accent mark written on their final vowel, so if you are reading a word, it will be easy for you to notice and you’ll know to pronounce it correctly, as in Così così (so-so), pronounced koh-ZEE koh-ZEE.
There are some words that have their stresses on irregular syllables; you will learn these as you go.And remember, even if you stress a word on the wrong syllable, Italians will still understand you.
One more note about accent marks: sometimes an accent mark is used on a word of just one syllable. Many times this happens when there are two words that sound alike but have different meanings, like la (the) and là (there).
AVOIDABLE LITTLE MISTAKES
If you want to make a great impression on your new Italian friends, pronounce the following words correctly; these are usually mispronounced by English speakers.
Pinot Grigio : Always avoid pronouncing the i that comes after the g in the combinations “gia,” “gio,” “giu.” The famous Italian wine Pinot Grigio should be pronounced GREE-jyoh (not gree-jee-oh); same thing for the name Giovanni (jyoh-VAHN-nee).
Bruschetta : The “sch” should not be pronounced as “sh.” Avoid the common American mispronunciation of this word; say “sk” for the correct pronunciation, broo-SKEHT-tah.
Prosciutto : In this case, the “sciu” must sound like “shoo”: proh-SHOOT-toh. Do not say proh-skee-oo-toh!
Spaghetti : Please, please, please: the double “tt” has a doubled sound, even though it’s soft, so say both t ’s. And avoid like the plague the “d” sound of spah-geh-dee.
A simplified phonetic transcription system is used throughout the book to help remind you of the correct Italian pronunciations. Read as if it were English, and your “imitated” Italian will be close enough to make out.
And now, buona fortuna (good luck) to you. Or better,“In bocca al lupo” (“in the mouth of the wolf”), which is an Italian proverb wishing the very best to someone who’s launched toward a new enterprise.
You will be pleasantly surprised: learning to “make out in Italian” will be a truly unforgettable journey toward your own dolce vita.
Hi...Nice to Meet You Ciao...Piacere 1
| Hello! Hi! | Ciao |
| chah-oh | |
| Buongiorno | |
| bwohn-JYOHR-noh | |
| (do not pronounce the i) | |
| Buonasera | |
| bwohn-ah-SEH-rah |
Ciao, the cheerful way of greeting people in Italy, is universally used. It’s used morning, evening, afternoon and night. It is used to say hello and to say goodbye. It is used when you are intimate with someone or between simple acquaintances, and even in casual encounters on the street, at the bar or at the beach. Sometimes ciao is used on purpose to “create” an immediate sense of familiarity, friendship and closeness.
In business situations, in formal occasions or when talking to public officials instead it is important to use the more formal and polite expressions: buongiorno for good morning, buonasera for good evening. Even when at a store buying something or at a restaurant talking to a waiter/ waitress or at the hotel talking to the front desk people, try to use the more formal expression as a sign of respect for the clerks.
| What’s your name? | Come ti chiami? |
| KOH-meh tee KYAH-mee? |
Come ti chiami literally means “How do you call yourself” and it is the way Italians approach people whom they do not know but with whom they want to start talking.That’s the way you can be approached everywhere in Italy—at the airport as often as in a coffee shop, or in line in a store or at the post office—and it has to be considered a friendly conversation-starter.
If you like it, use it with no second thought: what in the U.S. might be considered a bit out of line or even invasive, in Italy is the norm. Keep in mind that Italians are naturally communicative (of course there are the “stiff” ones but they are the exception) and they do not find it at all impolite or intrusive to speak to strangers; it is very normal that they will strike up a conversation with you, asking a lot of questions and at the same time providing you with a lot of information about their own life.
| My name is Giulia. | Mi chiamo Giulia. |
| mee KYAH-moh Giulia. | |
| Nice to meet you, Giulia! | Piacere, Giulia! / È un piacere! |
| pyah-CHEH-reh… / eh oon pyah-CHEH-reh. |
Think the word piacere (literally “pleasure”) all the time. It is your door-opener in Italy: try to always say it when you meet or you are introduced to someone for the first time, be it the person who greets you at the hotel and tells you his/her name, or a friend or a friend of a friend, or a business partner, or a lovely woman/man you just met. Say piacere as the Italians do: shaking hands (only once, with one up-down shake), smiling and looking straight in the eyes of the other person. You can also say È un piacere : “It is (indeed) a pleasure.” Never forget that “pleasure” is a key component of the Italian soul and lifestyle.
| Guess what it is. | Indovina! |
| een-doh-VEE-nah! |
| What did you say? | Cosa hai detto? |
| KOH-zah ah-ee DEHT-toh? | |
| (do not pronounce the h) |
| Where do you live? | Dove abiti? |
| DOH-vay ah-BEE-tee? |
Dove (where), cosa (what), come (how), quando (when), quanto (how much), perche (why), chi (who): are all important expressions in the Italian language, used to introduce a question.
| Where do you come from? | Da dove vieni? |
| dah DOH-veh VYEH-nee? |
| How old are you? | Quanti anni hai? |
| KWAHN-tee AHN-nee ah-ee? |
| Are you a student? | Studi o lavori? |
| STOO-dee oh lah-VOH-ree? |
The
