Basic Italian: 30 Lessons 2026

Unit 1: Sounds and letters

Italian is easy to read. Most letters always make the same sound, and you say almost every letter. The traditional Italian alphabet has 21 letters. The letters J, K, W, X and Y are used only in words from other languages, such as *jeans*, *taxi* and *weekend*.

Letter names to learn

Key sounds

To spell a word, say each letter. To be extra clear, Italians often add a city name: *A come Ancona, B come Bologna*. On forms, nome means first name and cognome means last name.

• Come si scrive?How do you spell it?
• Si scrive M, A, R, C, O.It's spelled M, A, R, C, O.
• Può ripetere, per favore?Can you repeat, please? (polite)
• Mi chiamo Chiara.My name is Chiara.
• Il mio cognome è Rossi.My last name is Rossi.
• A come Ancona, B come BolognaA as in Ancona, B as in Bologna
• ciao, cena, gelato, giornoSoft c and g
• che, chiave, spaghettiHard c and g
• gnocchi, famiglia, pesceThe sounds gn, gli and sc
• città, caffè, perchéWords with an accent on the last vowel

Unit 2: Hello and goodbye

Italians usually greet people when they enter a shop, a bar or an office. Use Buongiorno in the morning and early afternoon and Buonasera from mid-afternoon. Ciao means both 'hi' and 'bye', but only with friends, family, children and young people.

Tu or Lei?

Italian has two words for 'you'. Use tu with friends, family and children. Use Lei with adults you do not know, with older people and at work. Lei uses the same verb form as 'he' or 'she'. In writing, Lei often has a capital L.

• Ciao!Hi! / Bye! (informal)
• Buongiorno!Good morning! / Hello!
• Buonasera!Good evening! / Hello! (from mid-afternoon)
• Buonanotte!Good night! (before bed)
• Arrivederci!Goodbye!
• A presto!See you soon!
• Come stai?How are you? (informal)
• Come sta?How are you? (formal)
• Bene, grazie. E tu?Fine, thanks. And you?
• Come si chiama?What's your name? (formal)
• Mi chiamo Paolo.My name is Paolo.
• Piacere!Nice to meet you!
• Questo è Marco.This is Marco. (a man)
• Questa è Anna.This is Anna. (a woman)

Unit 3: About me

The verb essere (to be) is one of the most important verbs in Italian. You often leave out the word for 'I', 'you' and so on, because the verb ending shows who you mean: *Sono canadese* = I am Canadian.

Nationalities and languages

Nationalities agree with the person. Words in -o change to -a for a woman: *italiano, italiana*. Words in -e stay the same: *canadese, inglese, francese*. In Italian, nationalities and languages start with a small letter.

• Di dove sei?Where are you from? (informal)
• Di dov'è?Where are you from? (formal)
• Sono canadese.I am Canadian.
• Sono di Vancouver.I am from Vancouver.
• Abito a Milano.I live in Milan.
• Parlo inglese e un po' di italiano.I speak English and a little Italian.
• Parli italiano?Do you speak Italian? (informal)
• Sì, un po'.Yes, a little.
• Sono studente.I am a student. (man)
• Sono studentessa.I am a student. (woman)

Unit 4: Numbers 0–100

Numbers from 21 to 99

Put the ten and the unit together in one word: *venti + due = ventidue* (22), *quaranta + cinque = quarantacinque* (45). There are two small rules:

• Before uno and otto, the ten loses its last vowel: *ventuno* (21), *ventotto* (28), *trentotto* (38).
• Numbers that end in tre take an accent: *ventitré* (23), *trentatré* (33).

Age and phone numbers

To say your age, Italians use avere (to have) and anni (years): *Ho venticinque anni* = I am 25. Before anni, tens often drop their last vowel: *Ho trent'anni* = I am 30. The forms are *io ho, tu hai, lui/lei/Lei ha*. On forms, age is età. Phone numbers are often read one digit at a time, or in small groups.

• Quanti anni hai?How old are you? (informal)
• Quanti anni ha?How old are you? (formal) / How old is he/she?
• Ho trentun anni.I am 31.
• Mio figlio ha otto anni.My son is 8.
• Qual è il tuo numero di telefono?What's your phone number?
• Il mio numero è 347 210 5689.My number is 347 210 5689.
• Può ripetere più lentamente?Can you repeat more slowly?
• ventuno, ventotto, ventitré21, 28, 23
• centoone hundred

Unit 5: Days and dates

In Italian, days and months start with a small letter. The week starts on Monday. Most days end in -dì, with an accent.

Saying the date

Say il + the number + the month: *il 5 maggio* (il cinque maggio), *il 23 settembre*. For the first day of a month, use primo (first): *il primo maggio*. Italians write the day first, then the month: *03/04* is 3 April.

Other ordinal numbers are useful too: *primo* (1st), *secondo* (2nd), *terzo* (3rd), *quarto* (4th), *quinto* (5th).

• Che giorno è oggi?What day is it today?
• Oggi è martedì.Today is Tuesday.
• Quanti ne abbiamo oggi?What's the date today?
• Oggi è il dodici ottobre.Today is October 12.
• il primo maggioMay 1
• Quando è il tuo compleanno?When is your birthday?
• Il mio compleanno è il tre marzo.My birthday is March 3.
• Chiuso il lunedìClosed on Mondays
• Ferragosto è il quindici agosto.Ferragosto (a summer holiday) is August 15.
• domani, oggi, ieritomorrow, today, yesterday

Unit 6: Telling the time

To ask the time, say Che ore sono? or Che ora è? Both are correct. In the answer, use sono le + the hour, because the hours are plural. Only one o'clock, noon and midnight use è.

e means 'past' (after the hour) and meno means 'to' (before the hour). You can add *di mattina* (in the morning), *del pomeriggio* (in the afternoon) or *di sera* (in the evening).

At what time?

To say when something happens, use alle + the hour: *alle otto* (at 8), *alle nove e mezza* (at 9:30). For one o'clock, say all'una. Opening hours use dalle… alle… (from… to…).

• Che ore sono?What time is it?
• Sono le dieci e venti.It's 10:20.
• È l'una e mezza.It's 1:30.
• A che ora apre il negozio?What time does the shop open?
• Apre alle nove.It opens at nine.
• Chiude all'una.It closes at one.
• Il museo è aperto dalle nove alle diciannove.The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Il treno parte alle diciotto e quindici.The train leaves at 18:15.
• Sono in ritardo!I'm late!

Unit 7: Family

My, your, his, her

Possessives agree with the thing or person you have, not with the owner. Normally they come with an article: *il mio libro, la mia casa*.

• Hai fratelli?Do you have brothers or sisters?
• Ho una sorella e due fratelli.I have one sister and two brothers.
• Sono figlio unico.I'm an only child. (boy)
• Sono sposato. / Sono sposata.I'm married. (man / woman)
• Hai figli?Do you have children?
• Ho una figlia.I have a daughter.
• Questo è mio padre.This is my father.
• Questa è mia moglie.This is my wife.
• I miei genitori abitano a Napoli.My parents live in Naples.
• Come si chiama tua madre?What's your mother's name?

Unit 8: Describing people

Italian adjectives agree with the person or thing: masculine or feminine, singular or plural. Most adjectives come after the noun: *un ragazzo alto* (a tall boy).

For a group of men and women together, use the masculine plural: *Marco e Giulia sono alti*.

Useful adjectives

• alto (tall) – basso (short)
• giovane (young) – anziano (old, for people)
• magro (thin) – robusto (heavily built)
• simpatico (nice, friendly) – antipatico (unfriendly)
• gentile (kind), intelligente (clever), timido (shy), allegro (cheerful)

Hair and eyes

Use avere: *Ha i capelli corti* (He/She has short hair), *Ha gli occhi verdi* (He/She has green eyes). Hair can be *lunghi* (long), *corti* (short), *biondi* (blond), *castani* (brown), *neri* (black), *rossi* (red) or *grigi* (grey). Eyes can be *azzurri* (blue), *verdi*, *marroni* (brown) or *neri*.

• Com'è tuo fratello?What's your brother like?
• È alto e magro.He is tall and thin.
• Mia sorella è molto simpatica.My sister is very nice.
• Ha i capelli lunghi e biondi.He/She has long blond hair.
• Ha gli occhi azzurri.He/She has blue eyes.
• Porta gli occhiali.He/She wears glasses.
• I miei amici sono simpatici.My friends are nice.
• Le mie colleghe sono gentili.My colleagues (women) are kind.

Unit 9: Home

Many Italians live in an appartamento (apartment) in a building with a few floors. The ground floor is the piano terra, then the primo piano (first floor), and so on.

There is, there are

Use c'è with one thing and ci sono with more than one: *In cucina c'è un tavolo. In camera ci sono due finestre.* In questions, just change your voice: *C'è un balcone?*

The words for 'the'

• Abito in un appartamento.I live in an apartment.
• Abito al secondo piano.I live on the second floor.
• Quante stanze ci sono?How many rooms are there?
• Ci sono tre camere da letto.There are three bedrooms.
• C'è un balcone?Is there a balcony?
• Sì, c'è un balcone piccolo.Yes, there's a small balcony.
• Dov'è il bagno?Where is the bathroom?
• La cucina è grande.The kitchen is big.

Unit 10: Food and drink

Plurals

Most nouns change their last vowel: -o → -i (*il pomodoro, i pomodori*), -a → -e (*la mela, le mele*), -e → -i (*il pesce, i pesci*). One important exception: *l'uovo* → *le uova* (eggs).

A, an and some

'A' or 'an' is un (most masculine words), uno (masculine before s + consonant or z), una (feminine) and un' (feminine before a vowel): *un panino, uno spuntino (a snack), una mela, un'arancia*. For 'some', join di with the article:

• Per colazione bevo un caffè.For breakfast I drink a coffee.
• Mangio un cornetto.I eat a croissant.
• Compro del pane e delle mele.I'm buying some bread and some apples.
• Vuoi dell'acqua?Would you like some water? (informal)
• Non mangio carne.I don't eat meat.
• Sono vegetariano. / Sono vegetariana.I'm a vegetarian. (man / woman)
• Buon appetito!Enjoy your meal!

Unit 11: Shopping and prices

Italy uses the euro (€). One euro has 100 centesimi (cents). The word *euro* does not change in the plural: *un euro, due euro*. In prices, Italians write a comma, not a point: *3,50 €* is *tre euro e cinquanta*.

How much?

Use Quanto costa? for one thing and Quanto costano? for more than one: *Quanto costa il pane? Quanto costano le mele?* At the checkout, ask Quant'è? (How much is it?) to know the total.

In a clothes shop

Size is la taglia. You can ask *Avete una taglia più grande?* (Do you have a bigger size?) or *più piccola* (smaller). I saldi are the sales.

• Quanto costa?How much does it cost?
• Quanto costano?How much do they cost?
• Costa dieci euro.It costs ten euros.
• Quant'è?How much is it? (the total)
• Sono dodici euro e cinquanta.That's €12.50.
• Vorrei un chilo di mele.I'd like a kilo of apples.
• Avete una taglia più piccola?Do you have a smaller size?
• Posso pagare con la carta?Can I pay by card?
• Paga in contanti o con carta?Are you paying cash or by card? (formal)
• Ecco lo scontrino.Here's the receipt.

Unit 12: At a café

In Italy, a café is usually called a bar. People often have breakfast at the bar: a coffee and a cornetto (croissant). If you ask for un caffè, you get a small, strong espresso.

Ordering politely

Say Vorrei… (I would like…) or Prendo… (I'll have…), and add per favore (please). *Voglio* (I want) can sound rude. You can also start with Per me… (For me…).

• Buongiorno, cosa prende?Hello, what will you have? (formal)
• Vorrei un caffè, per favore.I'd like a coffee, please.
• Per me un cappuccino e un cornetto.A cappuccino and a croissant for me.
• Prendo una spremuta d'arancia.I'll have a fresh orange juice.
• Un'acqua frizzante, per favore.A sparkling water, please.
• Altro?Anything else?
• No, basta così, grazie.No, that's all, thanks.
• Il conto, per favore.The bill, please.
• Grazie! – Prego!Thank you! – You're welcome!
• Posso sedermi qui?Can I sit here?

Unit 13: In town

Asking the way

Start with Scusi (Excuse me, formal) when you speak to a stranger. Then ask Dov'è…? (Where is…?) or C'è… qui vicino? (Is there… near here?).

Directions

People usually give directions with the formal form. Here are the key words:

• Scusi, dov'è la stazione?Excuse me, where is the station?
• C'è una farmacia qui vicino?Is there a pharmacy near here?
• Vada sempre dritto.Go straight on.
• Giri a sinistra al semaforo.Turn left at the traffic lights.
• Prenda la seconda a destra.Take the second on the right.
• È lontano?Is it far?
• No, sono cinque minuti a piedi.No, it's five minutes on foot.
• Grazie mille!Thanks a lot!

Unit 14: Getting around

To say how you travel, use in + the transport, with no article: *in autobus, in treno, in metro, in macchina* (by car), *in bici* (by bike), *in taxi*. On foot is a piedi.

Tickets

A ticket is un biglietto. For the train you can buy solo andata (one way) or andata e ritorno (return). Trains leave from a binario (platform). Before you travel, you often need to convalidare (validate) your ticket in a machine. A travel pass, for example for a month, is un abbonamento.

Where is it?

• Vado al lavoro in autobus.I go to work by bus.
• Un biglietto per Firenze, per favore.A ticket to Florence, please.
• Solo andata o andata e ritorno?One way or return?
• Andata e ritorno, per favore.Return, please.
• Da quale binario parte il treno?Which platform does the train leave from?
• Dal binario tre.From platform 3.
• Il treno è in ritardo.The train is late.
• Dov'è la fermata dell'autobus?Where is the bus stop?
• La fermata è davanti alla banca.The stop is in front of the bank.

Unit 15: Weather and seasons

To ask about the weather, say Che tempo fa? (What's the weather like?). Italian uses different verbs for different kinds of weather, so learn each phrase as a whole.

Italy uses degrees Celsius: *Ci sono trenta gradi* (It's 30 °C). For very cold weather you can say *Ci sono due gradi sotto zero* (It's minus 2).

The seasons

The seasons are la primavera (spring), l'estate (summer), l'autunno (autumn) and l'inverno (winter). To say 'in' a season, use in: *in primavera, in estate, in autunno, in inverno*.

• Che tempo fa?What's the weather like?
• Oggi fa bel tempo.The weather is nice today.
• C'è il sole e fa caldo.It's sunny and hot.
• Piove molto.It's raining a lot.
• Domani nevica.It's going to snow tomorrow.
• Quanti gradi ci sono?What's the temperature?
• In inverno fa freddo.It's cold in winter.
• Qual è la tua stagione preferita?What's your favourite season?
• La mia stagione preferita è l'estate.My favourite season is summer.

Unit 16: My day

In this unit you describe your normal day. Italian verbs change their ending for each person. Regular verbs are in three groups. Their infinitives end in -are, -ere or -ire.

Present tense: the three regular groups

Take away -are, -ere or -ire and add the ending. Some -ire verbs, like finire, capire (to understand) and preferire (to prefer), add -isc- in four forms: finisco, finisci, finisce, finiscono. You usually leave out io, tu and the other subject words, because the ending shows the person: Lavoro means I work.

• Mi sveglio alle sette.I wake up at seven.
• Mi alzo alle sette e un quarto.I get up at quarter past seven.
• Faccio colazione.I have breakfast.
• Esco di casa alle otto.I leave home at eight.
• Comincio a lavorare alle nove.I start work at nine.
• Pranzo all'una.I have lunch at one.
• Finisco di lavorare alle sei.I finish work at six.
• Torno a casa.I go back home.
• La sera guardo la TV.In the evening I watch TV.
• Vado a letto alle undici.I go to bed at eleven.

Mi sveglio and mi alzo are reflexive verbs: mi means myself. Fare (to do), uscire (to go out) and andare (to go) are irregular, so learn faccio, esco and vado as phrases for now.

Useful words: la mattina (in the morning), il pomeriggio (in the afternoon), la sera (in the evening), di solito (usually), spesso (often), sempre (always). To say not, put non before the verb: Non lavoro il sabato. With a day, il means every: il sabato = on Saturdays.

Unit 17: Work and jobs

In this unit you talk about jobs and where people work. To ask a friend about their job, say Che lavoro fai? To ask someone formally, say Che lavoro fa?

There are two common ways to answer. With essere, use no article: Sono insegnante. With fare, use the article: Faccio l'insegnante. Both mean I am a teacher. You can also say Lavoro come cameriere (I work as a waiter).

Many job words change -o to -a, or -iere to -iera, for a woman. Words ending in -ante and -ista, like insegnante and autista, are the same for men and women.

The verb avere (to have)

• Che lavoro fai?What's your job? (informal)
• Faccio l'infermiera.I'm a nurse. (a woman speaking)
• Sono impiegato.I'm an office worker. (a man speaking)
• Lavoro in un ufficio.I work in an office.
• Lavoro in ospedale.I work in a hospital.
• Lavoro in un negozio.I work in a shop.
• Lavoro da casa.I work from home.
• Ho un nuovo lavoro.I have a new job.
• Ho un colloquio domani.I have a job interview tomorrow.
• Cerco lavoro.I'm looking for work.

Unit 18: Free time

In this unit you talk about your free time (il tempo libero) and say what you like. Italian uses the verb piacere. Mi piace means it is pleasing to me, so the thing you like is the subject of the verb.

To ask a friend, say Ti piace...? To ask someone formally, say Le piace...? Answer Sì, molto (Yes, a lot) or No, per niente (No, not at all).

Verbs for hobbies

• giocare a + game or sport: gioco a calcio, gioco a carte (cards)
• suonare + instrument: suono la chitarra, suono il pianoforte
• fare + activity: faccio sport, faccio una passeggiata (I go for a walk)
• andare + place: vado al cinema, vado in palestra (to the gym)

• Nel tempo libero leggo.In my free time I read.
• Mi piace cucinare.I like cooking.
• Mi piace ascoltare la musica.I like listening to music.
• Mi piacciono i libri gialli.I like crime novels.
• Gioco a calcio il sabato.I play soccer on Saturdays.
• Suono la chitarra.I play the guitar.
• Vado in palestra due volte alla settimana.I go to the gym twice a week.
• Non mi piace ballare.I don't like dancing.
• Non guardo mai la TV.I never watch TV.
• Ti piace viaggiare?Do you like travelling?

Mai means never. Put non before the verb and mai after it: Non vado mai al cinema.

Unit 19: Health

In this unit you name parts of the body and say what is wrong when you feel ill. You can go to the doctor (dal medico) or to the pharmacy (in farmacia).

Some plurals are irregular: il braccio becomes le braccia, and la mano becomes le mani.

Saying what hurts

• Ho mal di + body part (no article): Ho mal di testa. Ho mal di gola. Ho mal di denti.
• Mi fa male + one thing: Mi fa male il piede.
• Mi fanno male + two or more things: Mi fanno male i piedi.
• Ho + illness: Ho la febbre (a fever). Ho il raffreddore (a cold). Ho la tosse (a cough).

• Non mi sento bene.I don't feel well.
• Ho mal di testa.I have a headache.
• Ho la febbre.I have a fever.
• Mi fa male la schiena.My back hurts.
• Vorrei un appuntamento dal medico.I'd like an appointment with the doctor.
• Ha qualcosa per il mal di gola?Do you have something for a sore throat?
• Prenda questa medicina due volte al giorno.Take this medicine twice a day. (formal)
• Dov'è la farmacia più vicina?Where is the nearest pharmacy?
• Sono allergico alla penicillina.I'm allergic to penicillin. (a woman says allergica)

Unit 20: Clothes and colours

In this unit you name clothes and colours. Colour words are adjectives. In Italian most adjectives, and all colours, come after the noun: una camicia bianca (a white shirt).

• la magliettaT-shirt
• la camiciashirt
• il maglionesweater
• i pantalonipants, trousers
• la gonnaskirt
• il vestitodress; also a man's suit
• la giaccajacket
• il cappottocoat
• le scarpeshoes
• la borsabag

Colours that change

Colours ending in -o (rosso, nero, bianco, giallo, azzurro) have four forms. Colours ending in -e (verde, marrone) have two forms: -e for one, -i for more. A few colours never change: blu (dark blue), rosa (pink) and viola (purple). In bianchi and bianche, the h keeps the hard k sound.

• Porto una maglietta bianca.I'm wearing a white T-shirt.
• Cerco una giacca nera.I'm looking for a black jacket.
• Di che colore è?What colour is it?
• Ha questa gonna in blu?Do you have this skirt in blue?
• Quanto costa il cappotto grigio?How much is the grey coat?

Unit 21: Phone and appointments

In this unit you make a phone call and book an appointment. Italians answer the phone with Pronto? (Hello?). When you call an office or a stranger, use the formal Lei form.

• Pronto?Hello? (answering the phone)
• Pronto, sono Marco.Hello, it's Marco.
• Posso parlare con la signora Bianchi?May I speak to Mrs. Bianchi?
• Un attimo, per favore.One moment, please.
• Mi dispiace, non c'è.Sorry, he/she isn't here.
• Richiamo più tardi.I'll call back later.
• Può ripetere, per favore?Can you repeat, please? (formal)
• Ha sbagliato numero.You have the wrong number.

Booking an appointment

• Vorrei prendere un appuntamento.I'd like to make an appointment.
• Quando è libero il dottor Bianchi?When is Dr. Bianchi available?
• Va bene giovedì alle dieci?Is Thursday at ten OK?
• Sì, va benissimo.Yes, that's perfect.
• No, mi dispiace, giovedì non posso.No, sorry, I can't on Thursday.
• A giovedì, arrivederci.See you Thursday, goodbye.

If you do not understand, ask the person to speak slowly: Può parlare più lentamente, per favore? When you leave a message, give your name, your number and the reason: Sono Anna Smith. Chiamo per l'appuntamento di lunedì.

Unit 22: Asking questions

In this unit you ask questions. For a yes/no question, use the same words as a statement and make your voice go up at the end. Parli italiano. (You speak Italian.) becomes Parli italiano? (Do you speak Italian?). Italian has no extra word like English do.

Word order: put the question word first, then the verb, then the subject: Dove abita Marco? Come si chiama tua sorella? Quanto agrees with the noun after it: quanto tempo, quanta acqua, quanti anni, quante sorelle.

• Parli inglese?Do you speak English?
• Chi è quella ragazza?Who is that girl?
• Cosa fai stasera?What are you doing this evening?
• Di dove sei?Where are you from?
• Quando arriva il treno?When does the train arrive?
• Come ti chiami?What's your name?
• Perché sei qui?Why are you here?
• Quanti anni hai?How old are you?
• Qual è il tuo indirizzo?What is your address?

Unit 23: Yesterday

In this unit you say what you did. The passato prossimo is the most common past tense in spoken Italian. Most verbs make it with the present of avere + a past participle: Ho mangiato (I ate, I have eaten).

Avere changes for each person (ho, hai, ha, abbiamo, avete, hanno). The participle stays the same: ho mangiato, abbiamo mangiato, hanno mangiato.

Common irregular participles

Verbs of movement like andare, arrivare, tornare, uscire and partire use essere, not avere. Then the participle agrees like an adjective: Marco è andato, Giulia è andata, loro sono andati.

Time words: ieri (yesterday), ieri sera (last night), stamattina (this morning), la settimana scorsa (last week), l'anno scorso (last year), due giorni fa (two days ago).

• Ieri ho lavorato tutto il giorno.Yesterday I worked all day.
• Ieri sera ho visto un film.Last night I saw a movie.
• Ho fatto la spesa.I did the grocery shopping.
• Abbiamo mangiato al ristorante.We ate at a restaurant.
• Hai dormito bene?Did you sleep well?
• Ho preso il treno.I took the train.
• Sabato sono andato al mare.On Saturday I went to the seaside. (a man)
• Sabato sono andata al mare.On Saturday I went to the seaside. (a woman)

Unit 24: Plans

In this unit you talk about plans. In everyday Italian, people often use the present tense with a time word: Domani vado a Roma (Tomorrow I'm going to Rome). Italian also has a future tense, which you see in plans, forecasts and messages.

The future tense

In -are verbs the a becomes e: parlare → parlerò, not parlarò. Common irregular futures: andare → andrò, fare → farò, essere → sarò, avere → avrò.

Other ways to talk about plans: pensare di + infinitive (to be thinking of): Penso di cambiare lavoro. Avere intenzione di + infinitive (to intend to): Ho intenzione di studiare a Firenze.

• domani (tomorrow), dopodomani (the day after tomorrow), stasera (this evening)
• sabato prossimo (next Saturday), la settimana prossima (next week)
• il mese prossimo (next month), l'anno prossimo (next year)
• fra due giorni (in two days)

• Cosa fai stasera?What are you doing this evening?
• Stasera esco con gli amici.This evening I'm going out with friends.
• Domani lavoro fino alle sei.Tomorrow I'm working until six.
• Sabato prossimo andrò in montagna.Next Saturday I'll go to the mountains.
• L'anno prossimo farò un corso d'italiano.Next year I'll take an Italian course.
• Penso di andare in vacanza a luglio.I'm thinking of going on holiday in July.
• Fra due settimane parto per Roma.In two weeks I'm leaving for Rome.

Unit 25: Can you help me?

In this unit you ask for help, ask for permission and offer help. The key verb is potere (can, to be able to). It is irregular.

After potere, use the infinitive: Posso entrare? (Can I come in?) Può aiutarmi? (Can you help me? formal).

Polite requests

With strangers, use the Lei form: Può...? For extra politeness, use potrebbe (could you): Potrebbe aprire la finestra, per favore? Start with Mi scusi (Excuse me, formal) or Scusa (informal).

• Mi scusi, può aiutarmi?Excuse me, can you help me?
• Potrebbe ripetere, per favore?Could you repeat, please?
• Mi può dire dov'è la stazione?Can you tell me where the station is?
• Posso pagare con la carta?Can I pay by card?
• Posso entrare?May I come in?
• Certo!Of course!
• Mi dispiace, non è possibile.I'm sorry, it's not possible.

Offering help

• Posso aiutarla?Can I help you? (formal)
• Ti serve una mano?Do you need a hand? (informal)
• Ti aiuto io.I'll help you.
• Sì, grazie, molto gentile.Yes, thank you, that's very kind.
• No, grazie, non è necessario.No, thanks, that's not necessary.
• Prego.You're welcome.

Unit 26: Services

In this unit you use services: the bank (la banca) and the post office (l'ufficio postale, or la posta). You also fill in a form (il modulo).

At the bank

• Vorrei aprire un conto.I'd like to open an account.
• Dov'è il bancomat?Where is the cash machine?
• Vorrei cambiare cento dollari in euro.I'd like to change 100 dollars into euros.
• Devo prelevare dei soldi.I need to take out some money.

At the post office

• Vorrei spedire questo pacco in Canada.I'd like to send this parcel to Canada.
• Quanto costa spedire una lettera?How much does it cost to send a letter?
• Un francobollo per il Canada, per favore.A stamp for Canada, please.
• Prenda il numero e aspetti il suo turno.Take a number and wait for your turn.

Filling in a form

In Italy, dates are written day/month/year, so 05/03/1990 is 5 March 1990. In an address, the street comes first and the number after it: Via Roma 24. Via means street and piazza means square.

Staff may say: Compili questo modulo (Fill in this form), Firmi qui (Sign here) or Un documento, per favore (Some ID, please).

Unit 27: Renting a home

In this unit you look for an apartment to rent (in affitto), ask about the rent and bills, and meet your neighbours.

Rents are often in hundreds. Put the number before cento: duecento (200), cinquecento (500), seicento (600), settecento (700). Seicentocinquanta euro al mese is €650 a month.

Calling about an ad

• Chiamo per l'annuncio.I'm calling about the ad.
• L'appartamento è ancora libero?Is the apartment still available?
• Quanto è l'affitto?How much is the rent?
• Le spese sono incluse?Are the extra costs included?
• Posso vederlo?Can I see it?
• Quando è disponibile?When is it available?
• C'è l'ascensore?Is there an elevator?

Neighbours

Your neighbour is il vicino (a man) or la vicina (a woman). The owner is il proprietario or la proprietaria; people also say il padrone di casa (the landlord).

• Piacere, sono il nuovo vicino.Nice to meet you, I'm the new neighbour.
• Abito al terzo piano.I live on the third floor.
• Scusi, può abbassare la musica?Excuse me, can you turn the music down?

Unit 28: Emergencies

In this unit you learn what to do and say in an emergency in Italy.

Italy's official tourism website says that 112 is the single number to call for emergencies in Italy. The call is free, and the operator connects you with the right service. It lists 113 for the State Police. The European Commission says 112 works everywhere in the EU, is free of charge, and works from fixed and mobile phones. (Sources: italia.it/en/italy/practical-information/emergency-and-assistance; digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/112.)

Asking for help

• Aiuto!Help!
• Chiamate un'ambulanza!Call an ambulance! (to several people)
• Chiamate la polizia!Call the police!
• Al fuoco!Fire!
• C'è un incendio!There's a fire!
• C'è stato un incidente.There has been an accident.
• Un uomo è ferito.A man is hurt.
• Ho bisogno di un medico.I need a doctor.
• Dov'è il pronto soccorso?Where is the emergency department?

On the phone and at the police

First say where you are: the street, the number and the town. Then say what happened. Speak slowly and answer the operator's questions: Dove si trova? (Where are you?) Che cosa è successo? (What happened?)

• Siamo in via Dante 8, a Pisa.We are at Via Dante 8, in Pisa.
• Mi hanno rubato il portafoglio.Someone stole my wallet.
• Ho perso il passaporto.I have lost my passport.
• Vorrei fare una denuncia.I'd like to report a crime.

Unit 29: Small talk

In this unit you make small talk with colleagues, classmates and neighbours. Small talk is short and friendly: the weekend, the weather, food and compliments.

• Come va?How's it going?
• Tutto bene?Everything OK?
• Com'è andato il fine settimana?How was your weekend?
• Bene, grazie. Sono andato al mare.Good, thanks. I went to the seaside. (a man)
• Che caldo oggi!It's so hot today!
• Da quanto tempo studi l'italiano?How long have you been studying Italian?
• Studio l'italiano da sei mesi.I've been studying Italian for six months.
• Ci prendiamo un caffè?Shall we get a coffee? (a friendly invitation)

To say how long something has gone on, Italian uses da + the present tense: Abito qui da due anni (I have lived here for two years).

Compliments

Che + adjective or noun makes an exclamation: Che bello! (How nice!) Che bella giacca! (What a nice jacket!) With feminine nouns, use bella for one thing and belle for more: Che belle scarpe!

• Che bella giacca!What a nice jacket!
• Complimenti!Well done! / Congratulations!
• Parli molto bene l'italiano!You speak Italian very well!
• Grazie, sei gentile.Thanks, that's kind of you.

Ending the chat

• Ci vediamo dopo!See you later!
• Buon fine settimana!Have a good weekend!
• Anche a te!You too!
• Buon lavoro!Have a good day at work!

Unit 30: Review

Well done! This unit reviews the most important points of the course. Read the table, then try the questions. If one is hard, go back to that unit.

• Buongiorno, come sta?Good morning, how are you? (formal)
• Piacere, mi chiamo Sam.Nice to meet you, my name is Sam.
• Vorrei un caffè, per favore.I'd like a coffee, please.
• Quanto costa?How much is it?
• Scusi, dov'è la stazione?Excuse me, where is the station?
• Non capisco.I don't understand.
• Può ripetere, per favore?Can you repeat, please?
• Studio l'italiano da un mese.I've been studying Italian for a month.

What to learn next

• Level A2: the imperfetto (for past descriptions), object pronouns (lo, la, gli, le) and more verbs with essere in the past.
• Learn the most common irregular verbs well: essere, avere, fare, andare, venire, volere, potere, dovere.
• Listen every day: short videos, songs or radio in Italian, even for five minutes.
• Speak: say your daily routine aloud, or find a conversation group or class near you.