“Nice to meet you” in Italian: how to introduce yourself

Rent a flat in an Italian town for a week and the neighbours will talk to you: on the stairs, in the shop, at the table outside the bar. Someone will ask where you are staying, how long for, and where you are from, and the answer does not need to be longer than a sentence.

In this guide you’ll find a variety of Italian expressions grouped by situation: how to ask someone’s name and say yours, how to tell them where you’re from and talk about your city, the phrases for work, hobbies and the things you like about Italy, and the weather lines Italians use to fill a pause.

Personal Introductions (Presentazioni)

Come si chiama? (formal) - Come ti chiami? (informal) What’s your name?

Mi chiamo… My name is…

Piacere! Nice to meet you!

Di dov’è? (formal) - Di dove sei? (informal) Where are you from?

Sono americano/a I’m American

Sono inglese I’m English

Sono di New York I’m from New York

È la prima volta in Italia? Is this your first time in Italy?

Talking About Your City (Parlare della Propria Città)

New York è una città grande New York is a big city

C’è molto traffico There’s a lot of traffic

Ci sono molti musei There are many museums

La gente è molto gentile People are very kind

Mi piace molto l’Italia I really like Italy

Work and Hobbies (Lavoro e Hobby)

Che lavoro fa? What do you do for work?

Sono insegnante I’m a teacher

Lavoro in un ufficio I work in an office

Cosa le piace fare nel tempo libero? What do you like to do in your free time?

Mi piace leggere I like to read

Faccio sport I do sports

Amo cucinare I love cooking

Likes and Preferences (Gusti e Preferenze)

Cosa le piace dell’Italia? What do you like about Italy?

Mi piace molto il cibo I really like the food

L’arte è stupenda The art is wonderful

La gente è accogliente People are welcoming

Non mi piace il traffico I don’t like the traffic

Preferisco la montagna al mare I prefer mountains to the sea

Current Travel (Viaggio Attuale)

Quanto tempo rimane? How long are you staying?

Rimango una settimana I’m staying one week

Dove alloggia? Where are you staying?

Cosa ha già visitato? What have you already visited?

Cosa mi consiglia di vedere? What do you recommend I see?

È molto bello It’s very beautiful

Weather Talk (Tempo Atmosferico)

Che bel tempo! What beautiful weather!

Oggi piove It’s raining today

Fa molto caldo It’s very hot

Fa un po’ freddo It’s a bit cold

C’è il sole It’s sunny

È nuvoloso It’s cloudy

Want a Hand?

This guide gives you the phrases for the first five minutes with anyone you meet in Italy: saying your name, asking theirs, and answering where you are from.

A teacher can take you further than a phrase list can. You’ll say Piacere! and Di dove sei? out loud until the pronunciation sits right, then rehearse the whole exchange, the introduction, the answer, the question you send back, in a conversation where the reply isn’t written down for you.

Book a free trial lesson and arrive able to introduce yourself.