How to initiate a formal phone conversation in Italian

To initiate a formal phone conversation in Italian, typical phrases include:

• “Pronto, sono [Name], come posso aiutarla?” (Hello, this is [Name], how can I help you?)
• “Buongiorno, parla [Name], in cosa posso esserle utile?” (Good morning, this is [Name], how can I assist you?)
• “Buongiorno, [Name] al telefono, come sta?” (Good morning, [Name] speaking, how are you?)

You typically start with a polite greeting such as “Buongiorno” (Good morning) or “Buonasera” (Good evening), clearly state your name, and use formal pronouns like “lei” (you, formal) to show respect in the conversation. Then you offer your help or state the purpose of the call. This sets a respectful and polite tone for formal telephone conversations in Italian.

Would you like examples of full formal phone conversation scripts in Italian?

References

• The doctrine of the mean. Conversation in courtesy manuals from early modernity to the present

• Italian Phrasemes as Constructions: How to Understand and Use Them

• SimpleNLG-IT: adapting SimpleNLG to Italian

• Twelve Years of the Italian Program to Enhance Relational and Communication Skills (PERCS)

• Italian ma ‘but’ in deverbal pragmatic markers: Forms, functions, and productivity of a pragma-dyad