NOTES
(by DuoItalian)

If you ever plan on exploring Italy on your own, it may be a good idea to learn some basic questions to help you if you get lost, or to assist you in getting to where you want to go.

First thing’s first, when approaching someone for assistance it is courteous to begin with mi scusi or scusi (excuse me).

If you need directions to the post office:

  • Dov’è l’ufficio postale? (Where is the post office?)

Trying to figure out if you are on the correct street or where a street is:

  • È questa via Napoli? (Is this Naples Street?)
  • Dov’è via Roma? (Where is Rome Street?)

Another helpful phrase is:

  • Dove siamo adesso? (Where are we now?)

Here are some standard responses that you may receive when asking for assistance.

  • Sempre dritto. (Straight ahead.)
  • Vada/Vai sempre dritto. (You go straight ahead.)
  • Segua/segui questa strada. (Follow this road.)
  • Gira a destra/sinistra. (Turn right/left.)
  • È dietro la stazione. (It’s behind the station.)

TIP: While arguments can be made as to the proper situational use of the verbs cominciare and iniziare, they are essentially synonymous. Their usage is largely based on personal preference and perhaps regional location.

Some even argue that it is simply generational, with the younger preferring iniziare and the older cominciare. Another wrinkle being that the elderly in Italy often use another verb altogether, principiare.

VOCABULARY
(from Duolingo)
iniziobeginning
distanzadistance
fineend
ingressoentrance
uscitaexit
direzionedirection
posizionelocation
sinistraleft
destraright
mezzohalf
davantifront
avantiforward
dietrobehind
dentroinside
accantobeside
attraversothrough
latoside
interioreinterior
fondobackground
fermatastop
cimatop, peak
partepart
giùdown
vicinoclose
lontanofar
frontefront
nordnorth
esteast
sudsouth
ovestwest
cominciareto begin
iniziareto start

 

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