Expressions – Page 3

Question Words in Italian

One way that you can extend conversations in Italian even as a beginner student is by asking A LOT of questions. While there are a variety of structures for asking questions (like this one for asking about likes and dislikes), there are some basic vocabulary words for you to use for simpler questions. These are…

20 Phrases for Making a Phone Call in Italian

Click play on the player at the bottom to listen to this podcast or find it on Apple Podcasts. When I stayed in Viterbo for a week during my most recent trip to Italy, I used Air B&B and stayed at this cute little apartment called Gli Archi. Before arriving, my mother and I were…

Nine Rules to Know About Getting Sick in Italy (or Why the Cause of Your Pain is Either Poop, Your Liver, or Air)

It’s that time of year again: cold and flu season. The time of year my germaphobe self particularly loathes. If you thought being a germaphobe was a hard knock lifestyle in America, it’s a downright torturous in Italy. You see, Italy has some rules and ideas about sickness that we don’t prescribe to as…

3 Main Ways to Use the Word Proprio in Italian

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…

Merry Christmas: Italian Style

Christmastime is my absolute favorite time to be in Italy. Being a country that is over 96% Catholic, it often seems like the entire country is celebrating. The festivities last for almost a month with the season officially starting on December 8th, with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. In Florence, where I live, this…

22 Must-Know Vocabulary Words for Making Dessert in Italian

Click play on the player at the bottom to listen to this podcast or find it on Apple Podcasts. I love dessert… …at all times of the day and particularly before dinner because it makes me feel rebellious. To continue on with our cooking words from the article on pasta, here is a recipe on…

How to Talk About How Awesome (or Horrible) That Movie Was in Italian

One of the most exciting “field trips” I took when I lived in Italy was to a nearby town to watch the riveting final installment of the “Twilight” series: Twilight, Breaking Dawn Part II. Even though I wasn’t Twilight’s number one fan (okay, I admit, I might have read all of the books in high…

How to Buy Clothes in Italy (or How to Buy a Coat to Keep You From Succumbing to Hypothermia)

I have previously discussed having to adjust to the weather in Italy, although not in great detail. I come from Las Vegas. Seasons? What are those? In Las Vegas, you wear shorts in the summer and pants in the winter. There isn’t really ever a need for layering or rain boots or big winter parkas….

What are Pronominal Verbs and How Do You Use Them in Italian?

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….

11 More Italian Expressions You Never Learned in the Classroom

This is a continuation of the first post: 11 Italian Expressions You Never Learned in the Classroom. 1.) Che merda! – What shit. I would use this in a terrible situation. Like “Man, who ate all of my pasta!? Che merda!” They also say ‘Che giornata di merda!’ – What a shitty day. 2.) Che coglione!…

Italian Phrases for Finding & Renting an Apartment in Italy

Renting an apartment in Italy can seem like an overwhelming, sometimes impossible task. From the lingo to the contracts, there is a lot to know and understand/ If you can’t keep up or don’t pay attention to the details, you risk getting a bad deal (or worse, a bad landlord). Having lived in Italy for…

Phrases to Sign Letters and Emails in Italian

In English, I have signed my letters and emails so many different ways. Among my favorites are: — Best – For more formal emails — With gratitude – For emails directed to friends or colleagues — With so much love – For close friends & family Of course, the list could go on depending on…