Translate English to Italian
Italian is spoken by about 65 million people in Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, and Vatican City, with large diaspora communities in Argentina, Brazil, the United States, Canada, and Australia. From restaurant menus and opera librettos to fashion house press releases and Vespa manuals, Italian text appears everywhere. Paste your English text above for an Italian translation.
Common English to Italian translations
| English | Italian | Pronunciation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Ciao | CHOW | ||
| Good morning | Buongiorno | bwon-JOR-noh | ||
| Thank you | Grazie | GRAT-see-eh | ||
| Please | Per favore | pehr fah-VOH-reh | ||
| How much is this? | Quanto costa? | KWAN-toh KOS-tah | ||
| Where is the bathroom? | Dov'è il bagno? | doh-VEH eel BAHN-yoh | ||
| I do not understand | Non capisco | non kah-PEES-koh | ||
| Can you help me? | Può aiutarmi? | pwoh ah-yoo-TAR-mee | ||
| I would like a coffee | Vorrei un caffè | vor-RAY oon kaf-FEH | ||
| The bill, please | Il conto, per favore | eel KON-toh pehr fah-VOH-reh | ||
| Nice to meet you | Piacere | pyah-CHEH-reh | ||
| Goodbye | Arrivederci | ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee | ||
| I need a doctor | Ho bisogno di un medico | oh bee-ZON-yoh dee oon MEH-dee-koh | ||
| Excuse me | Mi scusi | mee SKOO-zee |
Tips for English to Italian translation
Italian has two grammatical genders (masculine and feminine) with articles that change accordingly: il/lo/l' (masculine singular), la/l' (feminine singular), i/gli (masculine plural), le (feminine plural). Getting the article right depends on the gender of the noun and the first letter of the following word, which creates a more complex system than French or Spanish.
Italian pronunciation is very consistent and phonetic. Every letter is pronounced, double consonants are held longer (notte vs. note), and stress patterns follow predictable rules. The main challenge for English speakers is the rolled R and the distinction between open and closed E and O vowels. The audio buttons on this page help with these sounds.
Italian uses the formal Lei (capitalized, third person singular) instead of the informal tu when addressing strangers, professionals, or elders. Using tu with someone you should address as Lei is considered rude in Italian culture. Business correspondence always uses Lei.
Italian hand gestures are a famous part of communication. While these do not affect written translation, knowing that Italians rely heavily on non-verbal communication helps explain why some Italian sentences seem unusually brief compared to their English equivalents. The gesture carries part of the meaning.
About the Italian language
Italian is a Romance language descended from Vulgar Latin. Modern standard Italian is based largely on the Tuscan dialect, specifically the literary language of Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio from the 14th century. Italy was politically unified only in 1861, and regional dialects (Sicilian, Neapolitan, Venetian, etc.) remain widely spoken alongside standard Italian.
Italy has made outsized contributions to world culture in art (Renaissance masters), music (opera, classical, pop), cuisine (recognized by UNESCO), fashion (Milan is a global fashion capital), and automotive design (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Vespa). Italian is the fourth most studied language in the world, driven largely by cultural interest rather than economic necessity.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. No sign-up, no fees.
Yes. à, è, é, ì, ò, ù all appear correctly.
Yes. Click the speaker icon. Italian pronunciation is very regular.
The translator typically outputs polite (Lei) forms. Adjust to tu for informal contexts.
Good for everyday use. For legal, medical, or published texts, use a professional.
Related Romance languages with about 80% lexical similarity. Speakers can partially understand each other.
Visit our Italian to English page.
Yes.
Standard Italian only. Sicilian, Neapolitan, etc. are separate and not supported.
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