Which Italian phrases matter most here?

“Buongiorno, abito qui accanto.” (Hello, I live next door); “Abito qui da poco.” (I’ve only just moved in); “Abito al piano di sopra da poco.” (I’ve just moved in upstairs). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Italy. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Italian phrases for meeting your new neighbours in Italy

Greet them with “Buongiorno” or “Buonasera”, then say where you live: “Buongiorno, abito qui accanto” or “Abito qui da poco”. Use Lei, the polite form, until they offer tu: “Piacere di conoscerla”. When it feels right, suggest a coffee: “Un giorno prendiamo un caffè insieme?”.

Try it · about two minutes

In your first week you meet a neighbour on the stairs and introduce yourself.

Sound on: the neighbour speaks Italian. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

You meet a neighbour on the stairs for the first time. She is carrying her shopping up and gives you a nod.
You
Buongiorno, abito qui accanto.
Hello, I live next door.
Neighbour
Piacere! Abita qui da poco, vero?
Nice to meet you. You’ve only just moved in, haven’t you?
You
Abito qui da poco.
I’ve only just moved in.
Neighbour
Le piace stare qui?
Do you like living here?
You
Sì, mi piace molto.
Yes, I like it a lot.
Neighbour
Parla molto bene l'italiano!
You speak Italian very well.
You
Sto ancora imparando, abbia pazienza.
I’m still learning, so please be patient.
Neighbour
Di dove è?
Where are you from?
You
Vengo da un altro paese.
I come from another country.
Neighbour
Se ha bisogno di una mano, basta bussare.
If you ever need a hand, just knock.
You
Un giorno prendiamo un caffè insieme?
Shall we have a coffee together some time?

Which Italian phrases do you need?

Buongiorno, abito qui accanto.
Hello, I live next door.
Abito qui da poco.
I’ve only just moved in.
Abito al piano di sopra da poco.
I’ve just moved in upstairs.
Mi presento.
Let me introduce myself.
Piacere di conoscerla.
Nice to meet you.
Di dove è?
Where are you from?
A che piano abita?
Which floor do you live on?
Le piace stare qui?
Do you like living here?
Un giorno prendiamo un caffè insieme?
Shall we have a coffee together some time?
Se ha bisogno di una mano, basta bussare.
If you ever need a hand, just knock.

What is worth knowing in Italy?

Lei first, tu if offered

Polite (Lei)

Piacere di conoscerla.

Nice to meet you.

Tu, once offered

Piacere di conoscerti.

Nice to meet you.

With neighbours you don’t know yet, and with older people, Lei is the safe choice. Younger neighbours often suggest tu quickly, so let them lead.

Say hello every time

In Italian buildings people usually greet each other on the stairs and in the lift, even if it’s only a nod and a buongiorno or buonasera.

Buongiorno, abito qui accanto.

Hello, I live next door.

A first meeting on the stairs

1
Greet them and say who you are.
2
Say you’ve just moved in, and where.
I’ve just moved in upstairs.
3
Keep it light, and suggest a coffee when it feels right.
Shall we have a coffee together some time?

Questions about this situation

Which Italian phrases matter most here?: “Buongiorno, abito qui accanto.” (Hello, I live next door); “Abito qui da poco.” (I’ve only just moved in); “Abito al piano di sopra da poco.” (I’ve just moved in upstairs). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Italy. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in Italian

All situations in Italian

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

Try free on the App Store (opens the App Store in a new tab)

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.