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.

tu = you (informal)

Lei = you (formal)

lui = he

lei = she

noi = we

voi = you (plural, formal and informal)

loro = they

The subject pronoun io, unlike the English I, is not capitalized unless it begins a sentence.

Lei is the formal form for both masculine and feminine and is written with the capital L to distinguish it from lei (she).

a = ah

e = ay

i = ee

o = oh

u = oo

c (before e or i) = ch

c (before other vowels) = k

ch = k

g (before e or i) = j

g (before other vowels) = g (as in go)

gh = g (as in go)

gl = lli (as in million)

gn = ny (as in canyon)

h = always silent

r = r (a single r should lightly rolled or trilled; a double rr is strongly rolled or trilled)

s = s (but pronounced as a z when it comes between vowels)

sc (before e or i) = sh

sc (before other vowels) = sk

sch = sk

z (beginning of a word) = dz

z (within a word) = ts

zz = ts and sometimes dz

Di dov'e' (Lei)? = Where are you from? (formal)

Sono di...= I am from...

Dov'e'...? = Where is...?

Ecco... = Here is...

And here are some famous cities and their Italian and English pronunciations.

Roma = Rome

Milano = Milan

Venezia = Venice

Firenze = Florence

Napoli = Naples

Arrivederci = Good-bye (informal)

ArriverderLa = Good-bye (formal)

A presto = See you soon

Alla prossima = Until next time

Ci vediamo = See you later

Addio = Farewell

Signora = Mrs.

Signorina = Miss

Avvocato = Lawyer

Ingegnere = Engineer

Professore = Masculine professor

Professoressa = Feminine professor

Dottore = Masculine doctor

Dottoressa = Feminine doctor

Insegnante = Teacher

On those masculine titles that end with 'ore'; the final 'e' is dropped before the person's last name:

Signor Bianchi = Mr. Bianchi

Professor Ricci = Professor Ricci

Feminine titles remain unchanged.

Come sta? = How are you? (formal)

Come va? = How's it going?

Sto bene = I'm fine

Sto benone = I'm terrific

Sto benissimo = I'm very well

Sto molto bene = I'm very well

Sto abbastanza bene = I'm quite well, or I'm well enough

Sto cosi' cosi' = I'm so-so

Sto male = I'm badly

Non sto bene = I'm not well

Non c'e' male = Not too bad

Bene, grazie, e tu? = Fine, thank you, and you? (informal)

Bene, grazie e Lei? = Fine, thank you, and you? (formal)

Salve = Hello

Buongiorno = Good morning, good day

Buonasera = Good evening

(Tanto) Piacere = (So) Nice to meet you

Molto lieto/lieta = Very pleased to meet you

Scusa = Excuse me (informal)

Scusi = Excuse me (formal)

Come ti chiami? = What is your name? (informal)

Come si chiama? = What is your name? (formal)

Mi chiamo... = My name is...

E tu? = And you? (informal)

E Lei? = And you? (formal)

Mike