Basic Nouns

1. l'acqua

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; "la" elides to "l'". Sparkling water is "acqua frizzante"

2. il cibo

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; a meal is "il pasto"

3. i soldi

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   Normally masculine plural; the singular "il denaro" is formal

4. il bagno

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; public facilities are often called "i servizi"

5. il fazzoletto

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; a paper one is "fazzoletto di carta"

6. la medicina

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; the pharmacy is "la farmacia"

7. il bagaglio

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun, plural "i bagagli"; a suitcase is "la valigia"

8. la chiave

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; plural "le chiavi"

9. il biglietto

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun used for both transport and admission tickets

10. il passaporto

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; most "-o" nouns are

11. il telefono

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; a mobile is "il cellulare"

12. il caricabatterie

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    Masculine compound of "caricare" and "batterie"; identical in the plural

13. la stazione

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun — all "-zione" nouns are. Plural "le stazioni"

14. l'ospedale

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; "il" elides to "l'" before the vowel

15. la polizia

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for the police force; the "carabinieri" are a separate corps

16. il negozio

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; plural "i negozi"

17. la camera

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for a hotel room; a room in general is "la stanza"

18. la strada

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for both a street and a road

19. la famiglia

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; "gli" sounds like "lyee"

20. il nome

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; a surname is "il cognome"

21. la testa

    Head

    Usage

    Point at this to show where it hurts

22. gli occhi

    Eyes

    Usage

    Point at this for eye trouble; one eye is "un occhio"

23. i denti

    Teeth

    Usage

    Point at this for a toothache; a single tooth is "il dente"

24. la gola

    Throat

    Usage

    Point at this for a sore throat

25. la pancia

    Belly / stomach

    Usage

    Point at this for a stomach ache; the clinical word is "lo stomaco"

26. la schiena

    Back

    Usage

    Point at this for back pain

27. la parte bassa della schiena

    Lower back

    Usage

    There is no everyday one-word equivalent of Japanese "koshi"; "la parte bassa della schiena" is the phrase everyone understands (medically "la zona lombare"). "La vita" is avoided as it means both waist and life

28. il piede

    Foot

    Usage

    The foot only — the whole leg is "la gamba", so touch the spot that hurts

29. la mano

    Hand

    Usage

    Point at this for hand trouble; both hands is "le mani"

30. il petto

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest cavity — a different word from "il seno" (breast)

31. l'hotel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show this to a driver or passer-by to get back to your hotel; also "albergo" in Italian

32. l'aeroporto

    Airport

    Usage

    Point at this to give the airport as your destination

33. l'autopompa

    Fire engine

    Usage

    The vehicle used to put out fires; in everyday speech also "il camion dei pompieri"

34. il consolato

    Consulate

    Usage

    Where to go if you lose your passport; an embassy is "l'ambasciata"

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