Ciao a tutti! This week I'm mixing it up a bit. I've asked Roberta, my friend and Italian teacher from Firenze, to give us some advice on Italian terms that might be good to know when traveling in Italy. I've also asked her to give us a glimpse into her amazing Itinerary Tours and what makes them so special! I met Roberta during my stay in Firenze last year. We had one lesson and I was hooked! Until I return to Firenze we have our lessons via Skype! I have learned so much and really enjoy them. Roberta also hosts these amazing Itinerary Tours in Tuscany, where you learn the language while touring the beautiful sites. It's a great combo. Let me have her tell you about it. Ladies & gents, I give you Roberta...
Many travelers choose Tuscany because they are interested in the Italian culture, food, art, architecture, and in the Italian lifestyle. Tourists want to understand how Italians speak, eat, drink, gesticulate…live. These people are on an adventure and are too often bored by standard grammar lessons held in a classroom. I provide them with a different opportunity to learn Italian.
Working in schools for foreigners, I realized that learning Italian where it is really spoken and where Italians are living, is much more motivating and inspiring. If you can learn in a friendly and informal ambience, in direct contact with the everyday life, you can easily overcome the psychological barrier of speaking a foreign language, and you can enjoy and learn at the same time.
My itinerary is designed for those who want to learn Italian, (and how to survive here!) and deepen their knowledge of the language. Itineraries are flexible, depending on your specific needs and interests:
- Do you want to understand what is "an aperitivo" and an "etto crudo"?
- Or do you want to learn expressions and vocabulary needed to make purchases at the market?
- Do you need to discover & taste the best gelato in the city?
- How to order "una coppetta di gelato" or the difference between "caffé macchiato caldo" and "caffé corretto"?
- Do you want to learn Italian just walking in the city center, in a garden or in a museum?
I can guide you as you discover how Italians shop at the market, how they spend their time outdoors, how they enjoy themselves at the table, and at the same time you can learn useful expressions. Live as the locals do! La dolce vita!
As Patricia said, I've put together a few general expressions that will be helpful for you during your stay in Italia. Eccoli: (here they are)
Buon giorno - bwon-jorn-no
Hello /Good morning/afternoon
Buona sera - bwoh-nah seh-rah
Good evening
Buona notte - bwoh-nah noht-teh
Good night
Ciao - chow
Hi/Bye (informal)
Arrivederci - ah-ree-vuh-dehr-chee
Goodbye (formal)
A presto/A dopo - ah press-toh/ah doh-poh
See you soon
A domani - ah doh-mahn-ee
See you tomorrow
Per favore/Per piacere - pehr fah-voh-reh/pehr pee-ah-cheh-reh
Please
Grazie (mille) - graht-zee-eh (mee-leh)
Thank you (very much)
Prego - preh-goh
You're Welcome
Scusi/Scusa - skoo-zee/skoo-zah
Excuse me (formal/informal)
Andiamo! - on-dee-ah-mo
Let's go!
Come sta?/Come stai? - koh-meh stah/koh-meh sty
How are you? (formal/informal)
Sto bene. - stoh beh-neh
I am fine/well.
Come si chiama?/Come ti chiami? - koh-meh see kee-ah-mah/koh-meh tee kee-ah-mee
What's your name? (formal/informal)
Mi chiamo... - mee kee-ah-mo
My name is...
Piacere - pee-ah-cheh-reh
Pleased to meet you.
Signore, Signora, Signorina - seen-yoh-reh, seen-yoh-rah, seen-yoh-reen-ah
Mister, Mrs., Miss
Di dov'è?/Di dove sei? - dee doh-veh/dee doh-veh say
Where are you from? (formal/informal)
Sono di... - soh-noh dee
I am from...
Parla inglese? - par-lah een-gleh-zeh
Do you speak English? (formal)
Non Parlo italiano. - non par-lo een-gleh-zeh
I don't speak Italian.
Mi dispiace - mee dee-spyah-cheh
Sorry
Capisce?/Capisci? - kah-pee-sheh/kah-pee-shee
Do you understand? (formal/informal)
Non capisco. - non kah-pees-koh
I don't understand.
Non so./Lo so. - non soh/low soh
I don't know./I know.
Può aiutarmi?/Puoi aiutarmi? - pwoh ah-yoo-tar-mee/pwoy ah-yoo-tar-mee
Can you help me? (formal/informal)
Certamente/D'accordo. - cher-tah-mehn-teh/dah-kohr-doh
Sure/OK.
Come? - koh-meh?
What?/Pardon me?
Dov'è/Dove sono...? - doh-veh/doh-veh soh-noh
Where is/Where are... ?
Salute! - sah-loo-teh
Bless you! (as in when someone sneezes)
Ti amo. - tee ah-moh
I love you. (informal)
So there you have it peeps. You are speaking Italian!
As always, I'd love to hear from you on this or any of my previous blogs. If you feel inspired, please write me in the Comments section. Grazie! Ciao! Buon Weekend & Big Love, PatriciaG
Bicicletta della nonna di Roberta. Roberta's grandmother's bicycle. She rode it to meet me for our lesson. I love it!