Should I try and use basic Italian when on holiday in Italy?
Wherever I go on holiday I always try to learn and use some basic keywords and phrases. As a minimum I look up things such as please, thank you, hello, good morning etc. I think it's polite and hotel/bar staff often seem to appreciate it and respond in the local fashion.
For example in Spanish speaking countries, if I say "gracias" they usually respond also in Spanish with "de nada". If I said "buenas noches" they would respond likewise.
In Italy, Sardinia specifically, at the hotel I stayed in the staff had excellent English and they only ever used English when speaking to guests even when I greeted them in Italian (I believe all the guests staying there were from the UK). I'm reasonably confident I'm saying the words correctly though it is possible I'm getting the pronunciation slightly wrong.
Is this extensive use of English common in Italian resorts/hotels and should I continue to try and use/learn Italian while staying there? My experience has been quite counter intuitive to date.
Best Answer
In short, I agree with @JoErNanO, that you should always try to use basic language spoken in a country you are visiting.
My experience from some years of living in three different Italian regions (Piedmont, Veneto, Lombardy) and different cities (Milan, Turin, Padua, Abano, ..) says, the percentage of Italians that prefer to speak in the Italian, rather than a foreign language, should be somewhere above 95%. Although, it varies tremendously from city to city. In smaller, unpopular, less international cities people tend to favor foreign languages less.
And what makes that 5 percent?
- People trying to improve/maintain their English (this group, most likely answers your Ciao! with a Hi! - e.g: international meetup events, university students, etc).
- Show-off group (e.g. your roommate invites some friends over and wants to show off his English skills in front of them; same as above, they tend to shape your attempt in making an Italian conversation to English).
- International/touristy environments (your example of resort could fall right into this one; probably it appears more professional to them if they make an English conversation).
According to me, outside these groups anyone will welcome your effort in making an Italian conversation, at least as long as they don't feel you are suffering in grasping the topic.
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Should I learn Italian when going to Italy?
It's a good idea to learn a few basic Italian words and phrases before you travel to Italy. Although English is spoken in most touristic parts of Italy, knowing a little bit of Italian will help you have a better experience and make you feel more comfortable while in Italy.Why is it helpful to be fluent in Italian if you are visiting Italy?
Travelling is all about immersing yourself in the culture and lifestyle of the country you visit, so learning some Italian would be a great way to have more chances to communicate with the locals and get to experience a more genuine version of Italy.How much Italian do I need to know in Italy?
You really don't need any Italian to get by in Rome; the first time I was there, I had no Italian. However, it always smooths to way to be able to say please, thank you and good day in any country, so I would strongly encourage you to learn those few words.What NOT to do in ITALY - DON'Ts of Italy [Travel Guide]
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