Italian Phrases For Dummies

by Onofri, Francesca Romana; Mö; ller, Karen Antje

Edition: 1st

ISBN13: 9780764572036

ISBN10: 0764572032

Format: Paperback

Pub. Date: 2004-07-23

Publisher(s): For Dummies

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Summary

Everyday conversations in Italian made easy Italy is a perennially popular destination for Americans, with three cities (Florence, Rome, and Venice) among the top ten in Travel & Leisure's 2003 "World's Best Cities" poll. This concise, easy-to-use guide helps travelers and students get up to speed fast on conversational Italian, showcasing the most commonly used words and phrases. Francesca Romana Onofri is an Italian translator and teacher. Karen Moller is a writer who has worked on several Italian-language projects for Berlitz.

Author Biography

After her university studies in linguistics and Spanish and English language and literature, Francesca Romana Onofri lived abroad for several years to better her understanding of the cultures and languages of different countries. In Spain and Ireland, she worked as an Italian and Spanish teacher, as well as a translator and interpreter at cultural events. In Germany, she was responsible for communication and special events at a museum of modern art, but even then she never gave up her passion for languages: She was an Italian coach and teacher at the Opera Studio of the Cologne Opera House and did translations — especially in the art field. Back in Italy, Francesca has edited several Italian books and works as a translator of art books, as well as a cultural events organizer and educator. Karen Möller is currently studying Italian and English linguistics, literature, and culture. Before entering academia, Karen worked in the field of public relations and wrote articles for all kinds of fashion magazines and newspapers. She has had the occasion to work on German-Italian projects, including verb, vocabulary, and grammar handbooks and Italian exercise books.

Introduction	p. 1
About This Book	p. 1
Conventions Used in This Book	p. 2
Foolish Assumptions	p. 3
Icons Used in This Book	p. 3
Where to Go from Here	p. 4
I Say It How? Speaking Italian	p. 5
You Already Know Some Italian	p. 6
Words that sound familiar	p. 7
Popular expressions	p. 8
Mouthing Off: Basic Pronunciation	p. 10
The vowel "a"	p. 10
The vowel "e"	p. 11
The vowel "i"	p. 11
The vowel "o"	p. 11
The vowel "u"	p. 11
Consonants that sound the same in Italian as they do in English	p. 11
The consonant "c"	p. 12
The consonant "g"	p. 13
The consonant "h"	p. 14
The consonant "q"	p. 14
The consonant "r"	p. 14
The consonant "s"	p. 15
The consonant "z"	p. 15
Double consonants	p. 15
Consonant clusters	p. 16
Stressing Words Properly	p. 16
Grammar on a Diet: Just the Basics	p. 19
Setting Up Simple Sentences	p. 19
Coping with Gendered Words (Articles and Adjectives)	p. 21
Definite feminine articles	p. 21
Definite masculine articles	p. 22
The indefinite feminine article	p. 23
Indefinite masculine articles	p. 23
Adjectives	p. 23
Talking about Pronouns	p. 25
Personal pronouns	p. 25
Direct object pronouns	p. 27
Indirect object pronouns	p. 28
Saying "you": Formal and informal	p. 30
Asking Questions	p. 31
Introducing Regular and Irregular Verbs	p. 33
Regular verbs	p. 33
Irregular verbs	p. 36
Presenting the Simple Tenses: Past, Present, and Future	p. 38
Past tense	p. 38
Present tense	p. 42
Future tense	p. 42
Numerical Gumbo: Counting of All Kinds	p. 45
Counting Cardinals	p. 45
Ordering Ordinals	p. 49
Talking about Time	p. 50
The four seasons	p. 50
Decades	p. 51
Months of the year	p. 51
Days of the week	p. 52
Times of day	p. 53
Being early or late	p. 54
Getting Addresses and Phone Numbers	p. 55
Talking about streets	p. 56
Describing your home	p. 56
Using the verbs "vivere" and "abitare"	p. 57
Money, Money, Money	p. 58
Going to the bank	p. 59
Changing money	p. 61
Making New Friends and Enjoying Small Talk	p. 63
Looking at Common Greetings and Good-byes	p. 63
Deciding whether to address someone formally or informally	p. 65
Responding to a greeting	p. 65
Specifying your reuniting	p. 66
Finding Out Whether Someone Speaks English	p. 67
Begging Your Pardon?	p. 69
Making Introductions	p. 69
Introducing yourself	p. 70
Introducing other people	p. 71
Getting Acquainted	p. 73
Talking about where you come from	p. 73
Being you, being there: Using the verbs "essere" and "stare"	p. 78
Talking about yourself and your family	p. 81
Chatting about the weather	p. 82
Enjoying a Drink and a Snack (Or Meal)	p. 85
Eating and Drinking, Italian Style	p. 85
The Start and Finish of Dining Out	p. 90
Making reservations	p. 90
Paying for your meal	p. 91
Having Breakfast	p. 92
Eating Lunch and Dinner	p. 93
Savoring Italian soups and pasta dishes	p. 94
Using the verbs "prendere" and "volere"	p. 95
Ordering from the menu	p. 97
Savoring Dessert	p. 99
Shop 'til You Drop!	p. 101
Departmentalizing Your Shopping	p. 102
Talking with a Sales Clerk	p. 104
Sizing Up Italian Sizes	p. 105
Choosing Colors and Fabrics	p. 106
Accessorizing	p. 108
Stepping Out in Style	p. 109
Shopping for Food	p. 109
Meats	p. 110
Seafood	p. 110
Produce	p. 111
Baked goods	p. 113
Paying for Your Purchases	p. 114
Making Leisure a Top Priority	p. 117
Acquiring Culture	p. 118
Going to the movies	p. 119
Choosing your seat at the theater	p. 121
Going to a concert	p. 122
Inviting Fun	p. 123
Getting Out and About	p. 125
Enjoying the wonders of nature	p. 125
Taking a tour	p. 127
Playing sports	p. 128
When You Gotta Work	p. 133
Talking Shop	p. 133
Common professions	p. 134
The human element	p. 135
Office equipment	p. 136
Chatting on the Phone	p. 137
Calling from a public phone	p. 138
Calling for business or pleasure	p. 139
Asking for People and Leaving a Message	p. 141
I Get Around: Transportation	p. 145
Getting through the Airport	p. 145
Checking in	p. 146
Waiting to board the plane	p. 147
Taking care of business after landing	p. 148
Going through customs	p. 148
Renting a Car	p. 149
Navigating Public Transportation	p. 151
Taking a taxi	p. 151
Getting around by train	p. 152
Going by bus or tram	p. 153
Asking for Directions	p. 154
Asking for specific places	p. 155
Getting oriented	p. 156
Asking how far something is	p. 159
Verbs on the move	p. 159
Locations you may be looking for	p. 161
Finding a Place to Lay Your Weary Head	p. 163
Reserving a Room	p. 163
Checking in and Getting Settled	p. 166
Using Plurals and Pronouns	p. 170
Making more in Italian	p. 170
Personalizing pronouns	p. 173
Dealing with Emergencies	p. 177
Dealing with Car Trouble	p. 178
Talking to Doctors	p. 180
I've Been Robbed! Knowing What to Do and Say When the Police Arrive	p. 185
When You Need a Lawyer	p. 187
Ten Favorite Italian Expressions	p. 189
Mamma mia! (My goodness!)	p. 189
Che bello! (How lovely!)	p. 189
Uffa! (Aargh!)	p. 189
Che ne so! (How should I know?)	p. 189
Magari! (If only!)	p. 189
Ti sta bene! (Serves you right!)	p. 190
Non te la prendere! (Don't get so upset! / Don't think about it!)	p. 190
Che macello! (What a mess!)	p. 190
Non mi va! (I don't feel like it!)	p. 190
Mi raccomando! (Please, I beg you!)	p. 190
Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Like a Local	p. 191
In bocca al lupo! (Good luck!)	p. 191
Acqua in bocca! (Don't say a word!)	p. 191
Salute! (Bless you!)	p. 191
Macche! (Of course not! / Certainly not!)	p. 192
Neanche per sogno! (In your dreams!)	p. 192
Peggio per te! (Too bad for you!)	p. 192
Piantala! (Stop it!)	p. 192
Vacci piano! (Slow down! / Take it easy!)	p. 192
Gatta ci cova! (There's something fishy going on!)	p. 193
Sono nel pallone! (I'm fulstered!)	p. 193
Index	p. 195
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