Popular tourist spots can come with a side of “unwanted attention,” and the streets of Rome or Florence are no exception: I’m talking street vendors who really (really!) want you to buy something, people placing a rose in your hand and then demanding payment for it before you can even say “no thanks.” Or even those strangers with a clipboard insisting you to sign something.
These people count on tourists being too confused to react, but if you respond with a firm phrase in Italian, it makes it clear you’re not an easy target. And that’s usually enough for them to leave you alone. So, I’ve put together some handy phrases, complete with pronunciation, so you can practice them before your trip and have them ready if you ever need them.
The basics: quick and universal refusals
Let’s start with the phrases that work in virtually any situation, whether someone is trying to sell you something or clearly didn’t get the message that you’re not interested.
No, grazie (NO GRAH-tsee-eh)
No, thank you.
Always start here. This phrase is simple and polite, and in many cases it’s all you need. Just don’t stop walking, and resist the urge to smile too much when you say it. I know, I know, it might feel rude, but a big, friendly smile in these situations can be read as “try again,” which is basically an invitation for them to keep going.
Non mi interessa (non mee een-teh-RESS-ah)
I’m not interested.
This is your next move if no, grazie didn’t work and they’re still there, somehow convinced that seventh scarf will be the one that changes your mind. With this phrase, you’re being a bit more direct (but leave it there and don’t engage in conversation).
Ho detto di no (oh DET-toh di NO)
I said no.
Ho detto no might feel a bit strong if you’re not used to being this direct, but we Italians use this phrase all the time, and not just with street vendors. The secret is all in the tone: you can say it laughing to a friend who won’t stop showing embarrassing photos of you, or you can say it with a firm voice to the guy at the metro station who’s “helpfully” pressing buttons on the ticket machine for you and expects you to pay for this.
Basta! (BAH-stah)
Enough! / Stop it!
Basta is another expression we use all the time in all sorts of situations, but in this context, it works as a firm full stop to any interaction that’s gone on way too long. And with just two syllables, it’s super easy to remember and pronounce!
Lasciami / Lasciaci in pace (LAH-shah-mee / LAH-shah-chee een PAH-cheh)
Leave me / Leave us alone
This is the phrase to use when someone just won’t stop following you or talking at you, even though you’ve already said “no” in every possible way. To make the message crystal clear, you can pair it with a classic gesture: an open palm facing out, pushing outward.
Dealing with sellers on the street
You’re walking down the street, admiring the architecture or trying to figure out where you actually are, when out of nowhere, someone steps right into your path offering a “free” gift. A moment later, another appears beside you, talking non-stop about some “special deal just for you.” Not exactly what you had planned. Here are some phrases that will help you end these situations quickly.
Non lo voglio (non loh VOH-lyoh)
I don’t want it.
This is your first line of defense the moment you see someone heading your way with a bracelet, a rose, a lucky charm, or really anything you didn’t ask for. Make sure to keep your hands in your pockets while saying it, because if your hands are free, something will end up in them before you know it!
Non voglio niente (non VOH-lyoh NYEN-teh)
I don’t want anything.
Instead of refusing one specific item, with this phrase you’re shutting down the entire offer in one go. It’s especially useful when a vendor keeps pulling out item after item, and you want to make it clear that the answer is no to all of it.
Non insistere (non een-SEES-teh-reh)
Don’t insist.
This phrase draws a very clear line: you’ve given them your answer, and it isn’t going to change, so they better stop trying. It might feel strong, but it’s really not rude. Just firm.
Non l’ho chiesto io (non loh KYES-toh EE-oh)
I didn’t ask for this.
This one is perfect in those situations where someone decides to “help” you without being asked and then expects to be paid for it. Someone starts making the ticket for you? Non l’ho chiesto io. The message is clear: whatever just happened, it wasn’t your idea, so you’re not paying for it.
Dealing with pickpockets
Pickpockets love to work in crowded areas and count on you being too distracted or too caught off guard to say something. So, the best thing you can do is the exact opposite: say something and make sure everyone around hears it!
Fermo! / Ferma! (FEHR-moh / FEHR-mah)
Stop!
Use fermo if the person is a man, ferma if it’s a woman (though in the heat of the moment, honestly, nobody is going to judge your grammar). Short and sharp, it works both as a command to the person and as a way to get everyone around you to look in that direction.
Ti ho visto! (tee oh VEE-stoh)
I saw you!
This is a powerful phrase because the moment a pickpocket realizes they’ve been spotted, the game is over for them. You don’t even need to specify what you saw. Just making eye contact and saying this firmly is enough to make them walk away.
Chiamo la polizia! (KYAH-moh lah poh-lee-TSEE-ah)
I’m calling the police!
Do you actually need to call anyone? Not necessarily. The word polizia alone is enough to send most pickpockets running!
When someone gets too close
On public transport or in crowded streets, personal space can sometimes become a bit of a luxury. Sometimes it’s just rush hour and everyone is squeezed together (uncomfortable but harmless). Other times, though, someone is deliberately invading your space and it has nothing to do with how full the metro is. That’s when these phrases come in handy.
Ti puoi spostare? / Si può spostare? (spo-STAH-tee / see SPO-stee)
Move, Step aside
The first version, ti puoi spostare, is informal, while the second, si può spostare, is formal and sounds a bit more authoritative. It’s a good phrase to start with when someone is standing uncomfortably close and it’s clearly not by accident. If you want to soften it slightly, add a per favore at the end (though these situations don’t really deserve a “please,” right?).
Stai lontano / Stia lontano (stai lon-TAH-no / STEE-ah lon-TAH-no)
Stay away.
You’ve asked them to move, and they didn’t. Or they did, and three seconds later they’re right back. So, it’s time to stop asking. While ti puoi spostare is a request to move, stai lontano is an instruction for the other person to keep their distance. Again, you have the informal version (Stai lontano), and the formal one (Stia lontano).
Non toccarmi / Non mi tocchi (non tok-KAR-mee / non mee TOK-kee)
Don’t touch me
Use this the moment someone makes any kind of physical contact you didn’t invite. And say it loudly.
Asking for help
Hopefully this section stays purely theoretical for you. But travel isn’t always smooth, and if something does go wrong, being able to ask for help in Italian can help speed things up and get people’s attention fast.
Aiuto! Aiuto! (ah-YOO-toh! ah-YOO-toh!)
Help! Help!
One word, repeated at the top of your lungs. Use it when something serious is happening, like you feel threatened or get robbed. If the situation allows for a more composed request, you can also say Ho bisogno di aiuto! (oh bee-ZOH-nyoh dee ah-YOO-toh), which means “I need help!” But in a moment of real urgency, aiuto twice is really all you need.
Mi hanno rubato…(mee AHN-noh roo-BAH-toh…)
They stole my…
Another phrase nobody wants to use on vacation, but one definitely worth knowing in the unfortunate case a pickpocket gets to you. To complete the sentence, you’ll need a definite article before the noun, and which one depends on whether the word is masculine or feminine. Use il for masculine nouns, like mi hanno rubato il portafoglio (they stole my wallet), and la for feminine nouns, such as mi hanno rubato la borsa (they stole my bag).
Valentina Nicastro is a travel writer in love with her home country, Italy. Having travelled widely around the globe, she realised there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put the passport aside for a while. When she is not immersed in documenting Italy, you’ll find her donning her communication consultant hat, weaving words as a content writer and bridging linguistic divides as a translator.
