Italian Translation

Try:
"posso acquistare un biglietto dell’autobus
qui?" (courtesy of iGoogle translate)

I found that using enough of the words (autobus, biglietto, qui) and using the universal sign language for question (shrug shoulders and look quizzically) worked wonders. Most people were quite thrilled you tried to be polite.

It might be easier to ask "Vende biglietti autobus?" which means "Do you sell bus tickets?". Fewer words to remember. If you want to use the other phrase, I'd suggest substituting the verb comprare (to buy) in place of acquistare (to obtain).

Thanks for all the help. I need to purchase a bus ticket at the Venice airport, as opposed to a vaporetto ticket. I may just go with: “Posso comprare un biglietto di autobus qui?”.

I am pretty sure that tickets are interchangeable for the Metro or bus. So if you go into a tabacheria (not sure of spelling) and ask to buy a ticket, you are going to get a ticket that works on the bus or Metro. Second, I think comprare (to buy) is used more than acquistare. Third, I don't know if 'dell' works, I think the statement from google would translate as "some tickets for the autobus." I'm not sure, but I think you should use "per l'autobus" instead of "dell." Vende is perfectly proper for singular "you sell," but I think the more common usage is "vendete" which is the plural you as opposed to the singular you. Lastly, the Italians are very friendly and willing to help you so even if you can't say it in Italian, buying a ticket won't be a problem. Oh, and remember that if you hold up your index finger for "one" it is commonly mistaken for two. Instead, for one, hold up your thumb.

"Posso comprare un bigletto per l'autobus qui?" Using "di autobus" is not correct (I could go into a whole explaination about articles and contractions of articles with the use of "di", blah, blah, blah...). However, if you do say it that way, the person selling the ticket should be able to figure out that you want to buy a ticket "for the bus" and not "of bus". So long as you try, they will be more than happy to help you. :)

I have another week to fine-tune my Italian phrases. Should I instead use: "Posso comprare un biglietto per autobus qui"? Thanks for any help.

go with the sentence Sarah gave you, "Posso comprare un bigletto per l'autobus qui?" Your sentence has "autobus" instead of "l'autobus". The "l apostrophe" is used for "the" in front of a male noun that begins with a vowel.

There's lots of rules, but basically Italian uses "the" a lot more than it's used in English and in places we don't use it.

I was in Italy for over a month and just returned back to the States about 10 days ago. I know how to speak the language very well but to my surprise every train station and bus station ticket person I bought tickets from could speak English. I was amazed of how many Italians are speaking English, even in the small towns. I don't think your going to have any problems making anyone understand what you want to do or buy.

Greg

Not sure how many tickets you are purchasing.

Biglietto is single.

Biglietti is plural.

Have a great trip!

Awesome information. I always try to speak the local language, no matter how limited my skills. Can I use the same construction for other sentences?
1) "Where does the bus leave from?" - "Da dove parte l'autobus?"
2) "Is this the bus to __?" - "Questo e l'autobus a _?"

Lamont, I admire your willingness to use the local language, and the Italians are going to love you for it!

BTW a website you might want to visit for questions on the Italian language is http://www.impariamo.com/forum/

Listening to italians speak, buses come rather than go to their destination. Threw me the first time I heard it. When they ask the question, it would be "Viene in Piazzele Roma quest'autobus?" - Does this bus come to Piazzele Roma? You would also be understood if you asked "Va a Venezia quest'autobus?" - Does this bus go to Venice? Note that the preposition "in" is used for a place and "a" is used for a city. Also, the noun usually goes at the end of a question. As other have mentioned, italians really appreciate visitors trying to use the language, but they may quickly switch to english. They like to practice their english as much as we like to practice our italian.

About language in general-I had a few conversations in Paris where I would speak my old hs French, and the Parisian would use their English. Sounds backwards, but it works. I think it's because it's easier to SPEAK a foreign language than to HEAR it. No matter how horrendous your accent or improper your grammer, you can mostly get your point across. But you can't always understand a sentence in another language.

I want to second the value of learning some of the local language. I crammed for a couple of months before going to Italy.

I felt I had barely enough to ask directions, book a room, and order in a restaurant (I also had confusion with my Spanish words).

Everyone I talked to began their response with an enthusiastic "Bella l'Italiano!"

Since so few tourists make the effort, I think it really seperates you from the crowd.