Italian For Dummies

by Onofri, Francesca Romana; Mö; ller, Karen Antje; Picarazzi, Teresa L.

• ISBN13: 9781118004654
• ISBN10: 1118004655
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-09-06
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Start speaking Italian in no time with this fun and easy guide As society becomes more international in nature, knowing a few words in other languages has a necessity. Perhaps you travel frequently abroad, or your business requires you to travel overseas. Maybe you have friends and neighbors who speak other languages, or you are a student thrown smack dab in the middle of a modern language class. Whatever your reason for wanting to learn Italian, this hands-on, friendly guide is for you! This updated edition of Italian For Dummies gives you the skills you need for basic communication that will get you on your way to becoming fluent. Imagine what your family and friends will think when you order off the menu at your favorite Italian restaurant! Expanded coverage of necessary grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciations Useful exercises, practice questions, and a mini-dictionary A full updated and expanded audio CD (including real-life conversations) Whether youre looking to pick up a little Italian quickly; youre cramming for your high school Italian final; or youve always wanted to learn a new language but dont have time to take a class, Italian For Dummies is just what you need!

Author Biography

Berlitz has taught languages to millions of people for more than 130 years. Francesca Romana Onofri and Karen Antje Moller are veteran language teachers. Teresa L. Picarazzi, PhD, teaches Italian at The Hopkins School and has lived and worked in Cortona, Florence, Ravenna, Siena, and Urbino.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started 7

Chapter 1: Saying It Like It Is 9

Chapter 2: Jumping Into the Basics of Italian 21

Chapter 3: Buongiorno! Salutations! 43

Chapter 4: Getting Your Numbers and Time Straight 63

Part II: Italian in Action 83

Chapter 5: Casa dolce casa (Home Sweet Home) 85

Chapter 6: Where Is the Colosseum? Asking Directions 103

Chapter 7: Food Glorious Food — and Don't Forget the Drink 119

Chapter 8: Shopping, Italian Style 139

Chapter 9: Having Fun Out on the Town 151

Chapter 10: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunicating 173

Chapter 11: Recreation and the Outdoors 191

Part III: Italian on the Go 207

Chapter 12: Planning a Trip 209

Chapter 13: Money, Money, Money 221

Chapter 14: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis, and Buses 233

Chapter 15: Finding a Place to Stay 255

Chapter 16: Handling Emergencies 271

Chapter 17: Small Talk, Wrapping Things Up 293

Part IV: The Part of Tens 313

Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Pick Up Italian Quickly 315

Chapter 19: Ten Things Never to Say in Italian 319

Chapter 20: Ten Favorite Italian Expressions 323

Chapter 21: Ten Phrases to Say So That People Think You're Italian 327

Part V: Appendixes 331

Appendix A: Verb Tables 333

Appendix B: Dictionaries 347

Appendix C: About the CD 359

Appendix D: Answer Keys 361

Index 369