Learn Italian!
Are you planning a trip to Italy - particularly to my favorite spot in Cinque Terre? Do you need to learn Italian in a hurry?
Well, this page might not make you a master at speaking the beautiful and lyrical Italian language, but it's a start in the right direction and a place to learn a few phrases and words to help you on your way.
The wonderful thing about the Italians, when you visit their beautiful country, is that if you even try just a tiny bit, they will fall all over you with joy that you are trying to speak their language. Even if it's just to say "Gelato please?" ("Gelato, per favore") So, let's get started.
Here are some necessary phrases that every person should have handy and be able to pull out of the proverbial back pocket. Just practice and memorize and you'll do fine.
English word/phrase |
Italian word/phrase |
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Hello/Good-by |
Ciao |
chow |
Do you speak English? |
Parla inglese? |
PAR-lah een-GLAY-zay |
Yes/No |
Si/No |
see/noh |
I don't understand. |
Non capisco. |
nohn ka-PEE-skoh |
I'm sorry. |
Mi dispiace. |
mee dee-speeAH-chay |
Please |
Per favore |
pehr fah-VOH-ray |
Thank you |
Grazie |
GRAH-tsee-ay |
Where is...? |
Dov'e...? |
doh-VEH |
...a hotel |
...un hotel |
oon oh-TEHL |
...a youth hostel |
...un ostello della gioventù |
oon oh-STEHL-loh DAY-lah
joh-vehn-TOO |
...a restaurant |
...un ristorante |
oon ree-stoh-RAHN-tay |
...the train station |
...la stazione |
lah stah-tseeOH-nay |
...the toilet |
...il gabinetto |
eel gah-bee-NAYT-toh |
men |
uomini, signori |
WAW-mee-nee,
seen-YOH-ree |
women |
donne, signore |
DON-nay, seen_YOH-ray |
How much? |
Quanto costa? |
KWAHN-toh KOS-tah |
Included? |
È incluso? |
eh een-KLOO-zoh |
I would like... |
Vorrei |
vor-REHee |
Just a little more./More |
Un pochinno./Di più |
oon poh-KEE-noh/dee peeOO |
A ticket |
Un biglietto |
oon beel-YAYT-toh |
A room |
Una camera |
OO-nah KAH-may-rah |
The bill |
Il conto |
eel KOHN-toh |
Try it. You'll like it! |
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Okay, so this is not a complete course on our Learn Italian page, obviously! But it might whet your appitite and encourage you to take a lesson or two. Try out Italian I - it's fun and not that difficult to learn.
Or maybe you'd like to learn more Italian by osmosis - cooking Italian style! I have a cool Italian Cookbooks page that you'll find some of the best recipes to practice on.
Whatever your dreams are about learning Italian, don't just think about it, do what Nike says and "Just DO It!" and in the meantime, check out some of the links below for more info.
Italian Numbers
More Italian Numbers
Great home study courses for Italian
Italian Verb Books - very useful
Italian Cookbooks
Return from Learn Italian to My Cinque Terre home page.
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