MOSTRARE AL PERSONALE Β· STAFF SHOW-CARD PREVIEW
Celiac Disease / Strictly Gluten-Free (AIC)
Sono celiaco/a. Non posso mangiare glutine (grano, orzo, farro, segale, nΓ© contaminazione incrociata). Avete piatti senza glutine?
SOH-noh cheh-LEE-ah-koh / ah. Non POS-soh man-JAH-reh gloo-TEE-neh. Ah-VEH-teh PYAHT-tee SEN-zah gloo-TEE-neh?
Italy is world-famous for celiac awareness via the AIC (Associazione Italiana Celiachia). Show this card so the kitchen uses a separate pot and clean utensils.
Showing all 42 Italian cards β tap “π± Show to Staff” on any card to display it large above
Dietary & Allergy Cards
Celiac Disease / Strictly Gluten-Free (AIC)
Sono celiaco/a. Non posso mangiare glutine (grano, orzo, farro, segale, nΓ© contaminazione incrociata). Avete piatti senza glutine?
SOH-noh cheh-LEE-ah-koh / ah. Non POS-soh man-JAH-reh gloo-TEE-neh. Ah-VEH-teh PYAHT-tee SEN-zah gloo-TEE-neh?
Italy is world-famous for celiac awareness via the AIC (Associazione Italiana Celiachia). Show this card so the kitchen uses a separate pot and clean utensils.
Dietary & Allergy Cards
Severe Nut & Pine Nut Allergy (Pesto / Desserts)
Ho una grave allergia alle noci, arachidi, mandorle, nocciole, pistacchi e pinoli (anche nel pesto o nei dolci). PuΓ² verificare gli ingredienti?
Oh OO-nah GRAH-veh al-lehr-JEE-ah AHL-leh NOH-chee, ah-RAH-kee-dee, MAN-dor-leh, noht-CHOH-leh, pee-STAHK-kee eh pee-NOH-lee.
Crucial in Liguria (pesto contains pine nuts / pinoli), Sicily (pistachios and almonds in pasta and cannoli), and Piedmont (hazelnuts / gianduja).
Dietary & Allergy Cards
Dairy & Lactose Allergy (Senza Latticini)
Non posso consumare latte, burro, panna, formaggio (incluso parmigiano o pecorino) o lattosio. Potete cucinare con olio extravergine dβoliva?
Non POS-soh kon-soo-MAH-reh LAHT-teh, BOOR-roh, PAHN-nah, for-MAHJ-joh oh laht-TOH-zyoh. Poh-TEH-teh koo-chee-NAH-reh kon OH-lyoh?
Many northern Italian risottos and pastas are finished with butter (mantecatura) and Parmigiano; this asks the chef to use olive oil instead.
Dietary & Allergy Cards
Shellfish & Seafood Allergy (Crostacei e Molluschi)
Ho una grave allergia ai crostacei (gamberi, scampi, granchio) e ai molluschi (vongole, cozze, calamari), anche nel brodo di pesce.
Oh OO-nah GRAH-veh al-lehr-JEE-ah ahy kroh-STAH-cheh-ee eh ahy mohl-LOO-skee, AHN-keh nel BROH-doh dee PEH-sheh.
Important at coastal trattorias in Venice, Liguria, Campania, Puglia, and Sicily where seafood stock (fumetto di pesce) is common.
Dietary & Allergy Cards
Vegetarian β No Meat, Cured Pork, or Stock
Sono vegetariano/a: non mangio carne, salumi (prosciutto, pancetta, guanciale), pesce nΓ© brodo di carne.
SOH-noh veh-jeh-tah-RYAH-noh / ah: non MAN-joh KAR-neh, sah-LOO-mee, PEH-sheh neh BROH-doh dee KAR-neh.
Specifies no guanciale or pancetta (used in Roman carbonara and amatriciana) and no meat broth (used in tortellini in brodo and risotto).
Dietary & Allergy Cards
Strictly Vegan β 100% Plant-Based (Vegano)
Sono vegano/a: non mangio carne, pesce, latticini, uova (pasta fresca allβuovo), miele nΓ© strutto.
SOH-noh veh-GAH-noh / ah: non MAN-joh KAR-neh, PEH-sheh, laht-tee-CHEE-nee, WOH-vah, MYEH-leh neh STROOT-toh.
Fresh pasta (tagliatelle, tortellini) is usually made with egg (pasta allβuovo), while dried southern pasta (spaghetti, penne) is durum wheat and water.
Polite Basics
Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening
Buongiorno / Buonasera
bwon-JOR-noh / bwoh-nah-SEH-rah
Say this whenever you step into a cafΓ©, shop, bakery, or hotel elevator. Switch to Buonasera around 16:00β17:00.
Polite Basics
Please / Thank you very much
Per favore / Grazie mille
pehr fah-VOH-reh / GRAHT-see-eh MEEL-leh
Note that grazie is three syllables (GRAHT-see-eh), not graht-zee.
Polite Basics
Excuse me (to pass by / to get attention)
Permesso / Mi scusi
pehr-MEHS-soh / mee SKOO-zee
Use Permesso when squeezing off a crowded train or bus; use Mi scusi to politely call a waiter or ask a stranger a question.
Polite Basics
Do you speak English?
Parla inglese?
PAR-lah een-GLEH-zeh?
Asking politely in Italian first warms up every interaction before switching to English.
Polite Basics
Could you speak more slowly, please?
PuΓ² parlare piΓΉ lentamente, per favore?
pwoh par-LAH-reh pyoo lehn-tah-MEHN-teh, pehr fah-VOH-reh?
Helpful when train station staff or trattoria servers explain regional specials or platform changes.
Polite Basics
Where is the restroom (bathroom)?
DovβΓ¨ il bagno, per favore?
doh-VEH eel BAH-nyoh, pehr fah-VOH-reh?
Signage may also say Servizi or WC; Signore is women and Signori is men.
Trattoria & Dining
A table for two, please
Un tavolo per due, per favore.
oon TAH-voh-loh pehr DOO-eh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
For 1: per uno Β· For 3: per tre Β· For 4: per quattro. Book popular trattorias a day ahead.
Trattoria & Dining
Standing at the bar: one espresso & one cornetto
Un caffè e un cornetto, per favore.
oon kahf-FEH eh oon kor-NEHT-toh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
In Italy, asking for un caffΓ¨ always means a single shot of espresso. Standing at the counter (al banco) costs β¬1.10ββ¬1.50 vs β¬3ββ¬5 at a patio table.
Trattoria & Dining
Still water / Sparkling water (for the table)
Una bottiglia di acqua naturale / frizzante, per favore.
OO-nah boht-TEE-lyah dee AHK-wah nah-too-RAH-leh / freet-ZAHN-teh
Italian restaurants serve bottled mineral water (β¬2ββ¬3.50); always specify naturale (still) or frizzante (sparkling).
Trattoria & Dining
What is the regional specialty of the house?
Qual Γ¨ il piatto tipico della casa?
kwahl EH eel PYAHT-toh TEE-pee-koh DEHL-lah KAH-zah?
Italian cuisine is fiercely regionalβthis asks the server what local dish their kitchen does best.
Trattoria & Dining
A small cup / cone with two gelato flavors
Una coppetta piccola (o un cono) con due gusti, per favore.
OO-nah kohp-PEHT-tah PEEK-koh-lah kon DOO-eh GOO-stee
At traditional gelaterias you often pay at the cashier (cassa) first, then hand your receipt to the server behind the counter.
Trattoria & Dining
A glass / half-liter of the house red wine
Un calice (o mezzo litro) di vino rosso della casa, per favore.
oon KAH-lee-cheh dee VEE-noh ROHS-soh DEHL-lah KAH-zah
House wine (vino sfuso / della casa) in Rome, Tuscany, or Emilia-Romagna is fresh, local, and usually β¬5ββ¬9 for a half-liter carafe.
Trattoria & Dining
The bill, please
Il conto, per favore.
eel KON-toh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Italian waiters consider it rude to drop the check before you ask. Note that coperto (β¬1.50ββ¬3.50/person) is the legal bread and table cover charge.
Trattoria & Dining
Can I pay by contactless card?
Posso pagare con la carta?
POHS-soh pah-GAH-reh kon lah KAR-tah?
By Italian law, every business must accept Visa/Mastercard POS payments, even for a β¬1.20 coffee, though carrying β¬20ββ¬30 cash helps in small villages.
Trattoria & Dining
Waiter! Can we order when you have a moment?
Mi scusi, possiamo ordinare?
mee SKOO-zee, pohs-SYAH-moh or-dee-NAH-reh?
Polite way to let the server know your table is ready to order.
Trains & Transit
Which platform does the train to Florence depart from?
Da quale binario parte il treno per Firenze?
dah KWAH-leh bee-NAH-ryoh PAR-teh eel TREH-noh pehr fee-REHN-tseh?
Watch the departures board (Partenze) for the column marked Binario (platform).
Trains & Transit
One ticket to Rome, please
Un biglietto per Roma, per favore.
oon bee-LYEHT-toh pehr ROH-mah, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Add solo andata for one-way, or andata e ritorno for round-trip.
Trains & Transit
Do I need to validate (stamp) this ticket?
Devo convalidare questo biglietto?
DEH-voh kon-vah-lee-DAH-reh KWEH-stoh bee-LYEHT-toh?
Paper Regionale train tickets must be stamped in the green/grey machine before boarding; digital tickets require Check-In in the Trenitalia app.
Trains & Transit
Is this seat taken?
Γ libero questo posto?
eh LEE-beh-roh KWEH-stoh POH-stoh?
Frecciarossa and Italo trains have assigned carriage (Carrozza) and seat (Posto) numbers; Regionale trains are open seating.
Trains & Transit
Does this bus / vaporetto stop at the train station?
Questo autobus (o vaporetto) ferma alla stazione?
KWEH-stoh OW-toh-boos FEHR-mah AHL-lah staht-SYOH-neh?
In Venice, always confirm which direction a vaporetto waterbus is heading before tapping your ACTV pass.
Trains & Transit
Where can I find an official taxi stand?
DovβΓ¨ il posteggio dei taxi?
doh-VEH eel poh-STEHJ-joh dehy TAHK-see?
In Italian cities, you do not hail taxis on the streetβwalk to an orange TAXI sign stand or book via the FreeNow / itTaxi app.
Trains & Transit
Where is the luggage storage (left luggage)?
DovβΓ¨ il deposito bagagli?
doh-VEH eel deh-POH-zee-toh bah-GAH-lyee?
Major stations (Roma Termini, Firenze SMN, Venezia Santa Lucia, Milano Centrale) have KiPoint staffed baggage storage.
Trains & Transit
We are entering a ZTL restricted traffic zoneβwhere can I park?
Attenzione alla ZTL: dove cβΓ¨ un parcheggio fuori dalla Zona a Traffico Limitato?
aht-tehn-TSYOH-neh AHL-lah dzeh-tah tee EHL-leh: doh-veh cheh oon par-KEHJ-joh?
Never drive a rental car past a white circle sign reading Zona Traffico Limitato when Varco Attivo is lit.
Shopping & Hotels
I have a reservation under the name...
Ho una prenotazione a nome...
oh OO-nah preh-noh-taht-SYOH-neh ah NOH-meh...
Keep your passport handy at check-in; Italian law requires every hotel and B&B to register guest IDs with the Questura.
Shopping & Hotels
Could we leave our bags here until departure?
Possiamo lasciare i bagagli qui fino alla partenza?
pohs-SYAH-moh lah-SHAH-reh ee bah-GAH-lyee kwee FEE-noh AHL-lah par-TEHN-tsah?
Almost every Italian hotel will gladly hold your suitcases for a few hours after morning check-out.
Shopping & Hotels
How much does this cost?
Quanto costa questo?
KWAHN-toh KOH-stah KWEH-stoh?
At open-air food markets, remember not to touch fruit and vegetables with bare handsβask the vendor or use the plastic glove provided.
Shopping & Hotels
I am just looking, thank you
Sto solo guardando, grazie.
stoh SOH-loh gwar-DAHN-doh, GRAHT-see-eh
Polite response after greeting shop staff in boutiques and artisan workshops.
Shopping & Hotels
Do you have VAT Tax-Free forms for non-EU visitors?
Fate il Tax Free per residenti extra-UE?
FAH-teh eel tahks free pehr reh-zee-DEHN-tee EHK-strah oo-EH?
Purchases over β¬70.01 in a single store on the same day qualify for a VAT (IVA) refund at your final EU departure airport.
Shopping & Hotels
Is the tourist city tax (tassa di soggiorno) included?
La tassa di soggiorno Γ¨ inclusa?
lah TAHS-sah dee sohd-JOR-noh eh een-KLOO-zah?
Municipal tourist tax (β¬2ββ¬10 per person/night) is often collected separately at check-out.
Emergency & Pharmacy
Where is the nearest open pharmacy (Farmacia di turno)?
DovβΓ¨ la farmacia aperta piΓΉ vicina?
doh-VEH lah far-mah-CHEE-ah ah-PEHR-tah pyoo vee-CHEE-nah?
Look for the glowing green cross sign. Every closed pharmacy posts a notice outside listing the nearest 24-hour Farmacia di turno.
Emergency & Pharmacy
Pharmacist Card: I need something for stomach ache / nausea / headache
Ho bisogno di qualcosa per il mal di stomaco / la nausea / il mal di testa.
oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee kwahl-KOH-zah pehr eel mahl dee STOH-mah-koh / mahl dee TEH-stah
Italian pharmacists (farmacisti) are clinically trained and can recommend effective OTC remedies without a clinic visit.
Emergency & Pharmacy
Pharmacist Card: Blisters / Bandages / Antihistamine
Avete cerotti per le vesciche e un antistaminico?
ah-VEH-teh cheh-ROHT-tee pehr leh veh-SHEE-keh eh oon ahn-tee-stah-MEE-nee-koh?
Ask for cerotti (bandages/blister plasters) after long cobblestone walking days in Rome or Florence.
Emergency & Pharmacy
Help! I need a doctor / ambulance (Call 112)
Aiuto! Ho bisogno di un medico. Chiamate il 112!
ah-YOO-toh! oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee oon MEH-dee-koh. kyah-MAH-teh eel CHEN-toh-doh-dee-chee!
112 is the free pan-European emergency number (English operators available) for ambulance, police, and fire.
Emergency & Pharmacy
I lost my passport / My wallet was stolen
Ho perso il passaporto / Mi hanno rubato il portafoglio.
oh PEHR-soh eel pahs-sah-POR-toh / mee AHN-noh roo-BAH-toh eel por-tah-FOH-lyoh
File a police report (denuncia di smarrimento/furto) at the nearest Carabinieri or Polizia di Stato station for your embassy and travel insurance.
Emergency & Pharmacy
Is there an English-speaking tourist medical clinic (Guardia Medica)?
DovβΓ¨ la Guardia Medica Turistica o il Pronto Soccorso?
doh-VEH lah GWAR-dyah MEH-dee-kah too-REE-stee-kah oh eel PRON-toh sohk-KOR-soh?
Major cities and coastal resorts operate a Guardia Medica Turistica for non-life-threatening visitor medical care.
Emergency & Pharmacy
I need to refill a prescription medication
Devo acquistare questo farmaco: ecco il principio attivo della mia ricetta.
DEH-voh ahk-wee-STAH-reh KWEH-stoh FAR-mah-koh: EHK-koh eel preen-CHEE-pyoh aht-TEE-voh
Show the pharmacist the generic active ingredient (principio attivo) on your home prescription bottle or doctor note.
How to use these Italian cards on the ground
- Tap “π± Show to Staff” on any card: Every dietary restriction, pharmacy request, and travel phrase can be displayed in the large, high-contrast waiter/staff box at the top of the pageβor expanded to full screen so a waiter, barista, or pharmacist can read the exact Italian text without squinting.
- Tap “π Listen (it-IT)” for native pronunciation: Uses your phone or laptop’s built-in Italian (
it-IT) voice engine so you can hear the natural cadence before ordering at the counter. - Three Italian pronunciation rules that solve 90% of words:
- C + E / I sounds like ch in “church” (cappuccino, celiaco, Cinque Terre), while C + H + E / I sounds like hard k (bruschetta = broo-SKEHT-tah, chianti = KYAHN-tee).
- G + L + I sounds like soft lyee (biglietto = bee-LYEHT-toh, famiglia = fah-MEE-lyah), and G + N sounds like ny in “canyon” (bagno = BAH-nyoh, gnocchi = NYOHK-kee).
- Double consonants are held slightly longer than single ones (penne vs pene, nonna vs nona).