In Italian most words end in a vowel (a,e,i,o,u). Names for things usually end in -o or -a: gelato (ice cream), birra (beer) If they end in -o they are called masculine nouns If they end in -a they are called feminine nouns NB. Some nouns end in -e and can be either (Learn them as you go a long) However, nouns ending in -ore are normally masculine and those ending in -zione are normally feminine. The, a and an: il (the) and un (a, an) are used with masculine nouns. la (the) and una (a, an) are used with feminine nouns. l' (the) is used with masculine or feminine nouns beginning with a vowel. Examples: il gelato (the ice cream) la birra (the beer) l'amico (the friend, male) l'amica (the friend, female) un te (a tea) una parola (a word)

Nouns and Articles

In Italian most words end in a vowel (a,e,i,o,u). Names for things usually end in -o or -a: gelato (ice cream), birra (beer) If they end in -o they are called masculine nouns If they end in -a they are called feminine nouns NB. Some nouns end in -e and can be either (Learn them as you go a long) However, nouns ending in -ore are normally masculine and those ending in -zione are normally feminine. The, a and an: il (the) and un (a, an) are used with masculine nouns. la (the) and una (a, an) are used with feminine nouns. l' (the) is used with masculine or feminine nouns beginning with a vowel. Examples: il gelato (the ice cream) la birra (the beer) l'amico (the friend, male) l'amica (the friend, female) un te (a tea) una parola (a word)

Greetings

Buongiorno (lit: good day) - hello, good morning, goodbye

Buonasera (lit: good evening) - used for late afternoon and evening

Buonanotte - goodnight

Arrivederci - goodbye (at any time of the day)

NB. Italians normally use titles when addressing each other formally:

Buongiorno, signore (Good morning, sir)

Buongiorno, signora (Good morning, madam)

Buonasera, signorina (Good evening miss)

Grazie, dottore. Arrivederci! (Thank you, Doctor. Goodbye)

Saying 'please' and 'thank you'

Grazie (thank you)
Prego (not at all, don't mention it)
Per favore (please)
Per piacere (please)

NB. When someone is offering you something say yes thanks or no thanks. In this instance Italians don't say 'yes please' like we do! For example:

Un caffe, Harriet? (A coffee Harriet?)
Si, grazie. (Yes please)
Un cioccolata, Harriet? (A hot chocolate Harriet?)
No, grazie. (No thanks)

And in response to thanks Italians instinctively reply with prego:

Grazie. (Thank you)
Prego. (Not at all, you're welcome, don't mention it.)

Buongornio. Come stai?

Buongiorno. Come stai? (Good morning. How are you?)
Bene, grazie. E tu? (Well, thank you. And you?)
Molto bene, grazie. (Very well, thank you)

Parla Italiano?

Parla italiano? (Do you speak Italian?)
Si. Parlo italiano. (Yes. I speak Italian)
No. Mi dispiace. Non parlo italiano. (No. I'm sorry. I do not speak Italian)

Parlo italiano. (I speak Italian.)
Non parlo italiano. (I don't speak Italian.)
Parla italiano? (Do you speak Italian?)
Parla inglese? (Do you speak English?)