Basic Greetings

Hello.

Salutamu. (sah-loo-tah-moo)

Good morning.

Bongiornu. (bon-jor-noo)

Good evening.

Bonsira. (bon-see-rah)

Good night.

Bonanotti. (bo-nah-not-tee)

Goodbye.

Nni videmu. (nnee vee-deh-moo)

See you later.

A doppu. (ah dop-poo)

Nice to meet you.

Piaciri di canùscirivi. (pyah-chee-ree dee cah-noo-shee-ree-vee)

Welcome.

Male Form: Bonvinutu. (bon-vee-noo-too)

Female Form: Bonvinuta. (bon-vee-noo-tah)

How are you?

Comu sta? (coh-moo stah)

I’m fine.

Male Form: Staju bonu. (stah-yoo bo-noo)

Female Form: Staju bona. (stah-yoo bo-nah)

And you?

E vossìa? (eh vos-see-ah)

Have a good day.

Bona jurnata. (bo-nah yoor-nah-tah)

See you tomorrow.

A dumani. (ah doo-mah-nee)

See you soon.

A prestu. (ah pres-too)

How are things?

Comu jamu? (coh-moo yah-moo)

Everything is fine.

Tuttu a postu. (toot-too ah pos-too)

Not bad.

Nenti mali. (nen-tee mah-lee)

Please come in.

Trasissi, pregu. (trah-sees-see preh-goo)

Make yourself at home.

Fazza comu fussi a casa so. (faht-tsah coh-moo foos-see ah cah-sah soh)

It's a pleasure.

È un piaciri. (eh oon pyah-chee-ree)

Politeness & Basics

Please.

Pi favuri. (pee fah-voo-ree)

Thank you.

Grazzi. (graht-tsee)

Thank you very much.

Grazzi assai. (graht-tsee ahs-sah-ee)

You’re welcome.

Pregu. (preh-goo)

Excuse me.

Scusassi. (scoo-sahs-see)

I’m sorry.

Mi dispiaci. (mee dees-pyah-chee)

No problem.

Nuddu prublema. (nood-doo proo-bleh-mah)

That’s okay.

Va bonu accussì. (vah bo-noo ahk-koos-see)

Of course.

Certu. (cher-too)

Don’t worry.

Nun si prioccupassi. (noon see pryoc-coo-pahs-see)

Yes.

Sì. (see)

No.

No. (no)

I don't know.

Nun lu sacciu. (noon loo saht-choo)

Maybe.

Forsi. (for-see)

Do you speak English?

Parla ngrisi? (par-lah ngree-see)

I don't speak Sicilian.

Nun parlu sicilianu. (noon par-loo see-chee-lyah-noo)

Could you help me?

Mi po ajutari? (mee po ah-yoo-tah-ree)

Just a moment.

Un mumentu. (oon moo-men-too)

I understand.

Capisciu. (cah-pee-shoo)

I don't understand.

Nun capisciu. (noon cah-pee-shoo)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern: I need …

I need help.

Haiu bisognu di aiutu. (ah-yoo bee-so-nyoo dee ah-yoo-too)

I need a doctor.

Haiu bisognu di un dutturi. (ah-yoo bee-so-nyoo dee oon doot-too-ree)

I need water.

Haiu bisognu di acqua. (ah-yoo bee-so-nyoo dee ahk-kwah)

I need a taxi.

Haiu bisognu di un tassi. (ah-yoo bee-so-nyoo dee oon tahs-see)

I need to rest.

Haiu bisognu di arripusàrimi. (ah-yoo bee-so-nyoo dee ar-ree-poo-sah-ree-mee)

Pattern: I want …

I want a coffee.

Vogghiu un cafè. (vog-gyoo oon cah-feh)

I want to pay.

Vogghiu pajari. (vog-gyoo pah-yah-ree)

I want to eat.

Vogghiu manciari. (vog-gyoo mahn-chah-ree)

I want this.

Vogghiu chistu. (vog-gyoo kees-too)

I want to go to the hotel.

Vogghiu jiri a l'albergu. (vog-gyoo yee-ree ah lahl-ber-goo)

Pattern: I would like …

I would like the menu.

Vurrissi lu menù. (voor-rees-see loo meh-noo)

I would like a room.

Vurrissi na càmmara. (voor-rees-see nah cahm-mah-rah)

I would like a ticket.

Vurrissi un bigghiettu. (voor-rees-see oon beeg-gyet-too)

I would like to buy this.

Vurrissi accattari chistu. (voor-rees-see ahk-caht-tah-ree kees-too)

I would like some information.

Vurrissi nfurmazzioni. (voor-rees-see nfoor-maht-tsyo-nee)

Pattern: Can you …?

Can you help me?

Mi po ajutari? (mee po ah-yoo-tah-ree)

Can you repeat?

Po arripètiri? (po ar-ree-peh-tee-ree)

Can you write it down?

Lu po scrìviri? (loo po scree-vee-ree)

Can you speak slower?

Po parrari cchiù lentu? (po par-rah-ree kkyoo len-too)

Can you call a taxi?

Po chiamari un tassi? (po kyah-mah-ree oon tahs-see)

Pattern: Where is …?

Where is the bathroom?

Unni è lu bagnu? (oon-nee eh loo bah-nyoo)

Where is the train station?

Unni è la stazzioni? (oon-nee eh lah staht-tsyo-nee)

Where is the bank?

Unni è la banca? (oon-nee eh lah bahn-cah)

Where is the exit?

Unni è la nisciuta? (oon-nee eh lah nee-shoo-tah)

Where is my luggage?

Unni è lu me bagagghiu? (oon-nee eh loo meh bah-gahg-gyoo)