Overview

The Dummies language learning method makes it easy to speak Italiano Italian For Dummies is your quick-start guide to the Italian language. It offers friendly and clear instruction on Italian grammar and pronunciation, and even some cultural background to spice things up. You'll also get ample practice opportunities, so you can quickly build your skill in conversational Italian. Traveling to an Italian-speaking country? This book has you covered, with useful travel phrases and a guide to the common words and expressions you're likely to hear. With a mini-dictionary and other helpful resources, Italian For Dummies will show you why Dummies language guides are popular with students and travelers alike. Learn the basics of Italian grammar and start speaking the language right away Prepare to travel to Italian-speaking countries for work, school, or pleasure Work through authentic conversations in Italian to learn how the language is really spoken, plus follow along with online audio Master Italian pronunciation so you can communicate effectively For anyone wanting to grasp the basics of conversational Italian—even if you have no prior experience—Italian For Dummies will get you started with this beautiful language.

Full Product Details

Author:   Giuseppe Cavatorta ,  Teresa L. Picarazzi (Hopkins School, New Haven, CT)
Publisher:   John Wiley & Sons Inc
Imprint:   For Dummies
Edition:   3rd edition
Dimensions:   Width: 18.50cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 23.10cm
Weight:   0.522kg
ISBN:  

9781394321469

ISBN 10:   1394321465
Pages:   384
Publication Date:   06 November 2025
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Awaiting stock  

Table of Contents

Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 3 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond This Book 4 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: Getting Started with Italian 5 Chapter 1: Saying Italian Like It Is 7 You Already Know Some Italian! 8 Cognates 9 Sounding Italian: The Essentials 9 The alphabet 10 Vowels 11 Consonants 13 Kickstarting your Italian with keywords 17 Stressing Words Properly 18 Chapter 2: Jumping Into the Basics of Italian 19 Setting Up Simple Sentences 19 Dealing with Gender and Number (Articles, Nouns, and Adjectives) 20 Gender and number 20 Indefinite articles 22 Definite articles 22 Adjectives 23 Talking about Pronouns 25 Personal pronouns 25 Saying “you”: Formal and informal 26 Being inclusive? Still a long way to go 26 Exploring Verbs 27 Introducing regular and irregular verbs 27 Having to, wanting to, being able to 35 Presenting the Simple Tenses: Past, Present, and Future 36 Chapter 3: Buongiorno Italia! 41 Looking at Common Greetings and Farewells 41 Replying to a greeting 42 Reuniting not sure when 43 Making Introductions 44 Introducing yourself 44 Introducing other people 46 Getting Acquainted 48 Finding out whether someone speaks English 49 Talking about where you come from 50 Extending and responding to invitations 54 Chapter 4: Getting Your Numbers and Time Straight 57 Practicing Using Numbers 57 Identifying Times of Day and Days of the Week 61 Using the Calendar 63 Asking about and Giving Dates 64 Telling Time 65 Asking for the time 65 Asking what time something begins 66 Chatting about the Weather 67 Familiarizing Yourself with the Metric System 72 Temperature 73 Length and distance 73 Weight 74 Part 2: Italian in Action 79 Chapter 5: Casa Dolce Casa (Home Sweet Home) 81 Practicing Ordinal Numbers 81 Living in Your Home 83 Hunting for a place to live 83 Sprucing up your residence 88 Furnishing your new pad 89 Housekeeping in Style 91 Cooking at Home 93 Doing Household Chores 95 Chapter 6: Where Is the Colosseum? Asking Directions 99 Finding Your Way: Asking for Specific Places 99 Knowing Where You Are and Following Directions 102 Identifying distances when walking 102 Recognizing where you’re headed 103 Giving and receiving directions 103 Getting a Move on It: Verbs You Can Use 106 When You Don’t Understand: What to Say 109 Looking For a Specific Location 110 Chapter 7: Food Glorious Food — and Don’t Forget the Drinks 115 Drinking Italian Style 116 Expressing your love for espresso 116 Enjoying beverages with more of a kick 118 Dining Out: The Beginning and the Ending 120 Making reservations 120 Paying for your meal 122 Having Breakfast 123 Eating Lunch 124 Enjoying Dinner 126 Shopping for Food 129 At the butcher shop 129 At the fish shop 130 At the bakery 131 At the market 132 Chapter 8: Shopping Italian Style 135 Figuring Out What to Shop 135 Deciding between department stores and boutiques 136 Finding your way around stores 136 Knowing What You’re Buying 139 This one or that one? Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns 140 Decoding Italian sizes 140 Focusing on colors 142 Accessorizing 144 Stepping out in style 145 Chapter 9: Having Fun Out on the Town 149 Diving Into the Culture 150 Going to the movies 152 Going to the theater 155 Going to a museum 158 Going to a local festival 159 Going to a concert 160 Going to a party or other event 162 Chapter 10: From Ring to Ping: Phones, Texts, Emails, & More 169 Communicating Made Simple 169 Connecting via cellphones, texts, and WhatsApp 170 Calling for business or pleasure 172 Making Arrangements over the Phone 174 Handling Missed Calls and Messages 175 What Did You Do Last Weekend? — Talking about the Past 178 Using avere 179 Using essere 181 Discussing Your Job 183 The human element 183 Office equipment 184 Chapter 11: Recreation and the Outdoors 187 Enjoying the Great Outdoors 187 Speaking Reflexively 191 Playing Sports 194 Talking about Hobbies and Interests 198 Part 3: Italian on the Go 205 Chapter 12: Planning a Trip 207 Deciding When and Where to Go 207 Taking a Tour 208 Booking a Trip/Traveling to a Foreign Country 209 Arriving and Leaving: The Verbs “Arrivare” and “Partire” 212 Going to the Beach or to the Spa 213 Using the Simple Future Tense 214 Chapter 13: Money, Money, Money 217 Going to the Bank 217 Changing Money 219 Using Credit Cards 221 Looking at Various Currencies 224 Chapter 14: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis, & Buses 229 Getting through the Airport 229 Checking in 230 Dealing with excess baggage 232 Waiting to board the plane 232 Going through customs 233 Dealing With Lost Luggage 235 Renting a Car 238 Navigating Public Transportation 240 Calling a taxi 240 Moving by train 241 Going by bus, tram, or subway 244 Reading maps and schedules 247 Leaving Early or Arriving Late 248 Chapter 15: Finding a Place to Stay 251 Choosing a Place to Stay 251 Reserving a Room 252 Checking In 255 Settling in for your hotel stay 255 Requesting something during your stay 256 Yours, Mine, and Ours: Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns 259 Speaking with Authority: The Imperative 262 Chapter 16: Handling Emergencies 267 Asking for Help: A Quick Overview 267 Talking to Doctors 268 Describing what ails you 269 Understanding professional medical vocabulary 273 Getting what you need at the pharmacy 274 Braving the dentist 275 Reporting an Accident to the Police 276 I’ve Been Robbed! Knowing What to Do and Say When the Police Arrive 277 Dealing with Car Trouble 280 When You Need a Lawyer: Protecting Your Rights 282 Reporting a Lost or Stolen Passport 283 Chapter 17: Making Small Talk 287 Discovering Interrogative Pronouns 287 Using interrogative pronouns 288 Asking simple questions 289 Taking Care of Basic Needs 290 Talking about Yourself and Your Family — More about Possessives 294 Speaking Perfectly about the Past with the Imperfect 297 Talking Shop 299 Part 4: the Part of Tens 305 Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Pick Up Italian Quickly 307 Read Italian Food Labels 307 Ask for Food in Italian 307 Listen to Italian Music and Podcasts 308 Read Italian Publications 308 Watch Italian Movies and TV Programs with Italian Subtitles 308 Switch Your Apps and Phone to Italian 309 Follow Italian Social Media Accounts 309 Share Your Interest 309 Surf the Net 309 Cook like an Italian 310 Chapter 19: Ten Things to Know When Traveling to Italy 311 Ciao Isn’t for Everyone 311 Modesty Sometimes Matters 312 Weigh Your Fruit and Vegetables While Wearing Gloves 312 Bag It Yourself and Pay for the Bags 312 Free Water? Not Here! 312 Pepperoni, Cheese on Pasta, and Meatballs 313 Tables Are for Diners 313 The Cappuccino Conundrum 313 Chapter 20: Ten Favorite Italian Expressions 315 Mamma mia! 315 Dai! 316 Uffa! 316 Che ne so!/Boh! 316 Magari! 316 Ti sta bene! 316 Non te la prendere! 317 Non vedo l’ora! 317 Non mi va! 317 mi raccomando! 317 Part 5: Appendixes 319 Appendix A: Italian-English Mini Dictionary 321 Appendix B: Verb Tables 335 Appendix C: Answer Keys 347 Index 357

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Author Information

Giuseppe Cavatorta, PhD, is a professor of Italian at the University of Arizona. He has written, edited, and translated several works across disciplines focusing mainly on Italian and American poetry. Teresa L. Picarazzi, PhD, has taught Italian language, literature, and cinema for more than 20 years. She’s also written several For Dummies books, including Italian Workbook For Dummies.

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