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Italian Phrasebook
We've put together a very basic phrasebook for you. We'll be posting a .pdf file for download (check back soon). Also available is an i-pod textcast.
This is not a language course. We pay little/no attention to Italian grammar. The aim of the phrasebook is to give you some pronunciation tips, and a list of phrases and vocabulary that will enable you to communicate a little better while travelling.
Obviously, if you wish to speak Italian well, you'll need to learn the structure and rules of the language, and should think about taking a fully fledged language course.
When addressing someone, in common with many other European languages, there is a formal and informal mode of speaking. Given that this phrasebook is aimed at the casual traveller, we presume that there will be a little leeway given to you when speaking, and so (unless otherwise stated) all phrases are in the informal 'tu' mode.
Pronunciation Guide
- Vowel sounds:
- a - like the a in cat.
- e - has two sounds, a short one like the e in bet, or the long one which is like the ay in day.
- i- like the ee in greet
- o -has two sounds, a short one, like the o in cot, or a long one like the ou in brought
- Special consonants:
- c - when a c is followed by an e or an i, it is softened and pronounced like a ch in english. when a c is followed by an a, o, or u, or a consonant, it is hardened and pronounced like the c in cat. One sound that is particularly confusing for English speakers is that ch in italian is pronounced as if it were a k.
- g - has two sounds. When it is followed by an e or i it has a soft sound, as in geriatric.
When it is followed by a,o, or u, or most consonants, it has a sharper sound, like the g in girl. - h - is never pronounced,/li>
- Double consonants:
- ch, as mentioned above - is hard, like the c in cat
- gh, is pronounced like the g in got
- gli - is a particularly difficult sound. A good approximation is the lli in million
- gn - is like the ni in onion
- gu - is pronounced like a gw
- sc - is pronounced like the sh in sheer
Basic Phrases
- How do you say ... in Italian? - Come si dice .... in Italiano?
- I don't understand - Non Capisco
- Please - Per Favore
- Thanks you - Grazie
- Excuse me - Scusi
- don't mention it - Prego
- How are you? (polite) - Come Sta?
- How are you? (informal) - Come Stai?
- I'm fine - Sto bene
- I'm sick - Sto male
- My Name is - Mi Chiamo
- What's your name - Come ti chiami?
- I'm from London - Sono da Londra
- Hello (informal) - Ciao
- Goodbye (informal) - Ciao
- Good Day - Buon Giorno
- Yes - Si
- No - no
- I don't speak Italian - Non parlo Italiano
- Is there anyone here who speaks English - C'e` qualcuno che parla inglese?
- Good Evening - Buonasera
- Goodbye - Arrivederci
- I'm sorry - Mi Dispiace
- Excuse me - Permesso
- I don't know - non lo so
Numbers
- Seventeen - Diciasette
- Eighteen - Diciotto
- Nineteen - Diciannove
- Twenty - Venti
- Twenty-One - Ventuno
- Twenty-two - Ventidue
- Thirty - Trenta
- Forty - Quaranta
- Fifty - Cinquanta
- Sixty - Sessanta
- Seventy - Settanta
- Eighty - Ottanta
- Ninety - Novanta
- One Hundred - Cento
- Two Hundred - Due Cento
- A Thousand - Mille
- One - Uno
- Two - Due
- Three - Tre
- Four - Quattro
- Five - Cinque
- Six - Sei
- Seven - Sette
- Eight - Otto
- Nine - Nove
- Ten - Dieci
- Eleven - Undici
- Twelve - Dodici
- Thirteen - Tredici
- Fourteen - Quattordici
- Fifteen - Quindici
- Sixteen - Seidici