Basic phrases for learners: Basic Phrases

🇮🇹 Use this with strangers, staff, or older people, but many Italians would more often ask Parli inglese? to one person. Parla inglese? sounds polite and slightly more formal.

💬 L' in l'italiano is just lo shortened before a vowel. You'll see the same thing in l'inglese and l'amico.

💬 Sto + a verb ending in -ando or -endo is a handy way to say what you're in the middle of doing: sto imparando, sto cercando, sto aspettando.

🇮🇹 On its own, Ripeti is a direct command and can sound abrupt with strangers. In real situations, Puoi ripetere? or Può ripetere? usually lands better.

💬 Puoi is the informal "you can," used with tu. Swap it to può for polite/formal speech: Può ripetere?.

🇮🇹 Good for friends, classmates, or younger people in casual settings. With strangers or staff, Può ripetere? is usually the safer choice.

🇮🇹 This is understandable, but as a direct command it can sound blunt with people you don't know. A softer option is Può parlare lentamente? or Parli lentamente, per favore.