Living in Italian
by Adesso Italian
Real-life Italian for life in Italy, from Adesso Italian. Three short episodes a week on real situations (the pharmacy, the landlord, the comune), Kate's diary every Saturday, and every Sunday Adesso, parliamo!, a relaxed conversation in natural Italian with Kate, Giulia and Paolo. Every script is written for real life in Italy.
Episodes
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At the hairdresser: just a trim, please
Booking by phone, then sitting in the chair. Learn how to ask for a trim, how much to cut, the fringe and the blow-dry, and why your hair is plural in Italian. Key phrases Vorrei prenotare un taglio.: I'd like to book a haircut. Le va bene venerdì alle cinque?: Does Friday at five suit you? Solo...
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Adesso, parliamo! 3: Why do Italians love opera so much?
Kate's first opera: Rigoletto from the gallery of the Teatro Regio in Parma. Giulia explains why Verdi was the pop star of his time, when to clap (and when not to), and the music words English borrowed from Italian. Just listen: the whole conversation is in natural Italian, with Kate and Giulia....
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Kate's diary: the aperitivo
Friday evening in via del Pratello: spritz, snacks, the unwritten rules of the Italian aperitivo, and Lorenzo, a friend of a colleague, who asks Kate for her number. Key phrases Facciamo l'aperitivo?: Shall we go for an aperitivo? Cosa ci fai a Bologna?: What brings you to Bologna? Mi dai il tuo...
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At the deli counter: take a number, order by the etto
Prosciutto, mortadella and parmigiano at the supermarket deli counter. Learn how to wait your turn, ask for thin slices, and say yes when they cut a little more than you asked for. Key phrases Sono io!: That's me! Mi dica.: Go ahead, what would you like? Due etti di prosciutto crudo, tagliato...
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At the market: a kilo, half a kilo and two etti
Fruit, vegetables and olives at an Italian market stall. Learn how to ask for quantities the Italian way, why you shouldn't touch the tomatoes, and the little words that make the seller smile. Key phrases Cosa le do?: What can I get you? Vorrei un chilo di mele.: I'd like a kilo of apples. Mezzo...
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At the bar: your first Italian breakfast
Cappuccino, cornetto, and the receipt you sometimes pay for first. Learn how to order breakfast at an Italian bar, at the counter or at a table, and the little words every barista uses. Key phrases Cosa le preparo?: What can I make for you? Un cappuccino e un cornetto, per favore.: A cappuccino…
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Adesso, parliamo! 2: Ordering wine in Italy without looking like a tourist
Kate and Paolo talk about wine: grandad Gino's Lambrusco, how to order house wine without looking like a tourist, why you never put ice in red wine, and the rules of an Italian toast. Just listen: the whole conversation is in natural Italian, with Kate and Paolo. The English translation of every...
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Kate's diary: the wrong flowers
Kate buys flowers for a colleague's birthday and picks the one flower you never give in Italy. Plus All Saints' Day, a Halloween party, and what she has learned about embarrassment. Key phrases Che figura!: How embarrassing! Sono per un compleanno.: They're for a birthday. Sono diventata rossa.…
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Your neighbours: life in an Italian condominium
Meeting a neighbour on the stairs, the rules for the bins, the building manager and the famous condominium meeting. Learn how to introduce yourself and ask the questions every newcomer has. Key phrases Sono la nuova vicina.: I'm the new neighbour (said by a woman). Posso chiederle una cosa?: Can…
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At the bank: opening your first Italian account
Your salary, your rent and your bills all need an Italian bank account. Learn what to say to open one, the questions the bank will ask, and the words on every bank statement. Key phrases Vorrei aprire un conto corrente.: I'd like to open a current account. Ha con sé un documento?: Do you have ID...
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At the post office: collecting and sending
A slip of paper in your mailbox means a letter is waiting for you. Learn how to collect a registered letter, send a parcel abroad, and fill in the customs form, all in Italian. Key phrases Devo ritirare una raccomandata.: I need to collect a registered letter. Ecco l'avviso.: Here's the notice.…
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Adesso, parliamo! 1: Am I a different person in Italian?
Am I a different person in Italian? Kate and Giulia talk about how a new language changes you: louder, more hands, more compliments. Plus Kate's first Italian joke, her first dream in Italian, and why interrupting isn't always rude in Italy. Just listen: the whole conversation is in natural...
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Kate's diary: a new life in Bologna
Meet Kate: from Manchester, five years in London, one year in Bologna, a job in a wine company and a flat in via Mascarella. Her street, her bakery, a very curious neighbour, and how it feels to be a different person in another language. Key phrases Da un anno vivo a Bologna.: I've lived in…
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The family doctor: booking a visit
A cough that won't go away and a phone call to your family doctor. Learn how to book a visit, describe what you have, spell your name the Italian way, and what to bring. Key phrases Vorrei prendere un appuntamento.: I'd like to make an appointment. Ho la tosse da una settimana.: I've had a cough...
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At the comune: registering your new address
Residency, the anagrafe and a visit from the local police. Learn what to say at the comune to register your new address, the questions they'll ask, and why your name should be on the doorbell. Key phrases Vorrei fare il cambio di residenza.: I'd like to register my new address. Ecco una copia del...
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The boiler is broken: calling your landlord
No hot water, a blinking red light, and a phone call in Italian. Learn how to explain the problem to your landlord, set up a visit from the technician, and who pays for what. Key phrases Scusi il disturbo.: Sorry to bother you. La caldaia non funziona.: The boiler isn't working. Da ieri sera non...
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The codice fiscale: how to get your tax code
You can't rent a flat, open a bank account or see a doctor in Italy without it. Learn what to say at the tax office to get your codice fiscale, what they'll ask you, and why it's sixteen letters and numbers long. Key phrases Ha la prenotazione?: Do you have a booking? Devo richiedere il codice...
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At the pharmacy: what to say at the counter
A headache, a pharmacy, and a pharmacist with questions. Learn how to ask for what you need, answer the two questions you'll always hear, and why Italian pharmacies ask for your tax code at the till. Key phrases Mi dica.: How can I help? (literally: tell me) Vorrei una medicina per il mal di...
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Welcome to Living in Italian
One real situation from life in Italy, every Wednesday, in under ten minutes. Hear the full conversation, take it apart line by line, then say it out loud. Episode one: the pharmacy. Find out where to start with the free level test: Find your level The voices in this episode are AI-generated.…
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About this show
Real-life Italian for life in Italy, from Adesso Italian. Three short episodes a week on real situations (the pharmacy, the landlord, the comune), Kate's diary every Saturday, and every Sunday Adesso, parliamo!, a relaxed conversation in natural Italian with Kate, Giulia and Paolo. Every script is written for real life in Italy.
Hosted by
Adesso Italian