Table of Contents

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 3

Icons Used in This Book 3

Where to Go from Here 4

Chapter 1: I Say It How? Speaking Italian 5

You Already Know Some Italian 6

Words that sound familiar 7

Popular expressions 8

Mouthing Off: Basic Pronunciation 10

The vowel “a” 10

The vowel “e” 11

The vowel “i” 11

The vowel “o” 11

The vowel “u” 11

Consonants that sound the same in Italian as they do in English 11

The consonant “c” 12

The consonant “g” 13

The consonant “h” 14

The consonant “q” 14

The consonant “r” 14

The consonant “s” 15

The consonant “z” 15

Double consonants 15

Consonant clusters 16

Stressing Words Properly 16

Chapter 2: Grammar on a Diet: Just the Basics 19

Setting Up Simple Sentences 19

Coping with Gendered Words (Articles and Adjectives) 21

Definite feminine articles 21

Definite masculine articles 22

The indefinite feminine article 23

Indefinite masculine articles 23

Adjectives 23

Talking about Pronouns 25

Personal pronouns 25

Direct object pronouns 27

Indirect object pronouns 28

Saying “you”: Formal and informal 30

Asking Questions 31

Introducing Regular and Irregular Verbs 33

Regular verbs 33

Irregular verbs 36

Presenting the Simple Tenses: Past, Present, and Future 38

Past tense 38

Present tense 42

Future tense 42

Chapter 3: Numerical Gumbo: Counting of All Kinds 45

Counting Cardinals 45

Ordering Ordinals 49

Talking about Time 50

The four seasons 50

Decades 51

Months of the year 51

Days of the week 52

Times of day 53

Being early or late 54

Getting Addresses and Phone Numbers 55

Talking about streets 56

Describing your home 56

Using the verbs “vivere” and “abitare” 57

Money, Money, Money 58

Going to the bank 59

Changing money 61

Chapter 4: Making New Friends and Enjoying Small Talk 63

Looking at Common Greetings and Good-byes 63

Deciding whether to address someone formally or informally 65

Responding to a greeting 65

Specifying your reuniting 66

Finding Out Whether Someone Speaks English 67

Begging Your Pardon? 69

Making Introductions 69

Introducing yourself 70

Introducing other people 71

Getting Acquainted 73

Talking about where you come from 73

Being you, being there: Using the verbs “essere” and “stare” 78

Talking about yourself and your family 81

Chatting about the weather 82

Chapter 5: Enjoying a Drink and a Snack (Or Meal) 85

Eating and Drinking, Italian Style 85

The Start and Finish of Dining Out 90

Making reservations 90

Paying for your meal 91

Having Breakfast 92

Eating Lunch and Dinner 93

Savoring Italian soups and pasta dishes 94

Using the verbs “prendere” and “volere” 95

Ordering from the menu 97

Savoring Dessert 99

Chapter 6: Shop ’til You Drop! 101

Departmentalizing Your Shopping 102

Talking with a Sales Clerk 104

Sizing Up Italian Sizes 105

Choosing Colors and Fabrics 106

Accessorizing 108

Stepping Out in Style 109

Shopping for Food 109

Meats 110

Seafood 110

Produce 111

Baked goods 113

Paying for Your Purchases 114

Chapter 7: Making Leisure a Top Priority 117

Acquiring Culture 118

Going to the movies 119

Choosing your seat at the theater 121

Going to a concert 122

Inviting Fun 123

Getting Out and About 125

Enjoying the wonders of nature 125

Taking a tour 127

Playing sports 128

Chapter 8: When You Gotta Work 133

Talking Shop 133

Common professions 134

The human element 135

Office equipment 136

Chatting on the Phone 137

Calling from a public phone 138

Calling for business or pleasure 139

Asking for People and Leaving a Message 141

Chapter 9: I Get Around: Transportation 145

Getting through the Airport 145

Checking in 146

Waiting to board the plane 147

Taking care of business after landing 148

Going through customs 148

Renting a Car 149

Navigating Public Transportation 151

Taking a taxi 151

Getting around by train 152

Going by bus or tram 153

Asking for Directions 154

Asking for specific places 155

Getting oriented 156

Asking how far something is 159

Verbs on the move 159

Locations you may be looking for 161

Chapter 10: Finding a Place to Lay Your Weary Head 163

Reserving a Room 163

Checking in and Getting Settled 166

Using Plurals and Pronouns 170

Making more in Italian 170

Personalizing pronouns 173

Chapter 11: Dealing with Emergencies 177

Dealing with Car Trouble 178

Talking to Doctors 180

I’ve Been Robbed! Knowing What to Do and Say When the Police Arrive 185

When You Need a Lawyer 187

Chapter 12: Ten Favorite Italian Expressions 189

Mamma mia! (My goodness!) 189

Che bello! (How lovely!) 189

Uffa! (Aargh!) 189

Che ne so! (How should I know?) 189

Magari! (If only!) 189

Ti sta bene! (Serves you right!) 190

Non te la prendere! (Don’t get so upset! / Don’t think about it!) 190

Che macello! (What a mess!) 190

Non mi va! (I don’t feel like it!) 190

Mi raccomando! (Please, I beg you!) 190

Chapter 13: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Like a Local 191

In bocca al lupo! (Good luck!) 191

Acqua in bocca! (Don’t say a word!) 191

Salute! (Bless you!) 191

Macché! (Of course not! / Certainly not!) 192

Neanche per sogno! (In your dreams!) 192

Peggio per te! (Too bad for you!) 192

Piantala! (Stop it!) 192

Vacci piano! (Slow down! / Take it easy!) 192

Gatta ci cova! (There’s something fishy going on!) 193

Sono nel pallone! (I’m flustered!) 193

Index 195

About the Author

Francesca Romana Onofri is an Italian teacher and translator.

Karen Möller is a veteran language teacher and author.