Learn Italian - Lesson Thirteen

Lesson Thirteen - Getting Around: Italy Transport, Italian Trains, Buses and Traffic

Italy is beautiful, full of interesting places to see and towns to visit, however it is quite renowned for the chaotic traffic, apparent lack of road rules (the rules are there, although everyone has his own interpretation of them) and sheer number of people out and about.

Renting a car (noleggiare una macchina) can be a good option if you want to visit small little places out of the most treaded routes. Be sure to have a "cartina" (map) and to try to understand the route you want to follow before you actually hit the road: will you take the "autostrada" (freeway, actually a toll road, that you have to pay at the "casello" (tollgate) or "barriera") or some of the secondary roads (strada statale - state road, strada regionale - regional road, strada provinciale - provincial road, strada comunale - municipal road: from the largest and most trafficked to the smallest and least trafficked… usually)? Perhaps listen to the traffic report (bollettino del traffico) and the weather report (bollettino meteo or previsioni del tempo) so you can try to avoid code (queues of cars, sometimes many km long), ingorghi (traffic jam) and weather conditions such as neve (snow) (remember that on some road, for law, during winter you must have the snow chains (catene da neve) on your car just in case you will need them), temporali (storms), nebbia (fog, a truly scary experience where sometimes you can't even see the bonnet of your own car). Once you get to your destination find a parcheggio (parking area), checking if it is "a pagamento" (paid) or free “gratuito”. If it says "disco orario" it means you can park the car for a limited amount of time, usually one hour, and you have to set the small paperboard clock that is on the windscreen of the car to the time you actually parked it there. If in doubt, trusting what everybody else is doing is not always a good idea. They might be breaking the law and you might end up with a "multa" (fine) or be stopped by a "vigile" (or polizia stradale, traffic police). If the traffic police stop you on the road, they can ask for the registration document “libretto di circolazione”, driving license “patente”. If you have some problems with your car, you can ask “Può dirmi se c’è un’autofficina/un autolavaggio/un meccanico/un gommista qui vicino?” (Can you tell me if there is a repair garage/car wash/mechanic/tyre repairer near here?)

Some useful words and idioms about traveling by car:

Divieto di accesso	No entry
Divieto di sorpasso	No overtaking
Frana	Landslide
Galleria, accendere i fari	Tunnel, switch on head lamps
Obbligo di catene	Use of chains compulsory
Pericolo	Danger
Banchi di nebbia	Fog banks
Ghiaccio	Ice
Possibilità di code	Possible queue hazard
Rallentare	Slow
Segnaletica in rifacimento	Signs being repainted
Per favore metta 40€ di benzina verde	Please put 40€ of green leadless petrol
Per favore mi controlli l’acqua/la pressione delle gomme	Please check the water/ the tyre pressure
Si può parcheggiare qui?	Is parking allowed here?
Deve pagare una multa di… paga subito?	You will have to pay a fine of… are you going to pay now?
Questa strada è a senso unico	This is a one-way street
La mia auto è stata rimossa, dove posso recuperarla?	My car has been towed away. Where do I get it back?
Divieto di sosta	No stopping

The train (treno) is a good alternative option: the network is quite extended and you will find trains for almost every destination you might want to visit. Go to the “stazione” or “ferrovia” (railway station), ask for a "biglietto" (ticket) at the "biglietteria" (ticket office) or get it from the "macchinette" (self-service machines) where the English language is always supported. If you want a return ticket, ask for a "andata e ritorno", otherwise "solo andata" is a one-way ticket. Check which platform (binario) the train is leaving from and if there is any "ritardo" (delay; it can vary from minutes to hours...). Remember to "obliterare il biglietto" (stamp the ticket) in the yellow machines at the beginning of each platform before you climb on board, and if you can’t find one or the one you find isn’t working, when you climb on board, look for the guard “capotreno” or the “controller” or “train officer” and tell him that the machine isn’t working (la macchinetta non funziona) otherwise you will have to pay a fine. On the train itself you will have "carrozze per fumatori" or "scomparti per fumatori" (respectively coaches and areas reserved to smokers) and many more "carrozze" or "scomparti" where it is forbidden to smoke ("vietato fumare"). When the controllore (train officer) asks "biglietto prego" (ticket, please), show him the ticket. On some of the fastest trains, which stop less frequently, you have to pay a supplement (supplemento) before getting on board. In others you have to book a seat (prenotare un posto) before you can get on board. When you are almost at destination, ask somebody for your "fermata" (stops) and get ready to get down. “Per favore può dirmi quando devo scendere per Torino Porta Nuova?”, Please can you tell me when I have to get down for Torino Porta Nuova?

A che ora parte il prossimo treno per…?	What time is the next train for… due to live?
Da che binario parte il treno?	What platform does the train leave from?
Ferma a Torino Lingotto?	Does it stop at Torino Lingotto?
E’ necessario cambiare?	Do I need to change?
Quanto costa il biglietto di prima/seconda classe per…?	How much is a first/second class ticket for…?
Vorrei prenotare un posto fumatori/non fumatori sul treno per Torino del 15 luglio.	I’d like to reserve a smoker/non smoker seat on the Torino train on 15th july.
Ci sono abbonamenti settimanali/mensili?	Are there any weekly/monthly season tickets?
Per favore un biglietto di andata e ritorno per Torino Lingotto.	A single/return ticket for Torino Lingotto please.

Travelling around cities can be done by bus (autobus or corriera), tramway (tram) or subway (metropolitana). Of course in Venice you can take a vaporetto or battello (public waterbus) or a romantic gondola if you prefer...

On the bus everything works pretty much the same as in the train, you have to stamp the ticket in the yellow machine onboard the bus and remember "è proibito parlare al conducente" (it is forbidden to speak to the driver), but this applies only when the bus is moving. If the bus (or the train) is full and you need to go past some people, it is polite to say "permesso" as you walk through. But remember that if the bus is a blue one and goes outside the city, you will have to buy the ticket from the driver when you will get on the bus.

Quale autobus mi porta a…?	Which bus will take me to…?
Con che frequenza passa il 5?	How often does the bus number 5 run?
A che ora pass ail primo/l’ultimo autobus?	When do buses start/stop running?
Ci sono autobus notturni?	There are any buses that run at night?
Dove posso comprare un biglietto dell’autobus? Direttamente sull’autobus, oppure dove vede la scritta…	Where can I buy a bus ticket? On board the bus, or where there is a sign saying…
Quanto costa il biglietto per una corsa singola?	How much is a single one-way ticket?
Dov’è la fermata del numero 5?	Where is the stop for number 5?
Quest’autobus passa da via…? Quante fermate ci sono da qui a via…?	Does this bus go to… street? How many stops are there before … street?

Some useful words and idioms about travelling by plane:

Dove sono i voli internazionali/nazionali?	Where the international/domestic flights are?
Dov’è il check-in del volo Alitalia per Roma?	Where the Alitalia check-in desk is for the flight for Rome?
A che ora parte il prossimo volo per Parigi?	What time is the next flight for Paris due to live?
Vorrei prenotare/confermare uno/due posto/I a nome … sul volo Alitalia per …	I’d like to book/confirm a/two seat/s in the name of … on flight Alitalia for …
Per favore vorrei un posto fumatori/non fumatori/central/vicino al finestrino/vicino al corridoio.	I’d like a smoker’s/non smoker’s/central/window/aisle seat please.
Vorrei anticipare/posticipare la partenza.	I’d like to bring forward/delay my departure.
Quanto dura il volo?	How long does the flight take?
Posso imbarcare questa borsa/scatola come bagaglio a mano?	May I take this bag/box into the cabina s hand luggage?
Il volo … subirà un ritardo di … minuti/ore causa nebbia/maltempo/sciopero.	Owing to fog/bad weather/strike action, flight number … will be delayed … minutes/hours.
Non riesco ad allacciarmi le cinture di sicurezza.	I can’t manage to fasten my safety belt.
A che ora è previsto l’atterraggio?	When are we due to land?
Il decollo/atterraggio è previsto tra … minuti.	We’ll be taking off/landing in … minutes.
Stiamo attraversando un’area di turbolenza. E’ possibile incontrare vuoti d’aria. Allacciare le cinture di sicurezza.	We have hit some turbolence. We may run into a few air pockets. Please fasten your seats belts.
Il mio bagaglio non è arrivato: a chi mi debbo rivolgere? Ero sul volo … da …	My luggage has not arrived. Who can I speak to about it? I was on flight … from …

Most Italian towns can be enjoyed on foot and if you get lost just ask somebody "Mi sa indicare come arrivare a..." (Can you tell me how to get to...) and everybody will be happy to put you on the right track. If you need a car to visit some places nearby, you can look for a car-hire firm at the airport. Some useful words and idioms about car-hire:

Per favore può dirmi dov’è un’agenzia di autonoleggio?	Can you tell me where there is a car-hire firm, please?
Vorrei noleggiare un’auto piccola/media/grande a due/quattro/cinque posti.	I’d like toh ire a small/medium-sized/big two/four/five seater car.
Ho paura che tutte le auto siano occupate.	I’m afraid all the cars are taken.
Qual è la tariffa al giorno?	What are the daily rates?
E’ compresa l’assicurazione? No, l’assicurazione è a parte.	Is insurance included? No insurance is separate.
L’assicurazione copre tutti i rischi?	Does the insurance cover all risks?
Vorrei vedere la patente di tutte le persone che guideranno l’auto.	I’d like to see the driving licenze of all the people who will be driving the car.
E’ necessaria una carta di credito per il noleggio.	A credit card is needed toh ire a car.
Nel prezzo è compreso il pieno: se non restituisce l’auto con il pieno dovrà pagare la differenza.	A full tank is included in the rates. Failure to return the car on a full tank will entail payment of the difference.
Devo usare benzina super senza piombo o gasolio?	Am I to use leadless petrol or diesel fuel?
Dove sono i documenti dell’auto?	Where are the car papers?
Mi può spiegare come funziona …?	Can you explain how … functions?

ITALIAN PROVERBS AND IDIOMS

Ma va	I don't believe you. It's impossible. Don't tell me that
Manco per sogno!/Nemmeno per sogno!	In your dream
Meglio così	It is better this way
Meglio di nulla	Better this that nothing at all
Meno male!	Luckily
Modestia a parte	In all modesty
Molto meglio	Much better
Non c'è altro	That's all
Non fare il prezioso	Don't play hard to get
Non farti pregare	Don't play hard to get
Non ne posso più	I cant stand it anymore
Padronissimo	As you like! All right than!
Parole d'oro	Amen, You said it
Per carità!	God forbid
Per farla breve	To cut it short
Paesi che vai, usanze che trovi.	When in Rome, do as the Romans do
Rosso di sera, bel tempo si spera	Red sky at night, shepherd's delight
Tanto va la gatta al lardo che ci lascia lo zampino	Curiosity killed the cat

AN ESSENTIAL DICTIONARY OF ITALIAN - PART 6

qualsiasi	Any
quanto	How much
quarto	Fourth
quasi	Almost
questione	Issue
qui	Here
quindi	Therefore, so
raccogliere	To pick up, to collect
raccontare	To tell
ragazza	Girl
ragazzo	Boy
raggiungere	To reach
ragione	Reason
rapido	Rapid, fast
rapporto	Relationship
rappresentare	To represent
reale	Real
realtà	Reality
recare	To bring
recente	Recent
regione	Region
regno	Kingdom
relazione	Relationship
religioso	Religious
rendere	To return, to give back
repubblica	Republic
resistere	To resist
restare	To remain
resto	Rest
resto	Change (of money)
ricchezza	Wealth
ricco	Rich, wealthy
ricerca	Research
ricevere	To receive
richiedere	To request
riconoscere	To recognize
ricordare	To remember
ricordo	Memory
ridere	To laugh
ridurre	To reduce, to decrease
riempire	To fill
riferire	To refer, to inform
rifiutare	To refuse
rimanere	To remain
rimettere	To vomit
ringraziare	To thank
ripetere	To repeat
riportare	To bring back
risolvere	To solve
rispetto	Respect
rispondere	To answer
risposta	Answer
risultare	To result
risultato	Result
ritornare	To return
ritorno	Return
ritrovare	To find again
riunire	To reunite
riuscire	To accomplish
rivedere	To review
rivelare	To reveal
rivolgere	To address
rivoluzione	Revolution
roba	Stuff
romano	Roman
rompere	To break
rosso	Red
russo	Russian
sacrificio	Sacrifice
sacro	Holy
sala	Hall
salire	To go up, to climb
saltare	To jump
salutare	To greet, to say hello, to wave hello
salvare	To save
sangue	Blood
sapere	To know
sbagliare	To make a mistake
scala	Ladder or staircase
scappare	To escape, to run away
scegliere	To choose
scena	Scene
scendere	To descend, to go down
scherzare	To joke
scienza	Science
scomparire	To disappear
scopo	Purpose
scoppiare	To explode, to blow up
scoprire	To discover
scorrere	To slide
scrittore	Writer
scrivere	To write
scuola	School
scusare	To excuse
se	If
secolo	Century
secondo	Second
sedere	To sit
segnare	To mark
segno	Mark
segretario	Secretary
segreto	Secret
seguire	To follow
sembrare	To appear, to seem
semplice	Easy, simple
senso	Meaning, sense
sentimento	Feeling
sentire	To hear, to smell, to feel
senza	Without
sera	Evening
sereno	Serene, quiet, calm
serie	Series
serio	Serious
servire	To serve
servizio	Service
settimana	Week
sforzo	Effort
sguardo	Gaze, look
si	Yes
sicurezza	Safety, security
sicuro	Safe, secure
significare	To mean
signora	Mrs
signore	Mr
signorina	Miss
silenzio	Silence
simile	Similar
sinistro	Left
sistema	System
situazione	Situation
smettere	To stop, to quit
sociale	Social
società	Society
soffrire	To suffer
sognare	To dream
sogno	Dream
soldato	Soldier
sole	Sun