Rick Steves Urges Tourists Not To Shy Away From This Type Of Interaction In Italy

A trip to Italy can be the vacation of a lifetime. If you're planning a visit, you're probably excited to see buildings that have been around for hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of years, try authentic Italian cuisine (including a lot of gelato), and walk streets that have been trod upon by the likes of gladiators and Roman emperors. However, for some people, the anticipation of their Italian vacation may be marred by nerves about trying to communicate with locals when they don't share a language. If you can relate, you're not alone in not being fluent. Even travel pro Rick Steves says he's not great at languages, despite having traveled all over the world for decades. On his website, however, Steves explains that attempting to make conversation in this particular country is absolutely worth it. He says, " ... nowhere do I have more fun communicating than in Italy."

According to Steves, Italians will often speak to you in Italian, even if they realize you don't speak their language, and you should simply go along for the ride. He writes, "If a local starts chattering at you in Italian, don't resist. Go with it. You may find you understand more than you'd expect. Italians want to connect and, by my measure, they try harder than any other Europeans. Play along." Much can be understood from context, hand gestures (something Italians are known for), and even words that you may already be familiar with.

The major factor in communication in Italy, Rick Steves says, is your openness to it. Italian, he explains, is more than learning vocabulary. Body language and specific gestures can give you half the story. He mentions hand gestures like the cheek screw, for instance, which is when you put your pointer finger against your cheek and twist it, which means "cute" or "delicious," or the hand purse, where you close your fingers together with them pointing up and move your hand, which means "What do you want?" or "What are you doing?" and can even be a bit of an insult. Then there is the "chef's kiss," which many of us have been using in TikTok videos for years. Steves calls Italians "animated and dramatic," and playing along can be an absolute joy. Leave your shyness at the airport and jump right in, even if you don't quite get it all. 

There are a couple of fun ways to give communication in Italy a shot. Steves says it's worth splurging on a local guide early in your trip, and even if they speak English, it's a good way to start. You might pick up a few Italian phrases from them and get a sense of what the local conversation style is like. Steves also recommends something called the passeggiata to communicate with locals, which is a lovely evening tradition in Italy where people come out to the local piazzas to stroll, chat, and see and be seen. There's flirting and fun, and while it's a bit more intense in the big cities, it can be a great way to participate in the rhythm of Italian interaction, even if you just observe at first.

Of course, you may want to try out a little bit of Italian yourself, to get into the spirit. To that end, there are a few words that you should know before you visit Italy. Words like yes (si, pronounced "see"), no (which is the same in English), please (per favore, "purr-fah-vor-uh"), thank you (grazie, "grah-zee-ah"), and excuse me (scusi, "skoo-zee") are helpful to show that you're making an attempt. You can try out some language learning apps like Duolingo, Babbel, or Rosetta Stone, which can give you more confidence. Another fun way to get a sense of the language is to watch clips from a TV series you know well, such as "Friends," with Italian dubbing, which you can find on YouTube. Then there are paid programs like Lingopie, which allow you to watch thousands of movies and TV shows with subtitles that let you click on a word and learn the meaning.

There is also the Google Translate app if you get into a bind. If you're getting along well with a new Italian friend and can't quite make yourself understood, you can use the app to have a conversation translated live for you. It's also helpful if you're looking at a label in a store or a sign in a museum. Simply hold the camera over the text and have it translated on the screen. Still, it's good to keep translation apps as a last resort. Rick Steves reminds us, "To really immerse yourself in the culture, it's important to take risks in conversation. Italians appreciate your attempts. Miscommunication can happen on both sides, but it's part of the fun."