Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Conventions Used in This Book 2
Foolish Assumptions 3
Icons Used in This Book 3
Where to Go from Here 4
Chapter 1: I Say It How? Speaking Italian 5
You Already Know Some Italian 6
Words that sound familiar 7
Popular expressions 8
Mouthing Off: Basic Pronunciation 10
The vowel “a” 10
The vowel “e” 11
The vowel “i” 11
The vowel “o” 11
The vowel “u” 11
Consonants that sound the same in Italian as they do in English 11
The consonant “c” 12
The consonant “g” 13
The consonant “h” 14
The consonant “q” 14
The consonant “r” 14
The consonant “s” 15
The consonant “z” 15
Double consonants 15
Consonant clusters 16
Stressing Words Properly 16
Chapter 2: Grammar on a Diet: Just the Basics 19
Setting Up Simple Sentences 19
Coping with Gendered Words (Articles and Adjectives) 21
Definite feminine articles 21
Definite masculine articles 22
The indefinite feminine article 23
Indefinite masculine articles 23
Adjectives 23
Talking about Pronouns 25
Personal pronouns 25
Direct object pronouns 27
Indirect object pronouns 28
Saying “you”: Formal and informal 30
Asking Questions 31
Introducing Regular and Irregular Verbs 33
Regular verbs 33
Irregular verbs 36
Presenting the Simple Tenses: Past, Present, and Future 38
Past tense 38
Present tense 42
Future tense 42
Chapter 3: Numerical Gumbo: Counting of All Kinds 45
Counting Cardinals 45
Ordering Ordinals 49
Talking about Time 50
The four seasons 50
Decades 51
Months of the year 51
Days of the week 52
Times of day 53
Being early or late 54
Getting Addresses and Phone Numbers 55
Talking about streets 56
Describing your home 56
Using the verbs “vivere” and “abitare” 57
Money, Money, Money 58
Going to the bank 59
Changing money 61
Chapter 4: Making New Friends and Enjoying Small Talk 63
Looking at Common Greetings and Good-byes 63
Deciding whether to address someone formally or informally 65
Responding to a greeting 65
Specifying your reuniting 66
Finding Out Whether Someone Speaks English 67
Begging Your Pardon? 69
Making Introductions 69
Introducing yourself 70
Introducing other people 71
Getting Acquainted 73
Talking about where you come from 73
Being you, being there: Using the verbs “essere” and “stare” 78
Talking about yourself and your family 81
Chatting about the weather 82
Chapter 5: Enjoying a Drink and a Snack (Or Meal) 85
Eating and Drinking, Italian Style 85
The Start and Finish of Dining Out 90
Making reservations 90
Paying for your meal 91
Having Breakfast 92
Eating Lunch and Dinner 93
Savoring Italian soups and pasta dishes 94
Using the verbs “prendere” and “volere” 95
Ordering from the menu 97
Savoring Dessert 99
Chapter 6: Shop ’til You Drop! 101
Departmentalizing Your Shopping 102
Talking with a Sales Clerk 104
Sizing Up Italian Sizes 105
Choosing Colors and Fabrics 106
Accessorizing 108
Stepping Out in Style 109
Shopping for Food 109
Meats 110
Seafood 110
Produce 111
Baked goods 113
Paying for Your Purchases 114
Chapter 7: Making Leisure a Top Priority 117
Acquiring Culture 118
Going to the movies 119
Choosing your seat at the theater 121
Going to a concert 122
Inviting Fun 123
Getting Out and About 125
Enjoying the wonders of nature 125
Taking a tour 127
Playing sports 128
Chapter 8: When You Gotta Work 133
Talking Shop 133
Common professions 134
The human element 135
Office equipment 136
Chatting on the Phone 137
Calling from a public phone 138
Calling for business or pleasure 139
Asking for People and Leaving a Message 141
Chapter 9: I Get Around: Transportation 145
Getting through the Airport 145
Checking in 146
Waiting to board the plane 147
Taking care of business after landing 148
Going through customs 148
Renting a Car 149
Navigating Public Transportation 151
Taking a taxi 151
Getting around by train 152
Going by bus or tram 153
Asking for Directions 154
Asking for specific places 155
Getting oriented 156
Asking how far something is 159
Verbs on the move 159
Locations you may be looking for 161
Chapter 10: Finding a Place to Lay Your Weary Head 163
Reserving a Room 163
Checking in and Getting Settled 166
Using Plurals and Pronouns 170
Making more in Italian 170
Personalizing pronouns 173
Chapter 11: Dealing with Emergencies 177
Dealing with Car Trouble 178
Talking to Doctors 180
I’ve Been Robbed! Knowing What to Do and Say When the Police Arrive 185
When You Need a Lawyer 187
Chapter 12: Ten Favorite Italian Expressions 189
Mamma mia! (My goodness!) 189
Che bello! (How lovely!) 189
Uffa! (Aargh!) 189
Che ne so! (How should I know?) 189
Magari! (If only!) 189
Ti sta bene! (Serves you right!) 190
Non te la prendere! (Don’t get so upset! / Don’t think about it!) 190
Che macello! (What a mess!) 190
Non mi va! (I don’t feel like it!) 190
Mi raccomando! (Please, I beg you!) 190
Chapter 13: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Like a Local 191
In bocca al lupo! (Good luck!) 191
Acqua in bocca! (Don’t say a word!) 191
Salute! (Bless you!) 191
Macche! (Of course not! / Certainly not!) 192
Neanche per sogno! (In your dreams!) 192
Peggio per te! (Too bad for you!) 192
Piantala! (Stop it!) 192
Vacci piano! (Slow down! / Take it easy!) 192
Gatta ci cova! (There’s something fishy going on!) 193
Sono nel pallone! (I’m flustered!) 193
Index 195
