30 Minute Italian

1.) Qual è il tuo piatto preferito? - What’s your favorite Italian dish? 2.) Cosa prendi? - What are you getting? 3.) Che tipo di vino è? - What type of wine is this? 4.) Non ci sono mai stato/a! - I’ve never been here before. 5.) Come si chiama quel ristorante? - What’s the name of this restaurant? 6.) Prepari i piatti italiani a casa? - Do you make Italian food at home? 7.) Cos’hai fatto oggi? - What did you do today? 8.) Cosa faremo domani? - What are we doing tomorrow? 9.) Brindiamo! - Let’s cheers! 10.) A cosa brindiamo? - What are we toasting to? 11.) Mamma mia questa è la cosa più buona che abbia mai assaggiato in vita mia! - My goodness, this is the best thing that I’ve ever tasted in my life! 12.) Credo proprio che questo diventerà il mio ristorante preferito… - I really think this will become my favorite restaurant… 13.) Cosa hai comprato al mercato? - What did you buy at the market? 14.) Sei andato/a a quale museo? - Which museum did you go to? 15.) Ho comprato (questa borsa) al mercato centrale. - I bought (this purse) at the central market. 16) Siamo andati/e al museo con una guida. È stata la mia prima volta che ho visto il Davide! - We went to the museum with a tour guide. It was my first time seeing the David! 1.) Quali risorse usi per studiare l’Italiano? - What resources are you using to study Italian? 2.) Quando è / sarà il tuo prossimo viaggio in Italia? - When is your next trip to Italy? 3.) Qual è la tua regione preferita d’Italia? - What’s your favorite region of Italy? 4.) Raccontami… – Tell me… del tuo viaggio preferito in Italia – about your favorite trip to Italy del tuo lavoro – about your job dei tuoi progetti in Italia - about your plans in Italy For more resources go to: http://icebergproject.co/italian   Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.  

Ciao mia cara, Come stai? È veramente un sacco che non ci sentiamo. Senti, mi sei venuta in mente perché ho sentito che hanno aperto un nuovo locale che sembra molto carino vicino Piazza della Repubblica e che stanno facendo degli aperitivi promozionali. Insomma si prende un drink, si mangia qualcosa, e costa sette euro ma mi hanno detto che il cibo è molto buono. Allora mi domandavo se per caso eri disponibile per andare insieme a provare questo nuovo posto. Così nell’occasione facciamo due chiacchiere e mi aggiorni un po’ sulla tua vita perché veramente è passato troppo tempo e non ci siamo più sentite. Anch’io ho sacco di cose da raccontarti - Ho cambiato casa, ho fatto delle modifiche sul mio lavoro. Insomma ci sono tante novità però te le vorrei raccontare faccia a faccia perché di fronte a uno spritz si parla sempre meglio, no? E quindi… questa è la mia proposta, io sono abbastanza flessibile in questi giorni, quindi fammi sapere tu come sei messa. D’accordo? Un bacio. To learn more about Beatrice and her lessons, you can visit her website http://www.italianoconbeatrice.com/ or email her directly at italianoconbeatrice@gmail.com.   For more resources go to: http://icebergproject.co/italian   Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.  

While I firmly believe that we should infuse romance and lots of pepper -- as the Italians say -- into our love lives every day, it’s not so bad that we have one day a year to do something a bit more special. (Plus, I like getting chocolate, so I won’t be the first to complain about the commercialization of love.) In another article, one of our contributing writers, Hannah, shared romantic Italian words and phrases with you. Then, I gave you some pointers on what to say in the bedroom (in the classiest way, of course). We’ve talked about what to say on the first date (and what to say when you don’t want to go on a date at all). We’ve even covered what it’s like to date an Italian -- both from the perspective of non-Italians and native ones. All in all, we’ve really done a thorough job of covering love. But, love being how it is, there is always more to say about it. So, this time around, we (that is, Rachel, Carlotta & I) thought we would make this list a little steamier. The phrases below are divided by ratings, so if you’re feeling extra saucy, head over to http://icebergprojec.co/italian and scroll on down to very bottom. G -- Mi piace come mi baci. - I like how you kiss me. Alternatively: Mi piace essere baciato/a da te. - I like being kissed by you. -- Vorrei che questo abbraccio non finisse mai. - I wish this hug would never end. (Aw!) -- Quando chiudo gli occhi la sera, l'ultima cosa a cui penso sei sempre tu. - When I close my eyes at night, the last thing I think about is always you. (Stopppp.) -- Non mi stancherei mai di parlare con te. - I would never get tired of talking to you. (Okay, THIS one.) -- Mi manca il tuo sorriso bellissimo. - I miss your beautiful smile. -- Sei la cosa più bella che mi sia capitata fino ad ora. - You’re the most beautiful / wonderful thing that’s happened to me so far. -- Non riesco a smettere di pensarti / Non riesco a toglierti dalla testa. - I can’t stop thinking about you. -- Sei tutto il mio mondo. - You’re my whole world. -- Sei la metà della mia mela. - You’re my soulmate. (Literally: You’re my half-apple.) Um, a word of wisdom from the ladies writing this to the men reading it, don’t say this: Tuo padre doveva essere un ladro, perché è riuscito a rubare dal cielo le stelle più belle per metterle al posto dei tuoi occhi. - Your father must have been a thief because he succeeded in stealing the most beautiful stars in the sky to put in place of your eyes. PG -- Ti aspetto. - I’m waiting for you. -- Ti voglio. - I want you. -- Ho voglia di te. - I desire you -- Ti immagino qui con me. - I am imagining you here with me. -- Vorrei alzarmi tutte le mattine accanto a te. - I wish I could wake up every morning next to you. -- Ho voglia delle tue coccole. - I want your cuddles. PG-13 -- Non vedo l’ora di sentire le tue mani su di me. - I can’t wait to feel your hands on me. -- Cosa vuoi che faccia? - What do you want me to do? (and geeky grammar sidenote, this is a great example of the subjunctive mood in action.) -- Ho una fantasia. La vuoi sentire? - I have a fantasy. Do you want to hear it? -- Mi ecciti così tanto. - You really turn me on. -- Voglio che mi baci qui… e qui… e anche qui. - I want you to kiss me here… and here… and also here. -- Baciami dappertutto! - Kiss me everywhere! -- Facciamo un gioco? - Do you want to play a game? -- Chiudi gli occhi e siediti qui… - Close your eyes and sit here… For more (including some racier options) go to: http://icebergproject.co/italian   Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.  

Ripetere does indeed mean to repeat. Avocado means avocado. There have been many a time where I’ve guessed a word relying solely on English and have added an Italian ending… and I’ve been right. And there have been many other times where I’ve guessed based solely on my English and have been very, sometimes embarrassingly, wrong. I’m guessing I’m not the only one. That’s why I thought it could be interesting to put together an episode of some of the most common false friends in Italian - the words that seem friendly because they’re so close to English but then turn around and trick you. 1.) Ultimamente - Recently, lately - I thought it meant ‘ultimately’, ALLA FINE 2.) Camera - Room - Not photography camera, macchina fotografica 3.) Casino - mess - Not casino where you gamble 4.) Preservativo - Condom - NOT a preservative (conservante) in foods or like jam (marmellata) 5.) Attualmente - now, currently - NOT actually, in realtà 6.) Le terme - thermal baths - NOT school term 7.) I parenti - relatives - NOT parents, genitori 8.) Scheda - sheet, card, note paper - NOT a schedule, orario 9.) Comprensivo - understanding - NOT comprehensive, completo, esauriente 10.) Crudo - Raw - NOT crude - rozzo, esplicito 11.) Educato - polite - NOT educated, erudito 12.) Libreria - bookstore - NOT a library, biblioteca 13.) Noioso - boring - NOT noisy, rumoroso 14.) Sensibile - sensitive - NOT sensible, ragionevole 15.) Fattoria - farm - Factory - fabbrica - 16.) Accidente - stroke, shock - NOT accident, incidente 17.) Attendere - to wait - NOT to attend (an event), andare a, partecipare a   For more Italian resources visit http://icebergproject.co/italian   Special thanks to The Creative Impostors Studios for producing this show. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.  

There is something so satisfying about learning swear words in another language. That’s why so many new language learners rush to ask native speakers how to say things like, “f*** you” and “you’re an idiot.” After Rachel wrote this article with 8 swear words to add sass to your Italian vocabulary, we thought it would only be fair to follow up with another list of insults. They range from affectionately rude (like to tease your friends) all the way to when you’re really angry, or when you’re incazzato nero (totally pissed off). Some basic vocab for you: -- Gli insulti - Insults -- Insultare - To insult Affectionately rude -- Sei pazzo(a)? - Are you crazy? -- Sei diventato pazzo(a)? - Have you gone crazy? -- Sei impazzito(a)? - Have you gone insane? -- Ci sei cascato come una pirla! - You fell for it like a stupid person! If there’s an “a” in parentheses, it means that this adjective can be masculine or feminine. Remember that adjectives also change in number in Italian. If you’re unfamiliar with this grammar concept, click here for a refresher. For more (including one Roman phrase that’s extra extra insulting but it’s used all over Italy) go to: http://icebergproject.co/italian   Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.

Ordering Pizza I really like pasta (cacio e pepe is my favorite), gelato (fragola, every day all day), and cheese (pecorino forever and ever), but pizza? I love pizza. For the first few weeks that I lived in Rome, the only people I knew were the ones who sold pizza. (If you’re ever in Monteverde in Rome, my favorite pizza al taglio shop is the one on Viale Villa Pamphili.) For those of you who aren’t familiar with a pizza al taglio shop, it’s basically a place where they make large sheets of varieties of pizza and when you walk in, they cut a piece off for you, hence the “al taglio” part. They also have delicious fried things like arancini, supplì and depending on the location, roasted chicken and potatoes.r To help you navigate this experience with more ease and confidence, here are some phrases to know. -- C’è qualcosa con... (il pesto)? - Is there something with (pesto)? -- Vorrei / Prendo un pezzetto di quella con il prosciutto. - I would like / I’ll talk a little piece of that one with the prosciutto. -- Quanto? Quanta? Quanto grande? - How big? (At this point, the person will show you how much they’re going to cut, and you can say -- Sì, perfetto. - Yep, perfect. Or… -- Un po’ meno - A little less -- Un po’ di più - A little more -- Vuoi / Desideri qualcos’altro? - (Do you want) anything else? -- Mangi qua o porti via? - Are you eating here or are you taking it away? -- Porto via. - I’m taking it away. Ordering Gelato And after? Of course you’ll want to get some gelato. If there’s one thing you want to be able to know like the back of your hand when you go to Italy, it’s how to procure yourself a cone of whatever flavor gelato you want. So, to get you started, here are four must-know phrases. 1 - Vorrei un cono piccolo di / alla (stracciatella). - I would like a small cone of stracciatella gelato. There is also “un cono medio - a medium cone” and “un cono grande - a large cone.” If you prefer a cup, you would use the word “coppetta.” Since you can get different flavors in a small cone, you’ll likely be asked… 2- Solo stracciatella? - Just stracciatella? If you want another flavor, you can say something like “E anche fragola. - And strawberry, too.” 3 - Vuoi la panna? - Do you want cream on top? 4 - Altro? - Anything else? Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show, to Patreon supporters for helping fund the show, and to the lovely Timarie Harrison for putting all of the pieces together. It takes a village. NEED HELP PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO THE SOUTH OF ITALY? Whether you’ve been wanting to visit the tiny town where your Italian family is from or you’re tired of waiting for your friends/family to commit to a trip with you, you need to know Catherine and Nino Santoro. They run a small group tour company that specializes in trips to Sicily, and they’re all about helping you become immersed in the language and the culture. For more info to go on a small group tour with them or have them personalize a solo trip for you, visit their website here. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page. http://icebergproject.co/italian

I’m back to talk to you all about how to use the Italian words “poi” and “così.” I would describe both of these as “connector words,” or words that you use to easily and fluidly connect two sentence pieces together. Let’s start with “poi.” ROUND #1: POI Popular definitions of “poi,” as defined by WordReference & Context Reverso, are: -- Then -- After -- Furthermore -- Additionally -- Later (on) / Afterwards -- Next -- Plus And, of course, here are some examples to help you get a better idea of how you’ll use it in conversation. WAY #1: Then -- E poi, mi ha baciato. - And then, he kissed me. -- Prima sono andato in Italia, e poi sono venuto in Grecia. - First I went to Italy and then I came to Greece. WAY #2: Next / Plus / Furthermore / Additionally -- ...poi penso che dovremmo andare in Toscana. Che ne pensi? - Next I think we should go to Tuscany. What do you think? -- E poi, Gal Gadot è un’attrice incredibile. Per questo penso che il film era magnifico. - And plus, Gal Gadot is an incredible actress. That’s why I think the movie was amazing. WAY #3: Later on / Afterwards -- E poi mi ha detto che mi amavi.  - And afterwards, he told me that he loved me. -- Prima voglio imparare il mandarino e poi imparerò lo spagnolo. - I want to learn Chinese and afterwards I’ll learn Spanish. Common phrases you’ll hear: -- Prima o poi - Sooner or later -- Col senno di poi - In hindsight -- D’ora in poi - From this point on ROUND #2: COSI “Così” is defined by WordReference & Context Reverso as: -- So -- Like this / This way / That way -- Such -- Therefore -- Although WAY #1: So -- Sono così stufo di imparare le preposizioni in continuazione! - I’m so tired of learning prepositions over and over again! -- Lei è così intelligente. - She’s so smart. WAY #2: Like this / This way / That way -- Non si tagliano le cipolle così! - Don’t cut the onions that way. -- Perchè mi parli così? - Why are you talking to me like that? WAY #3: Such -- È stata una giornata così bella. - It was such a great day. -- Lui è un bambino così tosto. - He’s such a stubborn kid. Common phrases you’ll hear: -- Diciamo così/Mettiamola così - Let’s put it this way -- E così via - And so on and so forth, etc. -- Basta così - It’s good how it is (like when you’re at the butcher and she asks you “Is this enough?” and you respond with, “That’s enough (as is.).” Visit http://icebergproject.co/italian for more show notes and resources!   Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.

How do you “fare complimenti” to a person in Italian -- whether it’s for how good they look, what they’re wearing, their language skills, or just to be polite and show your appreciation? APPEARANCE -- Sei in gran forma! - You're in great shape! -- Quanto sei bello/a. - You’re so handsome/beautiful. -- Ti vedo bene. – You look good. -- Ha un bell'aspetto. - He looks good. -- Hai un bell'aspetto, sei in ottima forma, e sei intelligente. Sei il pacchetto completo! - You have good looks, you're in excellent shape, and you're smart. You're the complete package! -- L'hai visto? È bellissimo, no? - Did you see him? He's really gorgeous, right? -- Sei molto raffinata nei movimenti. - You’re really delicate in your movements. -- Emma è la classica ragazza acqua e sapone, ha davvero un bel viso anche senza trucco. - Emma is the classical natural beauty, she has a really nice face even without make up! -- Marco mi incanta quando parla, è così colto! - Marco fascinates me when he talks, he’s so cultured! -- Giulia è la persona più elegante che conosca. - Giulia is the most elegant person I’ve ever known. CLOTHING If you want to be specific with what piece of clothing looks good, you can say: -- Stai VERAMENTE bene con quel vestito. - You look REALLY good in that dress. -- Quel completo ti sta perfetto. - That suit looks perfect on you. -- Sta bene senza camicia. Ha gli addominali a tartaruga! - He looks great without a shirt. He has six-pack abs (literally: turtle abs)! -- Sei così bella in/con quel colore! Sta bene con i tuoi occhi. - You look so beautiful in that color! It goes well with your eyes. -- Quella giacca ti sta meravigliosamente! Prendila! – That jacket looks wonderful on you! Buy it! LANGUAGE SKILLS -- Il tuo inglese è buono. – Your English is good. -- Parli bene l’inglese. – You speak English well. -- Sei bravo/a in italiano. – You’re really good in Italian. GENERAL -- Hai una bella casa! - You have a beautiful home! If you want to use the formal, say “Ha una bella casa”. -- La tua cucina è davvero buona. - Your cooking is really good. -- Cucini davvero bene. - You cook really good. If you want to use the formal, say “La sua cucina è davvero buona”. -- Hai davvero delle cose belle e particolari nel tuo negozio! - You have nice and unique things in your store! If you want to use the formal, say “Ha un bel negozio”. -- Sei così gentile con me. - You’re so nice to me. -- Riesci a dare sempre ottimi consigli. - You always give the best advice. -- Sei davvero una persona educata. - You really are a polite person. You can find some more compliments in this article: 15 Ways to Say That’s Cool/Awesome/Amazing in Italian Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.

Rachel and I walked behind Giacomo, Mary, and Hannah as we snaked our way through the Sant'Ambrogio market in Florence. Giacomo, our cooking teacher and chef, was leading us to a vegetable stall to buy ingredients for the meal we were going to make that afternoon. Deep, red radishes and green lettuce covered with droplets of water stood on display with signs displaying il prezzo, l’origine, la varietà, and la categoria. I watched him pick up cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions, placing each in their own brown bag before handing them to the fruttivendolo. If you’re in Italy, I’m 110% sure that you’re going to run into some kind of open market, whether that’s inside or outside. And when you do (hopefully when you’re on our Not Your Typical Tourist Language Immersion Retreat), what are you supposed to say and do so you get what you want and avoid making una brutta figura? Here’s a quick guide on vocabulary, phrases to know and the etiquette to follow. Basic Market Vocabulary First, there are a handful of different types of markets. -- Mercato ambulante - Farmers market (in the sense that it sells goods as well as food) -- Mercato dell’artigianato OR Mercato artigiano - Artisan market -- Mercato dell’antiquariato - Antique market -- Mercato del pesce - Fish market These markets are only open on certain days of the week or the month, so make sure to check the city’s schedule in advance. CPF: San Lorenzo Market is one of Carlotta’s favorite places to visit in Florence. Read more about it here. 19 Phrases for Shopping at a Market -- (if you don’t know the word) Prendo (due), per favore. - I’ll take (two), please. -- Mi dà un chilo di (ricotta)? - Can you give me a kilo of (ricotta)? -- Prendo due etti di olive, per favore. - I’ll take a ½  lb of olives, please. -- Vorrei due etti e mezzo di (castagne). - I’d like two hundred and fifty grams of chestnuts. -- Oggi faccio la panzanella, avete la cipolla rossa? - I’m making panzanella today, do you have red onion? -- Quanto costano (le patate)? - How much are (the potatoes)? -- Quanto viene (il basilico)? - How much is the basil? -- Basta. - That’s enough. -- Nient’altro, grazie. - That’s enough, thank you. -- Un pò di più. - More. -- Qualcosa (di) meno. - Less. -- Poi? - Anything else? -- Altro? - Anything else? -- Vuole una busta? / sacchetto? - A bag? -- Posso chiederle un sacchetto di carta? - Can I ask for a paper bag? -- Sono tre etti e duecento grammi, che faccio lascio? - It’s three hundred and twenty grams, (usually more than the quantity you asked for) do you take it? If it isn’t busy and you’d like some advice on how to prepare whatever you’re purchasing, you can ask the vendor… -- Come si fa questi ravioli? - How does one make these ravioli? -- Come potrei usare questo ortaggio? Non l’ho mai assaggiato. - How could I use this vegetable? I’ve never tasted it. -- Secondo lei queste pesche sono abbastanza dolci? - What do you think about these peaches? Are they sweet enough? If you’re not sure how to handle money in Italian, read this article next. 3 Must-Know Rules to Make a Bella Figura 1) Bring cash. - You can usually assume that all markets will be cash only, so make sure you have plenty on you when you go. 2) Don’t touch the produce with your hands. - While I have seen Italians use their hands to pick through produce, it’s usually only when the vendor knows the customer well. Otherwise, it’s a hygiene issue. Just tell the vendor what you’d like or what you’re making and they’ll help you pick produce out. 3) Bring your own bag, or pay for one. - If you don’t bring your own bag, expect to pay a little extra in change to purchase one. Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show, to Patreon supporters for helping fund the show, and to the lovely Timarie Harrison for putting all of the pieces together. It takes a village.   Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.  

ITALIAN Rachel: Hai bisogno di qualcosa dal supermercato? Carlotta: No, no, dai, non ti preoccupare. Rachel: Macché! Tanto, oggi vado al supermercato comunque. Have you ever heard an expression like the one above that starts with “tanto?” You might already know that “tanto” means “a lot” but obviously in this case, that translation doesn’t make much sense. I hear all the time that this sentence structure is confusing! So what does “tanto” mean when used this way? It’s simple, so let me demystify it for you. In this example, “tanto” is used a bit like, “really,” “anyways,” or “as” in English. So for example, in the previous dialogue, the conversation might have looked something like this: ENGLISH Rachel: Do you need something from the supermarket? Carlotta: No, no, come on, don’t worry about it. Rachel: Nonsense! Really, I was going to the supermarket today regardless. Other Examples of “Tanto” 1.) Non abbiamo fretta, tanto andiamo in macchina ci metteremo al massimo 5 minuti. 2.) Tanto anche se piangi non otterrai niente! 3.) Non ti preoccupare se si è rotto, tanto era un oggetto vecchissimo. 4.) Non importa quanto ti ha fatto arrabbiare, tanto appena ti chiama corri ai suoi piedi! 5.) Provaci tu, ma tanto non funziona. 6.) Ho provato a dirglielo in tutti i modi ma è inutile, tanto non vuole ascoltarmi! 7.) Perchè piangi? Tanto ormai il guaio è fatto! Using “tanto” like this is a very common expression, but at times it's difficult to translate for English speakers since the definition isn’t precise. However, thinking about it in terms of “anyways”, “as” or “really” in English can help you make sense of everyday conversations in Italy. Another Way to Use Tanto When the nouns of a sentence are the same, you use il comparativo di ugualianza, or the comparative of equality. To do this, you can use a few different forms: — (così)…come – This is used for adjectives and adverbs; così is in parenthesis because you don’t always have to add it. — (tanto)…quanto – This is used for nouns or adverbs; tanto is in parenthesis because you don’t always have to add it. Esempi — La torta al cioccolato è (tanto) buona come la torta alla vaniglia. – The chocolate cake is as good as the vanilla cake. — I ragazzi giocano (tanto) a calcio quanto a basket. – The kids play just as much soccer as they do basketball. Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show, to Patreon supporters for helping fund the show, and to the lovely Timarie Harrison for putting all of the pieces together. It takes a village. DID YOU KNOW…? We have a program called the Pronouns Challenge that helps you get better at using… you guessed it… pronouns in Italian. And beato/a te, you get 20% off just by being a listener of the podcast. To claim that discount, click here and enter the code ‘LISTENER’ at checkout. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.

// SENTIRE WordReference lists it as meaning: — To taste — To feel — To hear — To smell And you might be confused because you know that “ascoltare” can mean “to hear / to listen,” too. Verbs in Italian can have so many different meanings, so the entire goal of this article is to help you identify which ones you have to know in order to have fluid + enjoyable conversations in Italian. Ways to Use the Verb “Sentire” Here are examples and explanations for each of the definitions. To taste — Hai sentito? Io lo adoro!! – Did you taste it? I adore it!! (The above line is a snippet from a dialogue at an olive oil tasting. Check it out here.) — Fammi sentire quel cocktail. – Let me taste that cocktail. What’s the difference between “sentire” and “assaggiare – to sample / to taste” in this sense? There’s no difference! They’re perfect synonyms. YAY for simplicity. To feel — Hai sentito quel terremoto ieri mattina? – Did you feel the earthquake yesterday morning? — Sento la mancanza dell’Italia.* – I miss Italy. — Sento caldo. – I feel hot. — Faceva così freddo che non sentivo più la faccia. – It was so cold that I couldn’t feel my face anymore. — Senti la morbidezza di questa maglia. – Feel how soft this shirt is. If you’re wondering how to say the “I feel…” like “I feel sick,” then you want to use “sentirsi,” which is a reflexive verb. You can learn more about reflexive verbs here. *An easier way to say this would be “Mi manca l’Italia,” using the verb “mancare,” but I wrote it that way just to show that it’s possible. To hear — Hai sentito quel rumore? – Did you hear that noise? — Ho sentito dire  che Bologna è una città fantastica. – I heard that Bologna is a fantastic city. — Prontooooo?! Mi senti? – Helllloooo?! Can you hear me? — È una buona idea sentire l’avvocato. – It’s a good idea to consult / listen to a lawyer. What’s the difference between “sentire” and “ascoltare – to listen / to hear” in this sense? When you’re saying something like “Senti, volevo dirti una cosa – Listen, I wanted to tell you something,” you can use “ascoltare” instead. However, “sentire” is more commonly used these days. Also, “ascoltare” is used more often to talk about giving attention to something, like “ascoltare la musica – to listen to music” or “ascoltare ad un discorso – to listen to a conversation / argument.” Common phrases — Ci sentiamo presto. – We’ll hear from each other soon. — Senti (informal) / senta (formal)… – Listen… To smell — Senti quest’ odore? È la pizza più buona della città. – Do you smell this  (scent)? It’s the best pizza in the city. — Dopo che ho sentito quel profumo, l’ho comprato immediatamente. Si Sente l’odore del miele! – After I smelled that perfume, I bought it right away. It smells like honey! // TROVARE While the verb “trovare” is often taught as “to find,” don’t let that one-shade definition fool you. Just like in English, the verbs in Italian do more than one job. (Aren’t we so lucky?) I’ve talked before about how many nuances verbs like “perdere – to lose,” “mancare – to miss,” and “fare – to do / to make” have. Now I want to tackle “trovare,” because I think it adds a more conversational tone when you can use it just like Italians do. So, here are 3 ways to use “trovare” in Italian. How to Use “Trovare” in Italian 1) Come hai trovato Bologna? – What’d you think of Bologna? And if I were being asked that question, I would answer: L’ho trovata bellissima! – I thought it was beautiful. CPF: “Trovato” ends in an -a, instead of an -o, because all cities are considered feminine in Italian. Take that, patriarchy. Other examples: — Come trovi il corso d’italiano? – What do you think of your Italian course? — Lo trovo molto molto moltooooo difficile… però mi piace. – I’m finding it really really reallyyyyy difficult… but I like it. — Trovo che Maria sia una persona davvero educata. – I think Maria is really a good-mannered person. Include usbjunctive mood article 2) Fatti trovare pronto. – Make sure you’re ready (to go). Here I’m using the phrase “farsi trovare,” which can be defined here as a more demanding version of “to be.” Other examples: — Fatti trovare là alle sette. – Be there at 7. — Giulia e la sua amica si faranno trovare pronte per le sette. – Giulia and her friend will be ready at 7 pm. — Puoi darmi dei consigli per farmi trovare più facilmente sui social network? – Can you give me some advice to make people search more easily for my page on social networks? — Ti farò trovare una cenetta deliziosa al tuo rientro! – I’m going to prepare for you a delicious dinner by the time you’ll be home. 3) Vado a trovare mio nonno. – I’m going to visit my grandfather. In this situation, “trovare” is meant as “to visit.” Unlike in English, Italians wouldn’t use the verb “visitare – to visit” to talk about people. They only use it when talking about places, like “Ho visitato il duomo a Firenze! – I visited the Duomo in Florence!” Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show, to Patreon supporters for helping fund the show, and to the lovely Timarie Harrison for putting all of the pieces together. It takes a village. LINKS I MENTIONED: The Present Subjunctive Mood in Italian (or the tense that even Italians are confused about) Baby: Netflix Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.

In Italian, a pronominal verb is basically a verb mixed with pronouns. Pronominal verbs look similar to verbs you already know, making it a little bit easier to take a guess at their meaning. We’re all familiar with the Italian verb ‘andare,’ meaning ‘to go’. The pronominal verb that looks similar to andare is andarsene. You can guess by how it looks that andarsene probably has something to do with going somewhere. Andarsene means ‘to go away somewhere’. Pronominal verbs often end in –sene. The ‘se’ is actually the pronoun ‘si,’ but it changes to ‘se’ because it is preceding another pronoun. The pronoun it is preceding in this case is ‘ne,’ which is called a pronominal particle. The ‘ne’ often refers to something or somewhere. In the case of andarsene, it relates to somewhere. Here are some other pronominal verbs that end in –sene: – pentirsene – to regret something – fregarsene – to not care (only used colloquially) about something   Besides –sene, pronominal verbs can have other endings too. They can end in –sela, -sele, -cisi and –ci, just to name a few. The common thread is that they are all combinations of verbs and pronouns. Here are a few other pronominal verbs before we get into how to conjugating them. – volerci – to take (as in time, effort, etc.) – cavarsela – to manage, to get by – avercela – be angry or upset by someone -- entrarci - to have to do with   Where do all the pieces go? Visit http://icebergproject.co/italian for full show notes for this episode and additional resources. Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show. Special ad music by 4barrelcarb on freesound.org. DID YOU KNOW…? When you become a supporter of the podcast for a remaining 2-month commitment, you’ll get exclusive audio recordings and transcripts from a native Italian speaker, just like the snippet with Beatrice included at the end of this episode! To become a supporter of the podcast and get Patreon-exclusive bonuses, click here. Not Your Typical Tourist Retreat: Language Immersion in Tuscany To learn more about our 2019 retreat to Tuscany, visit: http://icebergproject.com/italian/ Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.  

What do you say when you freeze and forget how to speak Italian? Don't worry -- it happens! Here are some useful phrases to try. For more resources visit: http://iceberg.co/italian Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show, to Patreon supporters for helping fund the show, and to the lovely Timarie Harrison for putting all of the pieces together. It takes a village. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.

Much like in the US, you can buy cheese at the deli counter. Near the deli there is usually some already pre-packaged and pre-weighed cheeses for you to browse as well. Personally, I like my cheese fresh cut, so I recommend going to the deli versus buying it pre-packaged. Alternatively you can get cheese from a caseificio, which is a shop that specializes in dairy products. These shops are usually close to the farm where the sheep / cows are bred. — Vorrei… – I would like… Parmigiano Reggiano 24 mesi (DOP): This is the good stuff. You can grate it or eat it; it’s good on or with just about every primo or secondo. — Poi? – Anything else? Hint: Rachel prefers 24 months to 12 months aged… the 24 months aging time makes it not too hard, and not too soft, but you can find both younger and older. Carlotta says that the 36 months is the best but to be prepared for a veeeery high cost! — Basta. – That’s enough. Pecorino (Romano, Toscano, Sardo) DOP: Pecorino is a sheep’s milk cheese. I prefer the Sardo version slightly more (to me it tastes more earthy), but they are all delicious. You can find fresh pecorino, aged, or super aged pecorino cheeses. Obviously the more it’s aged the “stinkier” it gets, meaning it has a bolder and less milky flavor. — Fetta – Slice — Fettina – Thin slice Ricotta: Want to know my secret to buying a good ricotta? Goat’s milk ricotta over cow’s milk ricotta, all day every day. The goat’s milk ricotta is sweeter and so delicious. I love an afternoon snack of ricotta on toast drizzled with oil and salt. Mmmm. — Un etto – 1/10th of a kilo, aka 100 grams. 1kg =2.2 lb so 1/10 of 2.2 is just barely under ¼ lb — Due / tre etti – Plural of etto, for more than 100 grams — Grammi – Grams, you can also order in grams instead of saying etti -- Buongiorno! Oggi vorrei tre etti di pecorino. – Good morning! Today I would like 300 grams of pecorino. Burrata: Burrata is essentially mozzarella, but a softer, milkier, buttery version. It’s great to be eaten when you want even more mozzarella flavor and texture. -- Bene allora, ma che tipo di pecorino? Abbiamo pecorino sardo o toscano. – OK, that’s’ fine but what type of pecorino? We have pecorino from Sardinia and Tuscany. Stracchino: This is a type of cow’s milk cheese that is delicious and gooey and so good as an appetizer with prosciutto crudo. It’s a fresh cheese, no rind, and sometimes known as “crescenza.” -- Ohhh quello Sardo di certo! – Oooo, the Sardinian one of course! Stracciatella: I would be a bad Pugliese girl if I didn’t mention this cheese! A cow’s milk cheese, similar again to mozzarella, it is produced by stretching and pulling. Delicious with an antipasto or some fresh tomatoes and olives! -- Un mezzo kilo per favore. — Half a kilo, please! Ricotta salata: Salted ricotta is AMAZING. Not everyone has tried it, and it’s definitely not a cheese you eat by the slice (too salty to eat alone) but grated on top of pasta in place of parm, or served in small cubes baked into a pasta dish, it’s truly fantastic. OK, quanto ne vuoi? – How much do you want? When the deli worker is done, he will usually say, “poi?” (or “altro?” or “vuole dell’altro?”) meaning, “anything else?” I continue this way, asking about or ordering just one or two items at a time, until I am done and I give a hearty, “basta, grazie” or “that’s enough, thanks”. OTHERS Una vera eccellenza del nostro territorio! Consigliatissimo per le mozzarelle ! Ricette - http://www.caseificiomaremmaintuscia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=16&Itemid=250 CPF >> Wondering what DOP means? Denominazione di Origine Protetta or Protected Designation of Origin, which means it was produced according to super strict standards. This label is definitely something you want to look for when buying a cheese like parmigiano. For more resources visit: http://iceberg.co/italian Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show, to Patreon supporters for helping fund the show, and to the lovely Timarie Harrison for putting all of the pieces together. It takes a village. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.

I don’t know why, but I love the word “altrimenti”. It might be the way it rolls off the tongue or the elegant way it connects phrases together, but I’m off on a language-nerd tangent now. The point is that today we are learning how to use the word “altrimenti” in Italian. (Seriously, say it loud now. Shivers. Kind of like “la schiuma del cappuccino”.) “Altrimenti” can be defined as: Otherwise Or else If not Here are some examples to give you an idea of how you can use it: Non lavorare troppo, altrimenti ti esaurisci/viene un esaurimento. - Don’t work too hard, otherwise you’ll burn out. Se pensi altrimenti, dimmi. - If you think otherwise, tell me. A: Perché hai imparato l’Italiano al liceo? - Why did you learn Italian in high school? B: Perché altrimenti avrei dovuto imparare lo spagnolo e già riuscivo a parlarlo. - Because otherwise I would have had to learn Spanish and I already spoke it. Devo imparare il mandarino, altrimenti non riuscirò a comunicare con la mia famiglia quando starò a Taiwan. - I have to learn Mandarin, otherwise I won’t be able to communicate with my family when I’m in Taiwan. Lo so che non è una buona idea, ma non posso fare altrimenti. - I know that it’s not a good idea, but I can’t do otherwise/have no other choice. Non posso fare altrimenti! - I cannot do otherwise! Sinomino: Sennò/Se no - If not; This is used more often in spoken Italian and can only be substituted with “altrimenti” to mean “if not” or “or else”. Altrimenti detto - Also known as Fare altrimenti - To do otherwise   For more resources visit: http://iceberg.co/italian  Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show, to Patreon supporters for helping fund the show, and to the lovely Timarie Harrison for putting all of the pieces together. It takes a village. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.

In episode 208 of the 30 Minute Italian Podcast, Rachel and I talk about what Christmas holiday is coming up in Florence and the reality of being a foreigner - an American - in Italy. We answer questions like - What’s it like to... Pay bills in Italy? Be far away from friends in Italy? Make Italian friends? Buy a house in Italy? Vocabulary Mentioned: L'Immacolata Concezione - Immaculate Conception Il vin brûlé - Mulled wine Mercatini di Natale - Christmas markets Links Mentioned: 20 Ways to Make Your Holiday Season More Italian What It’s Like to Move Houses in Italy Managing Expectations in Italy Not Your Typical Tourist Retreat - June 2019 For more resources visit: http://iceberg.co/italian Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show, to Patreon supporters for helping fund the show, and to the lovely Timarie Harrison for putting all of the pieces together. It takes a village. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.

1 ) Mamma mia, questa (schiacciata) è puro piacere!!! - My goodness, this (schiacciata) is pure pleasure!!! 2) Giulia: Sentirai che bontà… - You’ll see how good it is! You: Olio nuovo? Non l’ho mai sentito dire… – New oil? I’ve never tried it/heard of it. 3) Adoro il sapore dell’olio appena spremuto, mi ricorda l’infanz ia! – I love the freshly pressed oil taste, it reminds me of childhood! 4)  Mmm…è buono. – Mmm…it’s good. 5) La tua cucina è davvero buona. – Your cooking is really good. 6) Cucini davvero bene. – You cook really good. 7) È buonissimo. EH bwuon-EES-see-moh It’s so good! ‘buono’ is an adjective (aggettivo) which says something about a noun; ‘bene’ is an adverb (avverbio) which says something about a verb. Both ‘avverbio’ and ‘adverb’ come from the Latin ‘adverbium’ which literally means ‘in relation to the verb’. Regina Coeli? La torta - The cake -->  È buonissima! Il sushi - The sushi --> È buonissimo! I frutti di mare - The seafood --> Sono buonissimi! Le lasagne - The lasagna --> Sono buonissime! -- Ho mangiato bene. -- Si mangia davvero bene. 8) È squisito. EH sqwee-ZEE-toh It’s exquisite! 9) È assolutamente da provare. Il risotto è assolutamente da provare Quel piatto… 10) Tutto perfetto / tutto ottimo Ottimo per una cena romantica Ottimo per una cena fra amici   TWO BONUS PHRASES - Parla come mangi. - Speak like you at. Keep it simple. Bevilo tutto - L’acqua fa male e il vino fa cantare* https://www.lacucinaitaliana.it/ Antico vinaio - via de neri *Hear the song on YouTube     WANT TO SIGN UP FOR A QUIZLET PLUS MEMBERSHIP? If you heard about the flashcard app, Quizlet, from the podcast and want to sign up for their generous 30% off offer, click this link.   GRAZIE TO ALL PATREON SUPPORTERS INCLUDING... Frank Dina Hollie Jarrad Hollins Jean Rowe Jennifer Eldridge   Additional resources at... http://icebergproject.co/italian    Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page. Special thanks to 4barrelcarb on freesound.org for the ad music.

I don’t know about you, but recently I have been feeling pretty filled to the brim with tasks to do, and that reminded me of all of the things I say in Italian to tell others that I have a lot on my plate. I’m sure many of you are in the same boat, and so I thought I would share my favorite expressions with you. 1) Ho una miriade di cose da fare. - I have a lot of things to do. 2) Ho una marea di lavoro da svolgere. - I have a tide (a load) of work to carry out. 3) Ho un sacco di cose da fare. - I have a sack of things to do./I have a lot on my plate. 4) Sono impegnato/a - impegnatissimo/a. - I’m really busy. 5) Sono sommerso/a dal lavoro! - I’m overwhelmed by work! 6) Sono in ritardo! - I’m late! 7) Scusi, possiamo parlare dopo? Sono di fretta. - Sorry, can we chat later? I’m in a rush. 8) Vado di fretta. - I’m in a rush. 9) Il tempo è volato! Scusi, devo scappare o farò tardi! - The time flew by! Sorry, I gotta’ run or I’ll be late! If you’re saying this to a friend, use “scusami - sorry” instead of the formal “scusi.” 10) Sto per perdere (il treno)! - I’m about to miss the train! WANT TO SIGN UP FOR A QUIZLET PLUS MEMBERSHIP? If you heard about the flashcard app, Quizlet, from the podcast and want to sign up for their generous 30% off offer, click this link. GRAZIE TO ALL PATREON SUPPORTERS INCLUDING... Elise Kausen Fiona Geilinger Ellen Lyons Fran Elizabeth Blood Additional resources at... http://icebergproject.co/italian  Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page. Special thanks to 4barrelcarb on freesound.org for the ad music.

If I had to choose a few words that I’m asked about all the time in Italian, ones like “proprio” and “magari” would surely be up there, but the one I hear about being difficult constantly is “mica”. In fact, it’s such a difficult word that I was still fuzzy on how to use it as I wrote this lesson. I had to get lots of help from our lovely in-house native Italian editor, Carlotta. Despite that, we’ve done our best to drill “mica” -- a word that’s used informally in everyday spoken conversation -- down to its simplest usages. Buono studio! Definitions: Not at all/not one bit Surely Not even Not in the least By any chance Overall, know that it's used in order to strengthen the negative meaning of a sentence. POPULAR EXPRESSION #1: Mica Male “Mica male” can best be translated as “not bad”, as in: Questo gelato non è mica male! - This gelato is not bad at all! (in the sense of, “this gelato is quite good”.) Mica male quella ragazza! - Look at that girl, not bad, right? Mica male questo libro. - This book isn't bad at all. POPULAR EXPRESSION #2: Mica tanto “Mica tanto” can best be used to mean “not really” or “not much”. A: Ti è piaciuto il film “Superman vs. Batman”? - Did you like the movie “Superman vs. Batman”? B: Mica tanto! - Not really! Mica costano poi (così) tanto/Non costano mica tanto, prendile! - They are not that expensive after all./ They are not that expensive, go and get them! DEFINITION: Not at all/not one bit Non sembri mica interessato/a. - You don’t seem interested at all. Non è mica vero. - It’s not true at all! Non ha mica capito. - He didn’t understand at all. DEFINITION: By chance/happen to Hai mica visto la mia borsa? - Have you by chance seen my purse? Hai mica una penna? - Do you happen to have a pen? Non sai mica dov’è? / Mica sai dov’è? - You don't happen to know where he is, do you? Non sei mica la sorellina di Giulia?/Mica sei la sorellina di Giulia? - You wouldn’t happen to be Giulia’s little sister? DEFINITION: Surely Non glielo dico mica, stai tranquilla! - I’m surely not going to tell him, don’t worry! Se lui è là, io mica vado alla festa. - If he is there, I am surely not going to the party. DEFINITION: It’s not like... Mica ci vuole un'ora per bere una tazza di caffè. - It's not like it takes an hour to drink a cup of coffee. Mica sono scemo! - It’s not like I’m stupid. Non sono mica nato/a ieri! - It’s not like I was born yesterday!   30% off Quizlet Plus Membership Go to: https://quizlet.com/content/iceberg Access special features like Cher's favorite, Long-Term Learning. With Quizlet Plus, you'll also have offline access for studying Italian on the go; Night Theme, for studying late at night; enhanced audio, so you can record yourself speaking Italian; and more.   Additional resources at... http://icebergproject.co/italian   Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page. Special thanks to 4barrelcarb on freesound.org for the ad music.

Rachel and I talk about what others have been talking about from the news a lot in Italy, what holiday just passed in Florence, and what it's like to be pregnant in Italy. We answer questions like 'What's the difference in Italy and America between': Maternity leave? Preferential treatment? Doctor's appointments? Parties/planned events? Gifts? Vocabulary Mentioned: Fare il ponte - Make a long weekend (Literally: Make a bridge) Ho fatto il ponte. - I made a long weekend with the holiday. L'ecografia - Sonogram La portafortuna - A good luck charm in reference to the first nightie the baby will wear usually made of silk/cotton. Links Mentioned: What Is Il Giorni dei Morti in Italia (and Why Is It Important?) How Rachel Made Her Dream of Living in Florence a Reality Tutti i meme del compleanno di Fedez al supermercato   Resources & more at... http://icebergproject.co/italian   Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.

We snaked our way through the streets of Florence as we made our way to il mercato di Sant'Ambrogio. I turned toward Mary, “Com’è andata la tua lezione? - How’d your lesson go?” She responded, raising her voice slightly so I could hear her above the clamor, “È andata benissimo, Beatrice è un’insegnante fantastica. - It went well, Beatrice is a fantastic teacher.” These natural walking conversations had become such an integral part of the immersion retreat experience that Rachel & I decided to build more structure around them so students could get more of out of them. Now, every participant who comes on the trip receives a situation-specific workbook that gives them phrases and vocabulary to study before coming on the trip to help them prepare for these spontaneous conversations. I thought it might be cool to give you all a sample of what’s included in this workbook, too. :) Below you’ll see vocabulary and phrases for talking about Italian lessons. And if you’re interested in coming on one of our trips, read more details and apply for one of the six spots here. How to Talk About Your Lessons: Verbs -- Dovere - To have to / must -- Imparare - To learn -- Insegnare - To teach -- Sentire - To listen / to hear -- Dire - To tell / to say -- Dimenticare - To forget -- Migliorare - To improve -- Consigliare / Suggerire - To suggest / advise -- Fare errori - To make mistakes -- Sbagliare - To be wrong -- Ripassare - To review Vocabulary -- L’imperfetto - Imperfect tense -- Il passato prossimo - Past tense -- Il congiuntivo - Subjunctive mood -- Il condizionale - Conditional tense -- Le preposizioni - Prepositions -- I pronomi - Pronouns -- Test di ascolto - Listening test -- I compiti - Homework Phrases -- Cos’ hai imparato oggi? - What did you learn today? -- Abbiamo fatto pratica con il congiuntivo. - We practiced using the subjunctive mood. -- Hai finito i tuoi compiti? - Did you finish your homework? -- Beatrice mi ha detto che devo esercitarmi con l’imperfetto. - Beatrice told me that I need to practice using the imperfect tense. -- Roberta mi ha consigliato di ascoltare dei podcast in Italiano. - Roberta suggested that I listen to some podcasts in Italian. -- Ho continuato a dimenticare come usare correttamente il passato prossimo. - I kept forgetting how to use the past tense! -- Continuo a sbagliare / continuo a fare errori il congiuntivo. - I kept making mistakes with the subjunctive mood! -- Abbiamo ripassato le preposizioni semplici. - We reviewed simple prepositions. -- Devo imparare più vocaboli per descrivere il mio lavoro. - I need to learn more vocabulary around (my job). -- Devo migliorare l’ascolto. - I need to improve my listening skills. -- Roberta era fantastica! Mi piace tantissimo il suo metodo di insegnamento. - Roberta was fantastic! I really like the way she teaches. -- Beatrice mi ha aiutato tantissimo. - Beatrice was really helpful. Sample Conversation Cher: Che cosa hai imparato oggi? - What did you learn today? Mary: Abbiamo ripassato l’imperfetto e il passato prossimo. - We reviewed the imperfect and the past tense. Cher: È difficilissimo! Faccio ancora degli errori… uso spesso l’imperfetto quando dovrei usare il passato prossimo. - It’s really difficult. I still make mistakes… I often use the imperfect when I should use the past tense. Mary: Anche io!! - Me too!! Cher: Ma ora la differenza è più chiara? - But is the difference clear now? Mary: Sì, però penso che io abbia bisogno di più pratica. - Yeah, but I think I need more practice. Cher: Piano, piano. Hai dei compiti? - Slowly you’ll get it. Do you have homework? Mary: Sì, Beatrice mi ha dato un test di ascolto. Lei vuole capire meglio il mio livello. - Yes, Beatrice gave me a listening test. She wants to understand better what level I’m at. Cher: Ahh, interessante! - Ah, interesting! EXERCISE: FILL-IN-THE-BLANK 1) Cos’ hai ___________ oggi? - What did you learn today? 2) Abbiamo ___________ pratica con il congiuntivo. - We practiced using the subjunctive mood. 3) Hai finito i tuoi ___________? - Did you finish your homework? 4) Beatrice mi ha detto che devo ___________ con l’imperfetto. - Beatrice told me that I need to practice using the imperfect tense. 5) Roberta mi ha ___________ di ascoltare dei podcast in Italiano. - Roberta suggested that I listen to some podcasts in Italian. 6) Ho ___________ a dimenticare come usare correttamente il passato prossimo. - I kept forgetting how to use the past tense! 7) Continuo a sbagliare / continuo a fare ___________ il congiuntivo. - I kept making mistakes with the subjunctive mood! 8) Abbiamo ___________ le preposizioni semplici. - We reviewed simple prepositions. 9) Devo imparare più ___________ per descrivere il mio lavoro. - I need to learn more vocabulary around (my job). 10) ___________ migliorare l’ascolto. - I need to improve my listening skills. 11) Roberta era fantastica! Mi piace tantissimo il suo ___________ di insegnamento. - Roberta was fantastic! I really like the way she teaches. 12) Beatrice mi ha ___________ tantissimo. - Beatrice was really helpful To download this worksheet in PDF, click here.   Resources & more at... http://icebergproject.co/italian   Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.  

“Where are you from? - Di dove sei?” It has to be one of the top ten most frequently asked questions when you meet somebody while abroad in Italy. And while you could just simply say, “Colorado” or “Gli Stati Uniti” and end the conversation, what else could you say to describe where you’re from AND get more language practice in? Let’s pretend that someone asks me, “Com’è Coeur d’Alene? - What is Coeur d’Alene like?” I might say: La città è bellissima! È una destinazione turistica e molte persone famose vivono qua durante l’estate. Abbiamo una lago… che si chiama il lago Coeur d’Alene...  hahah… molto creativo / fantasioso come nome, lo so. E poi, che altro? È molto verde, una cosa fantastica perché io sono ossessionata dagli alberi. Oh e ci sono molti sentieri per fare trekking. Vivere là durante l’inverno non è facile, però a me non importa tantissimo. - it’s a beautiful city! It’s a tourist destination and lots of famous people live here during the summer. We have a lake that’s called Lake Coeur d’Alene… ahaha… a really creative name, I know. And then, what else is there? It’s really green, which is great for me because I’m obsessed with trees. Oh and there are lots of hiking trails. Living there during the winter isn’t easy but I don’t mind very much. I would say a lot because I LOVE where I live, haha. But, enough about me, the real question is about what YOU would say, and while I can’t give you all of the vocabulary words you might need, I’ll do my best. Useful Phrases È vicino (allo stato di Washington) e (Oregon). - It’s near (Washington state) and (Oregon). È nel (nord-ovest). - It’s in the northwest. ...l’ovest - west ...il sud - south ...l’est - east ...mid-ovest - midwest -- Devi fare un giro durante... - You should visit during... ….l’estate - summer ...la primavera - spring ...l’autunno - autumn ….l’inverno - winter -- È molto… - It’s really... ... verde - green … secco - dry … noioso - boring ... piccolo - small ...particolare - peculiar / interesting -- È un paesino. - It’s a tiny town. -- È una città grande. - It’s a big city. -- Non mi trasferirei  mai. - I would never move. -- Voglio trasferirmi! - I want to move. -- Non c’è niente da fare. - There’s nothing to do. -- Ci sono molte cose da fare! - There are so many things to do. -- In generale, la gente ha una mentalità ... - In general, the people have a …. mentality ...chiusa - closed ...aperta - open -- La mia cosa preferita (nella mia città) da fare è andare in spiaggia. - My favorite thing to do in my city is go to the beach. -- Abbiamo una gelateria BUONISSIMA. Devi per forza assaggiare il gusto al / di mirtillo. - We have a REALLY DELICIOUS ice cream shop. You have got to try the huckleberry flavor. -- In questa stagione tutti vanno  in montagna per sciare. - In this season everyone goes to the mountains to ski. -- Il posto migliore per ….è… - The best place to…. Is… E.g. il posto migliore per fare trekking è il Glacier National Park. - The best place to go hiking is Glacier National Park. -- Si mangia davvero bene a Beverly’s. - You’ll eat really well at Beverly’s. Hopefully those phrases help keep your conversation going and give you plenty to work with so you can describe where you live. :) Get resources & learn more at... http://icebergproject.co/italian   Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.  

14 Ways to Say Thank You   1) Grazie. - Thank you. 2) Ti ringrazio (informal) /La ringrazio (formal). - Thank you. I miei ringraziamenti - All my gratitude Porgo i miei più sinceri ringraziamenti.- I offer you my sincerest thanks. 3) Grazie mille / mille grazie. - Thanks a million. 4) Grazie tante. - Thanks a lot. 5) Molte grazie. - Many thanks. 6) Grazie di tutto. - Thanks for everything. 7.) Lo apprezzo tanto. - I really appreciate it. 8) Grazie di cuore. - Thanks from the heart. 9) Grazie dal più profondo del cuore. - Thanks from the depth of my heart. 10) Grazie infinite. - Infinite thanks. 11) Grazie di nuovo. - Thanks again. 12) Grazie ancora. - Thanks again. 13) Le/Ti sono grata/o. - I’m grateful to you. 14) Non ho parole per ringraziarti/ringraziarla. - I don’t have words to thank you.   5 Ways to Say You’re Welcome   1) E di che. - It was no big deal. Grazie per il cappuccino! E di che?  2) Figurati - Don’t mention it. Grazie per avermi aiutato con questo compito difficile. Figurati. 3) Di Niente - It’s nothing. 4) Non c’è di che. - You’re welcome/Nothing. 5) Di nulla. - It’s nothing.   Get resources & learn more at... http://icebergproject.co/italian   Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.  

Learn 11 phrases to say goodbye in Italian. PSSSST. This is also the LAST episode of the podcast, so you'll want to listen in to hear about what's next and why I've decided to end it.

You'll learn what a beginner language learner's schedule looks like, the type of activities you can do as a beginner, and where you might hold yourself back from making progress.

Part II of the 'How to Start Learning Italian' guide.

Where to start when you decide to learn Italian.

The many ways 'allora' is used in the Italian language.

The steps I've been taken to be sure I'm prepared for the Italian CILS exam.

How do you know when to use "tu" and when to use "Lei" in when addressing someone in Italian? This podcast episode gives you 6 guidelines you can use to choose the correct form.

Getting to know the small but useful Italian words siccome, dato che and poiché.

Il primo episodio tutto in italiano! 

Phrases to use with an Italian language partner when you're chatting for the first time, when you forget a phrase or when you're trying to talk about various topics.

Learn this 3-step formula for eliminating your weaknesses in Italian.

Discussing the underlying thread of decisions you can make in order to learn Italian.

An interview with four different Italian learners about their challenges, their strengths and how they're preparing for upcoming trips to Italy.

The things that I'm struggling with and trying to work on in Italian right now.

How to congratulate & celebrate your Italian friends for every occasion... in Italian!

How to get and give directions in Italian so you can find your way around Italy.

How to strike up a conversation and make friends with Italians while in Italy

Interview with Dianne Hales discussing her new book, Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered and how she learned Italian.

Italian vocabulary you can use to make a restaurant reservation.

Five new proverbs in Italian to add to your vocabulary.

Some rules about how to use the Italian verbs prendere, avere, raccontare and passare.

9 phrases for talking about what you do for work in Italian.

Some common mistakes made with irregular nouns in Italian.

Phrases for talking about music in Italian.

9 ideas for getting your Italian ready before you leave for Italy.