Are you planning a trip to the charming streets of Italy? Whether you're a language enthusiast or just looking to connect with the locals, learning a few essential Italian phrases and slang words can take your experience to the next level.

Here's a quick guide to some of the spoken and unspoken language in Italy.

Let's start simple:

• Mastering the Ciao: This is the universal Italian greeting that you're likely familiar with. But there's more to it than that. Italians are warm and expressive, so don't hesitate to greet with a smile and a hearty "Ciao!" (ch-ow) For a bit more formality, use "Salve" (sal-ve) meaning 'hello' or "Buongiorno" (bon-jor-no) meaning 'good morning'. "Buonasera" {bo-na ser-ah) meaning 'good evening' is perfect for afternoons and evenings.

Now, for my coffee lovers:

• For the love of Caffine: The heart of Italian culture beats in its coffee, and knowing how to order your dose of espresso is essential. "Un caffè" (un caf-eh) is a shot of espresso, while "un caffè lungo" (un caf-feh loon-go) is a longer version. To blend in like a local, confidently ask for "un caffè macchiato" (un caf-eh ma-key-at-oh) which is an espresso with a touch of milk or "un caffè corretto" (un caf-eh cor-ret-to) which is an espresso with a dash of alcohol.

Now that you masted coffee, next would be ordering our delicious food:

• A Food Lover's Paradise: Navigating Italian menus with confidence is a rewarding experience. To start, say "Vorrei" (vor-ray) meaning "I would like" followed by the dish name. "Antipasto" (anti-past-oh) is the appetizer, while "primo piatto" (pre-mo) refers to the first course, often pasta or risotto. End your meal with a sweet "dolce" (dol-chay) and a strong "caffè" (caf-fay).

After all that food, you're going to walk around and when you need help with directions, this is important:

• Get Street Savvy: Navigating around a new city is exciting but can also be a bit confusing. Asking for directions is a great opportunity to practice your Italian. The best phrase you can learn before coming to Italy is "Dov'è" (dove-eh) which directly translates to 'Where is it' or begins the sententece 'Where is...'. For example, "Dove si trova?" which means 'Where is it?'. Or orient yourself going back to the cathedral or dumo in town and ask "Dov'è il duomo?" (dove-eh ill dwo-mo). People may often charade a direction but learning this response may help - "A sinistra" (ah sin-e-stra) meaning 'on the left' or "A destra" (ah des-trah) meaning 'on the right'.

Now you know how to greet, how to order, and how to navigate, next you should start talking to the locals. To truly connect with the locals, sprinkle your conversation with these common expressions:

• "Come va?" (com-meh va) - How's it going?

• "Mi piace molto" (me pee-ah-che mole-toe)- I really like it.

• "Mi scusi" (me sc-oo-see) - Excuse me.

• "Per favore" (per fa-vor-re) - Please.

• "Grazie mille" (gra-zee-eh) - Thank you very much.

If you're feeling brave, you can now try to unspoken Italian language:

• The most infamous hand gesture of all? The Pinched Fingers with "Ma Che Vuoi?". The gesture of pinching your fingertips together while tilting your head expresses a sentiment of confusion or disbelief. "Ma che vuoi?" (mah kay voy) translates to 'What do you want?' and is often accompanied by raised eyebrows. Italians use this to convey a sense of "What are you talking about?" or "I can't believe this."

• You got a problem with me? Get ready for the chin flick: A quick flick of the chin with the fingers is a gesture of dismissive contempt. It's used to show that someone or something is unimportant or unworthy of attention. While it might seem impolite, it's deeply ingrained in Italian communication.

• Who doesn't love the food - to complement the chef, give them a chef's kiss, it did come from us! A simple gesture where the tips of the thumb and fingers touch, followed by a flick of the hand, symbolizes something being "delizioso" (del-ee-zee-o-so) meaning 'delicious'. It's a way to show appreciation for good food or drinks, often seen at restaurants or social gatherings.

• Someone complaining they're eating too much pasta, which is impossible here, get ready to tell them "Basta!". When someone brushes their hand against their lips in a shushing motion, it's a gesture that means "Basta!" (bas-tah) meaning 'Enough!'. It's a way to signal that a situation has become overwhelming or annoying and needs to stop.

• This can be confusing, I know, but to show that you can go with the classic shoulder shrug with "Boh". The classic shoulder shrug, accompanied by a slightly tilted head and palms up, embodies the Italian expression "Boh" (bo). This gesture is used when someone is unsure, indifferent, or lacks an explanation. It's a universal symbol of not having an answer.

Well, I hope this helps! I know many come to Italy this time of the year and I look forward to meeting new travelers!