30 Minute Italian Podcast

Books to Read for the Beginner Italian Student

We get a lot of readers who check out Cher’s top 10 books she loves in Italian and many who read about how to discuss these beloved (or hated) libri but both of these articles are for the more advanced learner. After seeing emails come through asking for beginner books, we thought it would…

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…

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…

Italian Present Conditional (or the tense that finally lets you express yourself in Italian)

Top 10 Rules You Probably Forgot About Italian

The Grand Difference Between Direct & Indirect Object Pronouns in Italian (&yes, you have to know them)

11 Ways to Say Goodbye in Italian

Click play on the player at the bottom to listen to this podcast on iTunes. Formal: 1.) Arrivederci – Goodbye! 2.) Buongiorno/buonasera – Valid both for starting and ending a conversation. extremely common and used whether in formal or informal context. 3.) Addio – This is a phrase that is very rich in drama. When…

Italian Word Speed Dates: Allora

Allora. It’s a word heard all over Italy…usually in 25 different contexts within 25 minutes. In short, it’s diverse. WordReference says that it can mean any of the following: — Then — In that moment, at the time — Therefore — So — In that case I’ve picked a few definitions from that list and…

30 Phrases for Natale: Due Ragazze Pazze

This episode has been pulled from the archives of the 30 Minute Italian Podcast! Melissa Muldoon, of Diario di una Studentessa Matta, and I recorded a special podcast episode for all of you to learn about Christmas phrases + traditions in Italy. You can visit Melissa’s post, which includes Rossella’s transcript in Italian and English,…

What’s important to Italians during Christmas? (Insights from Carmine Caruso in Italian)

Here is an episode from our archives about what Italians consider important during Christmas! Click play on the player at the bottom to listen to this podcast or find it on Apple Podcasts. “Il Natale è una tradizione forte in Italia. – Christmas is a strong tradition in Italy.” When I lived in Italy, I…

How to Use Italki to Become Conversational in a Foreign Language with Sam Bleakly

Here’s an episode from our archives about how to use Italki to become conversational in a foreign language! Sam Bleakly is no longer with Italki, but this episode provides some great tips on how to use this amazing language learning resource. Click play on the player at the bottom to listen to this podcast or listen…

Six Guidelines You Can Use to Choose the “Tu” or the “Lei” Form in Italian

Click play on the player at the bottom to listen to this podcast or find it on Apple Podcasts. When first learning Italian, sometimes it can be hard to understand when and how to use the two forms of “you”: “tu” and “Lei.” In general, “tu” is used for friends, family and people younger than…