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Getting lost in Italy is half the fun — but knowing how to ask for directions will save you time and help you discover places you might otherwise miss. Italian cities and towns are often a maze of narrow streets (vicoli), piazzas, and alleyways. In this lesson you will learn all the vocabulary and phrases you need to ask for and understand directions.
| Italian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| a destra | to the right | ah DES-trah |
| a sinistra | to the left | ah see-NEES-trah |
| sempre dritto | straight ahead | SEM-preh DREET-toh |
| avanti | forward | ah-VAN-tee |
| indietro | back | een-DYEH-troh |
| di fronte a | opposite / in front of | dee FRON-teh ah |
| accanto a | next to | ahk-KAN-toh ah |
| vicino a | near (to) | vee-CHEE-noh ah |
| lontano da | far from | lon-TAH-noh dah |
| all'angolo | at the corner | ahl-LAN-goh-loh |
| al semaforo | at the traffic lights | ahl seh-MAH-foh-roh |
| all'incrocio | at the crossroads | ahl-een-KROH-choh |
| in fondo | at the end (of the street) | een FON-doh |
| attraversare | to cross | aht-trah-vehr-SAH-reh |
| girare | to turn | jee-RAH-reh |
| continuare | to continue | kon-tee-noo-AH-reh |
The key word is "Scusi" (excuse me, formal) — always start with this:
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Scusi, dov'è...? | Excuse me, where is...? |
| Scusi, come arrivo a...? | Excuse me, how do I get to...? |
| Scusi, sa dov'è la stazione? | Excuse me, do you know where the station is? |
| Scusi, per andare a...? | Excuse me, to get to...? |
| Mi sono perso/a. | I'm lost. (m/f) |
| Può indicarmi sulla mappa? | Can you show me on the map? |
| È lontano da qui? | Is it far from here? |
| Quanto tempo ci vuole a piedi? | How long does it take on foot? |
| C'è un bancomat qui vicino? | Is there an ATM nearby? |
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| la piazza | the square |
| la chiesa | the church |
| il duomo | the cathedral |
| il ponte | the bridge |
| il fiume | the river |
| la stazione | the station |
| la fermata dell'autobus | the bus stop |
| la fermata della metro | the metro stop |
| il museo | the museum |
| la farmacia | the pharmacy |
| il supermercato | the supermarket |
| l'ufficio postale | the post office |
| il bancomat | the ATM |
| la banca | the bank |
| l'ospedale | the hospital |
| la questura | the police station |
| il parcheggio | the car park |
When someone gives you directions, listen for these key words:
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