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!
EDITOR UPDATE: Some of the phrases in the audio will differ slightly from the phrases below. The ones below are the most correct.
Le frasi
— Dimmi (informal)
DEE-me
Tell me.
— Mi dica (formal)
mee DEE-kah
Tell me
— Vorrei…
vohr-REH-ee
I would like…
— Un cornetto vuoto
oon kohr-NEHT-toh VWUO-toh
A plain croissant
— Un cornetto al cioccolato
oon kohr-NEHT-toh ahl tchohk-koh-LAH-toh
A chocolate croissant
— Un cornetto alla crema
oon kohr-NEHT-toh AHL-lah CREH-mah
a cream-filled croissant
— Buonasera, vorrei prenotare un tavolo.
BWUOH-nah-SEH-rah vohr-REH-ee preh-noh-TAH-reh oon TAH-voh-loh
I’d like to reserve a table
Remember: ‘Vorrei – I would like’ is the polite form instead of ‘Voglio – I want’.
You could just say ‘Vorrei prenotare’, but then they’ll be sure to ask you:
— A che ora?
ah keh OH-rah
At what time?
— Per quante persone?
pehr KWAHN-teh pehr-SOH-neh
For how many people?
— Il conto, per favore.
eel KOHN-toh pehr fah-VOH-reh
The check, please.
— Accettate la carta di credito?
atch-cheht-TAH-teh lah CAHR-tah dee CREH-dee-toh
Do you (all) accept credit card?
— Dove si mangia davvero bene?
DOH-veh see MAHN-dja dah-VEH-roh BEH-neh
Where can I eat really good food?
— C’è un buon ristorante (cubano) qui vicino (in zona)?
tch-EH oon bwuohn REE-stohr-ahn-teh (KOO-bahn-oh) qwee vee-CHEE-no (een ZOH-nah)
Is there a good (Cuban) restaurant near here?
TIP: Switch out cubano for whatever kind of food you’re craving.
— Cinese (chee-NEH-zeh) – Chinese
— Messicano (MES-see-kahn-oh) – Mexican
Like these phrases so far? Then you might just trip over yourself with joy once you see the Not Your Typical Tourist Workbook that will help you prepare yourself for speaking Italian on your next trip to Italy.
— Domani
doh-MAH-nee
Tomorrow
— Stasera
stah-SEH-rah
Tonight
— Lunedì
loo-neh-DEE
Monday
— Martedì
mahr-teh-DEE
Tuesday
— Mercoledì
mehr-koh-leh-DEE
Wednesday
— Giovedì
djoh-veh-DEE
Thursday
— Venerdì
veh-nehr-DEE
Friday
— Sabato
SAH-bah-toh
Saturday
— Domenica
doh-MEH-nee-kah
Sunday
— Alle sette
AHL-leh SEHT-teh
At 7 PM
— Domani mattina
doh-MAH-nee maht-TEEN-ah
Tomorrow morning
— La prossima settimana
lah PROH-see-mah seht-tee-MAHN-ah
Next week
— È buonissimo.
EH bwuon-EES-see-moh
It’s so good!
— È squisito.
EH sqwee-ZEE-toh
It’s exquisite!
— È delizioso.
EH dee-lee-TSEEOH-soh
It’s delicious!
YOUR TASK
Think of your favorite food in the whole world. Look up the word for it in Italian using Wordreference or Context-Reverso. Listen to the pronunciation. Then say È buonissimo out loud – or change it to reflect the endings, like the examples:
— La torta ? È buonissima!
— Il sushi ? È buonissimo!
— I frutti di mare ? Sono buonissimi!
— Le lasagne ? Sono buonissime!
