Getting around
Bus
Dove va?
Where to?
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Rome
Italy
Rome is the capital of Italy. The old centre is dense: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the river sit within a walk of each other.
How the language is used
Italian is the language of the bar, the bus, and the city office. You use it for an ordinary errand.
In this city
- Language
- Italian
- Also heard
- Mostly Italian
- A local word
- Grazie — Thank you.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Bar
Un caffè, per favore.
One coffee, please.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Mercato
Quanto costa?
How much is it?
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Via
Grazie.
Thank you.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Italian is the language of the ride, the shop, and the street.
A first day in Rome can run on four lines: “Dove va?”, “Un caffè, per favore.”, “Quanto costa?”, and “Grazie.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- One everyday you-form covers most shops. Please and thanks do the polite work.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Rome, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Grazie. It means Thank you..
Places you can see
- Colosseum — The oval amphitheatre at the east edge of the old centre.
- Pantheon — A round temple with an open hole in the dome, still standing in the street grid.
- Trastevere — The quarter across the river, with narrow streets and evening tables.
Food
An espresso at the bar and a plate of pasta are the ordinary order. You ask in Italian.
Getting around
Buses and the metro cross the centre. Stop names and announcements are in Italian.
Daily life
A short question in Italian gets you through a bar. The counter is where you pay for the coffee.
A few everyday phrases
Italian
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ciao | Hello |
| Grazie | Thank you |
| Buongiorno | Good morning |
| Mi chiamo… | My name is… |
