Italian for Gringos
A daily Italian course for English speakers headed to Italy — travel phrases, pronunciation, and cultural notes, one lesson at a time.
https://morningupdate.org/italian-for-gringos/feed.xmlEpisodes
Italian For Gringos Lesson 3 Numbers 120 2026 10 04
Lesson 3: Numbers 1–20 uno (OO-noh, 1), due (DOO-eh, 2), tre (treh, 3), quattro (KWAHT-troh, 4 — hold the double t), cinque (CHEEN-kweh, 5 — c-before-e is ch) sei (seh-ee, 6), sette (SEHT-teh, 7 — double t, else it means thirst), otto (OHT-toh, 8 — double t), nove (NOH-veh, 9), dieci (dyeh-CHEE, 10 — c-before-i is ch) undici (oon-DEE-chee, 11), dodici (DOH-dee-chee, 12), tredici (TREH-dee-chee, 13), quattordici (kwaht-TOR-dee-chee, 14), quindici (KWEEN-dee-chee, 15): pattern small number + dieci sedici (SEH-dee-chee, 16), diciassette (dee-chahs-SEHT-teh, 17 — hold double s and double t), dicio
Italian For Gringos Lesson 2 Courtesy Essentials 2026 10 04
Lesson 2: Courtesy essentials per favore ("pehr fah-VOH-reh") — please; use it for every request grazie ("GRAHT-see-eh") — thank you; z has a little ts buzz, not "grassy"; say with smile and eye contact prego ("PREH-goh") — you're welcome; also used by shopkeepers to invite you in scusi ("SKOO-zee") / mi scusi ("mee SKOO-zee") — excuse me; formal version for strangers and older folks permesso ("pehr-MEHS-soh") — excuse me, let me through; the crowded-bus word Demo dialogue: trattoria in Rome — buonasera, per favore un caffè, prego, grazie, scusi/mi scusi after knocking over a glass Cultural no
Italian For Gringos Lesson 1 Greetings Introductions 2026 10 04
Lesson 1: Greetings & Introductions buongiorno ("bwon-JOR-no") — good morning/good day, used until ~5 PM; greet shopkeepers first, always buonasera ("bwo-NAH-SEH-rah") — good evening; every vowel gets its moment ciao ("chow") — informal hello/goodbye, for friends not the hotel manager arrivederci ("ah-ree-veh-DEHR-chee") — goodbye, stress on DEHR mi chiamo ("mee kee-AH-moh") — my name is; mi chiamo Devon piacere ("pyah-CHEH-reh") — pleased to meet you come stai ("KOH-meh STY") — how are you; bene ("BEH-neh") — good/well Demo dialogue: hotel reception in Florence — buonasera, mi chiamo, piacere