Start with a 90-day trial.
The ninety days start when you pass the first sentence.
Italiano
Learn Italiano
Speak in a room where the decision costs something: a position, a reason, a concession, and a next step.
Twenty-four classes. Hear the line, say it, then say it about your own life.
Say the first sentenceThe sentences
1
Your name
Say hello, your name, where you are from, and goodbye.
Buongiorno. Mi chiamo ____. Sono di ____. Piacere.
Good morning. My name is ____. I am from ____. A pleasure.
2
The family
Name a relative and a job.
Questa è la mia famiglia. Ho un fratello. Mia madre è medico.
This is my family. I have a brother. My mother is a doctor.
3
The day
Say when you get up and that you work.
Mi alzo alle sette. Lavoro. Mangio alle sei.
I get up at seven. I work. I eat at six.
4
A real need
Ask for help and ask them to slow down.
Ho bisogno di aiuto. Più lentamente, per favore.
I need help. More slowly, please.
5
Yesterday
Say three things that finished yesterday.
Ieri ho lavorato. Sono tornato alle sei. Ho cenato a casa.
Yesterday I worked. I got back at six. I had dinner at home.
6
Tomorrow
Say what you are going to do tomorrow.
Domani lavoro. Chiamo mia madre.
Tomorrow I work. I call my mother.
7
Getting there
Ask the way and say how you go.
Come arrivo in centro? Vado a piedi. L'autobus va in centro.
How do I get downtown? I go on foot. The bus goes downtown.
8
The phone
Open a call, ask for someone, and leave a time.
Buongiorno, sono ____. Posso parlare con ____? Può richiamare più tardi?
Hello, this is ____. May I speak with ____? Can you call back later?
9
What happened
Set the scene, then say what finished.
Ieri pioveva. Sono uscito tardi. Ho perso l'autobus.
Yesterday it was raining. I left late. I missed the bus.
10
What you think
Give an opinion, then a doubt with the subjunctive.
Penso che sia una buona idea. Non penso che sia facile.
I think it is a good idea. I don't think it is easy.
11
When it breaks
Say what failed, ask for someone, and move the meeting.
Internet non funziona. Può mandare qualcuno? Possiamo spostare la riunione?
The internet does not work. Can you send someone? Can we move the meeting?
12
The work
Say your role and what you have finished.
Lavoro come analista. Ho finito il rapporto.
I work as an analyst. I have finished the report.
13
A disagreement
Grant one point, then differ.
Capisco il suo punto. Però non sono d'accordo. Propongo un'altra data.
I understand your point. But I don't agree. I propose another date.
14
Far away
Say what you would do if you lived closer.
Se abitassimo più vicini, ci vedremmo più spesso.
If we lived closer, we would see each other more often.
15
The news
Report what a paper said, and refuse a hot take.
Il giornale dice che la decisione è difficile. È presto per concludere.
The paper says the decision is difficult. It is early to conclude.
16
The email
Say the email: what you send, what you need, and by when.
Le scrivo per inviare il contratto. Le chiedo una risposta entro venerdì.
I am writing you to send the contract. I ask you for an answer by Friday.
17
What you mean
Restate the point and ask if you are wrong.
Quindi, Lei vuole cambiare la data. Sbaglio?
So you want to change the date. Am I wrong?
18
A hard conversation
Start with the difficulty, then make one request.
È difficile dirlo. Non è un attacco. Ho bisogno di aiuto in casa.
It is hard to say. It is not an attack. I need help at home.
19
The real issue
Move the argument onto what it is about.
Non si tratta di soldi. Si tratta di fiducia.
It is not about money. It is about trust.
20
The deal
Concede one thing with a condition, and repeat the deal.
Accetto la data se il prezzo non cambia. Ripeto: voi consegnate, noi installiamo.
I accept the date if the price does not change. I repeat: you deliver, we install.
21
The joke
Keep the joke with friends and the plain sentence at work.
Con gli amici è divertente. Al lavoro dico la frase semplice.
With friends it is funny. At work I say the plain sentence.
22
The table
Give a one-line toast, and a condolence that stops.
A questo incontro. Che stiate bene. Le mie condoglianze. Ci sono, se serve.
To this meeting. May you be well. My condolences. I am here if needed.
23
Any topic
Stay in a topic you only half know.
Quindi, Lei parla di ____. Può dirlo in modo più semplice? Posso spiegare l'idea, non il termine.
So you are talking about ____. Can you say it more simply? I can explain the idea, not the term.
24
The room
Say a position, one reason, one concession, and a next step.
La mia posizione: cominciamo lunedì. La ragione: il testo è pronto. La concessione: accetto una rilettura. Il passo: Lei conferma oggi.
My position: we start Monday. The reason: the text is ready. The concession: I accept a reread. The step: you confirm today.