Are you finally ready to go to Italy? Did you pack everything? Your sun screen, your books and your portable dictionary? Bravi! Here are some quick pieces of advice, just in case.
If you’re reading this, you are probably studying Italian and, therefore, you might not need these notes, but, again… just in case!
Italian people will be delighted to see that you have a few words and they will definitely appreciate your effort. Here I have prepared a few useful and essential phrases. Please let me know if you need more help or more sentences!
BUONGIORNO (goodmorning formal)
BUONASERA (goodevening formal)
CIAO (hi/goodbye informal)
COME SI DICE_____? E.g. COME SI DICE WATER?
How do you say____? WATER SI DICE ACQUA
COSA SIGNIFICA ______? E.g. COSA SIGNIFICA ACQUA?
What does ______ mean? ACQUA SIGNIFICA WATER
CHE COSA E’ QUESTO/QUELLO? What is this/that? (use your finger to point to the object)
NON HO CAPITO I didn’t understand
PIANO PER FAVORE slowly please
SCUSI, PUO’ RIPETERE PER FAVORE? Can you repeat please?
MI PIACE _______E.g. MI PIACE la PIZZA I likepizza
MI PIACCIONO_________E.g. MI PIACCIONO gli SPAGHETTI
I like spaghetti
VORREI _________ PER FAVORE E.g. VORREI PIZZA PER FAVORE
I would like pizza please
Siamo IRLANDESI (We’re Irish)
GRAZIE (thank you)
PREGO (you’re welcome)
Those who already studied some Italian should remember that ‘vorrei’ is very nice and polite, while ‘voglio’ (I want) might sound rude.
For those who never studied Italian, here is a short presentation on Italian essential pronunciation rules. Remember that Italian vowels don’t change their sounds. This is probably the reason why Italian pronunciation is very easy to learn… Buone vacanze a tutti (literally have a great holidays everyone, but you’d probably say enjoy your holidays!). Ciao, Carolina