Let's Speak Italian!

Week #015 Review, Friday

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

chiudere = to close

chiudo, chiudi, chiude, chiudiamo, chiudete, chiudono

ascoltare = to listen to

ascolto, ascolti, ascolta, ascoltiamo, ascoltate, ascoltano

aiutare = to help

aiuto, aiuti, aiuta, aiutiamo, aiutate, aiutano

lavorare = to work

lavoro, lavori, lavora, lavoriamo, lavorate, lavorano

cominciare = to begin

comincio, cominci, comincia, cominciamo, cominciate, cominciano

preparare = to prepare

preparo, prepari, prepara, prepariamo, preparate, preparano

potere = to be able to It also translate as 'can' or 'may.'

io posso = I am able to, I can

tu puoi = you are able to, you can (informal)

Lei puo' = you are able to, you can (formal)

lui/lei = he/she are able to, he/she can

noi possiamo = we are able to, we can

voi potete = you are able to, you can (plural)

loro possono = they are able to, they can

La donna puo' venire. = The woman can come.

Possiamo andare dopo cena. = We can go after dinner.

Posso parlare inglese? = May I speak English?

Io posso cantare. = I can sing.

Puo' mangiare la carne con una forchetta. = She can eat the meat with a fork.

Lei puo' capire lo spagnolo? = Can you (formal) understand Spanish?

I ragazzi italiani possono giocare il calcio. = The Italian boys can play soccer (football).

Potete aiutare quell'uomo. = You (plural) can help that man.

Mario puo' suonare il pianoforte. = Mario is able to play the piano.

dovere = to have to. Can also be translated to the English word 'must.'

io devo = I have to, I must

tu devi = you have to, you must (informal)

Lei deve = you have to, you must (formal)

lui/lei deve = he/she has to, he/she must

noi dobbiamo = we have to, we must

voi dovete = you have to, you must (plural)

loro devono = they have to, they must

L'insegnante deve preparare la lezione. = The teacher has to prepare the lesson.

Dovete lavorare ogni giorno. = You (plural) must work every day.

Chi deve studiare il libro? = Who must study the book?

Le ragazze devono andare al negozio. = The girls must go to the store.

Il bambino deve ascoltare meglio. = The child must listen better.

A che ora devi andare in classe? = What time do you have to go to class?

Perche' devo portare una cravatta? = Why must I wear a tie?

Quando dobbiamo avere i soldi? = When do we have to have the money?

volere = to want, to want to

io voglio = I want, I want to

tu vuoi = you want, you want to (informal)

Lei vuole = you want, you want to (formal)

lui/lei vuole = he/she wants, he/she wants to

noi vogliamo = we want, we want to

voi volete = you want, you want to (plural)

loro vogliono = they want, they want to

'volere' can be used in two ways. One is as a modal verb where it is followed by another verb in its infinitive form.

Il dottore vuole parlare con Lei. = The doctor wants to speak with you (formal).

Volete mangiare i fagioli oggi? = Do you (plural) want to eat beans today?

Voglio ascoltare la canzone. = I want to listen to the song.

Loro vogliono imparare il russo. = They want to learn Russian.

'volere' can also mean 'to want' without using it as a modal verb.

Lui vuole un cane. = He wants a dog

Vogliamo un insegnante buono. = We want a good teacher.

Chi vuole un biscotto? = Who wants a cookie?

sapere = to know how to

io so = I know how to

tu sai = you know how to (informal)

Lei sa = you know how to (formal)

lui/lei sa = he/she knows how to

noi sappiamo = we know how to

voi sapete = you know how to (plural)

loro sanno = they know how to

Gianni sa suonare il pianoforte. = Johnny knows how to play the piano.

Gli studenti sanno studiare. = The students know how to study.

Sapete parlare italiano? = Do you (plural) know how to speak Italian?

Non so cantare molto bene. = I don't know how to sing very well.

Che cosa sappiamo fare bene? = What do we know how to do well?

I tedeschi sanno lavorare ogni giorno. = The Germans know how to work every day.

I giapponesi sanno cucinare il pesce bene. = The Japanese know how to cook fish well.

Seasons One and Two - All 100 Lessons

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 04:02:00 GMT

Hi everybody, my name's Mike and this is the Let's Speak Italian podcast. So you've been listening to the first few lessons, and hopefully you're learning how to speak Italian.

Well with the first 100 lessons completed, I wanted to release the first few lessons for free as a little teaser so that you can see just how easy it is to learn to speak Italian. Now, by going to the website, you can buy the first 100 lessons for only $15.00. That includes 100 lessons, plus 20 review lessons as well, for a total of 120 lessons in all. That's 24 weeks of lessons, for only $15.00. It's over 13 hours of Italian lessons, for the price of what you might pay for one music CD.

I've found that the key to learning to speak Italian is to learn a little bit every day, and to practice it with your friends. So get lessons 1-100, and listen to one lesson, every day for 24 weeks. By the end, you'll be amazed at how easy it was, and just how much you can learn by practicing a few minutes every day.

To buy the first 100 lessons, just go to the web site at www.letsspeakitalian.net and click on one of the banner ads. If you want to Download Lessons 1-100, click on the 'Download' banner ad. Once I get your payment, I'll e-mail you a link to the files. Be patient though, it might take a few hours before I check my email. If you would rather Get Lessons 1-100 on CD-Rom, click on the 'CD' banner ad and once I receive your payment, I'll mail the CD-Rom to you. For only $15.00 you'll be speaking Italian before you know it.

Grazie tanto, arrivederci.

Week #014 Review, Thursday

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

questa domanda = this question

queste banane = these bananas

questa cravatta = this tie

questo gelato = this ice cream

questa musica = this music

queste scarpe = these shoes

questo studente = this student

questi studenti = these students

questi americani = these americans

questa madre = this mother

questo messaggio = this message

questi spaghetti = these spaghetti

queste lezioni = these lessons

questo problema = this problem

quel = comes before most masculine singular nouns that begin with a consonant. The exception is those masculine nouns beginning with ps, gn, z, or s followed by a consonant.

Quel ragazzo viene sempre in ritardo. = That boy always comes late.

quello = comes before a masculine singular nouns beginning with ps, gn, z, or s followed by a consonant.

Compriamo quello specchio. = Let's buy that mirror.

quell' = comes before all masculine singular nouns beginning with a vowel.

Quell'uomo parla molto. = That man talks a lot.

quella = comes before all femine singular nouns that begin with a consonant.

Il presidente abita in quella casa. = The president lives in that house.

quell' = comes before all femine singular nouns that begin with a vowel.

Quell'arancia non e' buona. = That orange is not good.

quei = is the plural of quel and comes before most masculine plural nouns that begin with a consonant. The exception is those masculine nouns beginning with ps, gn, z, or s followed by a consonant.

Quei treni vanno a Milano. = Those trains go to Milan.

quegli = is the plural of both quello and quell' and comes before all masculine plural nouns that begin with a vowel, or those that begin with ps, gn, z, or s followed by a consonant.

Quegli studenti sono bravi. = Those students are good.

quelle = is the plural of both quella and quell' and comes before any femine plural noun.

Quelle famiglie non capiscono italiano. = Those families do not understand Italian.

quel gatto = that cat

quelle banane = those bananas

quella cravatta = that tie

quei ragazzi = those boys

quel quaderno = that notebook

quell'uovo = that egg

quelle forchette = those forks

quegli specchi = those mirrors

quella bugia = that lie

quella musica = that music

quelle matite = those pencils

quello zoo = that zoo

quell'insalata = that salad

quel messaggio = that message

quegli orologi = those watches

quelle classi = those classes

quell'amico = that friend

questo = this (masculine and singular)

Questo e' molto importante = This is very important.

questa = this (femine and singular)

Quella torta e' buona, ma questa e' cattiva. = That cake is good, but this one is bad.

questi = these (masculine and plural)

Compriamo questi. = Let's buy these.

queste = these (femine and plural)

Quelle mele sono buone, ma preferisco queste. = Those apples are good, but I prefer these.

quello = that (masculine and singular)

Questo ragazzo e' piu' intelligente di quello. = This boy is more intelligent than that one.

quella = that (femine and singular)

Quella e' una penna. = That is a pen.

quelli = those (masculine and plural)

Questi bambini sono piu' bravi di quelli? = Are these children better than those?

quelle = those (femine and plural)

Preferiamo quelle. = We prefer those.

negozio = store

biblioteca = library

supervisore = supervisor

vino = wine

francese = French

spagnolo = Spanish

festa = party

subito = immediately

presto = quickly

Week #013 Review, Wednesday

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The letter combination 'sc', when followed by the vowels i or e, will produce a soft sound, like the English words shoe, shore, share and cash.

cuscino = cushion

scimmia = monkey

sciarpa = scarf

pesce = fish

The letter combination 'sc', when followed by the vowels a, o or u, will produce a hard sound, like the English words sky, ski, score and scarf.

scuola = school

tasca = pocket

pesca = peach

scarpe = shoes

scatola = box

discorso = speech

bosco = forest

When the letter combination 'sc' is followed by an h, the sound becomes hard.

maschile = masculine

schiavo = slave

schiuma = foam

schiuma da barba = shaving cream

gelato = ice cream

musica = music

domanda = question

messaggio = message

meno = less

piu' = more

cattivo = bad

importante = important

interessante = interesting

intelligente = intelligent

portare = to carry, to bring, to wear

io porto = I carry

tu porti = you carry (informal)

Lei porta = you carry (formal)

lui/lei porta = he/she carries

noi portiamo = we carry

voi portate = you carry (plural)

loro portano = they carry

lavare = to wash

io lavo = I wash

tu lavi = you wash (informal)

Lei lava = you wash (formal)

lui/lei lava = he/she washes

noi laviamo = we wash

voi lavate = you wash (plural)

loro lavano = they wash

usare = to use

io uso = I use

tu usi = you use (informal)

Lei usa = you use (formal)

lui/lei usa = he/she uses

noi usiamo = we use

voi usate = you use (plural)

loro usano = they use

abitare = to live

io abito = I live

tu abiti = you live (informal)

Lei abita = you live (formal)

lui/lei abita = he/she lives

noi abitiamo = we live

voi abitate = you live (plural)

loro abitano = they live

ricevere = to receive, to get

io ricevo = I receive

tu ricevi = you receive (informal)

Lei riceve = you receive (formal)

lui/lei riceve = he/she receives

noi riceviamo = we receive

voi ricevete = you receive (plural)

loro ricevono = they receive vprendere = to take

io prendo = I take

tu prendi = you take (informal)

Lei prende = you take (formal)

lui/lei prende = he/she takes

noi prendiamo = we take

voi prendete = you take (plural)

loro prendono = they take

rispondere = to answer

io rispondo = I answer

tu rispondi = you answer (informal)

Lei risponde = you answer (formal)

lui/lei risponde = he/she answers

noi rispondiamo = we answer

voi rispondete = you answer (plural)

loro rispondono = they answer

questo = comes before a noun that is singular and masculine.

Questo libro e' interessante. = This book is interesting.

questa = comes before a noun that is singular and femine.

Questa lettera e' per Lei. = This letter is for you.

questi = comes before a noun that is plural and masculine.

Leggiamo questi libri. = We read these books.

queste = comes before a noun that is plural and femine.

Queste donne dormono troppo. = These women sleep too much.

quest' = comes before a singular noun that begins with a vowel.

Chi e' quest'uomo? = Who is this man?

Mi piace quest'arancia. = I like this orange.

Week #012 Review, Tuesday

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

parola = word

verita' = truth

bugia = lie

piu' tardi = later

in ritardo = late

stamattina = this morning

stasera = this evening

soldi = money

meglio = better

peggio = worse

tutto = all, everything

dopo = after

come = how

Il presidente viene domani. = The president comes tomorrow.

Gli studenti vengono tardi. = The students come late.

La madre tiene il bambino. = The mother holds the baby.

Noi veniamo stasera. = We come tonight.

Gli insegnanti vengono alla scuola. = The teachers come to school.

Io vengo piu' tardi. = I come later.

Tu tieni i soldi. = You hold the money.

Chi viene stamattina? = Who comes this morning?

Voi venite con il cane. = You come with the dog.

Loro tengono le mele rosse. = They hold the red apples.

dare = to give

io do = I give

tu dai = you give (informal)

Lei da = you give (formal)

lui/lei da = he/she gives

noi diamo = we give

voi date = you give (plural)

loro danno = they give

stare = to be

io sto = I am

tu stai = you are (informal)

Lei sta = you are (formal)

lui/lei sta = he/she is

noi stiamo = we are

voi state = you are (plural)

loro stanno = they are

Come state? = How are all of you?

Tu dai la banana all'uomo. = You give the banana to the man.

Loro danno la carta al dentista. = They give the paper to the dentist.

Quando date la mela all'insegnante? = When do you give the apple to the teacher?

Come stanno i ragazzi da Roma? = How are the boys from Rome?

Noi diamo le fragole alle ragazze. = We give the strawberries to the girls.

La donna sta meglio o peggio? = Is the woman better or worse?

Luigi da I soldi al dottore. = Luigi gives the money to the doctor.

Quante mele diamo al bambino? = How many apples do we give the child?

Come stai stamattina? = How are you this morning?

dire = to say, to tell

io dico = I say

tu dici = you say (informal)

Lei dice = you say (formal)

lui/lei dice = he/she says

noi diciamo = we say

voi dite = you say (plural)

loro dicono = they say

Il bambino dice una parola. = The baby says a word.

Le sorelle dicono le bugie. = The sisters tell lies.

Chi dice la parola? = Who says the word?

Voi dite tutta la verita'. = You say all of the truth.

Io dico sempre la verita'. = I always say the truth.

Lei dice una bugia? = Are you telling a lie?

Lui non dice la verita'. = He doesn't tell the truth.

Che dice lei? = What is she saying?

Week #011 Review, Monday

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

che cosa = what.

Che cosa mangiate? = What are you eating?

Mangiamo la pizza. = We are eating pizza.

quale = which.

Quale libro legge? = Which book are you reading?

Leggo un libro italiano. = I am reading an Italian book.

chi = who.

Chi studia l'italiano? = Who studies Italian?

Noi studiamo l'italiano. = We study Italian.

perche' = why.

Perche' lei mangia la carne? = Why do you eat meat?

Mangio la carne perche' mi piace. = I eat meat because I like it.

giocare = to play (a sport)

io gioco = I play

tu giochi = you play (informal)

Lei gioca = you play (formal)

lui/lei gioca = he/she plays

noi giochiamo = we play

voi giocate = you play (plural)

loro giocano = they play

suonare = to play (an instrument)

io suono = I play

tu suoni = you play (informal)

Lei suona = you play (formal)

lui/lei suona = he/she plays

noi suoniamo = we play

voi suonate = you play (plural)

loro suonano = they play

fare = to do, to make

io faccio = I make

tu fai = you make (informal)

Lei fa = you make (formal)

lui/lei fa = he/she makes

noi facciamo = we make

voi fate = you make (plural)

loro fanno = they make

andare = to go

io vado = I go

tu vai = you go (informal)

Lei va = you go (formal)

lui/lei va = he/she goes

noi andiamo = we go

voi andate = you go (plural)

loro vanno = they go

compito = assignment or task

torta = cake

biscotti = cookies

calcio = soccer (football to you European listeners)

pianoforte = piano

scuola = school

citta' = city

riunione = meeting

spesso = often

troppo = too much

con = with

Gli studenti fanno il compito. = The students do the assignment.

Chi fa i biscotti? = Who makes the cookies?

I bambini vanno a scuola. = The children go to school.

Perche' andiamo in classe? = Why do we go to class?

Che cosa facciamo adesso? = What do we do now?

La ragazza va a casa. = The girl goes home.

Chi suona il pianoforte? = Who plays the piano?

Quale ragazzo gioca il calcio spesso? = Which boy plays soccer often?

Andiamo alla scuola con la mamma. = We go to school with mom.

La mamma fa una buona torta. = Mom makes a good cake.

Quando andiamo al ristorante? = When do we go to the restaurant?

Che cosa comprate alla libreria? = What did you buy at the bookstore?

venire = to come

io vengo = I come

tu vieni = you come (informal)

Lei viene = you come (formal)

lui/lei viene = he/she comes

noi veniamo = we come

voi venite = you come (plural)

loro vengono = they come

tenere = to hold or to keep

io tengo = I hold

tu tieni = you hold (informal)

Lei tiene = you hold (formal)

lui/lei tiene = he/she holds

noi teniamo = we hold

voi tenete = you hold (plural)

loro tengono = they hold

Lesson #075, Friday

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT