Starting a conversation can feel intimidating, especially when you’re just beginning to learn a new language. That’s why it’s helpful to have a few simple phrases ready to go. These “conversation starters” can make it much easier to dive into a chat and help you feel more confident.
In our classes, we focus on teaching students just these kinds of practical tools—helping them feel ready to engage in real conversations from the very first lesson. But even as a beginner, you can start using these prompts today to practice your Italian and begin interacting with others!
1. Basic Greetings
- Ciao! (Hi! / Bye!)
- Buongiorno! (Good morning!)
- Buona sera! (Good evening!)
- Salve! (Hello!)
- Come va? (How’s it going?)
Example:
- Ciao, come stai? (Hi, how are you?)
- Sto bene, grazie! E tu? (I’m good, thanks! And you?)
Want to know more about formal and informal ways of addressing people in Italian? Watch this video.
2. Introducing Yourself
- Mi chiamo [Name]. (My name is [Name].)
- Sono [Name]. (I am [Name].)
- Piacere di conoscerti! (Nice to meet you!)
Example sentence (Question):
- Ciao! Mi chiamo Laura. Piacere di conoscerti! (Hi! My name is Laura. Nice to meet you!)
Example answer:
- Ciao Laura, piacere! Mi chiamo Marco. (Hi Laura, nice to meet you! My name is Marco.)
3. Asking About the Other Person
- Come ti chiami? (What’s your name?)
- Di dove sei? (Where are you from?)
- Come stai? (How are you?)
Example:
- Come ti chiami? (What’s your name?)
- Mi chiamo Giulia. (My name is Giulia.)
4. Small Talk Questions
- Che lavoro fai? (What do you do for work?)
- Cosa fai nel tempo libero? (What do you do in your free time?)
- Ti piace [activity]? (Do you like [activity]?)
Example:
- Cosa fai nel tempo libero? (What do you do in your free time?)
- Nel tempo libero mi piace leggere e ascoltare musica. (In my free time, I like to read and listen to music.)
5. Closing a Conversation
- È stato un piacere parlare con te! (It was a pleasure talking to you!)
- Ci vediamo! (See you!)
- A presto! (See you soon!)
Example:
- È stato un piacere parlare con te, a presto! (It was a pleasure talking to you, see you soon!)
- Anche per me! A presto! (Same for me! See you soon!)
Final thoughts
As you can see, starting a conversation in Italian doesn’t need to be difficult or overwhelming. With just a few key phrases, you can jump into real-world interactions and build your confidence. In our classes, we make sure to practice these types of situations, so students can apply what they learn right away.
Need a hand?
If you want to start speaking confidently from day one, we’d love to help you in class! Try out these phrases, and when you’re ready for more, check out our courses here designed to get you speaking and understanding Italian in real conversations.
