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🇮🇹 Italian · Beginner Level 1

PART 1 · LESSON 1 OF 30 · 30 MINUTES Free

Welcome to Bologna

Laura, a cook from Boston, arrives in Bologna with her grandmother's notebook of recipes, which she can't read. Matteo opens the door of the pasta school, and at nine o'clock her grandmother calls. Say good evening and who you are, use the polite you with a stranger and the friendly you with family, and answer the question every Italian grandmother asks every day.

Audio instruction: English

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Lesson 1 · Welcome to Bologna

Italian · 30 minutes

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THE STORY

Laura Santilli, a cook from Boston, has her grandmother's notebook of recipes in her suitcase. It's written in Italian, and she can't read a word of it. She has promised her grandmother to find the village in the mountains where she was born, and the house. First, four weeks at a school of handmade pasta in Bologna. It's Saturday evening, and Laura rings at a heavy wooden door under the arches. At nine o'clock, her phone rings. This is the conversation you'll be able to say by the end of the lesson.

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Words and phrases

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Buonasera!bwoh-nah-SEH-rahGood evening!
Leilayyou, the polite way
Lei èlay ehyou are, the polite way
Lei è Laura?lay eh LOW-rahAre you Laura? The polite way.
sìseeyes
sonoSOH-nohI am
Sì, sono Laura.see SOH-noh LOW-rahYes, I'm Laura.
Santillisahn-TEEL-leeSantilli
Piacere!pyah-CHEH-rehNice to meet you!
ioEE-ohI
Matteomaht-TEH-ohMatteo
Io sono Matteo.EE-oh SOH-noh maht-TEH-ohI'm Matteo, with the word for I.
benvenutabehn-veh-NOO-tahwelcome, to a woman
Bolognaboh-LOH-nyahBologna
a Bolognaah boh-LOH-nyahto Bologna, in Bologna
Benvenuta a Bologna!behn-veh-NOO-tah ah boh-LOH-nyahWelcome to Bologna! To a woman.
Grazie!GRAH-tsyehThank you!
benvenutobehn-veh-NOO-tohwelcome, to a man
pregoPREH-gohplease, go ahead
entriEHN-treecome in, the polite way
Prego, entri!PREH-goh EHN-treePlease, come in! The polite way.
Pronto?PROHN-tohHello? On the phone.
NonnaNOHN-nahGrandma
Ciao!chowHi!
tesoroteh-SOH-rohsweetheart, word for word treasure
comeKOH-mehhow
Come stai?KOH-meh styeHow are you? The friendly way.
beneBEH-nehfine, well
e tueh tooand you, the friendly way
Bene, grazie. E tu?BEH-neh GRAH-tsyeh eh tooFine, thanks. And you? The friendly way.
seisayyou are, the friendly way
Sei a Bologna?say ah boh-LOH-nyahAre you in Bologna? The friendly way.
haieyeyou have, the friendly way
mangiatomahn-JAH-toheaten
Hai mangiato?eye mahn-JAH-tohHave you eaten? The friendly way.
nonohno
Mangia!MAHN-jahEat! The friendly way.
tortellini in brodotohr-tehl-LEE-nee een BROH-dohtortellini in broth
per Leipehr layfor you, the polite way
signorasee-NYOH-rahma'am
bravoBRAH-vohwell done, to a man
Che bello!keh BEHL-lohHow beautiful!
stancaSTAHN-kahtired, said of a woman
stancoSTAHN-kohtired, said of a man
Ha mangiato?ah mahn-JAH-tohHave you eaten? The polite way.
sono la nonna di LauraSOH-noh lah NOHN-nah dee LOW-rahI'm Laura's grandmother
a Bostonah BOHS-tohnin Boston
Buonanotte!bwoh-nah-NOHT-tehGood night!