Italian · Real conversations
Meeting people: Italian conversation practice
Start a friendly exchange and find a connection. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A1 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A guest meeting someone at a small social gathering.
Goal: Start a friendly exchange and find a connection.
Read the conversation
Partner
Ciao, sono qui in visita da un'altra città.
Show English translation
Hello, I'm visiting from another town.
You
Come mai sei qui?
Show English translation
What brings you here?
Partner
Mi ha invitato Anna. È un'amica di vecchia data.
Show English translation
Anna invited me. She's an old friend.
You
Come conosci Anna?
Show English translation
How do you know Anna?
Partner
Ci siamo conosciuti all'università. Sto ancora cercando di orientarmi qui.
Show English translation
We met at university. I'm still finding my way around.
You
È la prima volta che vieni qui?
Show English translation
Is this your first time here?
Partner
Sì, è la mia prima visita. Anna ha detto che ti conosce.
Show English translation
Yes, it's my first visit. Anna said she knows you.
You
Ho sentito parlare molto di te.
Show English translation
I've heard a lot about you.
Partner
Che bello! Anche tu mi sembri familiare.
Show English translation
That's nice! You look familiar, too.
You
Ci siamo già incontrati?
Show English translation
Have we met before?
Try your part first
Partner says: Hello, I'm visiting from another town. Your goal: What brings you here?
Reveal a sample reply
Come mai sei qui?
What brings you here?
Partner says: Anna invited me. She's an old friend. Your goal: How do you know Anna?
Reveal a sample reply
Come conosci Anna?
How do you know Anna?
Partner says: We met at university. I'm still finding my way around. Your goal: Is this your first time here?
Reveal a sample reply
È la prima volta che vieni qui?
Is this your first time here?
Partner says: Yes, it's my first visit. Anna said she knows you. Your goal: I've heard a lot about you.
Reveal a sample reply
Ho sentito parlare molto di te.
I've heard a lot about you.
Partner says: That's nice! You look familiar, too. Your goal: Have we met before?
Reveal a sample reply
Ci siamo già incontrati?
Have we met before?
Make it your own
- Change where you met.
- Mention a different mutual friend.
- Discover you have met before.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking Italian
Use tu with friends and Lei with someone you address formally. A request with vorrei or potrebbe can soften the tone; it still helps to say what you need clearly. The examples label the situation so you can choose the appropriate relationship.
Read doubled consonants distinctly and keep the written accents. The English translation explains the intended message; Italian often chooses a different construction rather than matching each English word.
