Signs

1. Ingresso

   Entrance

   Usage

   Posted as "INGRESSO" at the entrance of buildings, stations, and facilities; "ENTRATA" means the same. On a price list the same word means the admission fee — tell them apart by where it is posted

2. Uscita

   Exit

   Usage

   Shown as "USCITA" at the exit of buildings, stations, and motorway junctions

3. Uscita di sicurezza

   Emergency Exit

   Usage

   Emergency exit sign shown with a green pictogram; escape routes are sometimes labelled "USCITA DI EMERGENZA"

4. Aperto

   Open (door sign)

   Usage

   The flip sign on a shop door reading "APERTO" — if it shows, you can go in

5. Chiuso

   Closed (door sign)

   Usage

   The "CHIUSO" flip sign on a shop door; a weekly closing day appears as e.g. "CHIUSO IL LUNEDÌ" (closed Mondays)

6. Siamo aperti

   We Are Open

   Usage

   A banner or window sticker announcing the business is currently open — more emphatic than the door's "APERTO" tag; opening hours are headed "ORARIO DI APERTURA"

7. Torno subito

   Back Soon

   Usage

   Italian has no exact equivalent of Japanese "junbichuu" — this handwritten note on a small shop's door is the closest; a lunch break is posted as "CHIUSO PER PAUSA PRANZO"

8. Uomini

   Men

   Usage

   Marks the men's restroom; often written as "SIGNORI" instead

9. Donne

   Women

   Usage

   Marks the women's restroom; often written as "SIGNORE" — note it differs from the men's "SIGNORI" by a single letter

10. Vietato l'ingresso

    No Entry

    Usage

    Posted as "VIETATO L'INGRESSO" on doors and areas restricted to staff; "DIVIETO DI ACCESSO" means the same

11. Vietato fumare

    No Smoking

    Usage

    Smoking is banned indoors in Italy; this sign appears in stations, airports, and restaurants

12. Area fumatori

    Smoking Area

    Usage

    Marks a designated smoking area, mainly at airports; they are rare since indoor smoking is banned

13. Scale

    Stairs

    Usage

    Directional sign for stairs in stations and buildings; an escalator is labelled "SCALE MOBILI"

14. Spingere

    Push

    Usage

    The "SPINGERE" label on a door; Italian signs use the infinitive as an instruction

15. Tirare

    Pull

    Usage

    The "TIRARE" label on a door, paired with "SPINGERE" (push)

16. Lavori in corso

    Work in Progress

    Usage

    Posted at construction sites and closed-off passages; on roads it often appears alongside "STRADA CHIUSA" (road closed)

17. Guasto

    Out of Order

    Usage

    Stuck on broken lifts, ticket machines, and restroom stalls; "FUORI SERVIZIO" is an equally common wording

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