Train Vocabulary
Traveling by train is often cheaper, faster, and more convenient than traveling by airplane or car within Italy, though there are some exceptions. Italy's bullet train, the Eurostar, offers fast, affordable, comfortable, and somewhat reliable service between major cities. Train travel from major cities to smaller cities and towns is certainly an affordable option, but it can add time to your trip, especially in southern Italy.
arrival |
arrivo |
ahr-REE-voh |
cabin |
scompartimento |
skohm-pahr-tee-MEHN-toh |
car |
carrozza |
kahr-ROH-tsah |
chief conductor |
capotreno |
kah-poh-TREH-noh |
conductor |
controllore |
kohn-trohl-LOH-reh |
corridor |
corridoio |
kohr-ree-DOH-yoh |
departure |
partenza |
pahr-TEHN-tzah |
family offer |
offerta famiglia |
ohf-FEHR-tah fah-MEE-lyah |
first class |
prima classe |
PREE-mah KLAHS-seh |
luggage rack (overhead) |
portabagagli portabagagli |
reh-TEE-nah/ pohr-tah-bah-GAH-lyee |
nonsmokers |
non fumatori |
nohn foo-mah-TOH-ree |
smokers |
fumatori |
foo-mah-TOH-ree |
platform |
binario |
bee-NAH-ree-oh |
railway |
ferrovia |
fehr-roh-VEE-ah |
reservation |
prenotazione |
preh-noh-tah-TZYO-neh |
restaurant car |
carrozza ristorante |
kahr-ROH-tzah ree-stoh-RAHN-teh |
seat |
posto |
POH-stoh |
second class |
seconda classe |
seh-KOHN-dah KLAHS-seh |
sleeper car |
vagone letto |
vah-GOH-neh LEHT-toh |
sleeping compartment |
cuccetta |
koo-CHEHT-tah |
station |
stazione |
stah-TZYOH-neh |
supplement |
supplemento |
soop-pleh-MEHN-toh |
ticket |
biglietto |
bee-LYEHT-toh |
ticket office |
biglietteria |
bee-lyeht-tehr-REE-ah |
toilet |
toilette |
twah-LEHT |
tracks |
binari |
bee-NAH-ree |
train |
treno |
TREH-noh |
validate |
timbrare |
teem-BRAH-reh |
window |
finestrino |
fee-neh-STREE-noh |
The names of some Italian cities are spelled and pronounced differently in English. Here is a list of some of Italy's major cities, with their Italian spellings and pronunciations.
English |
Italian |
Pronunciation |
Florence |
Firenze |
fee-REHN-tzeh |
Leghorn |
Livorno |
lee-VOHR-noh |
Mantua |
Mantova |
MAHN-toh-vah |
Milan |
Milano |
mee-LAH-noh |
Naples |
Napoli |
NAH-poh-lee |
Rome |
Roma |
ROH-mah |
Sienna |
Siena |
SYEH-nah |
Turin |
Torino |
toh-REE-noh |
Venice |
Venezia |
veh-NEH-tzyah |
Some Useful Phrases for Train Travel
Sorry, is this the train to … ? |
Mi scusi, è questo il treno per … ? mee SKOO-zee, eh KWEH-stoh eel TREH-noh pehr |
Good morning, I have booked a seat … |
Buon giorno, ho prenotato il posto … bwohn JOHR-noh, oh preh-noh-TAH-toh eel POH-sto |
How long until we get to … ? |
Fra quanto si arriva a … ? frah KWAHN-toh see ahr-REE-vah ah |
Is the train late? |
Il treno è in ritardo? eel TREH-noh eh een ree-TAHR-doh |
Is this seat taken? |
è libero questo posto? eh LEE-beh-roh KWEH-stoh POH-stoh |
Yes, have a seat. |
Prego, si accomodi. PREH-goh, see ahk-KOH-moh-dee |
No, it's occupied. |
No, è occupato. noh, eh ohk-koo-PAH-toh |
