Skip to content
What are common Italian phrases for introducing topics in meetings visualisation

What are common Italian phrases for introducing topics in meetings

Italian Language Essentials: Thrive in Business Meetings and Presentations: What are common Italian phrases for introducing topics in meetings
Learn with Comprenders App Join Telegram Courses About Comprenders

Common Italian phrases for introducing topics in meetings

Common Italian phrases for introducing topics in meetings are short, polite transitions that help speakers open a new point, move between agenda items, and keep discussion organized. In business settings, the most useful expressions are direct and practical: they say exactly what is changing in the conversation.

  • “Vorrei iniziare parlando di…” (I would like to start by talking about…)
  • “Per iniziare, vorrei discutere…” (To begin, I would like to discuss…)
  • “Passiamo al punto successivo…” (Let’s move on to the next point…)
  • “A proposito di…” (Speaking of…)
  • “Iniziamo con…” (Let’s start with…)
  • “Il primo punto all’ordine del giorno è…” (The first item on the agenda is…)
  • “Vorrei portare alla vostra attenzione…” (I would like to bring to your attention…)
  • “Entriamo nel merito di…” (Let’s get to the matter of…)
  • “Parliamo ora di…” (Let’s now talk about…)
  • “Prima di tutto, vorrei sottolineare…” (First of all, I would like to emphasize…)

These expressions are commonly used to lead discussions, introduce new topics, or transition between agenda items in meetings. They are useful for formal and professional settings in Italian-speaking contexts. In practice, they work best when followed by a clear noun phrase, such as il budget, il progetto, le scadenze, or la situazione attuale.

How these phrases are used in real meetings

Italian meeting language tends to favor clear sequencing. A speaker often signals the structure of the discussion before giving details, which is why phrases like Per iniziare and Passiamo al punto successivo are so effective. They reduce ambiguity and help listeners follow whether the meeting is opening a new topic, shifting to another item, or returning to a previous issue.

A few common patterns appear again and again:

  • Opening a meeting:
    “Per iniziare, vorrei discutere il budget.”
  • Introducing the first agenda item:
    “Il primo punto all’ordine del giorno è la pianificazione del progetto.”
  • Changing topics:
    “Passiamo al punto successivo: le scadenze.”
  • Bringing attention to a priority:
    “Vorrei portare alla vostra attenzione un problema con le consegne.”
  • Adding a related point:
    “A proposito di formazione, dobbiamo decidere i tempi.”

These phrases are especially useful because Italian meetings often rely on spoken transitions rather than rigid scripts. A simple phrase at the start of a sentence can make a presentation sound much more natural and professional.

Formal vs. neutral ways to introduce a topic

Not every phrase has the same tone. Some expressions sound more formal, while others are suitable for everyday team discussions.

More formal

  • “Vorrei portare alla vostra attenzione…”
  • “Il primo punto all’ordine del giorno è…”
  • “Entriamo nel merito di…”
  • “Prima di tutto, vorrei sottolineare…”

More neutral or conversational

  • “Parliamo ora di…”
  • “Iniziamo con…”
  • “Passiamo al punto successivo…”
  • “A proposito di…”

In a board meeting, client call, or official presentation, the more formal options usually sound better. In a small internal meeting, the neutral versions often feel more natural and less stiff. The key is matching the phrase to the level of formality expected in the room.

Pronunciation notes that matter in speaking

Meeting phrases are often learned from text, but pronunciation affects whether they sound confident in conversation. A few words deserve special attention:

  • Vorrei is pronounced roughly vor-REY.
  • iniziare has a smooth, connected rhythm: ee-nee-TSYAH-reh.
  • punto all’ordine del giorno is a useful fixed expression meaning the agenda item of the day.
  • merito in entrando nel merito is pronounced MEH-ree-toh.
  • attenzione has stress on the third syllable: at-ten-TSYOH-neh.

Italian sentence rhythm is usually clearer when the key noun comes at the end of the phrase. For example, “Vorrei iniziare parlando di…” becomes complete only when the topic follows, such as “Vorrei iniziare parlando di vendite.” That structure helps listeners anticipate the subject before the main point arrives.

Common mistakes to avoid

A few errors can make meeting language sound unnatural.

  • Using a literal translation from English that sounds too abrupt.
    For example, “Let’s jump to…” is not the most natural business-style starting point in Italian. “Passiamo a…” or “Parliamo ora di…” usually sounds better.

  • Making the phrase too long.
    Meeting introductions work best when they are short. A phrase like “Vorrei portare alla vostra attenzione…” is already enough; adding too many extra words can make the sentence heavy.

  • Forgetting the topic after the phrase.
    The expression itself is only the frame. The topic must be named immediately afterward: “Parliamo ora di sicurezza informatica.”

  • Using formal language in a very casual setting.
    ”Il primo punto all’ordine del giorno è…” fits an organized meeting, but it can sound overly ceremonial in a quick daily check-in.

Useful sentence templates

These templates make it easier to adapt the phrases to different meeting topics.

  • “Vorrei iniziare parlando di + topic"
    "Vorrei iniziare parlando di risultati trimestrali.”

  • “Passiamo al punto successivo: + topic"
    "Passiamo al punto successivo: la logistica.”

  • “Il primo punto all’ordine del giorno è + topic"
    "Il primo punto all’ordine del giorno è il lancio del prodotto.”

  • “Vorrei portare alla vostra attenzione + topic/problem"
    "Vorrei portare alla vostra attenzione un ritardo nelle consegne.”

  • “Parliamo ora di + topic"
    "Parliamo ora di assunzioni.”

Using ready-made templates helps reduce hesitation in a meeting, especially when speaking under time pressure. Active conversation practice is often more effective than passive study for making these phrases available quickly in real time.

When to use each phrase

A practical way to choose the right expression is to match it to the function of the moment.

  • To open the first topic: “Per iniziare, vorrei discutere…”
  • To announce the agenda item: “Il primo punto all’ordine del giorno è…”
  • To shift to a new subject: “Passiamo al punto successivo…”
  • To highlight something important: “Vorrei portare alla vostra attenzione…”
  • To connect related ideas: “A proposito di…”
  • To move into detail: “Entriamo nel merito di…”

This function-based approach is useful because meetings are not just about vocabulary; they are about managing turn-taking and signaling structure. A well-placed transition phrase can make even simple Italian sound polished and professional.

Quick reference

  • Opening a topic: Vorrei iniziare parlando di…
  • Starting the meeting: Per iniziare, vorrei discutere…
  • Moving on: Passiamo al punto successivo…
  • Introducing an agenda item: Il primo punto all’ordine del giorno è…
  • Drawing attention: Vorrei portare alla vostra attenzione…
  • Discussing something in detail: Entriamo nel merito di…
  • Introducing a related point: A proposito di…

These expressions are a reliable core set for formal and professional Italian meetings, where clear transitions matter as much as the content itself.

References