You have booked flights to Italy and suddenly realised you do not speak a word of Italian. Good news: four weeks is enough time to learn the basics that will genuinely improve your trip. Here is a realistic plan.
Week 1: Survival Phrases (30 Minutes a Day)
Focus exclusively on phrases you will actually use. Do not start with grammar theory or alphabet lessons. You need:
- Greetings: Buongiorno, buonasera, ciao, arrivederci
- Politeness: Per favore (please), grazie (thank you), scusi (excuse me)
- Core requests: Vorrei... (I would like...), Dov'è...? (Where is...?), Quanto costa? (How much?)
- Numbers 1–20 for prices and addresses
Daily routine: Read each phrase aloud five times. Pronunciation matters — Italian is phonetic, so once you learn the rules, you can read any word correctly.
Week 2: Restaurant and Transport
These two situations will account for most of your interactions. Learn:
- "Un tavolo per due, per favore" — A table for two, please
- "Il conto, per favore" — The bill, please
- "Un biglietto per Roma" — A ticket to Rome
- "A che ora parte il treno?" — What time does the train leave?
- Menu vocabulary: acqua (water), vino (wine), carne (meat), pesce (fish), verdure (vegetables)
Tip: Italian restaurant culture differs from British. Cover charges (coperto) are normal and not a scam. Water is ordered as "naturale" (still) or "frizzante" (sparkling) — tap water is not standard.
Week 3: Directions and Shopping
Now build on your basics:
- "Dov'è la stazione?" — Where is the station?
- "A destra / a sinistra / dritto" — Right / left / straight ahead
- "Posso pagare con carta?" — Can I pay by card?
- "Avete una taglia più grande?" — Do you have a bigger size?
Practice method: Walk through your daily routine in English, then try to express each action in Italian. "I walk to the shop" becomes a prompt to recall "Vado al negozio."
Week 4: Conversation Starters
The phrases that transform you from tourist to welcome guest:
- "Sono inglese" — I am English
- "Mi piace molto l'Italia" — I really like Italy
- "Questa città è bellissima" — This city is beautiful
- "Sto imparando l'italiano" — I am learning Italian
That last phrase is magic. Italians are overwhelmingly supportive of anyone making the effort to learn their language. Saying you are learning will often result in patient, encouraging conversations.
What Not to Do
Do not try to learn grammar rules in depth. Do not aim for perfection. Do not study silently — always speak aloud. And do not rely solely on an app that gamifies learning without teaching real phrases.
A structured phrasebook gives you exactly the phrases you need, organised by situation, with pronunciation guidance. Our Essential Phrases Pack covers all the scenarios above across Spanish, French, and Italian, so you are prepared for wherever your travels take you.