Do you like maths? Sum these numbers in a loud voice (the English ‘and’ is rendered in Italian by ‘più’ [piu]): example 8 + 5 otto più cinque: tredici. So on: 7 + 4 , 10 + 6 , 11 + 8 , 14 + 4 , 6 + 14 , 5 + 12.

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Common expression

Now you will learn other five phrases that are often used as a leave:

A più tardi [a piu tardi] – A dopo [a dópó] = see you later

A domani [a dómani] = see you tomorrow

Buonanotte [buònanòtté] = good night

Dormi bene [dòrmi bèné] (informal) = sleep well

To Buonanotte and Dormi bene you can answer with the same expression or with Grazie

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Colours

You have to pay a little attention to colours: when one colour is used ad a noun, its gender is always masculine (it can have the plural form too), while, if it is an adjective, it must be made agree with the name it refers to (Italian adjectives are not indeclinable like the English ones). This difference does not exist in English

rosso [róssó], rossa, rossi, rosse = red

blu [blu] (this one does not change) = dark blue

azzurro [azzurró], azzurra, azzurri, azzurre = light blue

giallo [gialló], gialla, gialli, gialle = yellow

verde [vérdé], verdi = green

arancione [arancióné], arancioni = orange

marrone [marróné], marroni = brown

bianco [biancó], bianca, bianchi, bianche = white

nero [néró], nera, neri, nere = black

And now a basic question:

Di che colore è? [di ché colóré è] = what colour is it?

colore [colóré] (il), colori = colour

Some sentences to understand the difference (to have a review, note the use of the definite article): Qual è il tuo colore preferito? È il rosso (What is your favourite colour? It is red) – Di che colore è il telefono? È rosso (What colour is the telephone? It is red) – Di che colore sono quelle due macchine? Sono rosse (What colour are those two cars? They are red)

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Greetings

These are formal greetings used in different hours of the day:

buongiorno [buòngiórnó] = good morning

buon pomeriggio [buòn giórnó] = good afternoon

buonasera [buònaséra] = good evening

They are used both when one arrives and when one goes away. However, there is a most common greeting that can be used in any situation (but remember it is quite informal) :

ciao [ciaó] = hi, bye, ...

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Courtesy forms

There are the courtesy forms used in Italian; they mean both Sir and Mr (or Madam and Mrs-Miss) and can be followed by a name or not:

Signore (it becomes Signor before a name) [signór(é)] (Sig. If abbreviated) = masc. sing.

Signora [signóra] (Sig.ra if abbreviated) = fem. sing (for married women)

Signorina [signórina] (Sig.na if abbreviated) = fem. sing (for single women)

Signori [signóri] (Sig.ri if abbreviated) = masc. plur. (it means “gentlemen” too)

Signore [signóré] (Sig.re if abbreviated) = fem. plur (for married women) (it means “ladies” too)

Signorine [signóriné] (Sig.ne if abbreviated) = fem. plur (for single women)

These forms are preceded by the article, unless it is a vocative. Ex: Signore e signori, lo spettacolo sta per iniziare (Ladies and gentlemen, the show is starting), Questo è il signor X (This is Mr X), I signori sono arrivati (The gentlemen have arrived)

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Presentations

There are different ways to introduce people. This is the most informal:

Questo/questa è [quéstó/quésta è] or lui/lei è [lui/lèi è] = this is...

The natural reply is, as you already know, piacere

Examples: Giulio: Paolo, questo è Francesco – Paolo: Piacere – Francesco: Piacere

Marco: Giuseppe, lei è Anna – Giuseppe: Piacere – Anna: Piacere

Slightly more formal is this one expression:

Ti presento ... [ti présèntò...] = (lit.) I introduce ... to you

You can reply with Piacere or Lieto/lieta di conoscerti

Examples: Fabrizio: Stefano, ti presento Alessandra – Stefano: Lieto di conoscerti – Alessandra: Piacere

The last way is the most formal:

Le presento... or Posso presentarle...? [pòssó préséntarlé] = May I introduce .. to you?

Of course, answer by saying Lieto/lieta di conoscerla

Examples: Sig. Bianchi: Signora Rossi, posso presentarle il signor Brambilla? – Sig.ra Rossi: Lieta di conoscerla – Sig. Brambilla : Lieto di conoscerla

In the end, when you take your leave from somebody you have just known, say:

E’ stato un piacere conoscerti (inf.) / conoscerla (form.) [è stató un piacéré conóscerla/cónóscerti) or Piacere di averti conosciuto(inf.) / averla conosciuta (form.) [piacéré di avérti conosciuto/ avérla conosciuta] = It was nice to meet you

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Greetings among acquaintances

To greet a person that you know, you have to say:

Come sta? (form.) / stai? (inf.) [cómé sta / stai] = how are you?

Or (very much informal) come va? [cómé va] = what’s up?

The answer is:

(Molto) bene, grazie [móltó bèné grazié] = (Very) well, thank you / Fine, thanks

If you want to reply, instead of repeating come sta or stai, you can say:

E Lei? (form.) / tu? (inf.) = and you?

And now, read these dialogues. You should understand them easily:

1) Sig. Rossi: Buongiorno, signorina Bianchi – Sig.na Bianchi: Buongiorno, signor Rossi – Sig. Bianchi: Come sta? – Sig.na Bianchi: Bene, grazie. Lei, come sta? – Sig. Rossi: Bene, grazie

2) Antonio: Ciao, Anna – Anna: Ciao Antonio. Come stai? – Antonio: Bene, grazie. E tu? – Anna: Molto bene, grazie

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Signals: at the airport

In this last section of the lesson, you will learn some of the signals you see at the airport.

Aeroporto (lo) [aérópòrtó] / Aeroporti = airport

Partenze [partènzé] = departures

Arrivi [arrivi] = arrivals

Controllo passaporti [cóntròlló passapòrti] = passport control

Dogana [dógana] = customs

Informazioni aeroportuali [infórmazióni aérópórtuali] = airport information

Autobus [autobus] = buses

Taxi and Duty-free shop are not translated in Italian (Taxi has got the same form for singular and plural: il taxi – i taxi). You would like to know what is the meaning of Duty-free: Negozio esente da imposte [negòzió ésènté da impòste]

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Exercises

Here you are some exercise to practise about what you have learned. They are quite easy, so there are no solutions. If you are not sure about something, review the previous sections!

1. Write the missing words: Andrea, ti ... Carla – Arrivederci, è ... un ... conoscerti – Molto ... grazie – Come ... ? – A ... tardi.

2. Translate in Italian: Good morning, Sir – Good evening, Madam – See you later – See you tomorrow – Good night – Sleep well – How are you? – It was nice to meet you – What colour is it?

3. Write the Italian words corresponding to the numbers from 11 to 20.

4. Write the answers: Come stai? – Buonanotte – Dormi bene

5. Which letters miss in this signals? In.or.a.ion. ae..p.r.ua.i – C.n..ol.o .as.ap...i – Pa..en.. – A.r..i - .o...a

6. Answer these questions. You will learn some new words! Di che colore è ... : il cielo(sky)? il fuoco (fire)? una mela (apple)? l’erba (grass)? un’arancia (orange)? il legno (wood)? il latte (milk)? la notte (night)?

7.

Scheda di registrazione degli ospiti ¹

Cognome: __________________

(Sig/Sig.ra/Sig.na: sbarrare la voce d’interesse ²)

Nome: _____________________

Nazionalità: _________________

Numero di passaporto: _______

Firma:______________________

You are in a hotel. Fill in this card: