Italian Phrases for Dummies
Everyday conversations in Italian made easy Italy is a perennially popular destination for Americans, with three cities (Florence, Rome, and Venice) among the top ten in Travel & Leisure's 2003 "World's Best Cities" poll. This concise, easy-to-use guide helps travelers and students get up to speed fast on conversational Italian, showcasing the most commonly used words and phrases.\ Francesca Romana Onofri is an Italian translator and teacher.\ Karen Moller is a writer who has worked on...
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Hundreds of useful phrases at your fingertips Speak Italian – instantly! Shopping. Ordering dinner. Chatting about the weather. Talking about your family. Dealing with emergencies. Whether you’re a traveler or student, this handy Italian phrase book Discover how to: Get directions, shop, and eat out Talk numbers, dates, time, and money Chat about family and work Discuss sports and the weather Deal with problems and emergencies
Introduction1About This Book1Conventions Used in This Book2Foolish Assumptions3Icons Used in This Book3Where to Go from Here4Chapter 1I Say It How? Speaking Italian5You Already Know Some Italian6Words that sound familiar7Popular expressions8Mouthing Off: Basic Pronunciation10The vowel "a"10The vowel "e"11The vowel "i"11The vowel "o"11The vowel "u"11Consonants that sound the same in Italian as they do in English11The consonant "c"12The consonant "g"13The consonant "h"14The consonant "q"14The consonant "r"14The consonant "s"15The consonant "z"15Double consonants15Consonant clusters16Stressing Words Properly16Chapter 2Grammar on a Diet: Just the Basics19Setting Up Simple Sentences19Coping with Gendered Words (Articles and Adjectives)21Definite feminine articles21Definite masculine articles22The indefinite feminine article23Indefinite masculine articles23Adjectives23Talking about Pronouns25Personal pronouns25Direct object pronouns27Indirect object pronouns28Saying "you": Formal and informal30Asking Questions31Introducing Regular and Irregular Verbs33Regular verbs33Irregular verbs36Presenting the Simple Tenses: Past, Present, and Future38Past tense38Present tense42Future tense42Chapter 3Numerical Gumbo: Counting of All Kinds45Counting Cardinals45Ordering Ordinals49Talking about Time50The four seasons50Decades51Months of the year51Days of the week52Times of day53Being early or late54Getting Addresses and Phone Numbers55Talking about streets56Describing your home56Using the verbs "vivere" and "abitare"57Money, Money, Money58Going to the bank59Changing money61Chapter 4Making New Friends and Enjoying Small Talk63Looking at Common Greetings and Good-byes63Deciding whether to address someone formally or informally65Responding to a greeting65Specifying your reuniting66Finding Out Whether Someone Speaks English67Begging Your Pardon?69Making Introductions69Introducing yourself70Introducing other people71Getting Acquainted73Talking about where you come from73Being you, being there: Using the verbs "essere" and "stare"78Talking about yourself and your family81Chatting about the weather82Chapter 5Enjoying a Drink and a Snack (Or Meal)85Eating and Drinking, Italian Style85The Start and Finish of Dining Out90Making reservations90Paying for your meal91Having Breakfast92Eating Lunch and Dinner93Savoring Italian soups and pasta dishes94Using the verbs "prendere" and "volere"95Ordering from the menu97Savoring Dessert99Chapter 6Shop 'til You Drop!101Departmentalizing Your Shopping102Talking with a Sales Clerk104Sizing Up Italian Sizes105Choosing Colors and Fabrics106Accessorizing108Stepping Out in Style109Shopping for Food109Meats110Seafood110Produce111Baked goods113Paying for Your Purchases114Chapter 7Making Leisure a Top Priority117Acquiring Culture118Going to the movies119Choosing your seat at the theater121Going to a concert122Inviting Fun123Getting Out and About125Enjoying the wonders of nature125Taking a tour127Playing sports128Chapter 8When You Gotta Work133Talking Shop133Common professions134The human element135Office equipment136Chatting on the Phone137Calling from a public phone138Calling for business or pleasure139Asking for People and Leaving a Message141Chapter 9I Get Around: Transportation145Getting through the Airport145Checking in146Waiting to board the plane147Taking care of business after landing148Going through customs148Renting a Car149Navigating Public Transportation151Taking a taxi151Getting around by train152Going by bus or tram153Asking for Directions154Asking for specific places155Getting oriented156Asking how far something is159Verbs on the move159Locations you may be looking for161Chapter 10Finding a Place to Lay Your Weary Head163Reserving a Room163Checking in and Getting Settled166Using Plurals and Pronouns170Making more in Italian170Personalizing pronouns173Chapter 11Dealing with Emergencies177Dealing with Car Trouble178Talking to Doctors180I've Been Robbed! Knowing What to Do and Say When the Police Arrive185When You Need a Lawyer187Chapter 12Ten Favorite Italian Expressions189Mamma mia! (My goodness!)189Che bello! (How lovely!)189Uffa! (Aargh!)189Che ne so! (How should I know?)189Magari! (If only!)189Ti sta bene! (Serves you right!)190Non te la prendere! (Don't get so upset! / Don't think about it!)190Che macello! (What a mess!)190Non mi va! (I don't feel like it!)190Mi raccomando! (Please, I beg you!)190Chapter 13Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Like a Local191In bocca al lupo! (Good luck!)191Acqua in bocca! (Don't say a word!)191Salute! (Bless you!)191Macche! (Of course not! / Certainly not!)192Neanche per sogno! (In your dreams!)192Peggio per te! (Too bad for you!)192Piantala! (Stop it!)192Vacci piano! (Slow down! / Take it easy!)192Gatta ci cova! (There's something fishy going on!)193Sono nel pallone! (I'm fulstered!)193Index195
