Italiano per piacere: lesson 1
    (Italian for pleasure)

    Piacere means pleasure and is the basis of the Italian language. It is a pleasure to speak. Piacere also means “nice to meet you,” as it is a pleasure to meet sweet Italian people.

    The following are some rules for speaking Italian with fluidity and fun. Follow in moderation:

    RULE #1 Always use your hands when speaking.

    RULE #2 Don’t be shy and don’t hesitate. Blurt out your Italian and even if it’s pronounced wrong or even misunderstood, “va bene” … it’s okay!

    RULE #3 Say grazie a lot and say it with a smile.

    RULE #4 Throw in lots of connection words that are very Italian and will cause Italians to immediately warm up to you. Some examples:

  • a-oh (hey!!) (ah-oh-w)
  • va be (okay) (vah beh)
  • boh (I have no idea) (bouw)

    RULE #5 Enunciate and think “Italian” in your pronunciation. Over-emphasize things in order to be understood. Sometimes hands, intent, and energy speak louder than words.

    RULE #6 Start using a few of your favorite words and phrases at home and around the South Bay. You’d be surprised how some fun words will catch on with your family and friends. Especially stuff like “DAI!” “Magari” **, “Ciao”, and “Buon Appetito”

    Filler words to use a lot
    Ecco! = A-ha! (eh-kow)
    Certo = sure (chair-tow)
    Perfetto = perfect (pair-fay-toe)
    Infatti = in fact (in-fah-tee)
    allora = and so… (a-lo-ra)
    communque = anyways (co-moon-kway)

    Mangiamo! = Let’s eat!
    (mahn-jaw-mow)
     Voglio mangiare = I want to eat (vow-lee-oh mahn-jaw-ray)
    Ho fame = I’m hungry (oh fah-may)
    Ho sete = I’m thirsty (oh seh-tay)
    Ti piace il vino? Do you like the wine? (tee pee-ah-che eel vee-now)
    Si, mi piace il vino = Yes, I like the wine.
    Mi piace un sacco … a ton (fun way of saying yes)
    Insomma … Well … (polite way of saying no)
    Buon appetito! Bon appetit! (bwoan ah-peh-tee-to)
    E buono? Is it delicious? (ay bwhoa-no)
    Si, e’ buono = Yes it’s delicious.
    No, non e’ buono. = No, it’s not delicious.
    (no, nonnay bwhoa-no) E’ buonissimo! It’s very delicious! (ay bwhoa-nee-see-mow)
    A la salute! = Cheers! (ah lah sa-loo-tay)

    More food words
    Una merenda = a snack
    stuzzichini = hors d’oeuvres, finger food
    Dammi un po’ di _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ = Give me a little _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
    Vino = wine (vii-no)
    formaggio = cheese (for-mah-jò) prosciutto = ham (pro-shoo-tow) caffè = coffee (ka-fè)
    Una coca cola con ghiaccio (with ice) (oona coca cola kahn gii-àh-cho)
    Acqua frizzante / naturale = sparkling water / still
    Un digestivo --> Limoncello / Sambuca / Grappa
    Una bottiglia di vino = a bottle of wine

    BUONISSIMO is very tasty
     bello --> bellissimo very beautiful
    carino --> carinissimo very cute (ka-ree-nee-see-mow)
    sporco --> sporchissimo very dirty (spor-kee-see-mow)
    		•










    Most Useful Phrases
    Grazie Mille = Thanks a million! (grah-zee-ay mih-lay)
    (although literally “mille” is one thousand)
    Prego = your welcome (pray-go)
    Tutto bene = It’s all good (too-tow beh-nay)
    Andiamo! Let’s go! (on-dee-ah-mow)
    Aspetta = wait (ah-speh-tah)
    Come va? How’s it going? (co-may-vah)
    Benissimo! Excellent! (beh-nee-see-mo)
    Basta! = Stop! Enough already!
    Dai = like basta but more casual (like “let it go”) (pronounced like the singular of dice)

    ** MAGARI ! ** = If only! (mah-gah-ree)
    ** used all the time **
    (for example: Will you be meeting Pavarotti? Magari!
    Will you be having dinner with Sofia Loren? Magari!)

    Belle parole = nice words
     Che bello! = How beautiful! (kay beh-low)
    Fantastico! = Ottimo! (oh-tee-mow) = Wonderful!
    Molto gentile- very kind (mole-tow gen-tee-lay)
    Che ne so io? = How should I know? (cute, pronounced: keneh sow ee-yo)

    “La dolce vita” with your sweetie
    Caro = dear (sweeheart)(ka-row)
    Amor mio = my love (ah-more mii-oh)
    La dolce vita = the good life (la dohl-che vee-ta)
    Ti voglio bene = I care so very much about your well being. You are a wonderful friend.
    Ti amo = I love you intimately (usually is only used with one person. Use only if you really love them in that way)

    Parting is such sweet sorrow:
    Ciao = essential, use for hello and goodbye (chow)
    Ci vediamo = See ya! (much more common and less final) (chee veh-dee-ah-mow)
    A la prossima = see you next time (ah lah pra-see-mah)
    A dopo= see you later (ah doe-po)
    Arrivederci = See you again (formal and not used much in the day-to-day)

    The telephone:
    Pick up and say “PRONTO” (literally means “ready”)
    Before hanging up, be sure to say “abbracci” (hugs) or “baci” (kisses)

    Altre cose = other things
    Mannaggia! Dang! (mah-nah-jaw)
    Parli inglese? Do you speak English? (par-lee een-glay-zey)
    Parlo inglese molto bene. = I speak English very well. (Par-low een-glay-zey mohl-tow bey-nay)
    Capisci? = Do you understand?
    No, scusami, non capisco= No, I’m sorry, I don’t understand.
    Non parlo molto italiano. = I don’t speak much Italian.
    Per favore = please (pair fah-voh-ray)
    Ciao bello / Ciao bella!
    Va bene = D’accordo = Okay
    Sono stanco = I am tired (man)
    Sono stanca = I am tired (woman)

    Piacere, Nice to meet you
     Chi sei? = Who are you? (kii say)
    Io sono Carol. = I am Carol. (ee-yo so-no)
    E tu? = And you? (ay too)
    Io sono Monique = I am Monique.
    Piacere = Nice to meet you. (pee-ya-che-ray)



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