ask.
Mi può dare il numero di targa?
mee pwoh DA-reh eel NOO-me-ro dee TAR-ga
“Can you give me the number plate?” The single most useful sentence in this list. Without the plate you cannot register anywhere — not with a hotel, not with a council, not for a disabled badge. And it is not written on the contract in a way you will find in a hurry.
Che classe Euro è questa macchina?
keh KLAS-seh EH-oo-ro eh KWES-ta MAK-kee-na
“What Euro emissions class is this car?” Decides whether you can enter Milan's Area B, Rome's Fascia Verde and Bologna's environmental zone. The desk knows; they just do not volunteer it.
È elettrica o ibrida?
eh eh-LET-tree-ka oh EE-bree-da
“Is it electric or hybrid?” Worth knowing because it is now a disadvantage in Rome, where an electric car needs a €1,000 annual permit to enter the restricted zone.
Booking accommodation inside a restricted zone
Ask BEFORE you book, not on arrival. These are the questions that decide whether you can reach the door.
Siete registrati come locazione turistica o come alloggio turistico?
see-EH-teh re-jee-STRA-tee KO-meh lo-ka-tsee-OH-neh too-REES-tee-ka oh KO-meh al-LOJ-jo too-REES-tee-ko
For Verona. These are legal categories under Veneto regional law, and they have no English equivalent. A locazione turistica cannot register your plate; an alloggio turistico or casa per vacanze can. From a booking site the two look identical.
Avete un resede o un'autorimessa autorizzata?
a-VEH-teh oon re-SEH-deh oh oo-now-to-ree-MES-sa ow-to-reet-SA-ta
For Siena and Como. A property with its own courtyard or garage has no limit on the number of entries it can register. Without one, Siena allows two entries a day of 45 minutes each — and Como cannot get you in at all.
Potete registrare la mia targa per la ZTL?
po-TEH-teh re-jee-STRA-reh la MEE-a TAR-ga per la dzeh-tee-EL-leh
“Can you register my number plate for the restricted zone?” Ask it plainly. If the answer is vague or ‘just drive in’, treat it as a no and park outside.
Siete accreditati per la ZTL?
see-EH-teh ak-kre-dee-TA-tee per la dzeh-tee-EL-leh
For Milan's Quadrilatero. Properties there must accredit themselves with the council before they can transmit guests' plates. Being inside the zone does not mean being accredited.
Parking, and paying for it
The blue lines are paid, white are free, yellow are reserved. Never park on yellow.
Vorrei pagare la sosta, circuito LIS.
vor-RAY pa-GA-reh la SOS-ta, cheer-KOO-ee-to lees
For Naples, at any tobacconist. Give your plate and the zone and pay at the counter — nothing needs to go on the dashboard at all. By far the simplest way to pay for parking in Naples, and almost no visitor knows it exists.
Le strisce blu qui sono dentro o fuori la ZTL?
leh STREE-sheh bloo kwee SO-no DEN-tro oh foo-OH-ree la dzeh-tee-EL-leh
“Are the blue bays here inside or outside the restricted zone?” In Lucca they are outside — which is why you never need to enter the zone at all. Worth asking anywhere you are unsure.
Questo parcheggio è convenzionato con l'albergo?
KWES-to par-KEJ-jo eh kon-ven-tsyo-NA-to kon lal-BER-go
“Does this car park have an arrangement with the hotel?” In several cities a garage inside the zone can register your plate itself — free in Pisa, and the answer to the whole problem in Milan.
Trains, and strike days
Guaranteed trains are published in advance. These sentences get you to the right list.
Questo treno è garantito in caso di sciopero?
KWES-to TREH-no eh ga-ran-TEE-to een KA-zo dee sho-PEH-ro
“Is this train guaranteed during a strike?” Trenitalia publishes permanent lists (Tabella A and Tabella B) of trains that run regardless. You can check months ahead, at a ticket office or on the website.
Il mio treno è stato soppresso. Come chiedo il rimborso?
eel MEE-o TREH-no eh STA-to sop-PRES-so. KO-meh kee-EH-do eel reem-BOR-so
“My train has been cancelled. How do I claim a refund?” A cancelled train means a full refund, even on a validated ticket, claimable within a year.
Devo convalidare questo biglietto?
DEH-vo kon-va-lee-DA-reh KWES-to bee-LYET-to
“Do I need to validate this ticket?” Paper regional tickets: yes, in the machine before boarding. Digital regional tickets validate themselves at the departure time you chose. The fine for getting it wrong starts at €50.
La macchinetta non funziona. Può convalidarmi il biglietto?
la mak-kee-NET-ta non foon-tsee-OH-na. pwoh kon-va-lee-DAR-mee eel bee-LYET-to
“The machine is broken. Can you validate my ticket?” Say it to staff before boarding, or to the conductor immediately on getting on — not when they come to check. Finding you first is what makes the difference.
At a restaurant, and the bill
Prices at the counter and at a table are different by law, and the list is displayed. This is not a scam.
Quanto costa al tavolo?
KWAN-to KOS-ta al TA-vo-lo
“How much is it at the table?” Coffee, gelato, a beer, a sandwich: sitting down costs more, and the two-column price list is displayed by law. Ask before you sit if it matters.
Questo prezzo è all'etto o al pezzo?
KWES-to PRET-tso eh al-LET-to oh al PET-tso
“Is this price per hundred grams or per item?” The sentence that prevents the commonest bill shock in Italy. Fish and meat are often priced all'etto — per 100g. “€8 all'etto” on half a kilo is €40, not €8.
Mi può pesare il pesce prima, per favore?
mee pwoh peh-SA-reh eel PEH-sheh PREE-ma, per fa-VO-reh
“Could you weigh the fish first, please?” Entirely normal to ask, and it turns an unknown into a number before you order.
Il conto, per favore.
eel KON-to, per fa-VO-reh
“The bill, please.” It will not arrive on its own: in Italy bringing the bill unasked is considered rude, as if hurrying you out.
Posso pagare con la carta?
POS-so pa-GA-reh kon la KAR-ta
“Can I pay by card?” Card payment is compulsory with no minimum, and refusing carries a fine. But American Express can be legitimately refused: the law requires at least one credit circuit, not all of them.
Money, and the trap at the card machine
One question, asked once, saves you a percentage on every payment.
In euro, per favore.
een EH-oo-ro, per fa-VO-reh
The most profitable four words in this list. When a card machine offers to charge you in your own currency, that is Dynamic Currency Conversion and the exchange rate is theirs. Always choose euro. Refusing the conversion does not cancel the payment — that fear is exactly what the screen relies on.
Qual è la commissione?
kwal eh la kom-mees-see-OH-neh
“What is the fee?” By EU regulation the mark-up must be shown as a percentage over the ECB rate, at a cash machine too. You are entitled to see it before you agree.
If you have a disability, or reduced mobility
The right exists nationally. The recognition does not travel with it — the plate has to be registered with each city.
Ho il contrassegno disabili. Devo registrare la targa?
oh eel kon-tras-SEH-nyo dee-SA-bee-lee. DEH-vo re-jee-STRA-reh la TAR-ga
“I have a disabled badge. Do I need to register the number plate?” Almost always yes. There is no shared national database, so the camera fines you unless that city has your plate on its list.
Vorrei prenotare la Sala Blu.
vor-RAY preh-no-TA-reh la SA-la bloo
“I would like to book Sala Blu.” Free assistance at over 300 Italian stations: boarding, alighting, changes. Book in advance. For a month of trains with luggage it is the single most useful thing on the railway.
Posso avere assistenza per salire sul treno?
POS-so a-VEH-reh as-sees-TEN-tsa per sa-LEE-reh sool TREH-no
“Can I have assistance boarding the train?” Useful at a station where you have not booked ahead.
When something has gone wrong
Calm, specific sentences. Italian officials respond well to precision.
Ho ricevuto una multa. A chi devo fare ricorso?
oh ree-cheh-VOO-to OO-na MOOL-ta. a kee DEH-vo FA-reh ree-KOR-so
“I have received a fine. Who do I appeal to?” The two routes are the Prefetto of that city or the Giudice di Pace. Note that repeated entries into the same zone on the same day should count as one violation.
Posso chiedere l'annullamento in autotutela?
POS-so kee-EH-de-reh lan-nool-la-MEN-to een ow-to-too-TEH-la
“Can I request annulment in self-review?” A lighter remedy than a formal appeal, where the authority cancels its own act. It works on objective facts — a permit that existed but was never entered, a plate typed wrongly. It does not suspend the appeal deadline, so run both.
Il mio albergo doveva registrare la targa e non l'ha fatto.
eel MEE-o al-BER-go do-VEH-va re-jee-STRA-reh la TAR-ga eh non la FAT-to
“My hotel was supposed to register the plate and did not.” This is a recognised ground for annulment. In Pisa the rules go further: where the error is the property's, the property pays the costs.
Non parlo italiano. C'è qualcuno che parla inglese?
non PAR-lo ee-ta-lee-A-no. cheh kwal-KOO-no keh PAR-la een-GLEH-zeh
“I don't speak Italian. Is there someone who speaks English?” Say the first half in Italian and you will get further than starting in English. At a council office, at a station, at a police desk.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need any Italian in Italy?
For a holiday, no — in tourist areas English is widely spoken. But there are specific moments where it matters, and they are the moments that cost money: a taxi fare that should be fixed, a hotel that has to register your number plate with the council, a fine you want annulled, a freephone line that answers only in Italian. This page is not a phrasebook of greetings; it is the sentences for those moments.
What is the single most useful sentence here?
“Mi può dare il numero di targa?” — can you give me the number plate? Ask it at the rental desk before you leave the counter. Without the plate you cannot register with a hotel, a council or a disabled-badge scheme, and it is not printed on the contract anywhere you will find in a hurry.
How do I ask for the fixed taxi fare from the airport?
Say it as you get in, before the meter starts: “Tariffa fissa, cinquantacinque” from Fiumicino, or “Tariffa fissa, quaranta” from Ciampino. The rate is set by council decree and covers everything — luggage, night hours, up to four passengers. It applies only if the trip is direct, with no detours or other pick-ups.
What does 'all'etto' mean and why does it matter?
Per hundred grams. Fish and meat in Italy are often priced all'etto, so €8 all'etto on a half-kilo fish is €40, not €8. It is not a scam — the price is displayed correctly — but visitors read the number and not the unit. Ask “Questo prezzo è all'etto o al pezzo?” before ordering.
Why should I always say 'in euro' at a card machine?
Because the alternative is Dynamic Currency Conversion, where the merchant's terminal converts to your home currency at their rate rather than your bank's. Choosing euro is almost always cheaper. And refusing the conversion does NOT cancel the payment — the fear that it might is exactly what the screen relies on.
I have a disabled badge. What is the one thing to know?
That the right travels but the recognition does not. A vehicle carrying a valid badge holder may enter restricted zones anywhere in Italy, but there is no shared national database, so without registering the plate with the specific city you will be fined. Each city has its own procedure — some accept it by email, some only through Italian digital identity, and a few allow it after the fact.
Or just let us make the call
Some of these conversations are hard even with the right sentence — a council office, a freephone line that answers only in Italian, a host who would rather not commit. Tell Pronto what you need and we telephone for you, free during beta. Booking a table, confirming a permit, asking a garage whether they have space: that is what a concierge is.
More verified Italy guides
Every sentence here exists because of a rule we verified: the Rome taxi tariff from romamobilita.it, the emissions classes from comune.milano.it, the accommodation categories from Veneto regional law 11/2013, the counter-and-table pricing from the Codice del Consumo, the currency conversion rights from EU Regulation 2021/1230. The pages linked above carry the sources in full.