This episode’s audio doesn’t exist, and we have technology to blame (poof! gone into cyberspace!). Instead of listening to this episode, feel free to use the notes below to learn more about the topic. And if you’re like, “CHER, NO. I NEED THIS EPISODE,” then let me know in the comments below. I’ll put it on my list to record again!

Why this episode is unique

This episode is a little different from anything else I’ve done before in that I go through some phrases that I learned/reviewed while reading the novel Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter.

Besides the fact that it was an amazing story that hooked me (&made me miss Italy, as they all do), it was chock full of interesting vocabulary – la stregoneria (story of witches) – and useful vocabulary – L’inizio (the beginning).

Le frasi

— La pensione – small hotel

— Porto Vergogna – tiny fishing village in Northern Italy

— Vergognarsi – to feel ashamed

— Che vergogna! – What a shame!

— Il boom – economic boom

— Italianizzare – to Italianize

— La macchina/le macchine – the car/cars

— Andare a fare un giro in macchina – to go for a drive

— Bravissimo/a – Very good

— Bellissimo/a – Very beautiful

— Carissimo/a – Very dear

— Benissimo/a – Very good

— La spiaggia – beach

— Dov’è la spiaggia? – Where is the beach?

— Cinque Terre – area of Northern Italy

— Sei Terre – six lands

— Trattoria – Italian restaurant

— Per portare via – To take away (in terms of take-away food)

Resources mentioned

— Beautiful Ruins: A Novel

— 7 Classifications of Italian Eateries

— Italian numbers

— Italian Pronunciation (&how to hone your accent to amazingness)