Rome is a beautiful place to travel to go to and explore. But before traveling, you must ponder, do people speak English in Rome?
Communication is an essential part of traveling. So, let’s explore further on. Can you speak English in Rome?
Do People Speak English In Rome?
Rome is a city rich in history. It is the capital city of Italy, located in the central Italian Peninsula.
Rome holds ancient history. It is the political capital and a religious center.
These qualities and old landmarks make Rome a big tourist attraction. Researchers, educators, and even explorers travel to Rome every year.
Aside from traveling for research or educational perspective, Rome is a beautiful city to visit on vacation.
Like traveling to any foreign place, the first concern is communication. Communicating with the natives can help you in many ways.
While traveling for a short while, learning a new language can be too much.
Instead, most people prefer that they get by just speaking English. Although in most countries in the world you can get by just speaking English.
But do people in Rome speak English? The answer is yes; there are quite some English speakers in Rome.
Although most English speakers that you will encounter would be around tourist spots. Or in restaurants and hotels.
Most natives are either shy or just not well-spoken in English. But still, for a short trip, you can communicate in English just fine.
Official Language Of Rome
The official language of Rome is Italian. Italian has a standard dialect form based on the dialect of Florence.
The common speech of Italian is a variant of Standard Italian. Unfortunately, standard Italian has died by now.
The sound system of Italian is similar to that of Spanish and Latin. The grammar is similar to other romance languages.
Outside of Italy, the Italian spoken is heavily influenced by other languages.
How Well Is English Spoken In Rome?
The answer to this question varies from region to region. Most English speakers are usually found around tourist spots.
Hotels and restaurants have staff that can speak English. So it is easy for a foreigner.
But if you go deeper into the city, communication might get harder for you.
Most people can understand and speak English. But the proficiency of their English is average.
You cannot hold a long conversation with a native, most times.
What Percentage Of People Speak English In Rome?
According to research done by professionals. Almost 34% of Italians can speak English. That is quite low compared to some other European countries.
Among these, 29% speak English as their first language. Rome is among the Italian cities where English is efficiently spoken.
Can I Get By In Rome With English?
Suppose you are planning to visit Rome for a short while. Then you can easily stay and travel there without knowing Italian.
Although not all Italians are good at English, still on a short visit, you will not have to worry about language differences.
Since most tourist spots have English-speaking staff. Or the tour guides, who explain everything in English.
There wouldn’t be much trouble to go by with only English. Some younger people even would happily guide you in English if need be.
Suppose you are planning on staying for a long while. Then, it will be better to learn Italian. Or most used phrases in Italian.
That way, you wouldn’t have a lot of trouble socializing. Or you can have an Italian friend willing to translate for you.
With or without the language barrier. The people of Rome are still quite friendly towards foreigners.
Some might be shy to talk because of a lack of English skills. But most Italians are always helpful towards foreigners.
So, even with just knowing English, you can easily get by Rome.
Why Don’t Italians Speak That Much English?
Any new language you learn while living in your own country. You go through different stages of learning it.
Suppose you know another language, even with being good at it. If you don’t use it often, it can get rusty. Or pronunciation can be off.
Learning a language depends on a few factors. For Italians, there are certain factors or reasons they are not efficient in English. Depending on their lifestyle:
1. Education System:
In most countries, English gets taught as a second language. For example, in India or the Philippines.
Learning English in schools at a younger age is an efficient way to be good at it. Unfortunately, in Rome, not all schools prioritize teaching the English language.
Even the schools that do teach English. They aren’t the best. Some private schools can be good at teaching English efficiently.
Moreover, Italians prefer to teach languages like French or German over teaching English. That is also a reason for English not being that commonly spoken.
2. Media Exposure:
The best way anyone can learn a language—especially English through media.
Most children in today’s generation learn English through watching Hollywood movies or shows.
In Rome, though, there is little exposure to the English language. Instead, most TV shows, cartoons, books, or movies get translated into Italian.
The Italian translating industry is the best in the world. Italians take pride in that.
So, with no media exposure to English, most people are not efficient in English.
3. Pride In Their Heritage:
Italians value their heritage a lot. That includes valuing their language. Same as Japanese and Turkish people.
For that reason, they mostly don’t learn English or any foreign language.
Most Italians are prideful regarding their language if a foreigner approaches them in English.
Even if they do understand them, they don’t reply in English. That is because they want you to learn their language.
That is most common with the older generation, though. Most youngsters are happy to help and talk in English.
How Can I Get Around Rome Without Knowing Italian?
For the most part, you will be ok with just English in Rome. But truly, with the language barrier, you will be missing out on many things.
The tourist restaurants are the only ones with English staff. But these restaurants are also quite expensive.
Moreover, getting street food is getting the real essence of any country.
So, to have a wholesome experience in Rome. It would be good if you knew a few phrases in Italian.
For starters, you can learn the phrase, “Parli Inglese?” Means “Do you speak English?” That would be a sign that you are a foreigner.
Moreover, Italians like that you are putting effort into learning their language.
Suppose you know Spanish, French, or German. Even then, you can communicate easily, especially in Spanish.
So, if you know another language spoken in Rome, it can be a good backup for you.
Tips You Need To Know For Visiting Rome
Before going on any trip, you need good planning. That helps you prepare for what you are going to face.
Moreover, it helps you have an even better experience. Knowing some useful tips can be very helpful. So, here are some tips for you that can be quite helpful before you visit Rome.
1. Language:
Like most places in Europe, English is not so well spoken in Rome. But, yes, you can find English speakers in hotels and so.
But if you get stuck in a certain situation. Or get lost in any part of the city. Then, knowing a few phrases in Italian would be a lot helpful.
Words like “ciao” for Hello and “Grazie,” for thanks, would help you a lot. Or the phrase, “scusi, non parlo Italiano,” meaning, “Sorry I don’t speak Italian.” It can also be helpful to learn before your travel.
Italian people like it when you try to communicate in their language. So these small phrases can be a big help in your travel.
2. Greeting:
Visiting a new place, it is better that you learn their greetings. That way you people are more helpful towards you.
The most common greeting in Italian is “ciao,” which is common for both “hello” and “bye.”
Kissing on either cheek while embracing is Rome’s most common form of greeting. So don’t feel awkward when someone kisses your cheek.
3. How To Get Around:
Most of the time, the streets in Rome get crowded, and people walk around leisurely, as should you.
Walk around the city to enjoy it fully. Moreover, don’t get bothered by the crowd. If you are in a rush, then you can hail a taxi.
The subways are better now in the city. So, you can even opt for that.
Do’s And Don’ts
As additional tips, there are some dos and don’ts of the city. That may be helpful to you on your travel.
Let’s look at this table for more helpful tips.
Final Words:
Rome is a beautiful city to travel to. With so many hidden gems that need to get explored.
But the very first hurdle can be the language. Do people in Rome speak English? Yes, they do.
Most people can understand and communicate in English near tourist spots if you venture inside the city. However, you might find it hard to communicate.
But learning a few phrases in Italian can be sufficient for your travels. And learning a new language in a new place is a part of the whole experience.
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