Pip: If you have ever confidently told an Italian waiter you want a beer using the wrong verb and watched their expression shift, you already know that Italian is a language best learned before you need it.
Mara: That is exactly the territory Donatello covers across this episode — Italian survival phrases for eating, shopping, navigating, and daily life, plus first steps into Mandarin Chinese and Serbian.
Pip: Let's start with the Italian lessons, where the stakes are tiramisù.
Italian Everyday Survival Phrases
Mara: This cluster of lessons builds the kind of Italian you actually use on the ground — telling the time, ordering food, buying things at a market, finding your way around a city, and describing your daily routine.
Pip: Lesson 4, on days, months, and telling the time, puts it plainly: "A che ora…? (At what time…?) is one of the most useful phrases you'll use every day in Italy!"
Mara: That one question unlocks a surprising amount. Once you can ask what time something happens, you can book a table, arrange to meet someone, and ask when a place opens — all of which Lesson 4 walks through with a worked dialogue between Anna and Marco.
Pip: And the lesson does not stop at the clock. It hands you the full scheduling toolkit — "Sei libero/a?" to check if someone is free, "Ci vediamo giovedì alle otto" to lock in a plan.
Mara: Lesson 5 picks up right where that leaves off, moving from the calendar into the market. You learn to ask "Quanto costa?" for a single item and "Quanto costano?" for several, and there is a practical note that "Quanto viene?" is the natural everyday way to ask how much something comes to at the till.
Pip: Which is the kind of detail a phrasebook buries on page forty-seven.
Mara: The market dialogue in Lesson 5 shows it in action — Anna buys tomatoes at three euros a kilo and half a kilo of apples, pays four euros twenty-five in cash, and the whole exchange uses the vocabulary from the lesson without feeling like a drill.
Pip: Lesson 3, on food and restaurant ordering, is where the grammar earns its keep. The distinction between "voglio" and "vorrei" — I want versus I would like — is framed as a politeness call, not just a conjugation exercise.
Mara: The lesson puts it directly: in a restaurant, "vorrei" and phrases like "per me" or "io prendo" sound natural, while "voglio" can come across as too direct with staff.
Pip: Small difference, large impression.
Mara: Lesson 6 takes you outside — around the city, asking for directions. The core trio is "a destra," "a sinistra," and "sempre dritto," and the lesson notes that if you remember just those three, you can already follow basic directions. It also covers "Scusi, dov'è…?" as the polite opener for any location question.
Mara: Lesson 7 ties the time vocabulary from Lesson 4 to daily routine verbs — "mi sveglio," "faccio colazione," "vado a dormire" — so you can describe your whole day, not just clock a single appointment. The tip of the day there is to narrate your own actions as you do them: say "faccio colazione" while you are actually having breakfast.
Pip: Immersion on a budget.
Mara: That consistent lesson structure — vocabulary, dialogue, practice exercises, answer key — runs through all five lessons and is designed so each one builds directly on the last.
Pip: Italian covered. But the site is not stopping at one language.
Introductory Chinese Course
Mara: The Mandarin course, aimed at Italian speakers starting from zero, opens with a candid reframe of where the real difficulty lies: "Il cinese mandarino non ha coniugazioni, articoli o genere grammaticale come l'italiano. La difficoltà vera, all'inizio, è un'altra: i toni e la pronuncia."
Pip: No conjugations, no gendered articles — sounds like a bargain, until the tones arrive.
Mara: So Lesson 1 starts with listening, not characters. The twelve-lesson arc runs from pinyin and greetings through numbers, family, food, directions, and daily actions, closing with a full travel dialogue and a preview of HSK 1. The study note is blunt: ten minutes a day beats two hours once a week.
Pip: From Mandarin to the Balkans — Serbian is next.
Serbian Greetings And Basics
Mara: The Serbian beginner lesson opens with something worth flagging: "Una delle sue caratteristiche più affascinanti è che utilizza due alfabeti: il cirillico e il latino." For beginners, the Latin script is used throughout, since it is close to Italian.
Pip: Two alphabets for the price of one — generous, or a warning, depending on your outlook.
Mara: The lesson focuses on greetings — "Zdravo," "Dobar dan," "Doviđenja" — and the core self-introduction pattern: "Zovem se" for your name, "Ja sam iz" for where you are from. Five practice questions with answers are included so learners can check themselves immediately.
Pip: So whether you are navigating an Italian market, asking a Mandarin speaker what time it is, or greeting someone in Serbian — the entry point is always the same handful of phrases used every day.
Mara: And each lesson here is built so the next one is already waiting. More to come.
Italian for Beginners — Lesson 7: Daily Routines and Everyday Activities
Welcome back to Italian for Beginners!
In Lesson 6, you learned how to ask for directions, find places around a city, and understand expressions such as a destra (to the right), a sinistra (to the left) and sempre dritto (straight ahead).
Today, we’re going to talk about something even more familiar: your daily routine!
What time do you wake up? What do you eat for breakfast? Do you work, study Italian, play music or go dancing? And what do you do in the evening?
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to describe your day in Italian, talk about everyday activities, tell people what time you do things, and ask others about their routines.
Let’s get started!
Andiamo! — Let’s go!
Learning objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Describe your daily routine in Italian.
Talk about morning, afternoon and evening activities.
Use common Italian verbs in the present tense.
Tell people when you do different activities.
Ask and answer questions about everyday life.
Create simple sentences about your own day.
1. Parts of the day in Italian
Let’s begin with the expressions you’ll need to describe when things happen.
Italian
English
la mattina
the morning
il pomeriggio
the afternoon
la sera
the evening
la notte
the night
oggi
today
domani
tomorrow
ogni giorno
every day
tutti i giorni
every day
presto
early
tardi
late
dopo
afterwards / after
prima
before / first
poi
then
finalmente
finally
Useful expressions
La mattina mi sveglio presto. I wake up early in the morning.
Il pomeriggio lavoro. I work in the afternoon.
La sera ascolto la musica. I listen to music in the evening.
La notte dormo. I sleep at night.
Ogni giorno studio italiano. I study Italian every day.
A little grammar tip
In Italian, you don’t always need to use the word io (I) because the verb usually tells us who is doing the action.
For example:
Io lavoro. — I work.
Lavoro. — I work.
Both are correct. The second version is very common in everyday Italian.
2. Everyday activities: Le attività quotidiane
Here are some of the most useful verbs and expressions for describing your day.
Italian
English
svegliarsi
to wake up
alzarsi
to get up
lavarsi
to wash oneself
farsi la doccia
to take a shower
vestirsi
to get dressed
fare colazione
to have breakfast
bere un caffè
to drink a coffee
andare al lavoro
to go to work
lavorare
to work
studiare
to study
pranzare
to have lunch
cucinare
to cook
ascoltare la musica
to listen to music
suonare la chitarra
to play the guitar
ballare
to dance
fare una passeggiata
to go for a walk
cenare
to have dinner
guardare la televisione
to watch television
leggere un libro
to read a book
andare a dormire
to go to bed
Don’t try to memorise everything at once. Choose five activities that describe your own day and practise using them in sentences.
3. Talking about your morning
Let’s see how to describe a typical morning in Italian.
Mi sveglio alle sette. I wake up at seven.
Mi alzo alle sette e dieci. I get up at ten past seven.
Mi lavo e mi vesto. I wash and get dressed.
Faccio colazione alle otto. I have breakfast at eight.
Bevo un caffè. I drink a coffee.
Poi comincio a lavorare. Then I start working.
Notice the expressions mi sveglio, mi alzo, mi lavo and mi vesto. These verbs describe actions you perform on yourself. They are called reflexive verbs.
We’ll look at them more closely in Section 6.
4. Telling the time: A che ora?
In Lesson 4, you learned how to tell the time. Now let’s use that knowledge to describe your routine.
The question is:
A che ora…? At what time…?
For example:
A che ora ti svegli? What time do you wake up?
A che ora fai colazione? What time do you have breakfast?
A che ora vai al lavoro? What time do you go to work?
A che ora ceni? What time do you have dinner?
Answering the question
Use alle before most clock times.
Mi sveglio alle sei. — I wake up at six.
Faccio colazione alle sette. — I have breakfast at seven.
Pranzo alle tredici. — I have lunch at one p.m.
Ceno alle venti. — I have dinner at eight p.m.
Remember:
all’una — at one o’clock
alle due — at two o’clock
alle otto — at eight o’clock
You can also use everyday expressions such as all’una del pomeriggio (at one in the afternoon) to make the time clearer.
5. From morning to evening
Let’s put the vocabulary together in a short story.
La mia giornata — My day
La mattina mi sveglio alle sette. Mi alzo, mi lavo e faccio colazione. Bevo un caffè e mangio del pane.
Alle nove comincio a lavorare. Durante la mattina lavoro e ascolto un po’ di musica.
A mezzogiorno preparo il pranzo. Dopo pranzo, mi rilasso un po’.
Nel pomeriggio studio italiano, suono la chitarra oppure faccio una passeggiata.
La sera preparo la cena e ascolto la musica. A volte guardo un film o leggo un libro.
Infine, mi preparo per andare a dormire. Di solito vado a letto alle undici.
English translation
In the morning, I wake up at seven. I get up, wash and have breakfast. I drink a coffee and eat some bread.
At nine, I start working. During the morning, I work and listen to some music.
At midday, I prepare lunch. After lunch, I relax a little.
In the afternoon, I study Italian, play the guitar or go for a walk.
In the evening, I prepare dinner and listen to music. Sometimes I watch a film or read a book.
Finally, I get ready to go to sleep. I usually go to bed at eleven.
Your turn: Which activities in this story are part of your own routine? Which would you change?
6. Grammar: Reflexive verbs
Some everyday actions in Italian use reflexive verbs. These describe actions that the subject performs on themselves.
For example, svegliarsi means “to wake up”.
When we use it with io (I), it becomes mi sveglio.
Here are three important examples:
Infinitive
With io
English
svegliarsi
mi sveglio
I wake up
alzarsi
mi alzo
I get up
vestirsi
mi vesto
I get dressed
lavarsi
mi lavo
I wash myself
rilassarsi
mi rilasso
I relax
The word mi comes before the conjugated verb.
Compare:
Mi sveglio alle sette. I wake up at seven.
Mi vesto velocemente. I get dressed quickly.
Mi rilasso la sera. I relax in the evening.
You do not need to master every reflexive verb today. Start by remembering mi sveglio, mi alzo and mi vesto.
7. Common verbs in the present tense
Let’s learn how to conjugate some everyday verbs.
Lavorare — To work
Italian
English
io lavoro
I work
tu lavori
you work
lui/lei lavora
he/she works
noi lavoriamo
we work
voi lavorate
you work (plural)
loro lavorano
they work
Mangiare — To eat
Italian
English
io mangio
I eat
tu mangi
you eat
lui/lei mangia
he/she eats
noi mangiamo
we eat
voi mangiate
you eat (plural)
loro mangiano
they eat
Dormire — To sleep
Italian
English
io dormo
I sleep
tu dormi
you sleep
lui/lei dorme
he/she sleeps
noi dormiamo
we sleep
voi dormite
you sleep (plural)
loro dormono
they sleep
What is the pattern?
Many Italian verbs follow regular patterns in the present tense:
-are: lavorare → lavoro, lavori, lavora…
-ere: prendere → prendo, prendi, prende…
-ire: dormire → dormo, dormi, dorme…
There are exceptions and additional patterns, but these examples give you a useful starting point.
8. Talking about free time
Daily life isn’t just work and meals. Let’s learn how to talk about hobbies and activities.
Italian
English
ascoltare musica
to listen to music
suonare uno strumento
to play an instrument
ballare
to dance
cantare
to sing
fare sport
to do sport
andare in palestra
to go to the gym
guardare un film
to watch a film
leggere
to read
uscire con gli amici
to go out with friends
riposarsi
to rest
Example sentences
Nel tempo libero ascolto musica. In my free time, I listen to music.
Mi piace ballare. I like dancing.
Suono la chitarra ogni giorno. I play the guitar every day.
Il fine settimana esco con gli amici. At the weekend, I go out with friends.
Mi piace leggere la sera. I like reading in the evening.
How to say what you like
Use mi piace before an activity expressed as an infinitive.
Mi piace ballare. — I like dancing.
Mi piace cucinare. — I like cooking.
Mi piace studiare italiano. — I like studying Italian.
For multiple things, use mi piacciono with plural nouns:
Mi piacciono i film italiani. I like Italian films.
9. Dialogue: Talking about your day
Read this conversation aloud. Try to practise both roles.
Una giornata normale — A normal day
Marco: Ciao, Anna! A che ora ti svegli di solito?
Hi, Anna! What time do you usually wake up?
Anna: Ciao, Marco! Mi sveglio alle sette. E tu?
Hi, Marco! I wake up at seven. And you?
Marco: Io mi sveglio alle otto. Poi faccio colazione.
I wake up at eight. Then I have breakfast.
Anna: Lavori la mattina?
Do you work in the morning?
Marco: Sì, lavoro fino alle cinque del pomeriggio.
Yes, I work until five in the afternoon.
Anna: E cosa fai la sera?
And what do you do in the evening?
Marco: Mi piace suonare la chitarra e ascoltare musica. E tu?
I like playing the guitar and listening to music. And you?
Anna: Io leggo un libro oppure guardo un film.
I read a book or watch a film.
Marco: A che ora vai a dormire?
What time do you go to bed?
Anna: Di solito alle undici.
Usually at eleven.
Marco: Buona notte, allora!
Good night, then!
Anna: Buona notte!
Good night!
10. Useful questions about daily routines
Practise these questions so you can have simple conversations in Italian.
Italian
English
Come ti chiami?
What is your name?
A che ora ti svegli?
What time do you wake up?
Cosa fai la mattina?
What do you do in the morning?
Cosa mangi a colazione?
What do you eat for breakfast?
Lavori o studi?
Do you work or study?
Cosa fai nel tempo libero?
What do you do in your free time?
Ti piace ballare?
Do you like dancing?
A che ora vai a dormire?
What time do you go to bed?
Useful answers include:
Mi sveglio alle sette. — I wake up at seven.
Faccio colazione a casa. — I have breakfast at home.
Lavoro da casa. — I work from home.
Nel tempo libero ascolto musica. — In my free time, I listen to music.
Sì, mi piace ballare. — Yes, I like dancing.
No, preferisco leggere. — No, I prefer reading.
11. Practice exercises
Now it’s time to test what you’ve learned!
Exercise 1 — Translate into Italian
Translate these sentences:
I wake up at seven.
I have breakfast at eight.
I work in the morning.
I listen to music in the evening.
I like dancing.
I go to bed at eleven.
Exercise 2 — Complete the sentences
Choose the correct word or expression.
Mi ______ alle sette. (sveglio / dormo)
Faccio ______ la mattina. (colazione / cena)
La sera ascolto la ______. (stazione / musica)
Nel tempo libero mi piace ______. (ballare / colazione)
Vado a ______ alle undici. (dormire / pranzo)
Exercise 3 — Choose the correct verb
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Io ______ ogni giorno. (lavorare)
Tu ______ la chitarra. (suonare)
Lei ______ alle sette. (dormire)
Noi ______ italiano. (studiare)
Loro ______ la mattina. (mangiare)
Exercise 4 — Answer about yourself
Answer these questions in Italian. Your answers can be different from the examples.
A che ora ti svegli?
Cosa mangi a colazione?
Cosa fai nel pomeriggio?
Cosa ti piace fare nel tempo libero?
A che ora vai a dormire?
Example:
A che ora ti svegli?
Mi sveglio alle sette e mezza.
Exercise 5 — Write about your day
Write five to eight sentences describing your typical day in Italian.
Try to include:
When you wake up.
What you eat or drink for breakfast.
What you do in the morning.
What you do in the afternoon.
What you like doing in your free time.
When you go to bed.
Use expressions such as la mattina, poi, nel pomeriggio, la sera and di solito.
Don’t worry about making every sentence perfect. The aim is to start expressing your own ideas in Italian.
12. Answer key
Exercise 1
Mi sveglio alle sette.
Faccio colazione alle otto.
Lavoro la mattina.
Ascolto musica la sera.
Mi piace ballare.
Vado a dormire alle undici.
Exercise 2
Mi sveglio alle sette.
Faccio colazione la mattina.
La sera ascolto la musica.
Nel tempo libero mi piace ballare.
Vado a dormire alle undici.
Exercise 3
Io lavoro ogni giorno.
Tu suoni la chitarra.
Lei dorme alle sette.
Noi studiamo italiano.
Loro mangiano la mattina.
Exercise 4
Answers will vary. Here are some examples:
Mi sveglio alle sette.
Mangio pane e bevo un caffè.
Nel pomeriggio lavoro.
Mi piace ascoltare musica.
Vado a dormire alle undici.
Exercise 5
Answers will vary. Here’s one possible response:
La mattina mi sveglio alle sette. Faccio colazione e bevo un caffè. Poi comincio a lavorare. Nel pomeriggio studio italiano. Nel tempo libero mi piace suonare la chitarra. La sera preparo la cena e ascolto musica. Di solito vado a dormire alle undici.
13. Italian tip of the day
Practise Italian by describing what you’re doing!
You don’t need to sit down with a textbook every time you want to practise. As you go through your day, try saying simple sentences in Italian.
For example:
When you wake up: Mi sveglio.
When you have breakfast: Faccio colazione.
When you go out: Esco di casa.
When you listen to music: Ascolto musica.
When you go to bed: Vado a dormire.
Start with short sentences and repeat them regularly. Gradually, you’ll find it easier to build longer sentences without translating every word from English.
Congratulations!
You’ve completed Italian for Beginners — Lesson 7: Daily Routines and Everyday Activities!
You have learned how to describe your daily routine, talk about everyday activities, use common present-tense verbs, ask about times, and discuss your hobbies.
Most importantly, you can now start talking about your own life in Italian.
Keep practising a little every day. Even five minutes can help you build confidence.
Continua così! — Keep it up!
Coming next: Lesson 8 — Shopping for Food and Ordering at the Market
In our next lesson, we’ll build on your earlier shopping vocabulary and learn how to buy food, ask for quantities, talk to a shopkeeper, and use practical expressions you’ll hear in Italian markets and food shops.
Alla prossima lezione! — See you in the next lesson!
Italian for Beginners — Learn Italian step by step with Italiantutors.com.
In the previous lesson, you learned how to shop in Italian, ask about prices, talk about sizes and colours, and buy things at a market or in a shop.
Today, we’re leaving the shops and exploring the city! 🏙️
In Lesson 6, you’ll learn how to talk about places in town, ask for directions, understand simple answers, and find your way around in Italian.
Andiamo! — Let’s go!
🎯 Learning Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Name common places around a town or city
Ask where something is
Ask for simple directions
Understand phrases such as a destra, a sinistra and sempre dritto
Say where you are going
Give simple directions to another person
Have a basic conversation about finding a place
Don’t worry if you can’t remember everything immediately. The goal is to start recognising and using these phrases naturally.
📚 Where We Are in the Series
Here’s a quick reminder of what you’ve learned so far:
Lesson
Topic
Key Skills
Lesson 1
Greetings & Introductions
Saying hello, introducing yourself
Lesson 2
Numbers & Colours
Counting and describing colours
Lesson 3
Food & Restaurant Ordering
Ordering food and drinks
Lesson 4
Days, Months & Telling the Time
Dates, times and making plans
Lesson 5
Shopping, Prices & the Market
Prices, sizes, quantities and shopping
Lesson 6
Around the City & Directions
Asking for and giving directions
🏙️ 1. Places Around the City
Let’s start with some useful places you might need when visiting an Italian town or city.
🗺️ Luoghi in città — Places in the city
Italian
English
la stazione
the station
la piazza
the square
il museo
the museum
la banca
the bank
la farmacia
the pharmacy
il supermercato
the supermarket
il ristorante
the restaurant
il bar
the café / bar
l’hotel
the hotel
il negozio
the shop
il cinema
the cinema
il teatro
the theatre
la chiesa
the church
il parco
the park
il bagno
the toilet / bathroom
la fermata dell’autobus
the bus stop
💡 Useful tip
In Italian, il and la mean “the”.
For example:
il museo — the museum
la stazione — the station
il ristorante — the restaurant
la farmacia — the pharmacy
You don’t need to memorise every word immediately. Start with the places you are most likely to use.
📍 2. Asking “Where Is…?”
One of the most useful questions when you’re in Italy is:
Dov’è…?
Where is…?
For example:
Dov’è la stazione? Where is the station?
Dov’è il museo? Where is the museum?
Dov’è la farmacia? Where is the pharmacy?
Dov’è il bagno? Where is the toilet?
You can make the question more polite by saying:
Scusi, dov’è…?
Excuse me, where is…?
For example:
Scusi, dov’è la stazione, per favore? Excuse me, where is the station, please?
This is a very useful phrase to remember!
🧭 3. Directions
Now let’s learn some essential direction words.
➡️ A destra — To the right
a destra — to the right
Giri a destra. Turn right.
⬅️ A sinistra — To the left
a sinistra — to the left
Giri a sinistra. Turn left.
⬆️ Sempre dritto — Straight ahead
sempre dritto — straight ahead / keep going straight
Vada sempre dritto. Go straight ahead.
↔️ Other useful phrases
vicino — near
lontano — far
qui — here
lì — there
davanti a — in front of
dietro — behind
accanto a — next to
di fronte a — opposite / in front of
🚶 4. Simple Direction Phrases
Here are some phrases you can use straight away.
È qui vicino. It’s nearby.
È molto vicino. It’s very close.
È un po’ lontano. It’s a little far.
È a destra. It’s on the right.
È a sinistra. It’s on the left.
È davanti al museo. It’s in front of the museum.
È accanto alla banca. It’s next to the bank.
È di fronte alla stazione. It’s opposite the station.
⭐ Very useful
Sempre dritto. Straight ahead.
A destra. To the right.
A sinistra. To the left.
If you remember just these three phrases, you’ll already be able to understand some basic directions.
🚦 5. Cross the Road!
You may also need these phrases:
la strada — the road
il semaforo — the traffic light
l’incrocio — the crossroads / intersection
il ponte — the bridge
attraversare — to cross
Examples
Attraversi la strada. Cross the road.
Al semaforo, giri a destra. At the traffic lights, turn right.
È dopo il semaforo. It’s after the traffic lights.
È vicino all’incrocio. It’s near the crossroads.
🗣️ 6. Asking for Directions Politely
When you need help, start with Scusi.
Scusi, dov’è la stazione? Excuse me, where is the station?
Scusi, dov’è il museo? Excuse me, where is the museum?
Scusi, per andare al centro? Excuse me, how do I get to the city centre?
Mi può aiutare, per favore? Can you help me, please?
💡 Scusi or Scusa?
Use:
Scusi — polite / formal
Scusa — informal, with a friend or someone you know
For example:
Scusi, dov’è la farmacia? Excuse me, where is the pharmacy?
Scusa, dov’è il bar? Excuse me, where is the café?
For tourists and beginners, Scusi is a safe and useful choice.
🏙️ 7. Il Centro — The City Centre
A very useful word when travelling is:
il centro
the city centre / town centre
You can ask:
Dov’è il centro? Where is the city centre?
Or:
Come si va in centro? How do you get to the city centre?
Someone might answer:
Vada sempre dritto. Go straight ahead.
Poi giri a sinistra. Then turn left.
Il centro è vicino. The city centre is nearby.
🎭 8. Dialogue: Finding the Museum
Read the conversation aloud. Try to play both parts.
🗺️ Per strada — In the street
Anna: Scusi, dov’è il museo, per favore?
Excuse me, where is the museum, please?
Signora: Il museo? È molto vicino.
The museum? It’s very close.
Anna: Come si va?
How do I get there?
Signora: Vada sempre dritto e poi giri a destra.
Go straight ahead and then turn right.
Anna: A destra?
To the right?
Signora: Sì. Il museo è accanto alla banca.
Yes. The museum is next to the bank.
Anna: È lontano?
Is it far?
Signora: No, sono cinque minuti a piedi.
No, it’s five minutes on foot.
Anna: Perfetto! Grazie mille!
Perfect! Thank you very much!
Signora: Prego!
You’re welcome!
🚉 9. Dialogue: Finding the Station
Here’s another everyday situation.
Marco: Scusi, dov’è la stazione?
Excuse me, where is the station?
Uomo: È abbastanza vicino.
It’s quite close.
Marco: Come si va alla stazione?
How do I get to the station?
Uomo: Vada sempre dritto fino al semaforo.
Go straight ahead until the traffic lights.
Marco: E poi?
And then?
Uomo: Poi giri a sinistra. La stazione è sulla destra.
Then turn left. The station is on the right.
Marco: Grazie!
Thank you!
Uomo: Di niente!
You’re welcome!
🧠 10. A Useful Grammar Point: “Dov’è?”
You may have noticed something important.
Dov’è…?
literally means “Where is…?”
It is made from:
dove = where è = is
So:
Dove è…? → Dov’è…?
Examples:
Dov’è il bar? Where is the café?
Dov’è la stazione? Where is the station?
Dov’è il bagno? Where is the toilet?
The apostrophe in Dov’è shows that the two words have been joined together.
📝 11. Key Vocabulary Recap
Let’s review today’s most important words and phrases.
Places
la stazione — station
la piazza — square
il museo — museum
la farmacia — pharmacy
il ristorante — restaurant
il bar — café / bar
il supermercato — supermarket
il parco — park
il centro — city centre
Directions
a destra — to the right
a sinistra — to the left
sempre dritto — straight ahead
vicino — near
lontano — far
davanti a — in front of
dietro — behind
accanto a — next to
di fronte a — opposite
Useful questions
Dov’è…? — Where is…?
Come si va…? — How do you get to…?
Scusi, dov’è…? — Excuse me, where is…?
Mi può aiutare? — Can you help me?
✏️ 12. Practice Time!
Now it’s your turn.
Exercise 1 — Translate into Italian
Translate these sentences:
Where is the station?
Where is the pharmacy?
Turn right.
Turn left.
Go straight ahead.
The museum is nearby.
Exercise 2 — Complete the Sentence
Choose destra, sinistra or dritto.
Giri a ______.
Vada sempre ______.
La banca è a ______.
Exercise 3 — Build Your Own Question
Use:
Scusi, dov’è… ?
Ask where these places are:
the museum
the station
the supermarket
the restaurant
For example:
Scusi, dov’è il museo?
Exercise 4 — Give Directions
Imagine that someone asks you:
Scusi, dov’è il bar?
Give a simple answer using at least two of these expressions:
sempre dritto
a destra
a sinistra
vicino
accanto a
For example:
Sempre dritto, poi a destra. Il bar è vicino alla banca.
⭐ Bonus Challenge
Imagine you are in an Italian city.
A tourist asks you:
Scusi, dov’è la stazione?
Write a short dialogue of 4–6 lines between the tourist and yourself.
Try to use:
Scusi
Dov’è…?
sempre dritto
a destra or a sinistra
Grazie
Prego
Then read your dialogue aloud.
💡 Everyday Italian Tip
Next time you are walking around your own town, try describing your route in Italian.
For example:
Vado sempre dritto. I go straight ahead.
Giro a destra. I turn right.
La farmacia è a sinistra. The pharmacy is on the left.
You don’t need to be in Italy to practise Italian!
The more you connect Italian words with real places and actions, the easier they become to remember.
🎉 Well Done!
You’ve completed Italian for Beginners — Lesson 6: Around the City & Asking for Directions!
You can now:
✅ Name common places in a city ✅ Ask Dov’è…? ✅ Ask someone for directions politely ✅ Understand a destra, a sinistra and sempre dritto ✅ Give simple directions ✅ Talk about places that are near or far
In Lesson 7, we’ll move from getting around the city to something we all do every day: talking about our daily routine.
You’ll learn useful verbs and phrases for saying what you do in the morning, afternoon and evening — from mi sveglio (I wake up) to vado a dormire (I go to sleep).
Continua così — keep going! 🇮🇹
In bocca al lupo! Good luck!
👁️ Show Answers
Exercise 1
Dov’è la stazione?
Dov’è la farmacia?
Giri a destra.
Giri a sinistra.
Vada sempre dritto.
Il museo è vicino.
Exercise 2
Giri a destra.
Vada sempre dritto.
La banca è a sinistra.
Exercise 3
Possible answers:
Scusi, dov’è il museo?
Scusi, dov’è la stazione?
Scusi, dov’è il supermercato?
Scusi, dov’è il ristorante?
Exercise 4
There are many possible answers. For example:
Sempre dritto, poi a destra. Il bar è vicino alla banca.
Bonus Challenge
There are many possible answers. The important thing is to use the key expressions correctly and create a simple, understandable conversation.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to ask how much something costs, talk about sizes and colours, buy food or clothes in a shop or market, and use polite shopping phrases in Italian — all with confidence!
📚 Where We Are in the Series
Welcome back! Here’s a quick reminder of the ground we’ve covered so far. Each lesson builds on the last, so don’t worry if you need to revisit an earlier lesson.
Lesson 1 — Greetings & Introductions Saying hello and goodbye, introducing yourself, and asking someone’s name.
Lesson 2 — Numbers & Colours Counting, describing objects by colour, and talking about basic quantities.
Lesson 3 — Food & Restaurant Ordering Reading a menu, ordering food and drinks, and asking for the bill.
Lesson 4 — Days, Months & Telling the Time Days of the week, months, telling the time, making plans, and booking tables.
Lesson 5 — Shopping, Prices & the Market ← You are here Asking prices, talking about sizes and colours, paying, and shopping at a market or shop.
📖 Vocabulary: Shops, Things & Money
In Italy you might shop in un negozio (a shop), un supermercato (a supermarket), or un mercato (an open-air market). Prices are in euro.
🏪 I Negozi — Shops
il negozio — the shop
il mercato — the market
il supermercato — the supermarket
la farmacia — the pharmacy
il panificio — the bakery
il fruttivendolo — the greengrocer
il banco — the stall / counter
la cassa — the till / checkout
🛍️ Le Cose da Comprare — Things to Buy
la maglietta — T-shirt
la camicia — shirt
il vestito — dress
la giacca — jacket
le scarpe — shoes
i pantaloni — trousers
la taglia — size
il colore — colour
il pane — bread
la frutta — fruit
le verdure — vegetables
il formaggio — cheese
un chilo — a kilo
un etto — 100 grams
il prezzo — the price
gli sconti — discounts / sales
💡 Quick note: Clothing sizes in Italy often use numbers: taglia 40, 42, 44…
You can also say:
una taglia più grande — one size bigger
una taglia più piccola — one size smaller
Colours from Lesson 2 work here too:
rosso, blu, nero, bianco, verde, giallo
💶 How to Ask and Say Prices
Quanto costa? — How much does it cost? (singular)
Quanto costano? — How much do they cost? (plural)
Costa dieci euro. — It costs ten euros.
Costano quindici euro. — They cost fifteen euros.
È troppo caro / cara. — It’s too expensive. (masculine/feminine)
È in sconto. — It’s on sale.
Posso pagare con carta? — Can I pay by card?
In contanti. — In cash.
Useful Number Phrases for Prices
cinque euro — €5
sette euro e cinquanta — €7.50
dodici euro e novanta — €12.90
un chilo di mele — a kilo of apples
due etti di prosciutto — 200 g of ham
mezzo chilo — half a kilo
💡 Market tip: In Italy, you often buy food by weight. Un etto means 100 grams and is very common when buying cheese, ham, olives and other foods.
⭐ Top tip:Quanto viene? is a very natural, everyday way to ask “How much does that come to?” at the till.
🛒 Useful Shopping Phrases
Sto solo guardando. I’m just looking.
Grazie, sto solo guardando. Thank you, I’m just looking.
Cerco… I’m looking for…
Cerco una maglietta nera. I’m looking for a black T-shirt.
Avete…? Do you have…?
Avete questa camicia in blu? Do you have this shirt in blue?
Posso provarlo / provarla? Can I try it on?
Posso provarla, per favore? Can I try it on, please?
Dov’è il camerino? Where is the fitting room?
Mi sta bene. It fits me / It looks good on me.
Questa taglia mi sta bene. This size fits me well.
Mi sta stretto / Mi sta stretta. It’s tight on me.
Mi sta largo / Mi sta larga. It’s loose on me.
Lo / La prendo. I’ll take it.
La prendo, grazie. I’ll take it, thank you.
Ne vorrei un chilo. I’d like a kilo of it.
Ne vorrei un chilo di pomodori. I’d like a kilo of tomatoes.
Qualcos’altro? Anything else?
No, grazie. Basta così. No, thank you. That’s all.
Lo scontrino, per favore. The receipt, please.
Posso avere lo scontrino? Can I have the receipt?
🎭 Dialogue: At the Market and in a Clothes Shop
Read these two short conversations aloud. Pay attention to the prices, colours, quantities and sizes.
🍅 Al mercato — At the Market
Anna: Buongiorno! Quanto costano i pomodori?
Good morning! How much are the tomatoes?
Venditore: Tre euro al chilo.
Three euros a kilo.
Anna: Perfetto. Ne vorrei un chilo, per favore. E le mele?
Perfect. I’d like a kilo, please. And the apples?
Venditore: Due euro e cinquanta al chilo. Sono dolcissime oggi!
Two euros fifty a kilo. They’re very sweet today!
Anna: Allora mezzo chilo di mele, grazie. Quanto viene?
Then half a kilo of apples, thank you. How much does that come to?
Venditore: Quattro euro e venticinque. Carta o contanti?
Four euros twenty-five. Card or cash?
Anna: In contanti. Ecco cinque euro.
In cash. Here’s five euros.
Venditore: Ecco il resto. Grazie e buona giornata!
Here’s your change. Thank you and have a nice day!
👕 In un negozio di vestiti — In a Clothes Shop
Marco: Buonasera. Cerco una camicia blu, taglia media.
Good evening. I’m looking for a blue shirt, medium size.
Commessa: Certo. Questa è blu. Vuole provarla?
Of course. This one is blue. Would you like to try it on?
Marco: Sì, grazie. Dov’è il camerino?
Yes, thank you. Where is the fitting room?
Dopo un minuto…
Marco: Mi sta un po’ stretta. Avete una taglia più grande?
It’s a bit tight. Do you have a bigger size?
Commessa: Sì, ecco la taglia L. Costa ventinove euro. È in sconto.
Yes, here’s size L. It costs twenty-nine euros. It’s on sale.
Marco: Perfetta, mi sta bene. La prendo. Posso pagare con carta?
Perfect, it fits me. I’ll take it. Can I pay by card?
Commessa: Certo. Lo scontrino è nella busta. Grazie!
Of course. The receipt is in the bag. Thank you!
✅ Comprehension Exercise
Read the dialogues above, then answer these questions in English.
How much are the tomatoes per kilo?
How much does Anna pay in total at the market?
Why doesn’t the first shirt work for Marco?
How much is the shirt Marco buys, and how does he pay?
✏️ Practice Task
Now it’s your turn! Use what you’ve learned today to complete the following tasks. Work through them at your own pace — there’s no rush.
1. Ask the Price
Ask the price of three things you can see around you. Say Quanto costa…? or Quanto costano…? aloud.
2. Make a Shopping List
Write a mini shopping list in Italian with at least five items. Include food and/or clothes. Add a colour or quantity where you can.
3. Say Some Prices
Say three prices in Italian.
For example:
€4
€8.50
€19.90
4. Create a Market Conversation
Write a short exchange at a market stall. Include:
Quanto costa?
a quantity such as un chilo, due etti, or mezzo chilo
how you will pay
5. ⭐ Bonus Challenge
Describe one item of clothing you are wearing.
For example:
La mia maglietta nera mi sta bene.
My black T-shirt fits me well.
💡 Everyday Italian tip: Next time you go shopping, silently name the things you see and guess their prices in Italian before you look at the actual price.
In bocca al lupo! Good luck!
🎉 Well Done!
You’ve completed Lesson 5: Shopping, Prices & the Market!
You can now ask about prices, talk about colours and sizes, buy food at a market, shop for clothes, and use useful phrases when paying.
In Lesson 6, we’ll go out into the city. You’ll learn how to ask for and give simple directions, talk about places such as la stazione, la piazza, il museo, and find your way around in Italian.
Keep practising — and see you in Lesson 6!
👁️ Show Answers
1. How much are the tomatoes per kilo? The tomatoes cost three euros a kilo — tre euro al chilo.
2. How much does Anna pay in total at the market? Anna pays four euros twenty-five — quattro euro e venticinque.
3. Why doesn’t the first shirt work for Marco? The first shirt is a bit tight — mi sta un po’ stretta.
4. How much is the shirt Marco buys, and how does he pay? The shirt costs twenty-nine euros — ventinove euro — and he pays by card — con carta.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to say the days of the week and months of the year, ask and tell the time, use useful scheduling phrases, and make simple plans or book a table in Italian — all with confidence!
📚 Where We Are in the Series
Welcome back! Here’s a quick reminder of the ground we’ve covered so far — each lesson builds on the last, so don’t worry if you need to revisit an earlier one.
Lesson
Topic
Key Skills
Lesson 1
Greetings & Introductions
Saying hello and goodbye, introducing yourself, asking someone’s name
Lesson 2
Numbers & Colours
Counting, describing objects by colour, basic quantities
Lesson 3
Food & Restaurant Ordering
Reading a menu, ordering food and drinks, asking for the bill
Lesson 4
Days, Months & Telling the Time ← You are here
Days of the week, months, telling the time, making plans, booking tables
📖 Vocabulary: Days of the Week
In Italian, the days of the week are not capitalised (unlike in English). They are masculine, except for domenica (Sunday), which is feminine. The week traditionally begins on Monday (lunedì) in Italy.
I Giorni della Settimana — The Days of the Week
lunedì — Monday
martedì — Tuesday
mercoledì — Wednesday
giovedì — Thursday
venerdì — Friday
sabato — Saturday
domenica — Sunday (feminine)
I Mesi dell’Anno — The Months of the Year
Italian
English
Italian
English
gennaio
January
luglio
July
febbraio
February
agosto
August
marzo
March
settembre
September
aprile
April
ottobre
October
maggio
May
novembre
November
giugno
June
dicembre
December
💡 Quick note: Like the days of the week, months in Italian are not capitalised. To say “in” a particular month, use a for most months: a gennaio (in January), a luglio (in July). For months beginning with a vowel, use ad: ad agosto (in August), ad ottobre (in October).
🕐 How to Ask and Tell the Time
Che ora è? / Che ore sono? — What time is it?
È l’una. — It is one o’clock.
Sono le due. — It is two o’clock. (Use sono le… for all hours except one, noon, and midnight.)
Sono le tre e mezza. — It is half past three.
📅 Useful Scheduling Phrases
Italian
English
Example
Che ora è? / Che ore sono?
What time is it?
Che ora è, per favore?
È l’una.
It is one o’clock.
È l’una e dieci. (1:10)
Sono le [number].
It is [number] o’clock.
Sono le quattro. (4:00)
… e un quarto
… quarter past
Sono le cinque e un quarto. (5:15)
… e mezza
… half past
Sono le sei e mezza. (6:30)
… meno un quarto
… quarter to
Sono le otto meno un quarto. (7:45)
È mezzogiorno.
It is noon.
È mezzogiorno e mezza. (12:30)
È mezzanotte.
It is midnight.
È mezzanotte meno un quarto. (23:45)
Once you can tell the time, you can start making plans. These phrases combine the time vocabulary with everyday situations such as booking a table at a restaurant, arranging to meet a friend, or asking when something opens.
Top tip: “A che ora…?” (At what time…?) is one of the most useful phrases you’ll use every day in Italy!
🎭 Dialogue: Booking a Table and Making Plans
Read this short conversation between two friends (Anna and Marco) as they arrange to meet and book a restaurant table. Try reading it aloud — pay attention to the time and day phrases!
Italian
English
A che ora…?
At what time…?
Sei libero/a…? (m/f)
Are you free…?
Ci vediamo [day] alle [time].
Let’s meet on [day] at [time].
Va bene per me.
That works for me.
Mi dispiace, non posso.
I’m sorry, I can’t.
Posso prenotare un tavolo per…?
Can I book a table for…?
Vorrei prenotare per [number] persone.
I would like to book for [number] people.
per venerdì sera alle otto
for Friday evening at eight
Oggi è [day].
Today is [day].
Domani è [day].
Tomorrow is [day].
la settimana prossima
next week
il mese prossimo
next month
Anna: Ciao Marco! Sei libero giovedì sera?
(Hi Marco! Are you free Thursday evening?)
Marco: Giovedì? Sì, sono libero! A che ora?
(Thursday? Yes, I’m free! At what time?)
Anna: Alle otto. Vorrei prenotare un tavolo al ristorante Bella Napoli. Va bene per te?
(At eight o’clock. I’d like to book a table at Bella Napoli restaurant. Does that work for you?)
Marco: Sì, va bene per me! Quante persone?
(Yes, that works for me! How many people?)
Anna: Siamo in quattro. Ci vediamo giovedì alle otto!
(There are four of us. See you Thursday at eight!)
Marco: Perfetto! A giovedì, Anna!
(Perfect! See you Thursday, Anna!)
✅ Comprehension Exercise
Read the dialogue above, then answer these questions in English.
On which day do Anna and Marco decide to meet?
At what time is their reservation?
What does Marco ask to confirm before ending the conversation?
What does Anna say to express that a time works for her?
✏️ Practice Task
Now it’s your turn! Use what you’ve learned today to complete the following tasks. Work through them at your own pace — there’s no rush.
Write the days of the week from memory — try listing all seven in Italian without looking at your notes. Check back to see how you did!
Say today’s date aloud in Italian — for example: Oggi è martedì, il quindici marzo. (Today is Tuesday, the fifteenth of March.)
Tell the time for three different times of day — write or say them aloud. For example: 9:00, 14:30, 20:15.
Write a short message to a friend arranging to meet — include the day, the time, and where you’d like to go. Use Sei libero/a…? and Ci vediamo… from today’s phrases.
Bonus: Can you name the current month and the next two months in Italian? Try it!
💡 Tip: Try setting your phone’s language to Italian for a day — you’ll see the days and months in Italian everywhere and they’ll stick much faster. In bocca al lupo! (Good luck!)
🎉 Well done for completing Lesson 4! In the next lesson, we’ll explore shopping and prices — you’ll learn how to ask how much something costs, talk about sizes and colours (remember those from Lesson 2?), and navigate a market or shop with confidence. Keep practising and see you in Lesson 5!
👁️ Show Answers
They decide to meet on Thursday (giovedì).
Their reservation is at eight o’clock (alle otto).
Marco asks how many people will be coming (Quante persone?).
Anna says “Va bene per me!” — meaning “That works for me!”
Livello: A1 / HSK 1 Pubblico: italofoni che partono da zero Durata consigliata: 12 lezioni (circa 45–60 minuti ciascuna + 15 minuti di ripasso) Obiettivo finale: presentarti, salutare, contare, ordinare, chiedere informazioni semplici e leggere le prime parole in pinyin e caratteri.Il cinese mandarino non ha coniugazioni, articoli o genere grammaticale come l’italiano. La difficoltà vera, all’inizio, è un’altra: i toni e la pronuncia. Per questo la Lezione 1 non parte dai caratteri, ma dall’orecchio. Cosa imparerai nel corso
Lezione
Titolo
Obiettivo pratico
1
Pinyin, toni e saluti
Dire ciao, presentarti, ringraziare
2
Numeri e quantità
Contare, dire l’età, il prezzo semplice
3
Pronomi e famiglia
Parlare di te e dei tuoi familiari
4
Paesi e lingue
Dire da dove vieni e che lingue parli
5
Cibo e ristorante
Ordinare qualcosa da bere e da mangiare
6
Tempo e calendario
Giorni, ore, “oggi / domani”
7
Shopping e soldi
Chiedere il prezzo e comprare
8
In città
Chiedere indicazioni di base
9
Casa e oggetti
Descrivere dove abiti
10
Azioni quotidiane
Frasi con verbi semplici
11
Descrivere
Usare gli aggettivi con 很 (hěn)
12
Ripasso da viaggio
Mini dialogo completo + preview HSK 1
Come studiare (nota del tutor)
Ripeti ad alta voce. Il cinese si impara con la bocca, non solo con gli occhi.
Per ora i caratteri servono a riconoscerli, non a scriverli a memoria.
10 minuti al giorno battono 2 ore una volta a settimana.
Non avere paura di sbagliare i toni: all’inizio va bene essere capiti “abbastanza”.
Welcome back to your Italian journey! In Lezione 1 you learned how to say hello and introduce yourself, and in Lezione 2 you mastered i numeri and i colori. Today in Lezione 3, we dive into one of the best parts of Italian culture: il cibo (food) and how to ordinare al ristorante (order in a restaurant). By the end of this lesson, you’ll be ready to order a meal in simple Italian with confidence. Andiamo!
1. Il Cibo – Common Food Vocabulary 🥗
Here is some essential food vocabulary to help you read menus and talk about what you like to eat. Try saying each word out loud in Italian first, then check the English meaning.
Italiano
English
la mela
apple
la banana
banana
l’arancia
orange
la fragola
strawberry
l’uva
grapes
il pomodoro
tomato
la carota
carrot
l’insalata
salad / lettuce
le patate
potatoes
le zucchine
courgettes / zucchini
il pollo
chicken
la carne di manzo
beef
il pesce
fish
il prosciutto
ham
il formaggio
cheese
il pane
bread
la pasta
pasta
il riso
rice
l’acqua naturale
still water
l’acqua frizzante
sparkling water
il vino rosso
red wine
il vino bianco
white wine
la birra
beer
il dolce
dessert / sweet
il gelato
ice cream
Tip: In Italian, most food words have a gender: il or l’ (masculine) and la or l’ (feminine). Don’t worry too much now—just notice the article and repeat the phrase together, for example: il pane, la pasta, il gelato.
2. Al Ristorante – Useful Restaurant Phrases 🍽️
Now let’s learn practical phrases you can use in an Italian restaurant. Read the Italian, then the English, and finally the Notes for extra help.
Italiano
English
Notes
Buonasera, abbiamo una prenotazione.
Good evening, we have a reservation.
prenotazione = reservation, booking.
Vorremmo un tavolo per due, per favore.
We would like a table for two, please.
Use per + number: per quattro, per sei, etc.
Possiamo vedere il menù, per favore?
Can we see the menu, please?
menù is very similar to English “menu”.
Che cosa ci consiglia?
What do you recommend?
Great way to ask the waiter for a suggestion.
Io prendo la pasta al pomodoro.
I’ll have the pasta with tomato sauce.
Io prendo… is a common way to order.
Per me, il pollo alla griglia.
For me, the grilled chicken.
Another natural ordering phrase: Per me…
Da bere, acqua naturale, per favore.
To drink, still water, please.
Use da bere to talk about drinks.
Siamo pronti per ordinare.
We are ready to order.
Say this when you’re ready to choose.
Il conto, per favore.
The bill, please.
Very important! conto = bill / check.
Possiamo pagare con carta?
Can we pay by card?
carta here means card (credit/debit).
Sono vegetariano / vegetariana.
I am vegetarian. (m/f)
Change ending for gender: -o (m), -a (f).
Sono vegano / vegana.
I am vegan. (m/f)
Same pattern: -o (m), -a (f).
Sono allergico / allergica alle noci.
I am allergic to nuts. (m/f)
Change the food: al latte (to milk), al glutine (to gluten).
È stato tutto buonissimo!
Everything was delicious!
A nice way to compliment the food.
Grazie e buona serata.
Thank you and have a nice evening.
Use when you are leaving the restaurant.
3. Grammar Note – Vorrei vs. Voglio 🧠
When you order food in Italian, you will often hear both vorrei and voglio. They both come from the verbs volere (to want) and volere al condizionale (would like), but they sound very different to Italian ears.
Voglio = I want Vorrei = I would like (more polite and softer)
In an Italian restaurant, it is much more polite to use vorrei or other soft expressions like per me or io prendo, instead of voglio, which can sound a bit too direct.
Polite examples (recommended when ordering)
Vorrei una pizza margherita, per favore. – I’d like a margherita pizza, please.
Vorremmo due caffè, grazie. – We’d like two coffees, thank you.
Per me, il risotto ai funghi. – For me, the mushroom risotto.
Io prendo il pesce alla griglia. – I’ll have the grilled fish.
More direct (OK with close friends, less polite with staff)
Voglio una birra. – I want a beer.
Vogliamo il conto. – We want the bill.
These sentences are grammatically correct, but in a restaurant it’s friendlier to say:
Vorrei una birra, per favore.
Il conto, per favore.
So when you order, try to think: “In English I’d say I’d like, not just I want.” In Italian, do the same and choose vorrei for a polite and natural sound. 🙂
4. Practice Dialogue – Al ristorante 🗣️
Read this short dialogue between two friends and a waiter in an Italian restaurant. First follow the Italian version, then use the English column to check your understanding.
Dialogo in italiano
Cameriere: Buonasera, avete una prenotazione?
Sara: Buonasera, sì, a nome Rossi, per due.
Cameriere: Perfetto, seguitemi, per favore. Ecco il vostro tavolo.
Luca: Grazie. Possiamo vedere il menù?
Cameriere: Certo, ecco i menù. Da bere?
Sara: Per me, acqua frizzante.
Luca: Vorrei un bicchiere di vino rosso, per favore.
Cameriere: Benissimo. Siete pronti per ordinare?
Sara: Sì, io prendo la pasta al pesto.
Luca: E per me il pollo alla griglia con insalata, per favore.
Cameriere: Va bene. Qualcosa come antipasto?
Sara: No, grazie. Ma dopo vorremmo dividere un dolce.
Luca: Sì, il tiramisù, per favore.
Cameriere: Perfetto. Il conto insieme o separato?
Luca: Insieme, grazie. Possiamo pagare con carta?
Cameriere: Certo. Grazie e buona serata!
Sara: Grazie a lei, è stato tutto buonissimo!
Dialogue in English
Waiter: Good evening, do you have a reservation?
Sara: Good evening, yes, under the name Rossi, for two.
Waiter: Perfect, follow me, please. Here is your table.
Luca: Thank you. Can we see the menu?
Waiter: Of course, here are the menus. To drink?
Sara: For me, sparkling water.
Luca: I’d like a glass of red wine, please.
Waiter: Great. Are you ready to order?
Sara: Yes, I’ll have the pasta with pesto.
Luca: And for me the grilled chicken with salad, please.
Waiter: Okay. Anything as a starter?
Sara: No, thank you. But afterwards we’d like to share a dessert.
Luca: Yes, the tiramisù, please.
Waiter: Perfect. The bill together or separate?
Luca: Together, thank you. Can we pay by card?
Waiter: Of course. Thank you and have a nice evening!
Sara: Thank you, everything was delicious!
5. Key Vocabulary Recap 📚
Here is a quick recap of some of the most useful words and phrases from this lesson. Review them now, and then try to use at least five of them in your own sentences.
il pane – bread
la pasta – pasta
il riso – rice
il pollo – chicken
il pesce – fish
il formaggio – cheese
l’acqua naturale – still water
l’acqua frizzante – sparkling water
il vino rosso / bianco – red / white wine
il dolce – dessert / sweet
Vorrei… – I’d like…
Io prendo… – I’ll have…
Per me… – For me…
Siamo pronti per ordinare. – We are ready to order.
Il conto, per favore. – The bill, please.
Che cosa ci consiglia? – What do you recommend?
Sono vegetariano / vegetariana. – I am vegetarian. (m/f)
Sono allergico / allergica… – I am allergic… (m/f)
È stato tutto buonissimo! – Everything was delicious!
Grazie e buona serata. – Thank you and have a nice evening.
6. Prima di andare – Looking ahead to Lezione 4 ⏰
Bravissimo/a! You’ve now learned how to talk about il cibo and how to ordinare al ristorante in simple but natural Italian. With the vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue from this lesson, you’re already able to survive (and enjoy!) a real Italian meal. In Lezione 4, we’ll move from the table to the calendar and the clock: you’ll learn the days of the week, the months, and how to tell the time in Italian so you can make plans, book tables, and talk about your schedule. Continua così – keep going, you’re doing great!
Advanced Italian Lesson: The Subjunctive Mood (Il Congiuntivo)
Level: Advanced | Topic: Il Congiuntivo | Duration: 60–90 min
The subjunctive mood is one of the most important — and most feared — areas of advanced Italian grammar. Unlike the indicative, which states facts, the subjunctive expresses subjectivity: doubt, emotion, desire, opinion, and possibility. Mastering il congiuntivo is what separates intermediate learners from truly fluent speakers, and it is the point where many learners plateau. This lesson will give you the tools to use it confidently and correctly.
Grammar Focus
When to Use the Subjunctive
The congiuntivo presente (present subjunctive) is used in a subordinate clause introduced by che when the main clause expresses one of the following:
Doubt or uncertainty:dubito che, non so se, non credo che
Wish or desire:voglio che, desidero che, preferisco che
Opinion or belief (especially negative):penso che, credo che, mi sembra che, non sono sicuro che
Emotion:sono felice che, ho paura che, è un peccato che
Impersonal expressions:è importante che, è necessario che, è possibile che, bisogna che
Key rule: The subjunctive is required when the subjects of the main and subordinate clauses are different. If the subject is the same, use the infinitive instead. Compare: Voglio studiare. (I want to study — same subject) vs. Voglio che tu studi. (I want you to study — different subjects).
Conjugation: Congiuntivo Presente
Below are full conjugation tables for a regular -are verb (parlare — to speak) and a regular -ere verb (credere — to believe). Note that the io, tu, and lui/lei forms are identical — context or an explicit pronoun makes the meaning clear.
parlare (to speak) — -are
Pronoun
Congiuntivo Presente
che io
parli
che tu
parli
che lui / lei
parli
che noi
parliamo
che voi
parliate
che loro
parlino
credere (to believe) — -ere
Pronoun
Congiuntivo Presente
che io
creda
che tu
creda
che lui / lei
creda
che noi
crediamo
che voi
crediate
che loro
credano
finire (to finish) — -ire
Pronoun
Congiuntivo Presente
che io
finisca
che tu
finisca
che lui / lei
finisca
che noi
finiamo
che voi
finiate
che loro
finiscano
Examples in Context
Study each sentence and identify the trigger word that requires the subjunctive. The trigger is shown in bold.
Italiano
English
Trigger Type
Penso che Marco abbia ragione.
I think Marco is right.
Opinion
Dubito che loro arrivino in tempo.
I doubt they will arrive on time.
Doubt
Voglio che tu mi dica la verità.
I want you to tell me the truth.
Desire / Wish
Sono felice che tu sia qui.
I am happy that you are here.
Emotion
È importante che voi studiate ogni giorno.
It is important that you study every day.
Impersonal expression
Sebbenefaccia freddo, voglio uscire.
Although it is cold, I want to go out.
Concession (conjunction)
Common Mistakes
Even advanced learners make these errors regularly. Read each one carefully and make a note of any you recognise in your own Italian.
Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive. This is the most common error. After triggers like penso che or è possibile che, learners revert to the indicative: ✗ Penso che Marco ha ragione. → ✓ Penso che Marco abbia ragione.
Forgetting irregular subjunctive forms. Several high-frequency verbs have irregular present subjunctive stems. The most important to memorise: essere → sia, siano; avere → abbia, abbiano; andare → vada, vadano; fare → faccia, facciano; venire → venga, vengano; sapere → sappia, sappiano.
Using the subjunctive when the subject is the same. When both clauses share the same subject, the infinitive is correct — not the subjunctive. ✗ Voglio che io parta. → ✓ Voglio partire.
Confusing penso che + subjunctive with penso di + infinitive.Penso che lui parta (I think he is leaving — different subject) vs. Penso di partire (I think I am leaving — same subject). Both are correct; the structure changes with the subject.
Practice Exercise
Complete each sentence by conjugating the verb in brackets into the correct form of the congiuntivo presente. Work through all five before checking the answer key.
È necessario che tu _______ (venire) alla riunione.
Non credo che loro _______ (sapere) la risposta.
Sono sorpresa che lui non _______ (essere) ancora qui.
Voglio che voi _______ (leggere) questo articolo prima della lezione.
Benché _______ (fare) caldo, preferiamo restare in casa.
Answer Key
È necessario che tu venga alla riunione. (venire → irregular: venga)
Non credo che loro sappiano la risposta. (sapere → irregular: sappia / sappiano)
Sono sorpresa che lui non sia ancora qui. (essere → irregular: sia)
Voglio che voi leggiate questo articolo prima della lezione. (leggere → regular -ere: crediate pattern → leggiate)
These eight conjunctions and expressions always require the subjunctive. Memorise them as fixed triggers — whenever you use one of these, the verb in the subordinate clause must be in the subjunctive.
Italian Expression
English Meaning
Example
benché
although / even though
Benché sia stanco, lavora. (Although he’s tired, he works.)
Nonostante abbia studiato, ha fallito. (Despite having studied, he failed.)
affinché
so that / in order that
Te lo dico affinché tu capisca. (I’m telling you so that you understand.)
prima che
before
Parti prima che arrivi. (Leave before he arrives.)
a meno che (non)
unless
Verrò a meno che non piova. (I’ll come unless it rains.)
nel caso che / in caso che
in case
Portate l’ombrello nel caso che piova. (Bring an umbrella in case it rains.)
purché / a patto che
provided that / as long as
Ti aiuto, purché tu faccia del tuo meglio. (I’ll help you, as long as you do your best.)
A Note from Your Tutor
The subjunctive becomes natural only through active use — not just recognition. After this lesson, challenge yourself to write three new sentences using different triggers from the vocabulary list, then say them aloud. Better still, try to use at least two subjunctive constructions in your next conversation or writing exercise. Notice when native speakers use il congiuntivo in films, podcasts, and books — you will start to hear it everywhere. With consistent practice, what feels unfamiliar today will become instinctive. Bravissimo/a — continuate così!
Lezione di Italiano con la canzone “Luce nel Cuore”
📚 Level: B1 (Intermediate)
In questa lezione useremo la canzone immaginaria “Luce nel Cuore” di Donatello Figliuolo per imparare l’italiano in modo naturale e coinvolgente. Le canzoni romantiche sono perfette per gli studenti di italiano: ripetono il vocabolario, usano frasi emotive e aiutano a memorizzare espressioni utili. Ascoltando e leggendo il testo, allenerai insieme lessico, grammatica, pronuncia e comprensione.
🎵 Listen along as you study! You can find the full lyrics in the comment section of the YouTube video above.
1. Introduction
“Luce nel Cuore” è una canzone d’amore che parla di una persona speciale vista come luce, respiro e calore. Il testo è semplice ma intenso, perfetto per gli studenti principianti e intermedio-bassi. Usare la musica per studiare l’italiano è molto utile: ripeti le frasi, ascolti la pronuncia naturale dei madrelingua e associ le parole a emozioni forti, quindi le ricordi più facilmente.
2. The Lyrics / Il Testo della Canzone
Qui trovi il testo del ritornello in italiano, con la traduzione inglese affiancata. Leggi lentamente e prova a ripetere ad alta voce.
Italiano
English
Sei la luce nel cuore, la mia eterna canzone
You are the light in (my) heart, my eternal song
quella che canto piano quando il mondo tace intorno
the one I sing softly when the world is silent around (me)
sei il respiro che manca e l’aria che mi salva
you are the breath that is missing and the air that saves me
amore mio, ti amo… ti amo da morire.
my love, I love you… I love you to death / so much it hurts.
Nella notte più buia sei la stella che brilla
In the darkest night you are the star that shines
nella pioggia che cade sei il calore che arriva
in the falling rain you are the warmth that comes
non c’è distanza, non c’è tempo che tenga
there is no distance, there is no time that can resist / separate us
sei dentro di me… per sempre.
you are inside me… forever.
3. Vocabulary Focus / Lessico chiave
Osserva queste parole ed espressioni importanti dalla canzone. Leggi gli esempi e, se puoi, ripetili ad alta voce.
Italiano
English
Esempio in italiano
la luce
light
Tu sei la luce nei miei giorni difficili.
il cuore
heart
Ho il cuore pieno di gratitudine.
eterna canzone
eternal song
Per me questa è un’eterna canzone d’amore.
respiro
breath
Dopo la corsa mi manca il respiro.
mi salva
saves me
Parlare con te mi salva dalla tristezza.
ti amo
I love you
In italiano romantico si dice: «Ti amo».
ti amo da morire
I love you so much (lit. to death)
Lui le sussurra: «Ti amo da morire».
notte più buia
darkest night
Anche nella notte più buia vedo una speranza.
stella che brilla
star that shines
Lei è la stella che brilla nella mia vita.
non c’è distanza
there is no distance
Tra veri amici non c’è distanza.
per sempre
forever
Ti porterò con me per sempre.
4. Grammar Deep Dive / Approfondimento grammaticale
a) «Sei» e il verbo «essere» (to be)
Nella prima riga leggiamo: «Sei la luce nel cuore». Sei è la seconda persona singolare del verbo essere (to be) al presente.
Coniugazione di «essere» (presente): io sono, tu sei, lui/lei è, noi siamo, voi siete, loro sono.
Altri esempi utili:
Tu sei importante per me.
Oggi sei molto felice.
Sei la mia migliore amica.
b) La particella «che» e le frasi relative
Nel testo trovi molte frasi con che:
la mia eterna canzone quella che canto piano…
la stella che brilla
la pioggia che cade
In questi esempi, che è un pronome relativo. Collega due parti della frase e sostituisce un nome già menzionato:
la canzone + io canto la canzone → la canzone che canto.
Altri esempi:
Il libro che leggo è molto romantico.
La persona che amo vive lontano.
c) Le espressioni con «non c’è»
Nel verso: «non c’è distanza, non c’è tempo che tenga» trovi due volte la struttura non c’è.
«C’è» significa «there is». Con la negazione diventa «non c’è» = «there is no».
C’è un problema. → There is a problem.
Non c’è problema. → There is no problem.
Altri esempi:
Non c’è niente da temere. → There is nothing to fear.
Non c’è nessuno in casa. → There is no one at home.
d) L’espressione idiomatica «ti amo da morire»
«Ti amo da morire» è una tipica espressione romantica italiana. Letteralmente significa «I love you to death», ma in realtà vuol dire «ti amo tantissimo, in modo intensissimo».
Altre frasi simili:
Ti voglio bene da morire. (più comune per amici e famiglia)
Mi manchi da morire. → I miss you so much.
5. Pronunciation Tips / Pronuncia
Prova a ripetere queste parole ed espressioni della canzone. La pronuncia è indicata tra parentesi con un sistema semplice (non IPA).
cuore [KUO-re] – attenzione al suono «cuo», come in «quota» in inglese. La r è leggermente arrotata.
respiro [re-SPI-ro] – l’accento cade su spi. Le vocali sono tutte chiare e separate: re-spee-ro.
pioggia [PYOD-ja] – «gli»/«ggia» hanno un suono dolce. La io forma un dittongo: «pyo».
buia [BU-ya] – altra combinazione con ui. Non separare troppo le vocali, fai scivolare: «buu-ya».
ti amo [tee A-mo] – pronuncia bene entrambe le vocali, non dire «tiyamo», ma due parole distinte: ti + amo.
6. Comprehension Questions / Domande di comprensione
Rispondi in italiano, anche con frasi brevi. Poi controlla con la traduzione inglese.
1. Chi è «la luce nel cuore» per il narratore? Who is “the light in the heart” for the speaker?
2. Quando il narratore canta piano la sua canzone? When does the speaker sing his song softly?
3. Che cosa rappresenta la persona amata nella «notte più buia»? What does the loved person represent in the “darkest night”?
4. Quali due cose «non ci sono» tra il narratore e la persona amata? Which two things “are not there” between the speaker and the loved person?
5. Cosa significa per te «sei dentro di me… per sempre»? What does “you are inside me… forever” mean to you?
7. Speaking & Writing Exercise / Attività di produzione
Adesso tocca a te! Pensa a una persona che ami (partner, amica, amico, familiare, anche un animale domestico) e scrivi 3–4 frasi in italiano usando il vocabolario della canzone.
Per esempio, puoi usare espressioni come: sei la luce…, nel cuore, ti amo, mi salvi, per sempre, non c’è distanza.
Modello:
Tu sei la luce nel mio cuore.
Nella notte più buia sei la stella che brilla.
Quando sono triste, il tuo sorriso mi salva.
Non c’è distanza tra noi, ti voglio bene per sempre.
Scrivi le tue frasi e, se possibile, leggile ad alta voce come se fossero il testo di una canzone.
8. Cultural Note / Nota culturale
Le canzoni d’amore italiane hanno una lunga tradizione e fanno parte dell’immaginario romantico di tutto il mondo. Dalla canzone napoletana classica alle ballate moderne, i testi parlano spesso di passione intensa, nostalgia, distanza e amore «per sempre». Ascoltare queste canzoni è un ottimo modo per entrare nel cuore della cultura italiana: non solo impari parole ed espressioni utili, ma scopri anche come gli italiani esprimono i sentimenti con musica e poesia. La prossima volta che ascolti una canzone d’amore in italiano, prova a leggere il testo, sottolineare le frasi che ti piacciono e usarle per creare la tua «canzone» personale.
Italian for Complete Beginners (A1): Your Friendly First Lesson
Welcome to ItalianTutors.com! This post is your gentle, step‑by‑step introduction to Italian. No previous knowledge is required. You’ll learn greetings, basic grammar, two essential verbs, and useful phrases you can start using today.
All Italian examples are translated and include simple pronunciation tips. Take your time, repeat out loud, and remember: making mistakes is part of learning. Andiamo! (Let’s go!)
1. Introduction – You Can Learn Italian!
If you’re an absolute beginner, you are in the right place. Italian might sound fast and musical, but its structure is clear and regular. With small, consistent steps, you can make real progress.
Use two key verbs: essere (to be) and avere (to have)
Use practical everyday phrases
Practice with a short reading, questions, and writing prompts
Tip: Read the Italian examples out loud, even if you feel shy. Your brain and mouth need practice working together. Pronunciation will get easier with repetition.
2. Greetings and Basic Expressions
Greetings are the perfect way to start. Below you’ll see each phrase with:
Italian
Pronunciation (simple, not strict IPA)
English meaning
Key greetings
Ciao – CHOW – hi / bye (informal)
Buongiorno – bwon-JOR-no – good morning / good day
The verb essere (to be) is one of the most important verbs in Italian. You use it to talk about who you are, where you are, and how you feel.
Present tense of essere
Subject
Italian
Pronunciation
English
I
sono
SO-no
I am
you (singular, informal)
sei
SAY
you are
he / she / it
è
EH
he/she/it is
we
siamo
SYA-mo
we are
you (plural)
siete
SYE-te
you are
they
sono
SO-no
they are
Example sentences with essere:
Io sono Maria. – I am Maria.
Tu sei studente. – You are a student. (to a friend)
Lui è italiano. – He is Italian.
Lei è insegnante. – She is a teacher.
Noi siamo amici. – We are friends.
Voi siete turisti. – You are tourists. (plural)
Loro sono stanchi. – They are tired.
Notice that the subject pronoun (io, tu, lui, lei, etc.) is often dropped in Italian because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action. For example, Sono Maria. also means “I am Maria.”
6. Key Verb: Avere (To Have)
The verb avere (to have) is used to talk about what you have, age, and many common expressions.
Present tense of avere
Subject
Italian
Pronunciation
English
I
ho
OH
I have
you (singular, informal)
hai
EYE
you have
he / she / it
ha
AH
he/she/it has
we
abbiamo
ab-BYAH-mo
we have
you (plural)
avete
a-VE-te
you have
they
hanno
AN-no
they have
Example sentences with avere:
Ho un gatto. – I have a cat.
Hai una penna? – Do you have a pen?
Lui ha una macchina. – He has a car.
Noi abbiamo tempo. – We have time.
Avete fame? – Are you (plural) hungry? (literally: “Do you have hunger?”)
Loro hanno due figli. – They have two children.
Italian often uses avere for age: instead of “I am 20 years old,” you say Ho 20 anni. (literally: “I have 20 years.”)
7. Useful Everyday Phrases
Here are practical phrases you can use while travelling or speaking with Italian friends. Try to repeat each one several times.
Vorrei un caffè, per favore. – I would like a coffee, please.
Quanto costa? – How much does it cost?
Dov’è il bagno? – Where is the bathroom?
Parla inglese? – Do you speak English? (formal)
Non parlo molto italiano. – I don’t speak much Italian.
Può ripetere, per favore? – Can you repeat, please? (formal)
Mi scusi, dov’è la stazione? – Excuse me, where is the station?
Un biglietto per Roma, per favore. – One ticket to Rome, please.
È corretto così. – It’s correct like this. (to accept change / bill)
Va bene, grazie. – It’s fine / okay, thank you.
Tip: Choose 3–4 phrases that feel most useful for you now and focus on saying them naturally.
8. Short Reading Comprehension
Read this short text in Italian. Then answer the questions in English or Italian (your choice).
Testo (Text):
Mi chiamo Luca. Ho venti anni e sono italiano. Abito a Roma con la mia famiglia. La mattina bevo un caffè e vado all’università.
Translation: My name is Luca. I am twenty years old and I am Italian. I live in Rome with my family. In the morning I drink a coffee and go to the university.
Questions:
1) What is his name?
2) How old is he?
3) Where does he live?
4) What does he do in the morning?
Suggested answers: 1) His name is Luca. 2) He is twenty years old. 3) He lives in Rome. 4) He drinks a coffee and goes to the university.
9. Writing Prompts
Writing, even very simple sentences, helps you remember new words and structures. Try these two short tasks.
Prompt 1: Write 3–4 sentences to introduce yourself in Italian. Use essere and avere. Example structure: Mi chiamo… (My name is…) Ho … anni. (I am … years old.) Sono … (I am … [your nationality / job].)
Prompt 2: Write 3 sentences about your morning. Use numbers if you can. Example ideas: Alle 7 ho un caffè. (At 7 I have a coffee.) Alle 8 sono a scuola. (At 8 I am at school.)
If you like, you can post your sentences in the comments (even with mistakes!). Practising is more important than being perfect.
10. Recommended Resources for A1 Learners
To continue your Italian journey, here are some friendly beginner resources. Always choose materials that feel clear and enjoyable for you.
Books (A1 level)
“Italian Grammar in Practice” (Alma Edizioni) – Short explanations and many easy exercises.
“Nuovo Espresso 1” – A popular beginner course book used in many language schools.
Graded readers (A1–A2) from Italian publishers (e.g. Alma, ELI) – Very short stories with vocabulary help.
Apps
Duolingo – Gamified practice for vocabulary and basic phrases.
Babbel – Structured beginner lessons with dialogues.
Memrise – Good for learning and reviewing words and phrases with spaced repetition.
YouTube Channels
LearnAmo – Clear explanations; look for “livello A1” videos.
Italy Made Easy – Friendly, slow explanations in English and Italian.
ItalianPod101 – Many short beginner videos with dialogues.
Podcasts
News in Slow Italian – Slow, clear audio; good for listening practice.
Coffee Break Italian – English explanations plus Italian practice, ideal for beginners.
Remember, the best resource is the one you actually use. Start small and build a simple routine (for example: 10–15 minutes a day).
You’ve completed a full beginner lesson – well done! If you keep taking small steps like this, your Italian will grow faster than you expect.
Call to action: Leave a comment, share your progress, or write your short introduction in Italian below. We’d love to see your sentences and help you improve.
