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Master the Italian basics!
Here's how to speak LIKE the Italians on your next trip to Italy! Below are phrases commonly used incorrectly, and how to properly say them. Plus some vocabulary!
Buongiorno = Good morning. ***Not "Ciao," which is only used informally.
Buona Sera = Good evening. ***Not "Ciao"
Salve = Hello. ***Not "Ciao"
Arrevaderci = Goodbye. ****Not "Ciao" (Sounds like "areeve-derCHI")
Ciao = Hey. ***Only proper if you know the person to whom you are speaking. (Sounds like "CHIao")
A dopo. = See you later.
Va bene / OK = OK
Posso avere _________, per favore? = Can I have _________, please?
Posso vedere _________, per favore? = Can I see _________, please?
Vorrei comprare _________. = I would like to buy _________.
Sto cercando _________. Dov'è? = I am looking for _________. Where is it? (Sounds like "Stoh CHEr-Kando _________. Dove-E?")
Ho bisogno di aiuto. = I need help. (Sounds like "Oh bi-zo-no dee aee-yuto.")
Vorrei mangiare. = I would like to eat. (The "g" in mangiare is pronounced like the 2nd "g" in garage, not the first "g.")
Io ho fame. = I am hungry. (Sounds like "Ee-oh Oh famE.")
Vorrei bere. = I would like to drink.
Io sono assetato/a (*masculine/feminine). = I am thirsty.
Io sono pronto/a (*masculine/feminine). = I am ready.
Io sono stanco/a (*masculine/feminine). = I am tired. (Sounds like "Ee-oh sono stan-Koh.")
acqua = water. (Sounds like "aK-wah")
tè = tea
un biglietto = a ticket. (Sounds like "oon bee-lee-et-toh")
un caffè = a coffee or a coffee shop. (Sounds like "oon Kah-fe")
nero = black
il zucchero = the sugar. (Sounds like "il zoo-Ker-oh")
il lattè = the milk
il vino = the wine
rosso = red
bianco = white
prosecco = sparkling. (Sounds like "pro-se-Koh")
la cena = the dinner. (Sounds like "la CHE-nah")
il conto = the receipt or check. (Sounds like "il Kon-toh")
buono/a = good, used to describe a particular object. “The meal was good.”
bene = good, used to describe a state of being. “I feel good.”
male = bad, used both to describe a particular object, and also a state of being. "The meal was bad" and "I feel bad."
il hotel = the hotel. (Sounds like "il Oh-tel")
il treno = the train
il aereo = the airplane. (Sounds like "il ah-eh-reh-oh")
la barca = the boat. (Sounds like "la bar-Kah")
il vaporetto = the ferry boat (as such in Venice, Italy)
la machina = the car. (Sounds like "la mah-Kee-nah")
This creates a private checklist in your account.