Traveling to Florence, Venice and Rome. Need tips on language and communication!

Do not feel nervous. English is common in the tourist areas in Italy. You will be able to communicate with people-maybe not everyone and not well all of the time, but well enough to enjoy your trip.

I would check out the thread "Is Ciao too familiar" on the Italy page that gives some rules about greetings and formality. You can download apps (free or not free but cheap) that will teach some basic Italian phrases.

The romance languages have a lot of similarities- verb stems, rules about masculine/feminine, or rules about formal/informal etc. I learned French first and then Italian and there are A LOT of similar words. And a lot of the grammar rules and how you construct sentences are the same. I assume it would be the same with Spanish and Italian. If you already know Spanish and start with some Italian basics, you might find that you pick up on things faster than expected.

Not to worry! English will go far in Rome, Venice and Florence, and your Spanish will help you more than you can imagine. My niece is fluent in Spanish and finds it works for her in Italy. Half the time when they realize you are not a native speaker, the Italians will use English no matter your efforts. It may be limited English, but it will be sufficient to the situation: taking your order, selling you a ticket, etc.

Of course it is respectful to know some basic polite phrases and words: Grazie, grazie mille, prego buongiorno, buona sera, salve. Also useful Dovè il bagno (Where is the bathroom?) :-)

Rick Steves has a good little Italian phrasebook you might find useful.

Grab an App and learn some basics...or iTranslate is good for some practice before your trip. (you need wi-fi for it to work)

As mentioned, just the basics are perfect. Know how to say Hello, Goodbye, Thank you and You are Welcome.

To ask for your check at the end of the meal : "il conto, per favore" to ask how much something is: "Quanto Costa"

Ask if they speak English "Lei parla inglese?" And they will start to speak English to you. Expect them to say they don't speak well, and then be totally fluent.

You are in the major tourist towns, everyone will speak English...but as with your Spanish, you know it's polite to use what you know in Italian, they appreciate it, just as we do here in the US when tourists speak as much English to us as they can. I know I get totally helpful when someone is struggling with English...

Before our first trip to Italy my husband and I got the RS Italian phrase book and quizzed each other at night during dinner. We got in the habit of saying thank you, good morning, good night, goodbye and hello, things like that to each other. It was fun and got us excited about the trip.

One thing I learned the hard way about shopping in market stalls is not to pick up the fruit and feel it. I did this the first day and got the dirtiest looks from the vendor. If I put a piece of fruit down he would pick it up, wipe it off and gently place it back in the right spot.
I couldn't figure out what I had done, because I hadn't really squeezed it or hurt it, but I knew something was wrong. After discussing this with the young man at the hotel I found out that you should tell the vendor how many of the pieces of fruit that you want, and whether it is for today or tomorrow so that he can choose the correct ripeness for you. Made a world of difference in how I was treated. Just knowing this and to make sure to greet a shopkeeper when you walk in and leave, even if not buying anything make a difference. They really are very friendly, the man at the market just thought I was terribly rude.

hjones,

As the others have mentioned, you shouldn't have too many language difficulties in Italy. Many of those in tourist-related businesses (hotels, restaurants, etc.) will have at least some ability to speak English. That applies to others in Italy as well. A few years ago, I asked a police officer in Florence for directions to a hotel in Italian, and he provided the directions in perfect English.

However, it's polite to learn some of the usual greetings, etc. such as "good morning, good evening, please, thank you", etc. In my experience, Italians really seem to appreciate visitors making an effort with the language. As you already have a foundation in Spanish that should be relatively easy, since both languages are from the same "family" and are similar in many ways. I agree with the others that it would be a good idea to pick up a copy of the Italian Phrase Book as it will be good reference during your trip (and good reading on the flight over).

One point to mention though. I found it almost impossible to study Italian and Spanish at the same time, as many of the words are similar, so I'd get confused and would go into "brain lock". You may find that too. In any case, Europeans are very clever with languages, and you may find that some of the people you're dealing with in Italy can also speak Spanish.

One final point - if this is your first trip to Europe, I'd also suggest reading Europe Through The Back Door prior to your trip, as it provides a lot of good information on the "differences" you'll encounter. A few examples - numbers will be written differently and the floor numbers of buildings are specified differently. Have a look at THIS short tutorial for details.

Rick has always said that it's more important to prepare you knowledge of history and art than to study languages. I've enjoyed using the phrasebook and giving it a try but you won't really have to. If you've already booked your hotels online, then that's a big communication task already finished. Most guidebooks include a brief page or two language tips (Ricks are in the appendices). See also some communication tips at http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/sightseeing.

I doubt you will have any problems in Italy. Your destinations are popular tourist areas and most everyone will speak enough English for you. Just start with buongiorno/buonasera and prego. I was recently in other parts (especially Sicily) where it seemed hardly anyone spoke any English and I managed, mostly through the Italians' goodwill and patience. My poor French got me through a couple of difficulties, so I'm sure your Spanish will help you out. On the other hand, when you're in Andalucia, you may find that you have problems!

"Rick has always said that it's more important to prepare you knowledge of history and art than to study languages." I'm sorry, I'm about to be really impolite... but that is one of the most ridiculous comments I have ever read on this website. We're talking about a 23 year old here, whom I'm guessing, probably wants to do a little socializing with people his/her age. Does Rick Steves really think that the way to start a conversation with a young Italian is to go into a discussion of the Renaissance, the Risorgimento or the Sistine Chapel? hjones8690 would probably do much better my reading up on Italy's World Cup team, or maybe the 5 Star Movement.

Despite perceptions to the contrary, I can assure you that European culture is alive and well, and not just confined to exhibits in museums.

I'm with Quirite on this one. It's insulting to say "Gracias" when with virtually no effort you can learn how to say "Grazie" instead. Using Spanish instead of Italian is a way of saying "Your language isn't worth learning even a few words." Do learn five phrases in Italian, as mentioned above. It's only polite.

But as pointed out, in the cities you'll be visiting, you'll be encountering Italians who speak what I call "transactional English" - enough English to get the transaction done, whether it's ordering in a restaurant or buying tickets to a museum.

In these cities you will be fine with the priority Italian words others have mentioned. I've found that a lot of times, it's your attitude that will bridge the language gap. People respond positive towards someone who is gracious and interested in learning from them. Also, phonetically you can sound words on the menu, placing the accent on the 2nd syllable.

Warnings: In case you don't already know, there's a difference in price whether you're sitting down for coffee or just drinking it standing up at the counter. And, there's no lines in Italy - you'll catch on quickly. : )

Venice is so special! Be sure to wander around, walk away from the crowds and get lost to really enjoy it.

We're in Italy now and I am happy to say that the Italians have been wonderful letting us fumble through with our weak Italian. It's such a shame to assume everyone needs to bend to us and speak English. As Jean has just written, attitude counts. It is important to bother with language as much as art and history, especially if you have a grounding in another Romance language.

BTW we're in Bologna, not recommended by Rick, but recommended by us. The energy, action, street life, food, historical sites are fabulous. There are mostly Italians and other European tourists here but not many Americans.

@Quirite,

I just wanted to clarify that I was not suggesting that travellers use Spanish in Italy, but rather that in some situations that may be the only common language that allows communication. I've found that especially in hotels, the staff can usually speak several languages.

For example, I encountered a similar situation on a visit to eastern Switzerland a few years ago. I was dining at a restaurant that had been suggested by the hotel. Unfortunately the staff at the restaurant didn't speak English and I don't speak Swiss German. However I found that one of the staff did speak Italian, so that became the commonality. Even though my Italian is limited I was able to enjoy a fine meal without further language concerns.

I should add that I've witnessed travellers using "Gracias" on numerous occasions in Italy, and I find that annoying too.

I also was not suggesting trying to use Spanish to replace Italian. I was sharing my experience that my knowledge of one romance language was a great help in learning Italian.

Oh my gosh. I left my computer for three days and was not expecting to receive so many helpful tips. My travels will run so much more smoothly on my heart and mind with your help! Thank you all so much. I have not had the chance to read all of the replies but I will do so now. Again thank you! Buen viaje!

hjones,

I'm sure you'll have a great trip to Italy, with few language problems.

Buon Viaggio!