While you could probably get by without speaking any Italian, the better you speak the language, the more fun you'll have: you'll make better connections with locals and the language itself is fun. Also, learning Italian makes it easier to learn other Romance languages like French or Spanish. Here is some stuff to get you started: Absolute Minimum: Bare Bones ItalianHere are a few survival phrases that every person visiting or living in Italy should know.
Basic ItalianThe basic italian page will teach you a bunch of useful words and phrases, that will get you well on your way to understanding and being understood.
PronunciationSee the pronunciation page for details on how to pronounce Italian words.
Tricks and TipsMethods for learning and improving in Italian.
Resources for LearningUseful books, tapes, software, and websites for learning Italian.
GesturesIt might be said that Italian is really a sign language with a few words thrown in for color. The gestures page summarizes some of the major Italian gestures.
Si tu parles françaisItalian is similar to French is a lot of ways; learn how to parlay your ability to "parler" French into Italian.
Si hablas españolItalian is so similar to Spanish, sometimes you can get away with speaking it and Italians will understand you. Here is a page on the key differences between the languages. |
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