European Travel Phrase Book | Language Advisor

The

®

European Travel Phrase Book

A Bundle of Spanish, Italian, French, and GermanTranslations

The Everything® Series Editors

Avon, Massachusetts

Copyright © 2010 by F+W Media, Inc.

epub eISBN 10: 1-4405-1258-2

epub eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-1258-2

pdf eISBN 10: 1-4405-1259-0

pdf eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-1259-9

Contains material adapted and abridged from TheEverything® Spanish Phrase Book, by Cari Luna,copyright © 2004 by F+W Media Inc., ISBN 10:1-4405-0505-5, ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-0505-8;The Everything® French Phrase Book, by LauraK. Lawless, copyright © 2005 by F+W Media Inc.,ISBN 10: 1-59337-144-6, ISBN 13: 978-1-59337-144-9; The Everything® Italian Phrase Book, byRonald Glenn Wrigley, M.A., copyright © 2009 byF+W Media Inc., ISBN 10: 1-59869-756-0, ISBN13: 978-1-59869-756-8; The Everything® German

Table of Contents

Introduction

Spanish

Introduction to Spanish

Essential Spanish

Meeting People

Airports and Hotels

Getting Around Town

Time for Dinner

Shopping and Services

Out on the Town

Idioms, Sayings, and Slang

Spanish to English Dictionary

English to Spanish Dictionary

Italian

Introduction to Italian

Essential Italian

Meeting People

Airports and Hotels

Getting Around Town

Time for Dinner


Out on the Town

In the Community

Common Italian Idioms, Expressions, and Slang

Italian to English Dictionary

English to Italian Dictionary

French

Introduction to French

French Grammar Basics

Essential French

Meeting People

Airports and Hotels

Getting Around Town

Time for Dinner


Out on the Town

In the Community

Miscellaneous French

Common French Expressions

French to English Dictionary

English to French Dictionary

German

Introduction to German

German Grammar Basics

Essential German

Meeting People

Airports and Hotels

Getting Around Town

Time for Dinner


Activities and Entertainment

In the Community

Miscellaneous German

Common German Expressions

German to English Dictionary

English to German Dictionary

Introduction

With Europe's cheap airfare and rail system,many travelers are visiting more and more ofEurope. To enhance your time in Barcelona, Paris,Florence, Berlin, and other exciting Europeancities, you should have a basic understanding of thelanguage spoken there.

This book is an easy-to-use resource that can beutilized as a quick refresher or reference guide forSpanish, Italian, French, and German. For thoselooking to brush up on their language skills or starta conversation, the book offers an introduction topronunciation and grammar, which will aid you inconstructing basic, natural sounding sentences.Transliteration charts will help you pronounceeach vocabulary word and phrase properly andwith ease. Also, the thematic organization of thebook makes it simple to find the information you'relooking for and covers all the subjects you are

likely to encounter in your travels—from reservinga hotel room or ordering dinner at a restaurant tousing a cell phone or changing a flight.

Havi ng The Everything® European TravelPhrase Book right at your fingertips will give youthe confidence you need to explore those places offthe beaten path that few travelers ever visit. Youwill discover the world's gems, learn interestingnew facts, handle unexpected situations, andcertainly make the most of your stay!

Happy travels! ¡Buen viaje! Bon voyage! Buonviaggio! Gute Reise!

TIntroduction to Spanish

his chapter is by no means intended to replaceformal Spanish instruction or a Spanish textbook.What it will give you is a basic understanding ofSpanish pronunciation and grammar, to put thephrases you'll find later in the book into aframework. We hope that this basic introductionwill serve you well as you explore the rest of thisbook. In the next chapter, we jump right intoconversation. ¡Buena suerte! Good luck!

A Guide to PronunciationSpanish isn't a difficult language to pronounce. Justremember to relax your mouth and use your lips.We don't really use our lips all that much inEnglish, but you'll need them in Spanish, so don'tbe afraid to put them out there!

The great thing about Spanish pronunciation is that

it sounds exactly the way it's spelled. In English,“car” and “cat” have two different vowel soundsin spite of their similar spellings. In Spanish, theletter “a” always represents one particular sound.

Even more conveniently, there are two simplerules that govern which syllable in any word isnormally accented:

1. In words that end in a vowel (–a, –e, –i, –o, –u),“–s,” or “–n,” the stress normally falls on thesecond-to-last syllable. For example: mano(MAH-noh), hand; playas (PLAH-yahs),beaches; cantaban (kahn-TAH-bahn), they sang.

2. In words that end in any consonant except “–s”or “–n,” the stress normally falls on the lastsyllable. For example: verdad (vehr-DAHD),truth; azul (ah-SOOL), blue; luz (loos), light.

However, some words don't follow these tworules. To let the readers know how these wordsshould be stressed in pronunciation, Spanish

employs an acute accent mark ( ’ ) over the vowelto indicate the stressed syllable. For example:lápiz (LAH-pees), pencil; médico (MEH-dee-coh), doctor; música (MOO-see-kah), music. Theaccent mark might also be used to differentiate twowords with same spelling but different meaning:dónde (DOHN-deh), where (question word);donde (DOHN-deh), where (as a preposition).

The Pronunciation Guide chart will certainly helpyou with pronunciation, but nothing works as wellas getting the sound of the language in your ear. Tolearn to pronounce Spanish words, listen to thespoken language. Listening to Spanish on TV, theradio, or the city bus will get your ear accustomedto the sounds, and you'll find it much easier torecreate them yourself.

Pronunciation Guide

Letter Sound Example Pronunciationa ah ala (wing) AH-lab b bolsa (bag) BOHL-sah

c s before i, e; centro(center)

SEHN-troh

k in all other cases casa(house) KAH-sah

ch ch coche (car) KOH-cheh

d d dedo(finger) DEH-do

e eh estar (to be) eh-STAHRf f falso (false) FAHL-soh

g a hard gente(people), HEHN-the

h sound before e, i; a hard gsound in all other cases

gracias(thanks)

GRAH-see-ahs

h silent hola (hi) OH-lah

i ee igual(equal) ee-GWAHL

j a hard h jabón(soap) hah-BOHN

k k in words kilo(kilogram) KEE-loh

of foreign originl l lado (side) LAH-doh

ll y llamar (tocall) yah-MAHR

m m muy (very) mui

n nnunca(never) NUHN-kah

ñ ny mañana mah-NYAH-nah

(tomorrow)o oh ojo (eye) OH-hohp p pelo (hair) PEH-loh

q k quince(fifteen) KEEN-seh

r a hard r radio(radio) RAH-dee-oh

rr a rolled r perro (dog) PEH-rrohs s sol (sun) sohlt t todo (all) TOH-dohu oo útil (useful) OO-tihlv v vivo (alive) VEE-voh

w w in words of foreign origin whisky(whisky) WEES-kih

x ks éxito(success) EHKS-ee-toh

y y yerno (son-in-law) YEHR-noh

z s plaza(square) PLAH-sah

The u, which is usually pronounced as oo, presentsa challenge when it follows the letter g. If the

combination gu is followed by a it's alwayspronounced like oo—guardia (policeman)GWAHR-dee-ah. If it's followed by e or i it'ssilent, and it's only pronounced as oo when itcarries the umlaut (¨): nicaragüense (Nicaraguan)is pronounced nee-cah-rah-GWEHN-seh.

The Spanish You Already KnowNow that you've gotten a quick introduction toSpanish pronunciation, it's time to go on to Spanishvocabulary. Fortunately, you already know moreSpanish than you probably realize, because Englishand Spanish share many cognates—words thatshare a similar meaning and spelling because theyoriginated from the same word. Study the cognatesprovided here, and you'll have a head start onbuilding a strong Spanish vocabulary.

Cognates

English Spanishactor actor

ahk-TOHR

animal animalah-nee-MAHL

apart aparteah-PAHR-teh

appreciation apreciaciónah-preh-see-ah-see-OHN

banana bananabah-NAH-nah

biography biografíabee-oh-grah-FEE-ah

color colorkoh-LOHR

comfortable confortablekohn-fohr-TAH-bleh

cruel cruelkroo-EHL

dictionary diccionariodeek-see-ohn-AH-ree-oh

family familiafah-MEE-lee-ah

grave (serious) graveGRAH-veh

horrible horribleoh-RREE-bleh

hospital hospitalhohs-pee-TAHL

hotel hotel

oh-TEHL

music músicaMOO-see-kah

natural naturalnah-too-RAHL

opinion opiniónoh-pee-NYOHN

origin origenoh-REE-hen

park (noun) parquePAHR-keh

possible posiblepoh-SEE-bleh

radio radioRAH-dee-oh

resist resistirreh-sees-TEER

restaurant restauranterehs-taoo-RAHN-teh

revision revisiónreh-vee-see-OHN

revolution revoluciónreh-voh-loo-see-OHN

ritual ritualree-too-AHL

tropical tropicaltroh-pee-KAHL

university universidadoo-nee-vehr-see-DAHD

Beware the False Friend!Don't assume a word is a cognate just because itsounds like an English word you know. Somew o r d s look and sound like they should becognates, but they aren't—they actually mean twodifferent things in two different languages. Misusesome of these false cognates, and the results couldbe rather embarrassing.

Common False Cognates

actual current

ahk-too-AHL

asistir to attend

ah-sees-TEEHR

atender to serve

ah-tehn-DEHR

compromiso commitment

kohm-proh-MEE-soh

decepción disappointment

deh-sehp-see-OHN

embarazada pregnant

ehm-bah-rah-SAH-dah

éxito success

EHK-see-toh

largo long

LAHR-goh

molestar to bother

moh-lehs-TAHR

pretender to try

preh-tehn-DEHR

recordar to remember

reh-kohr-DAHR

ropa clothing

ROH-pah

sano healthy

SAH-noh

simpático nice

seem-PAH-tee-koh

Now that you've gotten a bit of pronunciationpractice and started to build a bit of vocabulary,the next step is a quick introduction to Spanishgrammar.

Nouns and ArticlesIn Spanish, just as in English, nouns are words forpeople, places, and things. The difference inSpanish, however, is that each noun has a gender:It is either masculine or feminine. The gender ofthe noun will determine what article it takes.

In the SingularFor example, bolígrafo is the Spanish word for“pen.” It's masculine, so to say “the pen” wewould use the masculine article el. On the otherhand, casa (house) is a feminine noun. To say “thehouse” we would use the feminine article la. Forindefinite articles, use un for masculine nouns anduna for feminine nouns.

Singular Spanish Articles

el ehl the (masculine)la lah the (feminine)un oon a (masculine)una OO-nah a (feminine)

How do you know which nouns are masculine andwhich are feminine? Generally, masculine nounsend with –o, and feminine nouns end with –a. Ofcourse, there are exceptions, which will have to bememorized. Don't worry, though! Mistakes with thegender of a noun are common, and you'll still beunderstood. As long as you're aware that there issuch a thing as noun gender, there's no need toagonize over it. As you become more familiar withthe language, the correct article will come to younaturally.

In the PluralJust as in English, a Spanish noun is made pluralby adding either –s or –es to the singular form.However, in Spanish, the articles that accompanythe nouns also have singular and plural forms andstill retain their gender differences. For example,el bolígrafo becomes los bolígrafos; la casabecomes las casas.

There's also a difference in the use of indefinite

articles in the plural. In English, we drop “a” or“an” when the noun is plural, whereas in Spanish,the articles un and una are made plural and may betranslated as “some.” So, “(some) pens” are unosbolígrafos and “(some) houses” are unas casas.

Plural Spanish Articles

los lohs the (masculine)las lahs the (feminine)unos OO-nohs some (masculine)unas OO-nahs some (feminine)

From Noun to PronounA pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun.Subject pronouns are not used as often in spokenSpanish as in English, because they are implied bythe verb ending used. For example, it would becorrect to say: yo soy americana (I am American).However, what you're much more likely to hear inactual conversation is: soy americana. Becausesoy is the first-person singular conjugation of the

verb ser (to be), the “I” is clear even without thepronoun.

Personal Subject Pronouns

yo yoh Itú too you (singular, informal)usted oo-STEHD you (singular, formal)él ehl heella EHY-yah shenosotros noh-SOH-trohs wenosotras noh-SOH-trahs we (feminine)vosotros voh-SOH-trohs you (plural, used in Spain)vosotras voh-SOH-trahs you (plural, feminine, used in Spain)ustedes oo-STEH-dehs you (plural)ellos EHY-yohs theyellas EHY-yahs they (feminine)

You and YouSo when do you use tú and when do you use usted?When addressing one person, you need to chooseeither the formal (usted) or the informal (tú) wayof saying “you.” If you are speaking to a child or a

friend, use the tú form. Otherwise, it's best to erron the side of formality and use usted.

And what about vosotros and ustedes? Thedistinction is easy—you'll only hear vosotros usedin Spain. For the most part, the rest of the Spanish-speaking world uses ustedes for the plural form of“you,” whether the address is formal or informal.If you are in Spain, the guidelines for choosingbetween vosotros and ustedes are the same asthose for tú and usted—it depends on the degree offormality.

Be aware that because there are informal andformal ways of addressing people, thesedistinctions do carry meaning. For example, if younormally use tú with a friend and then switch tousted, you may be expressing anger or a desire todistance yourself from that person. Similarly, ifyou use tú when addressing an older person or onein a position of respect, such as a judge or policeofficer, then that choice indicates intentional

disrespect.

Verbs and ConjugationA verb is a word that shows action. Verbs need tobe conjugated to express who is doing the actionand when it's being done. Regular Spanish verbsare conjugated by dropping the infinitive ending(–ar, –er, or –ir) and attaching the appropriateending. Most of the verbs in this book are in thepresent tense—other tenses are beyond the scopeof this phrase book. If this is a topic that interestsyou, we encourage you to seek more in-depthSpanish language instruction or pick up TheEverything® Spanish Verb Book.

Regular Verb Endings

Subject Pronoun –ar –er –iryo –o –o –o

tú –as –es –es

él, ella, usted –a –e –e

nosotros, nosotras –amos –emos –imos

vosotros, vosotras –áis –éis –ís

ellos, ellas, ustedes –an –en –en

Here are three sample conjugations of regularverbs.

BUSCAR: to look for (–ar verb)yo busco (BOO-skoh)tú buscas (BOO-skahs)él, ella, usted busca (BOO-skah)nosotros buscamos (boo-SKAH-mohs)vosotros buscáis (boo-SKAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes buscan (BOO-skahn)

VENDER: to sell (–er verb)yo vendo (VEHN-doh)tú vendes (VEHN-dehs)él, ella, usted vende (VEHN-deh)nosotros vendemos (vehn-DEH-mohs)vosotros vendéis (vehn-DEHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes venden (VEHN-dehn)

VIVIR: to live (–ir verb)yo vivo (VEE-vo)

yo vivo (VEE-vo)tú vives (VEE-vehs)él, ella, usted vive (VEE-veh)nosotros vivimos (vee-VEE-mohs)vosotros vivís (vee-VEES)ellos, ellas, ustedes viven (VEE-vehn)

Irregular verb conjugations vary from this format.They might have modified spelling toaccommodate correct pronunciation, or they mightsound markedly different from the infinitive.Irregular verb conjugations need to be memorized.

IR: to go (irregular)yo voy (voy)tú vas (vahs)él, ella, usted va (vah)nosotros vamos (vAH-mohs)vosotros vais (vahys)ellos, ellas, ustedes van (vahn)

Reflexive VerbsA reflexive verb is one that describes an action

A reflexive verb is one that describes an actionthat the subject takes upon itself. An example of areflexive verb is llamarse, literally “to calloneself.” In Spanish, this verb is used to say “myname is . . ."

Yo me llamo Susan.My name is Susan.

Tú te llamas Roberto.Your name is Robert.

Reflexive Pronouns

me meh myself

te teh yourself (singular, informal)

se seh himself, herself, yourself, themselves, yourselves

nos nohs ourselves

os ohs yourselves (plural, informal in Spain)

WEssential Spanish

hat day is today? Where is my hotel room?When will the museum be open? How is theweather? This chapter presents the vocabulary youneed to help you get the answers to these basicquestions—and many others—and prepare you tostart communicating in Spanish.

Count on ItSpanish numbers aren't hard to learn. You'll noticethere's a pattern to them, just as there is in English.All you have to do is remember that pattern. Forexample, in English the word for 21 is acombination of “twenty” and “one.” Same inSpanish, where 21 is veintiuno (veinte and uno). Itreally is that simple! Take a look at the followingchart. You'll master numbers in no time.

Counting (Cardinal) Numbers

0 ceroSEH-roh

1 unoOO-noh

2 dosdohs

3 trestrehs

4 cuatroKWAH-troh

5 cincoSEEN-koh

6 seissehys

7 sietesee-EH-teh

8 ochoOH-choh

9 nuevenoo-EH-veh

10 diezdee-EHS

11 onceOHN-seh

12 doceDOH-seh

13 treceTREH-seh

14 catorcekah-TOHR-seh

15 quinceKEEN-seh

16 dieciséis (diez y seis)dee-ehs-ee-SEHYS

17 diecisietedee-ehs-ee-see-EH-teh

18 dieciochodee-ehs-ee-OH-choh

19 diecinuevedee-ehs-ee-noo-EH-veh

20 veinteVEYN-teh

21 veintiuno (veinte y uno)veyn-tee-OO-noh

22 veintidósveyn-tee-DOHS

23 veintitrésveyn-tee-TREHS

24 veinticuatroveyn-tee-KWAH-troh

25 veinticincoveyn-tee-SEEN-koh

26

veintiséisveyn-tee-SEHYS

27 veintisieteveyn-tee-see-EH-teh

28 veintiochoveyn-tee-OH-choh

29 veintinueveveyn-tee-noo-EH-veh

30 treintaTREHYN-tah

40 cuarentakwah-REHN-tah

50 cincuentaseen-KWEHN-tah

60 sesentaseh-SEHN-tah

70 setentaseh-TEHN-tah

80 ochentaoh-CHEN-tah

90 noventanoh-VEHN-tah

100 ciensee-EHN

101 ciento unosee-EHN-toh OO-noh

200 doscientos

doh-see-EHN-tohs300 trescientos

treh-see-EHN-tohs

400 cuatrocientoskwah-troh-see-EHN-tohs

500 quinientoskee-nee-EHN-tohs

1,000 milmeel

2,000 dos mildohs meel

10,000 diez mildee-EHS meel

100,000 cien milsee-EHN meel

1,000,000 un millónoon mee-YOHN

2,000,000 dos millonesdohs mee-YOHN-ehs

First, Second, and So OnSo let's say you are traveling and after registeringat a hotel you need to find out where your room is.You ask, ¿Dónde está mi cuarto? (DOHN-dehehs-TAH mee KWAHR-toh). The answer might

be, En el segundo piso—on the second floor. Inthis example, “second” is an ordinal number,because it describes the numerical order of thenoun.

Ordinal numbers are adjectives, and that meansthey have to agree with the noun they modify. Thatis, your room may be on the segundo piso, but yoursecond-born daughter would be your segunda hija.The following table presents the singularmasculine forms.

Ordinal Numbers

first primeropree-MEHR-oh

second segundoseh-GOON-doh

third tercerotehr-SEH-roh

fourth cuartoKWAHR-toh

fifth quintoKEEN-toh

sixth sextoSEX-toh

seventh séptimoSEHP-tee-moh

eight octavoohk-TAH-voh

ninth novenonoh-VEH-noh

tenth décimoDEH-see-moh

Note that in everyday Spanish, ordinal numbershigher than “tenth” are rarely used, so you mayhear someone say, Mi cuarto está en el piso doce.(My room is on floor twelve.) Sure, you COULDsay your room is on el duodécimo piso, but itwould sound a bit odd.

Telling TimeOkay, so you've learned your numbers in Spanish.Now what? One of the handy things you can dowith this newfound knowledge is telling time, ormore likely, understand the answer when you ask a

Spanish-speaker what time it is. Remember thatyou need to use the verb ser when talking abouttime.

Asking ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?) literallymeans, “What hour is it?” That means that the verbin the answer needs to agree with the number ofhours that it is:

Es la una.It's one o'clock.

Son las dos.It's two o'clock.

It's also common for people to use the expression¿Qué horas son? This is equally correct. Notealso that the hour of day is a feminine noun and sotakes the feminine article la.

Time of DayHere are some model phrases for telling the timeof day:

It's noon.Es el mediodía.ehs ehl meh-dee-oh-DEE-ah

It's midnight.Es la medianoche.ehs lah meh-dee-ah-NOH-cheh

It's 1:00.Es la una.ehs lah OO-nah

It's 2:00.Son las dos.sohn lahs dohs

It's 3:05.Son las tres y cinco.sohn lahs trehs ee SEEN-koh

It's 4:10.Son las cuatro y diez.sohn lahs KWAH-troh ee dee-EHS

It's 5:15.Son las cinco y cuarto.sohn lahs SEEN-koh ee KWAHR-toh

It's 6:20.Son las seis y veinte.sohn lahs sehys ee VEHYN-teh

It's 7:25.Son las siete y veinticinco.sohn lahs see-EH-teh ee vehyn-tee-SEEN-koh

It's 8:30.Son las ocho y media.sohn lahs OH-choh ee MEH-dee-ah

It's 9:35.Son las diez menos veinticinco.sohn lahs dee-EHS MEH-nohs-vehyn-tee-SEEN-koh

It's 10:40.Son las once menos veinte.

sohn lahs OHN-seh MEH-nohs VEHYN-teh

It's 11:45.Son las doce menos cuarto.sohn lahs DOH-seh MEH-nohs KWAHR-toh

It's 12:50.Es la una menos diez.ehs lah OO-nah MEH-nohs dee-EHS

It's 1:55.Son las dos menos cinco.sohn lahs dohs MEH-nohs SEEN-koh

Other Time Phrases

in the morning por la mañanapohr lah mah-NYAH-nah

in the afternoon por la tardepohr lah TAHR-deh

in the evening por la nochepohr lah NOH-cheh

At what time? ¿A qué hora?ah keh OH-rah

Since what time? ¿Desde qué hora?DEHS-deh keh OH-rah

Since two. Desde las dos.DEHS-deh lahs dohs

A half-hour ago. Hace media hora.AH-seh MEH-dee-ah OH-rah

a second un segundooon seh-GOON-doh

a minute un minutooon mee-NOO-toh

an hour una horaOO-nah OH-rah

Days of the Week, Months of theYearAh, vacation. Forget your cares, the stress of dailylife. Who cares what day of the week it is? Oreven what month? Well, it'll come in handy forremembering when you're supposed to get back onthat plane.

Days of the Week

day día

DEE-ah

Sunday domingodoh-MEEN-goh

Monday lunesLOO-nehs

Tuesday martesMAHR-tehs

Wednesday miércolesmee-YEHR-koh-lehs

Thursday juevesHWEH-vehs

Friday viernesvee-YEHR-nehs

Saturday sábadoSAH-bah-doh

Months of the Year

month mesmehs

January eneroeh-NEH-roh

February febrerofeh-BREHR-oh

March marzoMAHR-soh

April abrilah-BREEHL

May mayoMAH-yoh

June junioHOO-nee-oh

July julioHOO-lee-oh

August agostoah-GOHS-toh

September septiembresehp-tee-EHM-breh

October octubreohk-TOO-breh

November noviembrenoh-vee-EHM-breh

December diciembredee-see-EHM-breh

Seasons

season la estaciónlah eh-stah-see-OHN

winter el inviernoehl een-vee-EHR-noh

spring la primavera

lah pree-mah-VEHR-ah

summer el veranoehl vehr-AH-noh

fall el otoñoehl oh-TOH-nyoh

How's the Weather?Can't think of anything to say to that friendlylooking person standing next to you in the elevator?No matter the language, there's always that oldstandby: the weather. To talk about the weatheryou'll use the verbs hacer, “to do” or “to make,”and estar, which you'll learn more about in the nextchapter. You'll also use the word hay, an adverbialexpression that means “there is/are."

HACER: to do, to makeyo hago (AH-goh)tú haces (AH-sehs)él, ella, usted hace (AH-seh)nosotros hacemos (ah-SEH-mohs)vosotros hacéis (ah-SEYHS)

ellos, ellas, ustedes hacen (AH-sehn)

The literal translations for weather expressions inSpanish are a bit odd to the ear of the English-speaker. The equivalent of “It's cold” is Hace fríoin Spanish, which literally means “It makes cold."

How's the weather?¿Qué tiempo hace?keh tee-EHM-poh AH-seh

It's cold.Hace frío.AH-seh FREE-oh

It's cool.Hace fresco./Está fresco.AH-seh FREHS-koh/ehs-TAH FREHS-co

It's windy.Hay viento./Está ventoso.ahy vee-YEHN-toh/ehs-THA vehn-TOH-soh

It's bad weather.Hace mal tiempo.AH-seh mahl tee-EHM-poh

It's hot.Hace calor.AH-seh kah-LOHR

It's humid.Hay humedad.ahy oo-meh-DAHD

It's sunny.Hace sol.AH-seh sohl

It's nice weather.Hace buen tiempo.AH-seh bwehn tee-EHM-poh

It's cloudy.Está nublado.eh-STAH noo-BLAH-doh

It's raining.Está lloviendo.eh-STAH yoh-vee-EHN-doh

There's lightning.Hay relámpagos.ahy reh-LAHM-pah-gohs

There's thunder.Hay truenos.ahy trew-EH-nohs

It's snowing.Está nevando.eh-STAH neh-VAHN-doh

The key to learning any skill is to use it. Now thatyou know how to talk about the weather, why notget out there and practice what you've learned? Inthe next chapter, you'll learn how to get to knowthe people around you.

LMeeting People

earning a language is about communication.It's about connecting with the people around you,whether you're on vacation or in your ownhometown. At home or abroad, if you want to havea friendly conversation, you need to know how togreet people appropriately, how to introduce anddescribe yourself, and how to ask them aboutothers in a polite manner.

Before You BeginBefore you plunge right into conversation with thatfriendly woman standing in line in front of you,there are a few rules to keep in mind:

Be polite. Remember that there are twodifferent ways of addressing a person inSpanish—by using tú or usted. Thismatters more in some Spanish-speaking

countries and cultures than others, butwhen in doubt use the more formal usted.Speak up. Make an effort to use properpronunciation so your listeners canunderstand you more easily.Don't be afraid. The only way you'll learnis by making mistakes. As a non-nativespeaker, you will be given more leewaywith grammar, and your efforts willdefinitely be appreciated!

If you don't understand something, or if someone isspeaking too quickly, don't get embarrassed andpretend you understood! The goal iscommunication, right? For the most part, peoplewill be happy to repeat themselves, understandingthat you aren't a native speaker. Here are twophrases to help you communicate:

Please repeat.Repita, por favor.reh-PEE-tah pohr-fah-VOHR

Please speak more slowly.Hable más despacio, por favor.HAH-bleh mahs dehs-PAH-see-yoh pohr-fah-VOHR

Ser or Estar?There are two different forms of the verb “to be”in Spanish: ser and estar. If you do accidentallychoose the wrong one, chances are you'll still beunderstood. There are a few instances, however,where making the wrong choice can change themeaning of your statement—sometimes in a ratherembarrassing way. It can mean the differencebetween saying someone is good—Carmen esbuena—and saying someone has a “goodbody"—Carmen está buena. Ladies, if you'rewalking down the street and hear someone yelling,"¡Ay, mami, qué buena estás!" he doesn't meanyou look like a nice person. He's using a piropo,which translates as “compliment” but may feelmore like a catcall.

SER: to beyo soy (soy)tú eres (EH-rehs)él, ella, usted es (ehs)nosotros somos (SOH-mohs)vosotros sois (soys)ellos, ellas, ustedes son (sohn)

ESTAR: to be (located)yo estoy (ehs-TOY)tú estás (ehs-TAHS)él, ella, usted está (ehs-TAH)nosotros estamos (ehs-TAH-mohs)vosotros estáis (ehs-TAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes están (ehs-TAHN)

Choosing between ser and estar trips up a lot ofpeople, but it doesn't have to be complicated if youknow the basics. The verb ser is used to expressthe following:

• Nationality, origin, or a permanent

characteristic:Soy americana. I'm American.Jennifer es de Inglaterra. Jennifer is fromEngland.Juan es bajo. Juan is short.

• A characteristic or condition that will probablybe the same for a long period of time:

Ellos son abogados. They are lawyers.

• Date and time:Mi cumpleaños es el veinte de agosto. Mybirthday is August 20th.Son las dos. It's two o'clock.

The verb estar is used to express the following:

• Location:Estoy aquí. I'm here.El coche está en el garaje. The car is in thegarage.

• A temporary condition:

Linda está cansada. Linda is tired.

Greetings and FarewellsNow that you've got the two “to be” verbs figuredout, it's time to make your introductions. Thefollowing table presents some words and phrasesfor greetings, introductions, responses, andfarewells.

Greetings and Responses

Hello HolaOH-lah

Good morning Buenos díasBWEH-nos DEE-yahs

Good afternoon Buenas tardesBWEH-nas TAHR-dehs

Good evening Buenas nochesBWEH-nas NOH-ches

Mr./sir Señorseh-NYOHR

Mrs./madam Señoraseh-NYOH-rah

Miss Señorita

seh-nyoh-REE-tah

My name is . . .Me llamo . . .meh YAH-moh

What is your name?¿Cómo se llama?KOH-moh seh YAH-mah

Nice to meet you.Mucho gusto.MOO-choh GOO-stoh

It's a pleasure to meet you.Es un placer conocerlo/a.ehs oon plah-SER coh-noh-SEHR-loh/lah

I'm enchanted to meet you.Encantado/a de conocerlo/a.ehn-cahn-TAH-doh/dah deh coh-noh-SEHR-loh/lah

Pardon, I didn't catch your name.Perdón, no escuché su nombre.pehr-DOHN, noh ehs-coo-CHAY soo NOHM-breh.

How are you?¿Cómo está usted?KOH-moh ehs-TAH oo-STEHD

Very well. So-so.Muy bien. Más o menos.MOO-ee bee-EHN; mahs oh MEH-nohs

Saying Goodbye

Goodbye Adiósah-dee-OHS

Until later. Hasta luego.AH-stah loo-EH-goh

Until tomorrow. Hasta mañana.AH-stah mah-NYAH-nah

Introducing OthersIf friends or family are with you, you'll certainly

If friends or family are with you, you'll certainlywant to include them in the conversation. Introducethem as follows: Este/a es mi . . . (EH-steh/stahehs mee), which means “This is my . . ."

Family Members

wife esposaehs-POH-sah

husband esposo, maridoehs-POH-soh, mah-REE-doh

girlfriend noviaNOH-vee-ah

boyfriend novioNOH-vee-oh

fiancé(e) prometido/aproh-meh-TEE-doh/dah

daughter hijaEE-hah

son hijoEE-hoh

mother madreMAH-dreh

father padrePAH-dreh

sister hermana

ehr-MAH-nah

brother hermanoehr-MAH-noh

grandmother abuelaah-BWEH-lah

grandfather abueloah-BWEH-loh

aunt tíaTEE-ah

uncle tíoTEE-oh

cousin primo/aPREE-moh/mah

niece sobrinasoh-BREE-nah

nephew sobrinosoh-BREE-noh

stepmother madrastramah-DRAHS-trah

stepfather padrastropah-DRAHS-troh

stepdaughter hijastraee-HAS-trah

stepson hijastroee-HAS-troh

stepsister hermanastraehr-mah-NAHS-trah

stepbrother hermanastro

ehr-mah-NAHS-troh

granddaughter nietanee-EH-tah

grandson nietonee-EH-toh

mother-in-law suegraSWEH-grah

father-in-law suegroSWEH-groh

sister-in-law cuñadakoo-NYAH-dah

brother-in-law cuñadokoo-NYAH-doh

Friends, Coworkers, and Others

friend amigo/aah-MEE-goh/gah

neighbor vecino/aveh-SEE-noh/nah

boss jefe/aHEH-feh/fah

coworker colegakoh-LEH-gah

Getting to Know YouNow that everyone's been introduced, you'll wantto share some information about yourself and learnmore about the person you've just met.

Nationality and OriginYou'll recall that the verb ser can be used todescribe nationality. For example:

Soy americana.I'm American.

Now, bear in mind that people from Mexico,Central America, and South America are allAmericans too! To be clear (and sensitive to thisfact), you could also say:

Soy de los Estados Unidos.soy deh lohs ehs-TAH-dohs oo-NEE-dohsI'm from the United States.

Soy estadounidense.

soy ehs-tah-doh-oo-nee-DEHN-sehI'm American (from United States).

Nationalities

American americano/aah-mehr-ee-CAH-noh/nah

Argentinean argentino/aahr-hen-TEE-noh/nah

Australian australiano/aow-strah-lee-AH-noh/nah

Canadian canadiensecah-nah-dee-YEHN-seh

Chilean chileno/achee-LEH-noh/ah

Colombian colombiano/acoh-lohm-bee-AH-noh/nah

Costa Rican costarricensecoh-stah-rree-SEHN-seh

Cuban cubano/acoo-BAH-noh/nah

Danish danés/esadah-NEHS/NEHS-ah

Dominican dominicano/adoh-mee-nee-CAH-noh/nah

Ecuadorian ecuatoriano/a

eh-cwah-toh-ree-AH-noh/nah

Egyptian egipcio/aeh-HEEP-see-oh/ah

English ingléseen-GLEHS

European europeo/aeh-oo-roh-PEH-oh/ah

French francés/afrahn-SEHS/SEHS-ah

German alemán/anaah-leh-MAHN/MAHN-ah

Honduran hondureño/aohn-doo-REH-nyoh/nyah

Iranian iraníee-RAH-nee

Iraqi iraquíee-RAH-kee

Irish irlandés/esaeer-lahn-DEHS/DEHS-ah

Italian italiano/aee-tahl-ee-AH-noh/nah

Mexican mexicano/ameh-hee-CAH-noh/ah

Dutch holandés/esaoh-lahn-DEHS/DEHS-ah

Nicaraguan nicaragüensenee-cah-rah-GWEN-seh

North American norteamericano/anohr-teh-ah-mehr-ee-CAH-noh/nah

Norwegian noruego/anohr-WEH-goh/gah

Paraguayan paraguayo/apah-rah-GOOAH-yoh/ah

Peruvian peruano/apeh-roo-AH-noh/nah

Polish polaco/apoh-LAH-coh/cah

Puerto Rican puertorriqueño/apwehr-toh-rree-KEH-nyoh/nyah

Filipino/a filipino/afee-lee-PEE-noh/nah

Russian ruso/aROO-soh/sah

El Salvadoran salvadoreño/asahl-vah-doh-REH-nyoh/nyah

South American sudamericano/asood-ah-meh-ree-CAH-noh/nah

Spanish español/aeh-spah-NYOHL/NYOHL-ah

Uruguayan uruguayo/aoo-roo-GOOAHY-oh/ah

Venezuelan venezolano/aveh-neh-soh-LAH-noh/nah

You can also ask what country someone is from:

¿De dónde es usted?deh DOHN-deh ehs oos-TEHD

The answer is, Soy de . . . (soy deh)—I am from . ..

Countries

America Américaah-MEH-ree-cah

Argentina Argentinaahr-hehn-TEE-nah

Australia Australiaow-STRAH-lee-ah

Canada Canadácah-nah-DAH

Chile ChileCHEE-leh

Colombia Colombiacoh-LOHM-bee-ah

Costa Rica Costa RicaCOH-stah REE-cah

Cuba Cuba

COO-bah

Denmark Dinamarcadee-nah-MAHR-cah

Dominican Republic República Dominicanareh-POO-blee-cah doh-mee-nee-CAHN-ah

Ecuador EcuadorEH-kwah-dohr

Egypt Egiptoeh-HEEP-toh

England Inglaterraeen-glah-TEH-rrah

Europe Europaeh-oo-ROH-pah

France FranciaFRAHN-see-ah

Germany Alemaniaah-leh-MAHN-ee-ah

Honduras Hondurasohn-DOO-rahs

Iran Iránee-RAHN

Iraq Irakee-RAHK

Ireland Irlandaeer-LAHN-dah

Italy Italiaee-TAH-lee-ah

Mexico México

MEH-hee-koh

the Netherlands los Países Bajoslohs pah-YEE-sehs BAH-hohs

Nicaragua Nicaraguanee-cah-RAH-gooah

North America América del Norteah-MEH-ree-cah dehl NOHR-teh

Norway Norueganohr-WEH-gah

Paraguay Paraguaypah-rah-GOOAHY

Peru Perúpeh-ROO

Poland Poloniapoh-LOH-nee-ah

Puerto Rico Puerto RicoPWEHR-toh REE-coh

the Philippines las Filipinaslahs fee-lee-PEE-nahs

Russia RusiaROO-see-ah

El Salvador El Salvadorehl sahl-vah-DOHR

South America Sudamérica/América del Sursood-ah-MEH-ree-cah/ah-MEH-ree-cah dehl soor

Spain Españaeh-SPAH-nyah

United Kingdom Reino UnidoREY-noh oo-NEE-doh

United States Estados Unidoseh-STAH-dohs oo-NEE-dohs

Uruguay Uruguayoo-roo-GOOAHY

Venezuela Venezuelaveh-neh-SWEH-lah

Jobs and ProfessionsThe Spanish verb “to work” is trabajar (trah-bah-HAHR), a regular –ar verb. And the verb forstating what you are (professionally) is ser. Forexample: Soy escritora. I'm a writer.

Professions

accountant contador/akohn-tah-DOHR/DOHR-ah

actor actor/actrizahk-TOHR/ahk-TREEHS

artist artistaahr-TEE-stah

dancer bailarín/inabahy-lah-REEN/REEN-ah

dentist dentistadehn-TEE-stah

doctor médico/aMEH-dee-coh/cah

editor redactor/areh-dahk-TOHR/TOHR-ah

engineer ingeniero/aeen-heh-nee-YEH-roh/rah

firefighter bombero/abohm-BEH-roh/rah

jeweler joyero/ahoh-YEH-roh/rah

journalist periodistapeh-ree-oh-DEE-stah

lawyer abogado/aah-boh-GAH-doh/dah

manager gerenteheh-REHN-teh

mechanic mecánico/ameh-CAH-nee-coh/cah

musician músico/aMOO-see-coh/cah

nurse enfermero/aehn-fehr-MEH-roh/rah

painter pintor/apeen-TOHR/TOHR-ah

pharmacist farmacéutico/afahr-mah-SEHOO-tee-coh/cah

police officer agente de policíaah-HEN-teh deh poh-lee-SEE-yah

postal worker cartero/akahr-TEH-roh/rah

sailor marinero/amah-ree-NEH-roh/rah

salesperson vendedor/avehn-deh-DOHR/DOHR-ah

secretary secretario/aseh-kreh-TAH-ree-oh/ah

singer cantantekahn-TAHN-teh

soldier soldadosohl-DAH-doh

student estudianteeh-stoo-dee-AHN-teh

teacher profesor/aproh-feh-SOHR/SOHR-ah

waiter, waitress camarero/akah-mah-REH-roh/rah

writer escritor/aeh-scree-TOHR/TOHR-ah

As you've seen in this chapter, basic conversationin Spanish isn't difficult. Just combine the simplerules of grammar with the vocabulary provided,and you'll have no problem communicating inSpanish. In the following chapter, we head to theairport and hotel so you can take your Spanishskills out into the world.

NAirports and Hotels

ow that know the basic framework forstarting a conversation, it's time to figure out howto get where you're going and where to stay. Thischapter deals with the situations you mightencounter at an airport or hotel. The vocabularywill help you buy tickets, board the plane, make itthrough customs, reserve a room, and get to yourhotel.

On the Move with IrYou're certainly excited about your trip, and youwill want to talk about where you're going. To dothat, you'll need the verb ir, “to go.” Ir is anirregular verb, so you'll have to memorize thepresent-tense conjugations. Don't let that worryyou, though. Just like the verbs ser and estar, ir isused in conversation so often that you'll learn it inno time.

IR: to goyo voy (voy)tú vas (vahs)él, ella, usted va (vah)nosotros vamos (VAH-mohs)vosotros vais (vahys)ellos, ellas, ustedes van (vahn)

Ir is a versatile verb that can be used in severalways. For example, ir is the verb you need toindicate your destination:

Voy a Madrid.I'm going to Madrid.

Sara va al hotel.Sara goes to the hotel.

Los niños van a la escuela.The children go to school.

You can also use the verb ir to talk about what

you're going to do. Just combine the conjugatedform of ir with the preposition a (to) and theinfinitive form of another verb, and you've got aneasy way to express the future:

Voy a salir a las ocho.I'm going to leave at eight.

Juan va a leer.Juan is going to read.

Vamos a caminar juntos.We are going to walk together.

In FlightYou've got a long flight ahead of you. What bettertime to try out your language skills? Start up aconversation with the Spanish-speaker in the seatnext to you, or chat with the bilingual flightattendant. If you're traveling on a foreign airline,Spanish may very well come in handy if you needto ask a member of the flight crew a question.

Refer back to the Essential Spanish chapter for arefresher on forming questions in Spanish.

Why has the plane been delayed?¿Por qué el avión está retrasado?pohr keh ehl ah-vee-OHN ehs-TAH reh-trah-SAH-doh

Fasten your seatbelt.Abróchese el cinturón.ah-BROH-cheh-seh ehl seen-too-ROHN

My seatbelt won't fasten.Mi cinturón no abrocha.mee seen-too-ROHN noh ah-BROH-chah

May I have a blanket?¿Puedo tener una manta?PWEH-doh teh-NEHR OO-nah MAHN-tah

I'd like a vegetarian meal.Quisiera una comida vegetariana.kee-see-EHR-ah OOH-nah koh-MEE-dah veh-heh-

tah-ree-AH-nah

What time are we going to land?¿A qué hora vamos a aterrizar?ah keh OH-rah VAH-mos ah ah-teh-rree-SAHR

May I change my seat?¿Puedo cambiar mi asiento?PWEH-doh kahm-bee-AHR mee ah-see-EHN-toh

I'd like an aisle seat.Quisiera un asiento junto al pasillo.kee-see-EHR-ah oon ah-see-EHN-toh HOON-tohahl pah-SEE-yoh

I'd like a window seat.Quisiera un asiento junto a la ventana.kee-see-EHR-ah oon ah-see-EHN-toh HOON-tohah lah vehn-TAH-nah

Will there be a movie shown?¿Va a haber una película?vah a ah-BEHR OO-nah peh-LEE-koo-lah

What movie are we going to see?¿Cuál película vamos a ver?kwahl peh-LEE-koo-lah VAH-mohs ah vehr

May I have some water?¿Puedo tener un poco de agua?PWEH-doh TEH-nehr oon POH-koh deh AH-gwah

In-Flight Vocabulary

emergency exit la salida de emergencialah sah-LEE-dah deh eh-mehr-HEN-see-ah

life vest el chaleco salvavidasehl chah-LEH-koh sahl-vah-VEE-dahs

airplane el aviónehl ah-vee-OHN

pilot el piloto, la pilotaehl pee-LOH-toh/lah pee-LOH-tah

altitude la altitudlah ahl-tee-TOOD

baggage compartment el portaequipajesehl pohr-tah-eh-kee-PAH-hehs

row la filalah FEE-lah

seat el asiento

ehl ah-see-EHN-toh

pillow la almohadalah ahl-moh-AH-dah

take-off el despegueehl dehs-PEH-geh

landing el aterrizajeehl ah-teh-rree-SAH-heh

headphones los auriculareslohs ow-ree-koo-LAH-rehs

flight attendant el/la azafato/aehl/lah ah-sah-FAH-toh/tah

boarding card el pase de abordarehl PAH-seh deh ah-bohr-DAHR

carry-on luggage equipaje de manoeh-kee-PAH-heh deh MAH-noh

Navigating the AirportYou've arrived! Now let's get you through theairport, past customs, and on your way.

Airport Vocabulary

arrival la llegadalah yeh-GAH-dah

baggage el equipaje

ehl eh-kee-PAH-heh

baggage claim reclamación de equipajesreh-klah-mah-see-OHN deh eh-kee-PAH-hehs

boarding gate la puerta de embarquelah PWEHR-tah deh ehm-BAHR-keh

bus stop la parada de autobúslah pah-RAH-dah deh ow-toh-BOOS

car rental el alquiler de cochesehl ahl-kee-LEHR deh KOH-chehs

cart el carritoehl kah-RREE-toh

departure la salidalah sah-LEE-dah

elevator los ascensoreslohs ah-sehn-SOHR-ehs

entrance la entradalah ehn-TRAH-dah

exit la salidalah sah-LEE-dah

flight el vueloehl VWEH-loh

to miss the flight perder el vuelopehr-DEHR ehl VWEH-loh

money exchange el cambio de dineroehl CAHM-bee-oh deh dee-NEH-roh

lost baggage el equipaje extraviadoehl eh-kee-PAH-heh ehks-trah-vee-AH-doh

lost and found la oficina de objetos perdidos

lah oh-fee-SEE-nah deh ohb-HEH-tohs pehr-DEE-dohs

moving walkway las cintas transportadoraslahs SEEN-tahs trahns-pohr-tah-DOHR-ahs

restrooms los bañoslohs BAHN-yohs

ticket el boletoehl boh-LEH-toh

hallway el pasilloehl pah-SEE-yoh

Declaring Your BelongingsThe verb tener, “to have” will come in handy asyou pass through customs. Use it to express whatyou have or don't have with you.

TENER: to haveyo tengo (TEHN-goh)tú tienes (tee-EHN-ehs)él, ella, usted tiene (tee-EHN-eh)nosotros tenemos (teh-NEH-mohs)vosotros tenéis (tehn-EHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes tienen (tee-EHN-ehn)

Tener is used in Spanish in the same way we usethe verb “to have” in English:

Tengo dos hijos.I have two children.

Carla tiene una visa estudiantil.Carla has a student visa.

Tenemos familia aquí.We have family here.

Just as in English, the verb tener can be used in theexpression “to have to (do something).” InSpanish, the phrase is tener que + infinitive:

Tengo que salir ahora.I have to leave now.

Marco tiene que comer sus vegetales.Marco has to eat his vegetables.

Tienen que sentarse juntos.

They have to sit together.

Customs Vocabulary

customs la aduanalah ah-DWAH-nah

duty free libre de impuestosLEE-breh deh eem-PWEH-stohs

flight number el número de vueloehl NOO-meh-roh deh VWEH-lo

form of identification la forma de identificaciónlah FOHR-mah deh ee-dehn-tee-fee-kah-see-OHN

passport el pasaporteehl pah-sah-POHR-teh

In addition to the vocabulary, here are somequestions and phrases for going through customs:

Here is my passport.Aquí está mi pasaporte.ah-KEE eh-STAH mee pah-sah-POHR-teh

Do you have anything to declare?¿Tiene algo que declarar?tee-EHN-eh AHL-goh keh deh-klahr-AHR

Yes, I have something to declare.Sí, tengo algo que declarar.see TEHN-goh AHL-goh keh deh-klahr-AHR

I have nothing to declare.No tengo nada que declarar.noh TEHN-goh NAH-dah keh deh-klahr-AHR

I'm here on business.Estoy aquí de negocios.eh-STOY ah-KEE deh neh-GOH-see-ohs

I'm here on vacation.Estoy aquí de vacaciones.eh-STOY ah-KEE deh vah-kah-see-OH-nehs

I'll be here for two weeks.Estaré aquí dos semanas.eh-stahr-EH ah-KEE dohs seh-MAH-nahs

I'm going to stay at the Hotel Gran Vía.Me voy a quedar en el Hotel Gran Vía.

meh voy ah keh-DAHR ehn ehl oh-TEHL grahnVEE-ah

Checking In, Checking OutYou've made it from the airport to the hotel frontdesk. And you've been using your Spanish all theway, thanks to this book, haven't you? Now, let'sget you checked in. Courtesy is extremelyimportant in many Spanish-speaking cultures.Remember to say por favor (please) and gracias(thank you), and you'll get much better service.And as always, when in doubt, use the formal you,usted.

I have a reservation.Tengo una reservación.TEHN-goh OO-nah rehs-ehr-vah-see-OHN

I don't have a reservation.No tengo reservación.noh TEHN-goh rehs-ehr-vah-see-OHN

I'll be staying for three nights.Me voy a quedar tres noches.meh voy ah keh-DAHR trehs NOH-chehs

We'd like a double bed.Quisiéramos una cama matrimonial.kee-see-EHR-ah-mohs OO-nah KAH-mahmah-tree-moh-nee-AHL

We'd like a room with a private bath.Quisiéramos un cuarto con baño privado.kee-see-EHR-ah-mohs oon KWAHR-toh kohnBAH-nyoh pree-VAH-doh

What floor is the gym on?¿En qué piso está el gimnasio?ehn keh PEE-soh eh-STAH ehl heem-NAH-see-oh

Please give me a wake-up call at 7 A.M.Por favor, llame para despertarme a las siete dela mañana.pohr fah-VOHR, YAH-meh PAH-rah dehs-pehr-TAHR-meh ah lahs see-EH-teh deh lah mah-

NYAH-nah

How do you make an outside call?¿Cómo se marca para la calle?KOH-moh seh MAHR-kah PAH-rah lah CAH-yeh

Our room hasn't been cleaned.No han limpiado nuestro cuarto.noh ahn leem-pee-AH-doh noo-EHS-trohKWAHR-toh

The bill is incorrect.La cuenta no está correcta.lah KWEHN-tah noh eh-STAH koh-REHK-tah

I'm ready to check out.Estoy listo/a para desocupar.eh-STOY LEE-stoh/stah PAH-rah dehs-oh-koo-PAHR

Can I have the bill, please?¿Puedo tener la cuenta, por favor?PWEH-doh teh-NEHR lah KWEHN-tah pohr fah-

VOHR

Hotel Vocabulary

air-conditioning el aire acondicionadoehl AY-reh ah-kohn-dee-see-oh-NAH-doh

bar el barehl bahr

bathroom el cuarto de bañoehl KWAHR-toh deh BAH-nyoh

bathtub la bañeralah bah-NYEH-rah

bed la camalah KAH-mah

double bed la cama matrimoniallah KAH-mah mah-tree-moh-nee-AHL

twin bed la cama individuallah KAH-mah een-dee-vee-doo-AHL

bill la cuentalah KWEHN-tah

doorman el porteroehl pohr-TEH-roh

elevator el ascensorehl ah-sehn-SOHR

floor el pisoehl PEE-soh

gym el gimnasioehl heem-NAH-see-oh

hairdryer el secador de peloehl seh-kah-DOHR deh PEH-loh

hanger la perchalah PEHR-chah

hostel el hostalehl ohs-STAHL

hotel el hotelehl oh-TEHL

ice cubes los cubitos de hielolohs koo-BEE-tohs deh ee-YEHL-oh

key la llavelah YAH-beh

lamp la lámparalah LAHM-pah-rah

light la luzlah loos

manager el/la gerenteehl/lah heh-REHN-teh

pillow la almohadalah ahl-moh-AH-dah

reservation la reservaciónlah rehs-ehr-bah-see-OHN

room la habitaciónlah ah-bee-tah-see-OHN

safe (box)

la caja de seguridadlah KAH-hah deh seh-goo-ree-DAHD

shampoo el champúehl chahm-POO

sheet la sábanalah SAH-bah-nah

shower la duchalah DOO-chah

swimming pool la piscinalah pee-SEE-nah

telephone el teléfonoehl teh-LEH-foh-noh

television la televisiónlah teh-leh-bee-see-OHN

toilet el water, el inodoroehl WAH-tehr, ehl ee-noh-DOH-roh

toilet paper el papel higiénicoehl pah-PEHL ee-HYEHN-ee-koh

towel la toallalah toh-AY-yah

bath towel la toalla de bañolah toh-AY-yah deh BAH-nyoh

face towel la toalla para la caralah toh-AY-yah PAH-rah lah KAH-rah

hand towel la toalla para las manoslah toh-AY-yah PAH-rah lahs MAH-nohs

sink el lavabo

ehl lah-VAH-bohwater el agua

ehl AH-gooah

cold water el agua fríaehl AH-gooah FREE-ah

hot water el agua calienteehl AH-gooah kah-lee-EHN-teh

window la ventanalah vehn-TAH-nah

Running ErrandsAfter a delicious lunch in Oaxaca, you realizemore mole landed on your suit than in your mouth.You catch your reflection in the pond in el ParqueRetiro in Madrid and notice that it's been WAYtoo long since your last haircut. Climbing into achivo in Cartagena, your boot heel catches on thestair and snaps right off. You need someprofessional help.

What time do you open?¿A qué hora abre usted?ah keh OH-rah AH-breh OO-stehd

What time do you close?¿A qué hora cierra usted?ah keh OH-rah see-YEHRR-ah OO-stehd

Are you open on Sundays?¿Está abierto los domingos?eh-STAH ah-bee-YEHR-toh lohs doh-MEEN-gohs

Can you help me, please?¿Puede usted ayudarme, por favor?PWEH-deh OO-stehd ah-yoo-DAHR-meh pohrfah-VOHR

How much do I owe you?¿Cuánto le debo?KWAHN-toh leh DEH-boh

Can I pay with a credit card?¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta de crédito?PWEH-doh pah-GAHR kohn tahr-HEH-tah dehKREH-dee-toh

Can I pay with traveler's checks?

¿Puedo pagar con cheques de viajero?PWEH-doh pah-GAHR kohn CHEH-kehs deh bee-ah-HEHR-oh

May I have a receipt?¿Me puede dar el recibo?meh PWEH-deh dahr ehl reh-SEE-boh

Could you please . . . ?¿Podría usted . . . , por favor?poh-DREE-ah OO-stehd . . . , pohr fah-VOHR

Is the tip included?¿Está incluida la propina?eh-STAH een-kloo-EE-dah lah proh-PEE-nah

Could you give me . . . ?¿Podría darme . . . ?poh-DREE-ah DAHR-meh

Can you deliver it to my hotel?¿Puede enviarlo a mi hotel?PWEH-deh ehn-vee-AHR-loh ah mee oh-TEHL

If You Packed LightMaybe you like to pack light and get your clotheslaundered or dry cleaned when you're away. Ormaybe you'll be away longer than just a fewweeks. Here are the words and phrases you'll needif you plan to visit the local dry cleaner orlaundromat:

Can you please dry clean this for me?¿Puede usted limpiar esto en seco, por favor?PWEH-deh OO-stehd leehm-PEEAHR-meh EH-stoh ehn SEH-koh pohr fah-VOHR

Can you press this for me, please?¿Puede usted plancharme esto, por favor?PWEH-deh OO-stehd plahn-CHAHR-meh EH-stohpohr fah-VOHR

Can you repair this for me, please?¿Puede usted remendarme esto, por favor?PWEH-deh OO-stehd reh-mehn-DAHR-meh EH-stoh pohr fah-VOHR

There is a stain here.Hay una mancha aquí.ahy OO-nah MAHN-chah ah-KEE

Is this machine taken?¿Está ocupada esta máquina?eh-STAH oh-koo-PAH-dah EHS-tah MAH-kee-nah

How does this machine work?¿Cómo funciona esta máquina?KOH-moh foonk-see-YOH-nah EHS-tah MAH-kee-nah

This machine is broken.Esta máquina no funciona.EHS-tah MAH-kee-nah noh foonk-see-YOH-nah

Where can I buy detergent?¿Dónde puedo comprar detergente?DOHN-deh PWEH-doh kohm-PRAHR deh-tehr-HEN-teh

At the Dry Cleaner's

dry cleaner's la tintoreríalah teen-toh-rehr-EE-ah

a hole un huecooon WEH-koh

a tear un rasgónoon RAHS-gohn

a missing button un botón perdidooon boh-TOHN pehr-DEE-doh

a broken zipper una cremallera rotaOO-nah creh-mah-YEHR-ah ROH-tah

a stain una manchaOO-nah MAHN-chah

I need it . . . Lo/la necesito . . .loh/lah neh-seh-SEE-toh

I need them . . . Los/las necesito . . .lohs/lahs neh-seh-SEE-toh

today hoyoy

tomorrow mañanamah-NYAH-nah

in an hour en una horaehn OO-nah OH-rah

this afternoon esta tardeEH-stah TAHR-deh

tonight esta nocheEH-stah NOH-cheh

tomorrow morning mañana por la mañanamah-NYAH-nah pohr lah mah-NYAH-nah

At the Laundromat

bleach lejíaleh-HEE-ah

clothing ropaROH-pah

clothes dryer secadoraseh-kah-DOHR-ah

detergent detergentedeh-tehr-HEN-teh

laundromat lavanderíalah-vahn-dehr-EE-ah

washing machine lavadoralah-vah-DOHR-ah

At the Hair Salon/Barber Shop

just a trim solo un recorteSOH-loh oon reh-KOHR-teh

Please shave my . . . Por favor, aféiteme . . .pohr fah-VOHR ah-FEY-teh-meh

beard la barbalah BAHR-bah

mustache el bigoteehl bee-GOH-teh

sideburns las patillaslahs pah-TEE-yahs

barbershop la barberíalah bahr-beh-REE-ah

beauty salon el salón de bellezaehl sah-LOHN deh beh-YEH-sah

blow dry secar el peloseh-KAHR ehl PEH-loh

bangs el flequilloehl fleh-KEE-yoh

to comb peinarpey-NAHR

curly rizadoree-SAH-doh

hair el peloehl PEH-loh

a haircut un corte de pelooon KOHR-teh deh PEH-loh

hairstyle peinadopey-NAH-doh

highlights reflejosreh-FLEH-hohs

long

largoLAHR-goh

short cortoKOHR-toh

a manicure una manicuraOO-nah mah-nee-KOO-rah

a pedicure una pedicuraOO-nah peh-dee-KOO-rah

a perm una permanenteOO-nah pehr-mah-NEHN-teh

to shave afeitarseah-fey-TAHR-seh

wavy onduladoohn-doo-LAH-doh

a waxing una depilaciónoo-nah deh-pee-lah-see-OHN

From Head to ToeWhether you need a haircut, or your favorite pairof boots just lost a heel while you were touring thelocal sites, here are the phrases that will help youtake care of the problem.

At the Shoe Repair Shop

arch el empeineehl ehm-PEY-neh

boot la botalah BOH-tah

broken roto/aROH-toh/tah

heel el tacónehl tah-KOHN

scuff la rayalah RAH-yah

shoe el zapatoehl sah-PAH-toh

shoelace el cordón de zapatoehl kohr-DOHN deh sah-PAH-toh

sole la suelalah SWEH-lah

I need a shoe shine.Necesito una limpieza de zapatos.neh-seh-SEE-toh OO-nah leem-pee-YEH-sah dehsah-PAH-tohs

Can you repair this . . . for me?¿Puede usted remendarme este/a . . . ?PWEH-deh OO-stehd reh-mehn-DAHR-meh EH-

steh/ah

At the Camera Shop

battery la pilalah PEE-lah

camera la cámaralah KAH-mah-rah

camera film la películalah peh-LEE-koo-lah

exposures las exposicioneslahs ehs-poh-see-see-YOHN-ehs

video camera la cámara de videolah KAH-mah-rah deh vee-DEH-oh

Can you repair this camera?¿Puede usted reparar esta cámara?PWEH-deh OO-stehd reh-pah-RAHR EH-stahKAH-mah-rah

Do you have film for this camera?¿Tiene usted película para esta cámara?Tee-ENH-eh OO-stehd peh-LEE-koo-lah PAH-rahEH-steh KAH-mah-rah

I'd like to have this film developed.Quisiera que me revele este rollo.kee-see-YEHR-ah keh meh reh-VEH-leh EH-stehROY-oh

You're all settled, with everything you need inyour comfortable hotel room, and you even have anew haircut! Time to get out there and see thesights. Next we'll talk about getting around town,reading signs, and asking directions.

MGetting Around Town

aking your way around a strange city can bedaunting, especially if you don't speak thelanguage. Which metro line takes you to themuseum? Do you have to transfer buses to get fromyour hotel to the embassy? How much are traintickets for that excursion to the neighboring town?If you get lost, how do you ask for directions? Thischapter covers what you need to know to navigateon foot or by car, subway, bus, or train.

Getting AroundFor coming, going, traveling, and wandering, you'llneed to add some new verbs of motion to yourarsenal:

andar: to walkcaminar: to walk

conducir: to drive

conducir: to drivetomar: to takeviajar: to travel

ANDAR: to walkyo ando (AHN-do)tú andas (AHN-dahs)él, ella, usted anda (AHN-dah)nosotros andamos (ahn-DAH-mohs)vosotros andáis (ahn-DAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes andan (AHN-dahn)

Here are a few examples of how you might use theverb andar:

Yo ando al museo.I walk to the museum.

Carla y yo andamos juntos.Carla and I walk together.

Las niñas andan en bicicleta.The girls ride bicycles.

Caught you off guard with that last example? Andaris most often translated as “to walk,” but this verbcan also be used to mean “to go” or “to ride.”Don't worry! The context it's used in will prettymuch always make the meaning perfectly clear.

CAMINAR: to walkyo camino (kah-MEE-noh)tú caminas (kah-MEE-nahs)él, ella, usted camina (kah-MEE-nah)nosotros caminamos (kah-mee-NAH-mohs)vosotros camináis (kah-mee-NAYHS)ellos, ellas, ustedes caminan (kah-MEE-nahn)

The verb caminar is a synonym of andar. Here area few examples of how it might be used:

En Miami caminamos por la playa.We walk on the beach in Miami.

¿Vosotros camináis en la Plaza Mayor cada día?Do you walk in the Plaza Mayor every day?

Yo prefiero caminar por la tarde.I prefer walking in the afternoon.

In the last example, the first-person form ofpreferir (to prefer) was combined with theinfinitive form of caminar—a simple way toexpress more complex thoughts.

CONDUCIR: to driveyo conduzco (kohn-DOOS-koh)tú conduces (kohn-DOO-sehs)él, ella, usted conduce (kohn-DOO-seh)nosotros conducimos (kohn-doo-SEE-mohs)vosotros conducís (kohn-doo-SEES)ellos, ellas, ustedes conducen (kohn-DOO-sehn)

Use conducir to refer to driving a vehicle:

Tú conduces muy bien.You drive very well.

Es difícil conducir en una cuidad nueva.

It's difficult to drive in a new city.

Linda y Julio conducen un coche verde.Linda and Julio drive a green car.

TOMAR: to takeyo tomo (TOH-moh)tú tomas (TOH-mahs)él, ella, usted toma (TOH-mah)nosotros tomamos (toh-MAH-mohs)vosotros tomáis (toh-MAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes toman (TOH-mahn)

The verb tomar may be used to mean “take” in thesense of taking something, or it may indicate the“taking” of food or drink (it's used more frequentlyto mean “to drink"):

Tome el dinero.Take the money.

Tomamos un taxi al restaurante.

We take a taxi to the restaurant.

Yo nunca tomo agua fría.I never drink cold water.

To say someone is “tomado” is to say they'redrunk. If someone says, “Yo no tomo” they aretelling you they don't drink alcohol.

VIAJAR: to travelyo viajo (vee-YAH-hoh)tú viajas (vee-YAH-hahs)él, ella, usted viaja (vee-YAH-hah)nosotros viajamos (vee-yah-HAH-mohs)vosotros viajáis (vee-yah-HAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes viajan (vee-YAH-hahn)

The use of viajar is straightforward:

Ellos viajan juntos a España.They travel to Spain together.

¿Cúando vas a viajar conmigo?

When are you going to travel with me?

Ella no viaja nunca.She never travels.

Where Am I?Finding your way is a lot easier if you know howto ask for directions. It's even easier if youunderstand the response!

Where is . . . ?¿Dónde está . . . ?DOHN-deh eh-STAH

I'm going to . . .Voy a . . .vohy ah . . .

How do I get to . . . from here?¿Cómo voy a . . . de aquí?KOH-moh vohy ah . . . deh ah-KEE

Can you help me?¿Puede ayudarme?PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAHR-meh

Is it far?¿Es lejos?eh LEH-hohs

Can I walk from here to there?¿Puedo caminar de aquí hasta allá?PWEH-doh kah-mee-NAHR deh ah-KEE AH-stahah-YAH

Where is the nearest bus stop?¿Dónde está la parada de autobús más cercana?DOHN-de eh-STAH lah pah-RAH-dah deh ow-toh-BOOS mahs sehr-KAH-nah

Where can I buy a ticket?¿Dónde puedo comprar un billete?DOHN-de PWEH-doh kohm-PRAHR oon bee-YEH-teh

Can you show it to me on this map?¿Puede enseñármelo en esta mapa?PWEH-deh ehn-sehn-YAHR-meh-loh ehn EH-stahMAH-pah

Locations

American Embassy la embajada americanalah ehm-bah-HAH-dah ah-meh-ree-KAH-nah

metro station la estación de metrolah ehs-tah-see-OHN deh MEH-troh

train station la estación de treneslah ehs-tah-see-OHN deh TREHN-ehs

block la manzanamahn-SAH-nah

building el edificioehl eh-dee-FEE-see-yoh

sidewalk la aceralah ah-SEH-rah

street la callelah KAH-yeh

street corner la esquinalah eh-SKEE-nah

Prepositions of Location

across from en frente aehn FREHN-teh ah

ahead más adelantemahs ah-deh-LAHN-teh

behind detrás dedeh-TRAHS deh

near cercaSEHR-kah

next to al lado deahl LAH-doh deh

far lejosLEH-hos

Directions

east esteEHS-teh

left izquierdaeehs-kee-EHR-dah

north norteNOHR-teh

right derechadeh-REH-chah

south sursoor

straight derecho

deh-REH-choh

west oesteoh-EHS-teh

A Few Verbs of Command

continue sigaSEE-gah

take tomeTOH-meh

turn dobleDOH-bleh

walk caminekah-MEE-neh

cross cruceKROO-seh

go back vuelvaVWEHL-vah

go down bajeBAH-heh

go past pasePAH-seh

go up subaSOO-bah

Means of Transportation

If the distance from Point A to Point B is fartherthan your feet can carry you, you'll need to hop onone form of transportation or another. Here are thephrases and terms you'll need to get you whereyou're going.

How much is the fare?¿Cuánto es la tarifa?KWAHN-toh ehs lah tah-REE-fahIs this seat taken?¿Está ocupado este asiento?eh-STAH oh-koo-PAH-doh EH-steh ah-see-EHN-toh

How many stops before . . . ?¿Cuántas paradas hasta . . . ?KWAHN-tahs pah-RAH-dahs AH-stah

What is the next stop?¿Cuál es la próxima parada?kwahl ehs lah PROHK-see-mah pah-RAH-dah

Excuse me. I'm getting off here.

Con permiso. Bajo aquí.kohn pehr-MEE-soh BAH-hoh ah-KEE

Take a Cab

fare el precio del viajeehl PREH-see-oh dehl vee-AH-heh

taxi el taxiehl TAHK-see

taxi driver el taxistaehl tahk-SEES-tah

taxi stand la parada de taxislah pah-RAH-dah deh TAHK-sees

tip la propinalah proh-PEE-nah

Here are a few additional phrases forcommunicating with cabbies:

Stop here.Pare aquí.PAH-reh ah-KEE

Please wait for me.

Espéreme, por favor.ehs-PEH-reh-meh pohr fah-VOHR

Can you please open the trunk?¿Puede abrir el maletero, por favor?PWEH-deh ah-BREEHR ehl mah-leh-TEH-rohpohr fah-VOHR

How much do I owe you?¿Cuánto le debo?KWAHN-toh leh DEH-boh

Ride the Subway

subway el metroehl MEH-troh

ticket machine la máquina de billeteslah MAH-kee-nah deh bee-YEH-tehs

fare la tarifalah tah-REE-fah

metro station la estación de metrolah eh-stah-see-YOHN deh MEH-troh

platform el andénehl ahn-DEHN

Can I connect to the . . . line here?¿Puedo cambiar a la línea . . . aquí?PWEH-doh kahm-bee-YAHR ah lah LEE-nay-ah .. . ah-KEE

Which line goes to . . . ?¿Cuál línea va a . . . ?kwahl LEE-nay-ah vah ah

Take the Bus

bus el autobúsehl ow-toh-BOOS

bus driver el conductorehl kohn-dook-TOHR

fare la tarifalah tah-REE-fah

bus stop la parada de autobúslah pah-RAH-dah deh ow-toh-BOOS

bus station la estación de autobúslah eh-stah-see-OHN deh ow-toh-BOOS

ticket el billeteehl bee-YEH-teh

In the Train

train station la estación de treneslah eh-stah-see-OHN deh trehn-ehs

schedule el horarioehl oh-RAH-ree-oh

conductor el cobradorehl koh-brah-DOHR

first class ticket el billete de primera claseehl bee-YEH-teh deh pree-MEH-rah KLAH-seh

second class ticket el billete de segunda claseehl bee-YEH-teh deh seh-GOON-dah KLAH-seh

smoking compartment el compartimiento para fumadoresehl com-pahr-tee-mee-EHN-toh PAH-rah foo-mah-DOHR-ehs

non-smokingcompartment

el compartimiento para no fumadores

ehl com-pahr-tee-mee-EHN-toh PAH-rah noh foo-mah-DOHR-ehs

sleeper compartment el compartimiento con literasehl com-pahr-tee-mee-EHN-toh kohn lee-TEH-rahs

platform el andénehl ahn-DEHN

ticket el billeteehl bee-YEH-teh

ticket window la taquillalah tah-KEE-yah

one-way ticket el billete sencillo

ehl bee-YEH-teh sehn-SEE-yoh

round-trip ticket el billete de ida y vueltaehl bee-YEH-teh deh EE-dah ee VWEHL-tah

Renting a Car

car el cocheehl KOH-cheh

to rent alquilarahl-kee-LAHR

car rental el alquiler de cochesehl ahl-kee-LEHR deh KOH-chehs

driver's license el carné de conducirehl kahr-NEH deh kohn-doo-SEER

breakdown la averíalah ah-veh-REE-ah

car accident el choqueehl CHOH-keh

traffic el tráficoehl TRAH-fee-koh

dent la abolladuralah ah-boh-yah-DOO-rah

gasoline la gasolinalah gah-soh-LEE-nah

excess kilometers los kilómetros de excesolohs kee-LOH-meh-trohs deh ehk-SEHS-oh

oil el aceiteehl ah-SAY-teh

directions las señaslahs SEH-nyahs

insurance el seguroehl seh-GOO-roh

highway la carreteralah kah-reh-TEH-rah

street la callelah KAH-yeh

toll el peajeehl peh-AH-heh

bridge el puenteehl PWEHN-teh

With all this traipsing about town, you've probablyworked up quite a hunger. In the next chapter,you'll learn food vocabulary words so you can findwhat you want (and maybe, more importantly, whatyou don't want) on a menu. We wouldn't want youto end up with a tortilla made with pigs' brains(yes, you can really get that in Spain) unless that'swhat you meant to order.

FTime for Dinner

or many people, one of the most enjoyableparts of exploring a new culture and language isgetting to taste new foods. For others, it's moreabout the people, or the architecture, or the art.Regardless of how you approach it, though, you'vegot to eat. And you'll probably want to know whatit is you're eating. Are you a vegetarian, forexample? If so, you'll certainly want to learn thevocabulary words for types of meat, so you knowwhat NOT to order!

Eating and DrinkingYou'll find the following set of verbs especiallyhelpful when ordering in a restaurant, shopping ina grocery store, or just talking about your culinarylikes and dislikes:

comer:to eatbeber: to drink

beber: to drinkquerer: to wantnecesitar: to needgustar: to like, to be pleasing to

And don't forget about tomar (Getting AroundTown), which means “to take” but is also used tomean “to drink” and, less often, “to eat."

COMER: to eatyo como (KOH-moh)tú comes (KOH-mehs)él, ella, usted come (KOH-meh)nosotros comemos (koh-MEH-mohs)vosotros coméis (koh-MEHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes comen (KOH-mehn)

Armed with the verb comer, you can tell the waiterthat you don't eat certain foods, or use it in anynumber of situations:

Yo no como carne.

I don't eat meat.

Juan Carlos siempre come almuerzo.Juan Carlos always eats lunch.

Ustedes comen demasiado.You eat too much.

BEBER: to drinkyo bebo (BEH-boh)tú bebes (BEH-behs)él, ella, usted bebe (BEH-beh)nosotros bebemos (beh-BEH-mohs)vosotros bebéis (beh-BEHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes beben (BEH-behn)

Beber is used to talk about drinking, althoughsometimes tomar is used instead:

La niña bebe leche.The girl drinks milk.

¿Por qué bebes tanto café?

Why do you drink so much coffee?

Ellos beben gaseosa cuando comen pizza.They drink soda when they eat pizza.

Billy toma su té en el patio.Billy drinks his tea on the patio.

QUERER: to wantyo quiero (kee-YEHR-oh)tú quieres (kee-YEHR-ehs)él, ella, usted quiere (kee-YEHR-eh)nosotros queremos (keh-REH-mohs)vosotros queréis (keh-REHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes quieren (kee-YEHR-ehn)

In Spanish, the verb querer is used to mean “want”in the sense of liking or needing something:

¿Qué queréis comer?What would you like to eat?

¿Quieres más agua?

Do you want more water?

No quiero pimienta.I don't want pepper.

Also note that to ask for what you would like, youneed to use the imperfect subjunctive form ofquerer:

QUERER in Imperfect Subjunctiveyo quisiera (kee-see-EHR-ah)tú quisieras (kee-see-EHR-ahs)él, ella, usted quisiera (kee-see-EHR-ah)nosotros quisiéramos (kee-see-EHR-ah-mohs)vosotros quisierais (kee-see-EHR-ahys)ellos, ellas, ustedes quisieran (kee-see-EHR-ahn)

Using querer in the imperfect subjunctive is apolite way of asking for something. For example:

Quisiera un vaso de agua, por favor.I would like a glass of water, please.

Quisiéramos ver la carta, por favor.We would like to see the menu, please.

NECESITAR: to needyo necesito (neh-seh-SEE-toh)tú necesitas (neh-seh-SEE-tahs)él, ella, usted necesita (neh-seh-SEE-tah)nosotros necesitamos (neh-seh-see-TAH-mohs)vosotros necesitáis (neh-seh-see-TAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes necesitan (neh-seh-SEE-tahn)

When you need something, don't be afraid to say itwith necesitar:

Necesito más pan, por favor.I need more bread, please.

Ella necesita ir al doctor.She needs to go to the doctor.

Los niños necesitan comer menos dulces.The children need to eat fewer sweets.

Liking and Being LikedThe verb gustar is a little different from otherverbs. In English, you say “I like something.” InSpanish, however, the expression is me gusta—literally, “to me, it's liked.” The difference isthat the subject in the Spanish sentence isn't “I"—it's what you like!

If the “liked” object is singular, use gusta (thirdperson singular form). If the object is plural, usegustan (third person plural form).

GUSTAR: equivalent of “to like"me gusta(n) (meh GOO-stah/stahn)te gusta(n) (teh GOO-stah/stahn)le gusta(n) (leh GOO-stah/stahn)nos gusta(n) (nohs GOO-stah/stahn)os gusta(n) (ohs GOO-stah/stahn)les gusta(n) (lehs GOO-stah/stahn)

El café te gusta.You like coffee. (Literally, “Coffee is pleasing to

you.")

A mí no me gustan los gatos.I don't like cats.

No nos gusta el pan.We don't like bread.

Eating at a RestaurantNow that we've got the verbs squared away, let'smove on to reading the menu and ordering a meal.

Do I need a reservation?¿Necesito una reservación?neh-seh-SEE-toh OO-nah rehs-ehr-vah-see-OHN

May I see a menu?¿Puedo ver la carta?PWEH-do vehr lah KAHR-tah

How is this prepared?¿Cómo se prepara esto?

KOH-moh seh preh-PAH-rah EH-stoh

What do you recommend?¿Qúe recomienda usted?keh reh-koh-mee-EHN-dah OO-stehd

What is this?¿Qúe es esto?keh ehs EH-stoh

What are today's specials?¿Cuáles son los platos del día de hoy?KWAH-lehs sohn lohs PLAH-tohs dehl DHEE-ahdeh ohy

I'd like to try a regional dish.Quisiera probar un plato típico de la región.kee-see-EH-rah PROH-bahr oon PLAH-toh TEE-pee-koh deh lah reh-hee-OHN

Can you please bring the check?¿Me puede traer la cuenta, por favor?meh PWEH-deh trah-EHR lah KWEHN-tah pohr

fah-VOHR

Can I pay with a credit card?¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta de crédito?PWEH-doh pah-GAHR kohn tahr-HEH-tah dehKREH-dee-toh

I'm a vegetarian.Soy vegetariano/a.sohy beh-heh-tah-ree-AH-noh/nah

I'm on a diet.Estoy a régimen.eh-STOHY ah REH-hee-mehn

I can't have (eat/drink) . . .No puedo comer/tomar . . .noh PWEH-doh COH-mehr/toh-MAHR

I'm allergic to . . .Soy alérgico/a a . . .soy ah-LEHR-hee-koh/kah ah

Restaurant Vocabulary

waiter/waitress el/la camarero/aehl/lah kah-mah-REH-roh/rah

check la cuentalah KWEHN-tah

table la mesalah MEH-sah

tablecloth el mantelehl mahn-TEHL

place setting los cubiertoslohs koo-bee-EHR-tohs

fork el tenedorehl teh-neh-DOHR

knife el cuchilloehl koo-CHEE-oh

spoon la cucharalah coo-CHAH-rah

soup spoon la cuchara soperalah coo-CHAH-rah soh-PEH-rah

teaspoon la cucharitalah coo-chah-REE-tah

cup la tazalah TAH-sah

glass el vasoehl VAH-soh

wine glass la copa de vinolah KOH-pah deh VEE-noh

plate el platoehl PLAH-toh

bowl el tazónehl tah-SOHN

napkin la servilletalah sehr-bee-YEH-tah

restroom los bañoslohs BAHN-yohs

tip la propinalah proh-PEE-nah

chef el/la cocinero/aehl/lah koh-see-NEH-roh/rah


entrée el plato principalehl PLAH-toh preen-see-PAHL

dessert el postreehl POHS-treh

snack la meriendalah meh-ree-YEHN-dah

appetizer el aperitivoehl ah-peh-ree-TEE-voh

breakfast el desayunoehl deh-sahy-YOO-noh

lunch

el almuerzoehl ahl-MWEHR-soh

dinner la cenalah SEH-nah

What's for Dinner?You may find the following words useful as you'retrying to order food from a menu, or as you shopfor ingredients at a local supermarket, grocerystore, or outdoor market. To make the tables moremanageable, they are organized by food type.

Adjectives to Describe Your Meal

fresh frescaFREHS-kah

sweet dulceDOOL-seh

sour agrioAH-gree-oh

bland sosoSOH-soh

spicy picantepee-KAHN-teh

hot caliente

kah-lee-YEHN-teh

cold fríoFREE-oh

Methods of Preparation

baked al hornoahl-OHR-noh

grilled a la parrillaah lah pah-REE-yah

roasted asadoah-SAH-doh

fried fritoFREE-toh

sautéed salteadosahl-teh-AH-doh

toasted tostadotoh-STAH-doh

raw crudoKROO-doh

rare poco cocidoPOH-koh coh-SEE-doh

medium a término medioah TEHR-mee-noh MEH-dee-oh

well-done bien cocidobee-EHN coh-SEE-doh

steamed al vaporahl vah-POHR

chopped picadopee-KAH-doh

burned quemadokeh-MAH-doh

General Food Groups

fish el pescadoehl pehs-KAH-doh

shellfish el mariscoehl mah-REES-koh

chocolate el chocolateehl choh-koh-LAH-teh

fat la grasalah GRAH-sah

dairy los productos lácteoslohs pro-DUHK-tohs LAHK-teh-ohs

vegetable la verduralah vehr-DOO-rah

fruit la frutalah FROO-tah

grains los cerealeslohs seh-reh-AH-lehs

bread el pan

ehl pahn

meat la carnelah KAHR-neh

poultry las aves de corrallahs AH-vehs deh koh-RRAHL

soup la sopalah SOH-pah

salad la ensaladalah ehn-sah-LAH-dah

sandwich (on a roll) el bocadilloehl boh-kah-DEE-yoh

sandwich (on sliced bread) el sándwichehl SAHND-weech

Fruit

apple la manzanalah mahn-SAH-nah

apricot el albaricoqueehl ahl-bah-ree-KOH-keh

banana la bananalah bah-NAH-nah

blueberry el mirtiloehl meer-TEE-loh

cantaloupe el melónehl meh-LOHN

cherry la cerezalah seh-REH-sah

coconut el cocoehl KOH-koh

date el dátilehl DAH-teehl

fig el higoehl EE-goh

grape la uvalah OO-vah

grapefruit el pomeloehl poh-MEH-loh

guava la guayabalah gwah-YAH-bah

lemon el limónehl lee-MOHN

lime la limalah LEE-mah

mango el mangoehl MAHN-goh

melon el melónehl meh-LOHN

nectarine la nectarinalah nehk-tah-REE-nah

orange la naranjalah nah-RAHN-hah

peach

el durazno/el melocotónehl doo-RAHS-noh/ehl meh-loh-koh-TOHN

pear la peralah PEH-rah

pineapple el ananá/la piñaehl ah-nah-NAH/lah PEEN-yah

plantain el plátanoehl PLAH-tah-noh

plum la ciruelalah see-roo-EH-lah

prune la ciruela pasalah see-roo-EH-lah PAH-sah

raisin la pasa de uvalah PAH-sah deh OOH-vah

raspberry la frambuesalah frahm-BWEH-sah

strawberry la fresalah FREH-sah

watermelon la sandíalah sahn-DEE-ah

Vegetables

asparagus los espárragoslohs ehs-PAH-rrah-gohs

artichoke la alcachofalah ahl-kah-CHOH-fah

avocado el aguacateehl ah-gwah-KAH-teh

beans los frijoleslohs free-HOH-lehs

beet la remolachalah reh-moh-LAH-chah

broccoli el brécolehl BREH-kohl

cabbage la collah kohl

carrot la zanahorialah sah-nah-OH-ree-ah

cauliflower la coliflorlah koh-lee-FLOHR

celery el apioehl AH-pee-oh

chickpeas los garbanzoslohs gahr-BAHN-sohs

corn el maízehl mah-EES

cucumber el pepinoehl peh-PEE-noh

eggplant la berenjenalah beh-rehn-HEH-nah

green beans las judíaslahs hoo-DEE-ahs

kale la rizadalah ree-SAH-dah

lentils las lentejaslahs lehn-TEH-hahs

lettuce la lechugalah leh-CHOO-gah

mushroom el champiñonehl chahm-peen-YOHN

onion la cebollalah seh-BOH-yah

peas los guisanteslohs gee-SAHN-tehs

pepper el pimientoehl pee-mee-EHN-toh

potato la papalah PAH-pah

spinach la espinacalah eh-spee-NAH-kah

squash la calabazalah kah-lah-BAH-sah

sweet potato la batata/el boniatolah bah-TAH-tah/ehl boh-nee-AH-toh

tomato el tomateehl toh-MAH-teh

zucchini el calabacínehl kah-lah-bah-SEEN

Dairy

butter la mantequillalah mahn-teh-KEE-yah

cheese el quesoehl KEH-soh

cream la natalah NAH-tah

egg el huevoehl WEH-voh

ice cream el heladoehl eh-LAH-doh

milk la lechelah LEH-cheh

yogurt el yogurehl yoh-GOOR

Grains

bran el salvadoehl sahl-VAH-doh

breakfast cereal el cereal del desayunoehl seh-ree-AHL dehl deh-sahy-OO-noh

flour la harinalah ah-REE-nah

oatmeal los copos de avena

lohs KOH-pohs deh ah-VEH-nah

oats la avenalah ah-VEH-nah

rice el arrozehl ah-RROHS

wheat el trigoehl TREE-goh

Bread

dinner roll el bolloehl BOH-yoh

loaf of bread la barra de panlah BAH-rrah deh pahn

slice of bread la rebanada de panlah reh-bah-NAH-dah deh pahn

toast el pan tostadoehl pahn toh-STAH-doh

whole wheat bread el pan integralehl pahn een-teh-GRAHL

Meat and Poultry

beef la carne de vaca o de reslah KAHR-neh deh BAH-kah oh deh rehs

cutlet la chuleta

lah choo-LEH-tah

filet mignon el lomo finoehl LOH-moh FEE-noh

goat el chivoehl CHEE-voh

ham el jamónehl hah-MOHN

hamburger la hamburguesalah ahm-boor-GEH-sah

hot dog la salchichalah sahl-CHEE-chah

lamb la carne de corderolah KAHR-neh deh kohr-DEH-roh

liver el hígadoehl HEE-gah-doh

pork la carne de cerdolah KAHR-neh deh SEHR-doh

roast beef el rosbífehl rohs-BEEHF

sausage el chorizoehl choh-REE-soh

steak el bistecehl bee-STEHK

veal la carne de terneralah KAHR-neh deh tehr-NEHR-ah

chicken el polloehl POH-yoh

duck el pato

ehl PAH-toh

turkey el pavoehl PAH-voh

Fish and Shellfish

anchovy la anchoalah ahn-CHOH-ah

bass la merluzalah mehr-LOO-sah

clam la almejalah ahl-MEH-hah

cod el bacalaoehl bah-kah-LAOH

crab el cangrejoehl kahn-GREH-hoh

eel la anguilalah ahn-GEE-lah

lobster la langostalah lahn-GOHS-tah

mussel el mejillónehl meh-hee-YOHN

oyster la ostralah OHS-trah

salmon el salmón

ehl sahl-MOHN

scallops las conchas de peregrinolahs KOHN-chahs deh peh-reh-GREE-noh

shark el tiburónehl tee-boo-ROHN

shrimp las gambaslahs GAHM-bahs

sole el lenguadoehl lehn-GWAH-doh

swordfish el pez espadaehl pehs eh-SPAH-dah

trout la truchalah TROO-chah

tuna el atúnehl ah-TOON

Dessert

cake la tortalah TOHR-tah

cookie la galletalah gah-YEH-tah

ice cream el heladoehl eh-LAH-doh

pie el pastelehl pah-STEHL

pudding el pudínehl poo-DEEN

rice pudding el arroz con lecheehl ah-RROHS kohn LEH-cheh

Beverages

alcohol el alcoholehl AHL-kohl

beer la cervezalah sehr-BEH-sah

champagne el champánehl chahm-PAHN

coffee el caféehl kah-FEH

hot chocolate el chocolateehl choh-koh-LAH-teh

juice el jugoehl HOO-goh

milk la lechelah LEH-cheh

milk shake el batidoehl bah-TEE-doh

mineral water el agua mineralehl AH-gwah mee-neh-RAHL

rum el ron

ehl rohn

sherry el jerezehl heh-REHS

soda la gaseosalah gah-seh-OH-sah

tea el téehl teh

water el aguaehl AH-gwah

carbonated water el agua con gasehl AH-gwah kohn gahs

noncarbonated water el agua sin gasehl AH-gwah seen gahs

wine el vinoehl VEE-noh

Food ShoppingIf you've decided to skip the restaurant and headout to the local shops to buy groceries, you'll needto figure out where the shops are. And to do that,you have to know what they're called in Spanish.

Types of Food Stores

grocery store el colmado

ehl kohl-MAH-doh

butcher shop la carniceríalah kahr-nee-seh-REE-ah

bakery la panaderíalah pah-nah-deh-REE-ah

delicatessen la salchichoneríalah sahl-chee-choh-neh-REE-ah

supermarket el supermercadoehl soo-pehr-mehr-KAH-doh

pastry shop la pasteleríalah pah-steh-leh-REE-ah

fish shop la pescaderíalah peh-skah-deh-REE-ah

ice cream shop la heladeríalah eh-lah-deh-REE-ah

Once in the store, it'll help if you can ask forspecific ingredients.

How Much Do You Want?

a little bit un pocooon POH-koh

a lot muchoMOO-choh

a bite of un pincho de

oon PEEN-choh deh

an order of una ración deOO-nah rah-see-OHN deh

a box of una caja deOO-nah KAH-hah deh

a bag of una bolsa deOO-nah BOHL-sah deh

a can of una lata deOO-nah LAH-tah deh

a jar of un tarro deoon TAH-rroh deh

a bottle of una botella deOO-nah boh-TEH-yah deh

a sack of un saco deoon SAH-koh deh

Now that you've eaten your fill, let's head back outthere and go shopping! In the next chapter we'vegot you covered with all the sizes, colors, andvocabulary you'll need for your consumeradventures in Spanish.

IShopping and Services

s shopping a favorite recreational activity foryou? Do you want to find some souvenirs toremember your travels by? Or perhaps the airlinelost your suitcase and you're just desperate to getout of that same outfit you've been wearing threedays straight! Whatever your reason, goingshopping will be much easier if you know how toask for what you want.

Spring into ActionFirst, you'll want a few more verbs. As you learnthese verbs, don't just file them into the “verbs forshopping” compartment in your brain and leavethem there. Each vocabulary word you pick up inthis book is a building block. As you gainconfidence in Spanish, you'll be able to reuse andrearrange your words to say whatever you need tosay.

buscar: to look forcomprar: to buyllevar: to carry, to wearvender: to sell

BUSCAR: to look foryo busco (BOO-skoh)tú buscas (BOO-skahs)él, ella, usted busca (BOO-skah)nosotros buscamos (boo-SKAH-mohs)vosotros buscáis (boo-SKAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes buscan (BOO-skahn)

¿Qué busca usted?What are you looking for?

Busco una camiseta roja.I'm looking for a red T-shirt.

Buscamos a Cindy.We're looking for Cindy.

COMPRAR: to buyyo compro (KOHM-proh)tú compras (KOHM-prahs)él, ella, usted compra (KOHM-prah)nosotros compramos (kohm-PRAH-mohs)vosotros compráis (kohm-PRAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes compran (KOHM-prahn)

Él compra pan y huevos en el supermercado.He buys bread and eggs at the supermarket.

Marla y yo compramos zapatos.Marla and I buy shoes.

¿Qué marca de vaqueros compras?What brand of jeans do you buy?

LLEVAR: to carry, to wear

yo llevo (YEH-voh)tú llevas (YEH-vahs)él, ella, usted lleva (YEH-vah)

nosotros llevamos (yeh-VAH-mohs)vosotros lleváis (yeh-VAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes llevan (YEH-vahn)

¿Qué llevas en tu bolsa?What do you carry in your purse?

Llevo un paraguas cuando llueve.I carry an umbrella when it rains.

Los niños no llevan pantalones cortos en laescuela.The children don't wear shorts in school.

VENDER: to sellyo vendo (VEHN-doh)tú vendes (VEHN-dahs)él, ella, usted vende (VEHN-deh)nosotros vendemos (vehn-DEH-mohs)vosotros vendéis (vehn-DEHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes venden (VEHN-dehn)

¿Vende usted revistas en inglés?Do you sell magazines in English?

Venden vestidos bonitos en esta tienda.They sell pretty dresses in this store.

¿Dónde se venden antigüedades?Where do they sell antiques?

From Shop to ShopYou never know which shop you might need tovisit. For instance, the tobacco shop may come inhandy even if you don't smoke. Often, it's the bestplace to find stamps and weekly or monthly busand metro passes.

Types of Shops

antique shop el anticuarioehl ahn-tee-KWAH-ree-oh

bookstore la libreríalah lee-breh-REE-ah

camera shop la tienda de fotografía

lah tee-EHN-dah deh foh-toh-grah-FEE-ah

clothing store la tienda de ropalah tee-EHN-dah deh ROH-pah

department store el almacénehl ahl-mah-SEHN

jewelry store la joyeríalah hoy-eh-REE-ah

pharmacy la farmacialah fahr-MAH-see-ah

record store la tienda de discoslah tee-EHN-dah deh DEES-kohs

shoe store la zapateríalah sah-pah-teh-REE-ah

stationery store la papeleríalah pah-peh-leh-REE-ah

tobacco shop el estanquilloehl eh-stahn-KEE-yoh

Getting What You NeedOnce you find the shop you need, you'll need tocommunicate with the shopkeeper. Here are a fewgeneral questions and phrases:

Can you help me?¿Puede usted ayudarme?

PWEH-deh OO-stehd ah-yoo-DAHR-me

I'm looking for . . .Busco . . .BOO-skoh

Where can I find . . . ?¿Dónde puedo encontrar . . . ?DOHN-deh PWEH-doh ehn-kohn-TRAHR

Are there any sales?¿Hay rebajas?ahy reh-BAH-hahs

Do you sell . . .¿Vende usted . . . ?VEHN-deh OO-stehd

Could you please deliver it to my hotel?¿Puede enviarlo a mi hotel?PWEH-deh ehn-vee-AHR-loh ah mee OH-tehl

Can I return it?

¿Puedo devolverlo?PWEH-doh deh-vohl-VEHR-loh

Do you have a smaller/larger size?¿Tiene un tamaño más pequeño/grande?tee-EHN-eh oon tah-MAH-nyoh mahs peh-KEH-nyoh/ GRAHN-deh

I wear a size . . .Uso un talle . . .OO-soh oon TAH-yeh

Do you have it in other colors?¿Lo tiene en otros colores?loh tee-EHN-eh ehn OH-trohs koh-LOH-rehs

I'd like to try it on.Me gustaría probármelo.meh goos-tah-REE-ah proh-BAHR-meh-loh

I like it. / I don't like it.Me gusta. / No me gusta.meh GOO-stah / noh meh GOO-stah

I'll buy it.Lo compro.loh KOHM-proh

It fits me well.Me queda bien.eh KEH-dah bee-EHN

It fits you well.Te queda bien.teh KEH-dah bee-EHN

It doesn't fit me.No me queda bien.noh meh KEH-dah bee-EHN

Can I pay with credit card?¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta de crédito?PWEH-doh pah-GAHR kohn tahr-HEH-tah dehKREH-dee-toh

How much does it cost?¿Cúanto cuesta?

KWAHN-toh KWEH-stah

It's too expensive.Es demasiado caro.ehs deh-mah-see-AH-doh KAH-roh

Colors

color colorkoh-LOHR

beige beigebehj

black negroNEH-groh

blue azulah-SOOL

brown marrón, cafémah-RROHN, kah-FEH

gold doradodoh-RAH-doh

gray grisgrees

green verdeVEHR-deh

orange naranjanah-RAHN-hah

pink rosaROH-sah

purple moradomoh-RAH-doh

red rojoROH-hoh

silver plateadoplah-teh-AH-doh

white blancoBLAHN-koh

yellow amarilloah-mah-REE-yoh

light claroKLAH-roh

dark oscurooh-SKOO-roh

striped rayadorah-YAH-doh

plaid escocésehs-koh-SEHS

Expressing Your Opinion

pretty bonito/aboh-NEE-toh/ah

ugly feo/a

FEH-oh/ah

short bajo/aBAH-hoh/ah

long largo/aLAHR-goh/ah

inexpensive barato/abah-RAH-toh/ah

expensive caro/aKAH-roh/ah

loose ancho/aAHN-choh/ah

tight estrecho/aeh-STREH-choh/ah

thin delgado/a, fino/adehl-GAH-doh/ah, FEE-noh/ah

thick grueso/agroo-EH-soh/ah

small pequeño/apeh-KEH-nyoh/ah

medium mediano/ameh-dee-AH-noh/ah

large grandeGRAHN-deh

smaller más pequeño/amahs peh-KEH-nyoh/ah

larger más grandemahs GRAHN-deh

shorter más corto/a

mahs KOHR-toh/ah

longer más largo/amahs LAHR-goh/ah

less expensive más barato/amahs bah-RAH-toh/ah

better mejormeh-HOHR

worse peorpeh-OHR

too small demasiado pequeño/adeh-mah-see-AH-doh peh-KEH-nyoh/ah

too big demasiado grandedeh-mah-see-AH-doh GRAHN-deh

Clothing and JewelryLet's start with the basics—shopping for clothes,ropa (ROH-pah).

Clothing

bathing suit el traje de bañoehl TRAH-heh deh BAH-nyoh

belt el cinturónehl seen-too-ROHN

blouse la blusalah BLOO-sah

boots las botaslahs BOH-tahs

bra el sosténehl sohs-TEHN

cap el gorroehl GOH-rroh

coat el abrigoehl ah-BREE-goh

dress el vestidoehl veh-STEE-doh

gloves los guanteslohs GWAHN-tehs

hat el sombreroehl sohm-BREH-roh

jacket la chaquetalah chah-KEH-tah

jeans los vaqueroslohs bah-KEH-rohs

panties las bragaslahs BRAH-gahs

pants los pantaloneslohs pahn-tah-LOH-nehs

pantyhose las pantimediaslahs pahn-tee-MEH-dee-ahs

sandals las sandaliaslahs sahn-DAH-lee-ahs

scarf la bufandalah boo-FAHN-dah

shirt la camisalah kah-MEE-sah

shoes los zapatoslohs sah-PAH-tohs

shorts los pantalones cortoslohs pahn-tah-LOH-nehs KOHR-tohs

skirt la faldalah FAHL-dah

socks los calcetineslohs kahl-seh-TEE-nehs

stockings las mediaslahs MEH-dee-ahs

suit el trajeehl TRAH-heh

T-shirt la camisetalah kah-mee-SEH-tah

tie la corbatalah kohr-BAH-tah

underpants los calzoncilloslohs kahl-sohn-SEE-ohs

underwear la ropa interiorlah ROH-pah een-teh-ree-OHR

vest

el chalecoehl chah-LEH-koh

Fabrics

alpaca la alpacalah ahl-PAH-kah

angora la angoralah ahn-GOH-rah

cashmere la cachemiralah kah-cheh-MEE-rah

corduroy la panalah PAH-nah

cotton el algodónehl ahl-goh-DOHN

crepe el crespónehl krehs-POHN

denim el drilehl dreel

lace el encajeehl ehn-KAH-heh

leather el cueroehl KWEH-roh

linen el linoehl LEE-noh

muslin la muselinalah moo-seh-LEE-nah

nylon el nilonehl NEE-lohn

polyester el poliésterehl poh-lee-EHS-tehr

rayon el rayónehl rah-YOHN

silk la sedalah SEH-dah

suede el anteehl AHN-teh

velvet el terciopeloehl TEHR-see-oh-PEH-loh

wool la lanalah LAH-nah

Now that you've got a full outfit, how about somejewelry to match?

Jewelry

bracelet la pulseralah pool-SEH-rah

earrings los pendienteslohs pehn-dee-EHN-tehs

necklace el collarehl koh-YAHR

ring el anilloehl ah-NEE-yoh

gold el oroehl OH-roh

silver la platalah PLAH-tah

platinum el platinoehl plah-TEE-noh

diamond el diamanteehl dee-ah-MAHN-teh

emerald la esmeraldalah ehs-meh-RAHL-dah

sapphire el zafiroeh sah-FEE-roh

ruby el rubíehl roo-BEE

topaz el topacioehl toh-PAH-see-yoh

turquoise la turquesalah toor-KEH-sah

Something to ReadEven if you don't know enough Spanish to be ableto read a book or make sense of a magazine article,don't worry. Some bookshops and magazine kiosks

carry English-language publications—all you needto do is ask:

Do you have books/magazines/newspapers inEnglish?¿Tiene libros/revistas/periódicos en inglés?tee-EHN-eh LEE-brohs/reh-VEE-stahs/peh-ree-OH-dee-kohs ehn een-GLEHS

Do you sell guide books?¿Vende usted guías turísticas?VEHN-deh OO-stehd GEE-ahs too-REE-stee-kahs

Books and Stationery

book el libroehl LEE-broh

newspaper el periódicoehl peh-ree-OH-dee-koh

magazine la revistalah reh-VEE-stah

paper el papelehl pah-PEHL

notebook el cuaderno

ehl kwah-DEHR-noh

envelope el sobreehl SOH-breh

postcard la tarjeta postallah tahr-HEH-tah POH-stahl

fiction la ficciónlah feek-see-OHN

nonfiction la literatura no novelescalah lee-teh-rah-TOO-rah noh noh-veh-LEH-skah

novel la novelalah noh-VEH-lah

biography la biografíalah bee-oh-grah-FEE-ah

children's books los libros para niñoslohs LEE-brohs PAH-rah NEE-nyohs

poetry la poesíalah poh-eh-SEE-ah

pen la plumalah PLOO-mah

pencil el lápizehl LAH-pees

Music to My EarsWhy not explore the wide variety of sounds inLatin music? Try some cante jondo and classical

guitar from Spain, some salsa and merengue fromSouth America and the Caribbean, or maybe tejanofrom the American Southwest. You don't have totravel too far from home to experience the soundsof the varied Latin cultures. In fact, you can evenfind traditional Andean musical groups in thesubway stations of New York City and buy a CDfrom them while you're at it!

I'd like to buy some traditional music of the region.Quisiera comprar música tradicional de laregión.kee-see-EH-rah kohm-PRAHR MOO-see-kah trah-dee-see-oh-NAHL deh lah reh-hee-OHN

Do you have albums by local musicians?¿Tiene álbumes de músicos locales?tee-EHN-eh AHL-boo-mehs deh MOO-see-kohsloh-KAH-les

Can I listen to this before I buy it?¿Puedo escucharlo antes de comprar?

PWEH-doh eh-skoo-CHAR-loh AHN-tehs dehkohm-PRAHR

Music

music la músicalah MOO-see-kah

album el álbumehl AHL-boom

cassette tape la cintalah SEEN-tah

compact disc el disco compactoehl DEE-skoh kohm-PAHK-toh

musician el músicoehl MOO-see-koh

singer el/la cantanteehl/lah kahn-TAHN-teh

guitarist el/la guitarristaehl/lah gee-tah-RREE-stah

pianist el/la pianistaehl/lah pee-ah-NEE-stah

It's hard work, all that shopping! Now it's time forplay. The next chapter is all about entertainment,from taking in a movie to a night of dancing.

Y

Out onthe Town

ou're getting pretty good at this Spanishphrase thing and you want to hit the town tocelebrate. In this chapter, you'll learn somevocabulary that will add to the fun as you go out tothe movies, theater, dancing, or the local bar.

Verbs at PlayRemember, verbs are words of action! Here aresome playtime verbs to take with you for a nightout on the town.

BAILAR: to danceyo bailo (BAHY-loh)tú bailas (BAHY-lahs)él, ella, usted baila (BAHY-lah)nosotros bailamos (bahy-LAH-mohs)vosotros bailáis (bahy-LAHYS)

ellos, ellas, ustedes bailan (BAHY-lahn)

¡Qué bien baila usted!You dance so well!

Bailamos juntos.We dance together.

CANTAR: to singyo canto (KAHN-toh)tú cantas (KAHN-tahs)él, ella, usted canta (KAHN-tah)nosotros cantamos (kahn-TAH-mohs)vosotros cantáis (kahn-TAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes cantan (KAHN-tahn)

Marlena canta en el coro.Marlena sings in the choir.

Canto villancicos en Navidad.I sing carols at Christmastime.

MIRAR: to watch

yo miro (MEE-roh)tú miras (MEE-rahs)él, ella, usted mira (MEE-rah)nosotros miramos (mee-RAH-mohs)vosotros miráis (mee-RAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes miran (MEE-rahn)

Ustedes miran dibujos animados todo el día.You watch cartoons all day.

¡Mira por allá!Look over there! (informal)

At the MoviesWatching movies in a foreign language is a greatway to pick up new words and get the sound of thelanguage in your ear. Why not go see a movie inSpanish with English subtitles and see how muchyou can understand without resorting to reading?You may surprise yourself!

Cinema Vocabulary

cinema el cineehl SEE-neh

screen la pantallalah pahn-TAH-yah

ticket la entradalah ehn-TRAH-dah

movie la películalah peh-LEE-koo-lah

popcorn las palomitaslahs pah-loh-MEE-tahs

candy los carameloslohs kah-rah-MEH-lohs

seat el asientoehl ah-see-YEHN-toh

aisle el pasilloehl pah-SEE-yoh

action movie la película de acciónlah peh-LEE-koo-lah deh ahk-see-OHN

comedy la comedialah koh-MEH-dee-ah

romance la película de amorlah peh-LEE-koo-lah deh ah-MOHR

mystery el misterioehl mee-STEH-ree-yoh

science fiction la película de ciencia ficciónlah peh-LEE-koo-lah deh see-EHN-see-yah feek-see-OHN

Do you want to go to the movies?¿Quieres ir al cine?kee-EH-rehs eer ahl SEE-neh

What time does the movie start?¿Cuándo empieza la película?KWAHN-doh ehm-pee-EH-sah lah peh-LEE-koo-lah

Are there English subtitles?¿Hay subtítulos en inglés?ahy soob-TEE-too-lohs ehn een-GLEHS

I'd like two tickets, please.Quisiera dos entradas, por favor.kee-see-EH-rah dohs ehn-TRAH-dahs pohr fah-VOHR

At the Theater

A night at the theater in a new city can be quiteexciting. No subtitles at the theater, though, so itwill be a real challenge—unless you go to the

ballet!

Theater Vocabulary

theater el teatroehl teh-AH-troh

stage la escenalah eh-SEH-nah

curtain el telónehl teh-LOHN

actor el actorehl ahk-TOHR

actress la actrizlah ahk-TREES

play la obra de teatrolah OH-brah deh teh-AH-troh

monologue el monólogoehl moh-NOH-loh-goh

intermission el entreactoehl ehn-treh-AHC-toh

Dancing at a NightclubAh, music, the international language. Once itstarts, you're right at home in any language, right?Good for you. Ladies, do please note that if you're

in a salsa club you may encounter a custom knownas sacar a bailar. A man may grab your hand andpull you toward the dance floor. Feel free to say“no,” but don't be offended and overreact. It's alljust a part of the salsa game.

Nightclub Vocabulary

music la músicalah MOO-see-kah

song una canciónOO-nah kahn-see-OHN

dance floor la pista de bailelah PEE-stah deh BAHY-leh

Is there an admission charge?¿Es necesario pagar la entrada?ehs neh-seh-SAH-ree-oh pah-GAHR lah ehn-TRAH-dah

Would you like to dance?¿Quisieras bailar?kee-see-EH-rahs bahy-LAHR

I don't want to dance, thank you.No quiero bailar, gracias.noh kee-EH-roh bahy-LAHR, GRAH-see-ahs

At the BarBars can provide a good opportunity to meet newpeople and practice your language skills. Afraid ofordering the wrong thing and ending up with aglass of mystery liquid? Never fear. Here's somebar vocabulary to help you out.

Bar Vocabulary

bar el barehl bahr

bartender el cantineroehl kahn-tee-NEH-roh

beer la cervezalah sehr-VEH-sah

wine el vinoehl VEE-noh

alcohol el alcoholehl ahl-KOHL

bottle of beer la botella de cerveza

lah boh-TEHY-yah deh sehr-VEH-sah

glass of beer el vaso de cervezaehl VAH-soh deh sehr-VEH-sah

bourbon el bourbonehl boor-BOHN

gin la ginebralah hee-NEH-brah

And here's one last phrase you might need:

Can I buy you a drink?¿Puedo comprarte una bebida?PWEH-doh kohm-PRAHR-teh OO-nah beh-BEE-dah

At the SupermarketSure, your local supermarket probably hiresworkers who are fluent in English—unless, ofcourse, you're doing your grocery shoppingabroad. But there are sure to be Spanish-speakingemployees as well. Why not grab your chance topractice your Spanish and ask them for help intheir native language?

To start, here are the two verbs you are most likelyto need:

comprar: to buypagar: to pay

COMPRAR: to buyyo compro (KOHM-proh)tú compras (KOHM-prahs)él, ella, usted compra (KOHM-prah)nosotros compramos (kohm-PRAH-mohs)vosotros compráis (kohm-PRAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes compran (KOHM-prahn)

Compro manzanas y naranjas en elsupermercado.I buy apples and oranges at the supermarket.

Compráis la comida a buen precio.You buy dinner at a good price.

Hay que comprar comestibles.

I have to buy groceries.

PAGAR: to payyo pago (PAH-goh)tú pagas (PAH-gahs)él, ella, usted paga (PAH-gah)nosotros pagamos (pah-GAH-mohs)vosotros pagáis (pah-GAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes pagan (PAH-gahn)

Ustedes pagan demasiado por el desayuno.You pay too much for breakfast.

Pagas tus cuentas tarde.You pay your bills late.

Supermarket Vocabulary

aisle el pasilloehl pah-SEE-yoh

cash el efectivoehl eh-fehk-TEE-voh

check el chequeehl CHEH-keh

credit card la tarjeta de créditolah tahr-HEH-tah deh KREH-dee-toh

cash register la cajalah KAH-hah

shopping cart el carritoehl kah-RREE-toh

price el precioehl PREH-see-oh

paper bag la bolsa de papellah BOHL-sah deh pah-PEHL

plastic bag la bolsa de plásticolah BOHL-sah deh PLAH-stee-koh


fresh frescoFREH-skoh

spoiled echado a perdereh-CHAH-doh ah pehr-DEHR

on sale rebajadoreh-BAH-hah-doh

coupon el cupónehl koo-POHN

rebate el reembolsoehl reh-ehm-BOHL-soh

supermarket el supermercadoehl soo-pehr-mehr-KAH-doh

Where can I find . . . ?¿Dónde puedo encontrar . . . ?DOHN-deh PWEH-doh ehn-kohn-TRAHR

Can I write a personal check?¿Puedo escribir un cheque personal?PWEH-doh eh-skree-BEER oon CHEH-keh pehr-soh-NAHL

Can you check the price on this?¿Puede chequear el precio de esto?PWEH-deh cheh-keh-YAHR ehl PREH-see-yohdeh EH-stoh

I have a coupon.Tengo un cupón.TEHN-goh oon koo-POHN

Isn't that on sale?¿No está rebajado esto?noh eh-STAH reh-BAH-hah-doh EH-stoh

That's the wrong price.

Este precio es incorrecto.EH-steh PREH-see-oh ehs een-koh-RREHK-toh

You gave me the wrong change.Me dió el cambio incorrecto.meh dee-OH ehl KAHM-bee-oh een-koh-RREHK-toh

Around TownTo end the chapter, here are a few general termsyou might need as you make your way aroundtown.

General Terms

building el edificioehl eh-dee-FEE-see-oh

park el parqueehl PAHR-keh

bank el bancoehl BAHN-koh

shopping mall el centro comercialehl SEHN-troh koh-mehr-see-AHL

street la calle

lah KAH-yeh

road el caminoehl kah-MEE-noh

parking lot el aparcamientoehl ah-pahr-kah-mee-EHN-toh

sidewalk la aceralah ah-SEH-rah

city hall el ayuntamientoehl ah-yuhn-tah-mee-EHN-toh

courthouse el palacio de justiciaehl pah-LAH-see-yoh deh hoo-STEE-see-ah

jail la cárcellah KAHR-sehl

police station la comisaríalah koh-mee-sah-REE-ah

hospital el hospitalehl ohs-pee-TAHL

post office la oficina de correoslah oh-fee-SEE-nah deh koh-RREH-ohs

mayor el alcalde/la alcadesaehl ahl-KAHL-deh/lah ahl-kah-DEH-sah

judge el juez/la juezaehl hwehs/lah HWEH-sah

police officer el/la policíaehl/lah poh-lee-SEE-ah

postal worker el/la cartero/aehl/lah kahr-TEH-roh/rah

mailbox el buzónehl boo-SOHN

neighbor el/la vecino/aehl/lah beh-SEE-noh/nah

Tempted to hum a few bars of “It's a Small World”now? Go right ahead. It's true.

I

Idioms, Sayings,and Slang

dioms, sayings, and slang are those words andphrases that give a language its personality andcolor. Because they usually don't make sense whentranslated literally, you'll need to memorize them.Pick up one or two here, another three over there,until you have an impressive collection. Here'swhere you get to break the rules and have fun withlanguage. For several sections of this chapter, theSpanish phrases are presented first. As achallenge, why not try to figure out the meaning ofthe Spanish phrase before you read the Englishtranslation?

Common IdiomsIdioms are words and phrases used in such a waythat you can't decipher the whole by identifying theparts. They aren't something you can string together

word-by-word from a dictionary. For example,imagine you were learning to speak English andyou came across the phrase “The cat got hertongue.” This idiom certainly can't be translatedword for word. Instead, you would be taught whatthe idiom means as a whole.

Idiomatic Verb Phrases

acabar de to have just

ah-kah-BAHR deh

contar con to rely on

kohn-TAHR kohn

dar con to find

dahr kohn

dar en to hit against

dahr ehn

dar gritos to shout

dahr GREE-tohs

dar la bienvenida to welcome

dahr lah bee-ehn-veh-NEE-dah

dar un paseo to take a walk

dahr oon pah-SEH-oh

darse cuenta de to realize

DAHR-seh KWEHN-tah deh

darse por to consider oneself

DAHR-seh pohr

es decir that is to say

ehs deh-SEER

está bien okay

eh-STAH bee-EHN

estar bien to be well

eh-STAHR bee-EHN

estar mal to be bad (ill)

eh-STAHR mahl

estar a punto de + infinitive to be about to

eh-STAHR ah POON-toh deh

estar de acuerdo to agree

eh-STAHR deh ah-KWEHR-doh

estar de pie to be standing

eh-STAHR deh pee-EH

estar de vuelta to have returned

eh-STAHR deh VWEHL-tah

estar por to be in favor of

eh-STAHR pohr

hace buen tiempo the weather is good

AH-seh bwehn tee-EHM-poh

hace mal tiempo the weather is bad

AH-seh mahl tee-EHM-poh

hace calor it's hot

AH-seh kah-LOHR

it's cold

hace fríoAH-seh FREE-oh

hace fresco it's cool

AH-seh FREH-skoh

hace sol it's sunny

AH-seh sohl

hace viento it's windy

AH-seh vee-EHN-toh

hacer una broma to make a joke

ah-SEHR OO-nah BROH-mah

hacer el papel de to play the role of

ah-SEHR ehl pah-PEHL deh

hacer una pregunta to ask a question

ah-SEHR OO-nah preh-GOON-tah

hacer un viaje to take a trip

ah-SEHR oon bee-YAH-heh

hacerse daño to harm oneself

ah-SEHR-seh DAH-nyoh

intentar de to attempt

een-tehn-TAHR deh

llegar a ser to become

yeh-GAHR ah sehr

poner en claro to make clear

poh-NEHR ehn KLAH-roh

poner en duda to question

poh-NEHR ehn DOO-dah

poner en marcha to set in motion

poh-NEHR ehn MAHR-chahponer en ridículo to make fun of

poh-NEHR ehn ree-DEE-koo-loh

ponerse de acuerdo to reach an agreement

poh-NEHR-seh deh ah-KWEHR-doh

prestar atención to pay attention

preh-STAHR ah-tehn-see-OHN

querer decir to mean

keh-REHR deh-SEER

ser aficionado de to be a fan of

sehr ah-fee-see-oh-NAH-doh deh

ser de to belong to

sehr deh

tener . . . años to be . . . years old

teh-NEHR . . . AH-nyohs

tener calor to be hot

teh-NEHR kah-LOHR

tener frío to be cold

teh-NEHR FREE-oh

tener hambre to be hungry

teh-NEHR AHM-breh

tener sed to be thirsty

teh-NEHR sehd

tener éxito to succeed

teh-NEHR EHK-see-toh

tener razón to be right

teh-NEHR rah-SOHN

tener sueño to be tired

teh-NEHR SWEH-nyoh

tener cuidado to be careful

teh-NEHR kwee-DAH-doh

tener que ver con to have to do with

teh-NEHR keh vehr kohn

tener lugar to take place

teh-NEHR loo-GAHR

tener prisa to be in a hurry

teh-NEHR PREE-sah

tener miedo to be afraid

teh-NEHR mee-EH-doh

tener que + infinitive to have to

teh-NEHR keh

tratar de + infinitive to try to

trah-TAHR deh

valer la pena to be worth it

vah-LEHR lah PEH-nah

Other Idiomatic Phrases

absolutely por supuestopohr soo-PWEH-stoh

to add fuel to the fire echar leña al fuegoeh-CHAHR LEH-nyah ahl FWEH-goh

all of a sudden de repente

deh reh-PEHN-teh

Are you serious? ¿En serio?ehn SEH-ree-oh

at last por finpohr feen

at least por lo menospohr loh MEH-nohs

to be a great person ser buena gentesehr BWEH-nah HEHN-teh

to be able to deal with poder conpoh-DEHR kohn

to be able to tell that se nota queseh NOH-tah keh

to be mean ser una mulasehr OO-nah MOO-lah

to be on everyone's lips andar de boca en bocaahn-DAHR deh BOH-kah ehn BOH-kah

to be on your way estar en caminoeh-STAHR ehn kah-MEE-noh

to be ill sentirse malsehn-TEER-seh mahl

Be quiet! ¡Cállate!KAHY-yah-teh

to beat around the bush andarse con rodeosahn-DAHR-seh kohn roh-DEH-ohs

by the way a propósitoah proh-POH-see-toh

carelessly al aventón

ahl ah-vehn-TOHN

to end up terminar entehr-mee-NAHR ehn

Enough already! ¡Basta ya!BAH-stah yah

in the middle of a mediados deah meh-dee-AH-dohs deh

face up boca arribaBOH-kah ah-RREE-bah

face down boca abajoBOH-kah ah-BAH-hoh

to fall in love enamorarse deeh-nah-moh-RAHR-seh deh

to feel like, to crave tener ganas deteh-NEHR GAH-nahs deh

to feel sorry for sentir lástima porsehn-TEEHR LAH-stee-mah pohr

first of all antes que nadaAHN-tehs keh NAH-dah

for good para siemprePAH-rah see-EHM-preh

to get along with llevarse bien con (alguien)yeh-BAHR-seh bee-YEHN kohn (AHL-gee-yehn)

to get up on the wrong side of the levantarse con el pie izquierdo

bedleh-vahn-TAHR-seh kohn ehlpee-EH ees-kee-EHR-doh

to give a hand to dar una mano adahr OO-nah MAH-noh ah

to go crazy volverse loco/avohl-VEHR-seh LOH-koh/kah

to go to great lengths mover cielo, mar y tierramoh-VEHR see-EH-loh mahr ee tee-EH-rrah

to have a good time pasar bienpah-SAHR bee-EHN

in the long run a la largaah lah LAHR-gah

in the meantime mientras tantomee-EHN-trahs TAHN-toh

luckily menos malMEH-nohs mahl

just what I needed (sarcastic) lo que faltabaloh keh fahl-TAH-bah

to not be a big deal no ser para tantono sehr PAH-rah TAHN-toh

once in a while de vez en cuandodeh vehs ehn KWAHN-doh

one thing after another llover sobre mojadoyoh-VEHR SOH-breh moh-HAH-doh

to rain cats and dogs llover a cántarosyoh-VEHR ah KAHN-tah-rohs

to scare pegar un sustopeh-GAHR oon SOO-stoh

Say It with a SayingSayings, or refranes (reh-FRAH-nehs), are a bigpart of the spoken Spanish language. Each countryand culture has their own, but many cross theborders and are embraced by Spanish speakersworldwide. These refranes are so old that most ofthose who use them would be hard-pressed to tellyou how they originated. Remember, thetranslations given provide the meaning of thesaying; for the most part, they aren't literal.

A caballo regalado no le mires los dientes.Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.ah kah-BAH-yoh reh-gah-LAH-doh noh leh MEE-rehs lohs dee-EHN-tehs

A donde el corazón se inclina, el pie camina.Home is where the heart is.ah DOHN-deh ehl koh-rah-SOHN seh een-KLEE-

nah ehl pee-EH kah-MEE-nah

A mucha hambre, no hay pan duro.Beggars can't be choosers.ah MOO-chah HAM-breh noh ahy pahn DOO-roh

A rey muerto, rey puesto.When one door closes, another opens.ah rehy MWEHR-toh rehy PWEH-stoh

Algo es algo.It's better than nothing.AHL-goh ehs AHL-goh

Con paciencia y con maña, el elefante se comióla araña.Small strokes fell great oaks.kohn pah-see-EHN-see-ah ee kohn MAH-nyah ehleh-leh-FAHN-teh seh koh-mee-OH lah ah-RAH-nyah

Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who

you are.DEE-meh kohn kee-EHN AHN-dahs ee teh dee-REH kee-EHN EH-rehs

Donde hay humo, hay calor.Where there's smoke, there's fire.DOHN-deh ahy OO-moh ahy KAH-lohr

Lo barato sale caro.Cheap things cost you in the end.loh bah-RAH-toh SAH-leh KAH-roh

El mundo es un pañuelo.It's a small world.ehl MOON-doh ehs oon pah-nyoo-EH-loh

El tiempo da buen consejo.Time will tell.ehl tee-EHM-poh dah bwehn kohn-SEH-hoh

Las penas con pan son menos.Grief is lessened with bread.lahs PEH-nahs kohn pahn sohn MEH-nohs

No hay dos sin tres.Bad (good) things come in threes.noh ahy dohs seen trehs

No hay moros en la costa.The coast is clear.noh ahy MOH-rohs ehn lah KOH-stah

No hay pero que valga.No ands, ifs or buts.noh ahy PEH-roh keh VAHL-gah

No todo es miel sobre hojuelas.It's not all fun and games.noh TOH-doh ehs mee-EHL SOH-breh oh-HWEH-lahs

Querer es poder.Where there's a will, there's a way.keh-REHR ehs poh-DEHR

Ver para creer.Seeing is believing.

behr PAH-rah kreh-EHR

Words Your Spanish TeacherNever Taught YouLearning slang in a foreign language is a lot of funand can add flavor to your conversation skills. Justas in English, though, be sure you know when touse it and when more formal language isappropriate. As always, when in doubt, it's best toerr on the side of formality.

First, try these slang verbs on for size. Yes, theystill have to be conjugated. No todo es miel sobrehojuelas, after all.

cabecear: to nod off while sitting upcodearse: to rub shoulders withjalarse: to get drunkjorobar: to pestermeterse con: to mess with, to get involved

withpaluchear: to pretend to be somethingyou're not, to pose

CABECEAR: to nod off while sitting upyo cabeceo (kah-beh-SEH-oh)tú cabeceas (kah-beh-SEH-ahs)él, ella, usted cabecea (kah-beh-SEH-ah)nosotros cabeceamos (kah-beh-seh-AH-mohs)vosotros cabeceáis (kah-beh-seh-AHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes cabecean (kah-beh-SEH-ahn)

Cabeceamos en la clase de matemática.We nod off in math class.

JALARSE: to get drunkyo me jaleo (hah-LEH-oh)tú te jaleas (hah-LEH-ahs)él, ella, usted se jalea (hah-LEH-ah)nosotros nos jaleamos (hah-leh-AH-mohs)vosotros os jaleáis (hah-leh-AHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes se jalean (hah-LEH-ahn)

Los amigos se jalean en la fiesta.The friends get drunk at the party.

JOROBAR: to pesteryo jorobo (hoh-ROH-boh)tú jorobas (hoh-ROH-bahs)él, ella, usted joroba (hoh-ROH-bah)nosotros jorobamos (hoh-roh-BAH-mohs)vosotros jorobáis (hoh-roh-BAHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes joroban (hoh-ROH-bahn)

Mis hermanos pequeños me joroban sin piedad.My little brothers pester me mercilessly.

METERSE CON: to mess with, to getinvolved withyo me meto (MEH-toh)tú te metes (MEH-tehs)él, ella, usted se mete (MEH-teh)nosotros nos metemos (meh-TEH-mohs)vosotros os metéis (meh-TEHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes se meten (MEH-tehn)

No me meto con descarados.I don't mess with scoundrels.

PALUCHEAR: to pretend to be somethingyou're not, to poseyo palucheo (pah-loo-CHEH-oh)tú palucheas (pah-loo-CHEH-ahs)él, ella, usted paluchea (pah-loo-CHEH-ah)nosotros palucheamos (pah-loo-cheh-AH-mohs)vosotros palucheáis (pah-loo-cheh-AHYS)ellos, ellas, ustedes paluchean (pah-loo-CHEH-ahn)

Andrea paluchea como si fuera famosa.Andrea acts like she's famous.

Slang Words and Phrases

a load of bull rolloROH-yoh

a lot un restooon REH-stoh

as is tal cual

tahl kwahl

to ask for trouble sacar boletosah-KAHR boh-LEH-toh

bad luck mala pataMAH-lah PAH-tah

burn the midnight oil quemarse las pestañaskeh-MAHR-seh lahs peh-STAH-nyahs

to brag darse bombaDAHR-seh BOHM-bah

carelessly a la fresca virutaah lah FREH-skah vee-ROO-tah

Cool! ¡Qué guay! ¡Qué padre!keh gwahy/keh PAH-dreh

to give the creeps dar cosa adahr KOH-sah ah

Go to hell! ¡Vete al diablo!VEH-teh ahl dee-AH-bloh

It's all the same to me. Me da igual.meh dah ee-GWAHL

to make a mistake pelar ratapeh-LAHR RAH-tah

Not a chance! ¡Ni de chiste!nee deh CHEEH-steh

okay, sure valeVAH-leh

to paint the town red rumbiarroom-bee-AHR

so far, so good vamos bien

VAH-mohs bee-EHN

stupidly a lo idiotaah loh ee-dee-OH-tah

Spanish to English Dictionary

A

abogado/a lawyerabolladura dentabrigo coatabuela grandmotherabril Aprilabuelo grandfatheraceite oilacera sidewalkactor/actriz actoractual currentadelante aheadaduana customsagente de policía police officer(el) agua water(el) agua caliente water, hot(el) agua con gas water, carbonated(el) agua fría water, cold(el) agua mineral mineral water(el) agua sin gas water, noncarbonated

agosto August(el) aguacate avocadoagrio sour(el) aire acondicionado air-conditioning(el) albaricoque apricot(el) álbum albumalcachofa artichoke(el) alcohol alcoholalemán/ana Germanalergia allergy(el) algodón cottonal lado de next to(el) almacén department storealmeja clamavena oats(las) aves de corral poultryalmuerzo lunchalpaca alpacaalquilar to rentel alquiler de coches car rental(la) altitud altitudeamarillo yellowamericano/a Americanamigo/a friendancho loose

anchoa anchovy(el) andén platformangora angoraanguila eelanticuario antique shopanillo ring(el) ante suedeaorta aortaaperitivo appetizerapio celeryargentino/a Argentinean(el) arroz rice(el) arroz con leche rice puddingarteria arteryartista artistasado baked, roastedasiento seatasistir to attend(el) asma asthma(el) ataque de apoplejía stroke(el) ataque al corazón heart attackatender to serve(el) aterrizaje landinga través de through(el) atún tuna(los) auriculares headphones

australiano/a Australian

(el) autobús busavería breakdown(el) avión airplaneaxila armpitazafato/a flight attendantazul blue

B

bacalao codbailarín/ina dancerbajo short (not tall)banana bananabañera bathtubbaño bathroombarra de pan bread, loaf of(el) bar barbarato inexpensivebarba beardbarbería barbershopbatido milk shakebeige beigeberenjena eggplantbien asado well-done

(el) bigote mustache(el) billete ticketbillete de primera clase first class ticketbiografía biography(el) bistec steakbizarro braveblanco whiteblusa blouseboca mouthbocadillo sandwich (on a roll)bollo dinner rolluna bolsa de a bag ofbombero/a firefighterbonito/a prettybota bootuna botella de a bottle ofbragas pantiesbrazo arm(el) brécol broccolibrocha paintbrushBuenas noches Good eveningBuenas tardes Good afternoonBuenos días Good morningbufanda scarf

C

cachemira cashmere(el café) coffeeuna caja de a box ofcaja de seguridad a safe(el) calabacín zucchinicalabaza squash(los) calcetines sockscalculadora calculatorcafé browncaliente hot(la) calle streetcalzoncillos men's underpantscama bedcama individual bed, twincama matrimonial bed, doublecámara cameracámara de video video cameracamarero bartender, waitercamarera waitresscambio de dinero money exchangecamisa shirtcamiseta T-shirtcanadiense Canadian

(la) canción songcangrejo crabcantante singercara facecaramelos candy(la) carne meat(la) carne de cerdo pork(la) carne de cordero lamb(la) carne de ternera veal(la) carne de vaca beefcarnicería butcher shopcaro expensivecarretera highwaycarta menucebolla onioncerebro brain(el) carné de conducir driver's licensecarrito cartcartero/a postal workerceja eyebrowcena dinnercerca near(los) cereales grains(el) cereal del desayuno breakfast cerealcereza cherry

cerveza beerchaleco vestchaleco salvavidas life vest(el) champán champagne(el) champiñón mushroom(el) champú shampoochaqueta jacket(el) cheque check (form of payment)chileno/a Chileanchivo goat(el) chocolate chocolate(el) choque car accidentchorizo sausagechuleta cutlet(el) cine cinemacinta cassette tapecinta adhesiva tapecintas transportadoras moving walkway(el) cinturón beltciruela plumciruela pasa pruneclaro lightclavo nailcobrador conductor, bill collector(el) coche carcocinero/a chef, cook

coco coconut

(la) col cabbage(la) coliflor cauliflower(el) collar necklacecolmado grocery storecolombiano/a Colombianconchas de peregrino scallopsconducir to drivecompromiso commitment(el) conductor bus driverconstipación cold (a cold)contable accountantcopa de vino wine glasscopos de avena oatmeal(el) corazón heartcorbata neck tie(el) cordón de zapato shoelace(el) corte de pelo haircutcorto short (not long)costarricense Costa Ricancremallera rota broken zipper(el) crespón crepecrudo rawcuaderno notebookcuarto fourth, room

cuarto de baño bathroomcubierto place settingcubitos de hielo ice cubescuchara spooncuchara sopera soup spooncucharita teaspooncuello neckcuenta billcuero leathercuerpo bodycuñado/a brother-in-law/sister-in-law

D

danés/esa Danishel dátil date (fruit)decepción disappointmentdécimo tenthdedo fingerdedo del pie toedelgado thindemasiado grande too bigdemasiado pequeño too smalldentista dentistdepilación waxing

derecha rightderecho straight, a rightdesayuno breakfast(el) despegue take-offdetergente detergentdetrás de behinddía day(el) diamante diamonddiciembre December(el) diente toothdinero moneyel disco compacto compact disc(el) disquete computer diskdoble turndomingo Sundaydominicano/a Dominicandorado gold(el) dril denimducha showerdulce sweet

E

ecuatoriano/a Ecuadorianedificio building

efectivo cashegipcio/a Egyptianembarazada pregnant(el) empeine archempleado/a employee(el) encaje laceenero Januaryenfermero/a nurseensalada saladentrada entrance, movie or theater ticket(el) equipaje baggage(el) equipaje extraviado lost baggageescalera de mano ladderescena stageescribir a máquina to typeescritor/a writerescritorio deskescuela schoolesmeralda emeraldespalda backespañol/a Spanishespárragos asparagusla espinaca spinachesposo/a husband/wifeesqueleto skeleton

esquina street corner(la) estación season(la) estación de metro metro stationestanquillo tobacco shopestar to beeste eastestrecho tightestudiante studenteuropeo/a Europeanéxito success(las) exposiciones exposures

F

falda skirtfarmacia pharmacyfarmacéutico/a pharmacist(el) fax fax machinefebrero Februaryfeo ugly(la) ficción fictionfila rowfilipino/a Filipino/afino thinflequillo bangsfosa nasal nostril

fotocopiadora photocopierframbuesa raspberryfrancés/a French(la) frente foreheadfresa strawberryfresca fresh(los) frijoles beansfrío coldfrito friedfruta fruit

G

galleta cookiegambas shrimpgarbanzos chickpeasgaseosa sodagasolina gasolinegerente managergimnasio gymgoma eraser, rubbergorro capgrande largegrapadora staplergrasa fat

gris graygrueso thick(los) guantes glovesguayaba guava(los) guisantes peasguitarrista guitarist

H

(la) habitación roomhamburguesa hamburgerharina flourhelado ice creamheladería ice cream shophermana/o sister/brotherhermanastra/o stepsister/stepbrotherhígado liverhigo fighija/o daughter/sonhijastra/o stepdaughter/stepsonHola Helloholandés/esa Dutchhondureño/a Honduranhorario schedule(el) hostal hostel

(el) hotel hotelhoy todayhueco holehueso bonehuevo egg

I

impresora printeringeniero/a engineeringlés Englishinvierno winteriraní Iranianiraquí Iraqiirlandés/esa Irishitaliano/a Italianizquierda left

J

(el) jamón hamjefe/a boss(el) jerez sherryjoyería jewelry storejoyero/a jeweler

judías green beansjueves Thursdayjugo juicejulio Julyjunio June

K, L

labio liplámpara lamplana woollangosta lobster(el) lápiz pencillargo longlata canlavabo sinklavadora washing machinelavandería Laundromat(la) leche milklechuga lettucelejía bleachlejos farlengua tonguelentejas lentilslima lime

(el) limón lemonlenguado sole (fish)libre de impuestos duty freelibrería bookstorelibro booklibro para niños children's booklino linenliteratura no novelesca nonfictionlomo fino filet mignonlunes Mondayluz light

LL

(la) llave keyllegada arrival

M

madrastra stepmothermadre mother(el) maíz cornmancha stainmango mangomanicura manicure

(el) mantel tableclothmantequilla buttermanzana apple, street blockmañana tomorrowmáquina de billetes ticket machinemarinero/a sailormarisco shellfishmarrón brownmartes Tuesdaymarzo Marchmayo Maymecánico/a mechanicmediano mediummedias stockingsmédico/a doctormejilla cheek(el) mejillón musselmejor better(el) melocotón peach(el) melón melon(el) mensaje messagemerienda snackmerluza bass(el) mes monthmesa table

metro subwaymexicano/a Mexicanmiércoles Wednesdaymirtilo blueberrymolestar to bothermorado purplemucho a lotmúsculo musclemuselina muslinmúsica musicmúsico/a musician

N

naranja orange(la) nariz nosenata creamnectarina nectarinenegro blacknervio nervenicaragüense Nicaraguannieta/o granddaughter/grandson(el) nilon nylonnorte northnorteamericano/a North Americannoruego/a Norwegian

novela novelnoveno ninthnovia/o girlfriend/boyfriendnoviembre November

O

octavo eighthoctubre Octoberoeste westojo eyeondulado wavy(el) ordenador computeroreja earórgano organoro goldoscuro darkostra oysterotoño fall

P

padrastro stepfatherpadre fatherpagar to pay

palomitas popcorn(el) pan bread(el) pan integral whole wheat breadpan y mantequilla bread and butter(el) pan tostado toastpana corduroypanadería bakerypantalla movie screen(los) pantalones pants(los) pantalones cortos shortspantimedias pantyhosepapa potato(el) papel paper(el) papel higiénico toilet paperparada de autobús bus stopparada de taxis taxi standparaguayo/a Paraguayan(a la) parrilla grilledpárpado eyelidpasa raisin(el) pasaporte passport(el) pase de abordar boarding cardpasillo aisle(el) pastel piepastelería pastry shop

patillas sideburnspato duckpavo turkey(el) peaje tollpecho chestpedicura pedicurepegamento gluepeinado hairstylepeinar to combpelícula camera film, motion picturepelo hair(los) pendientes earringspeor worsepepino cucumberpequeño smallpera pearpercha hangerperiódico newspaperperiodista journalistla permanente permperuano/a Peruvianpescadería fish shoppescado fishpestaña eyelash(el) pez espada swordfishpianista pianist

picado chopped

picante spicy(el) pie foot(la) piel skinpierna legpila batterypiloto/a pilotpimiento pepperpincho de a bit ofpintor/a painterpintura paintpiña pineapplepiscina swimming poolpiso floorpista de baile dance floorplata silverplátano plantainplatino platinumplato plateplato principal entreepluma pen(un) poco a little bitpoco cocido rarepoesía poetrypolaco/a Polish

(el) poliéster polyesterpollo chickenpolvo dustpomelo grapefruit(el) portaequipajes baggage compartmentportero doorman(el) postre dessertprecio del viaje farepretender to tryprimavera springprimero firstprimo/a cousinproductos lácteos dairyprofesor/a teacher, professorprometido/a fiancé/éepropina tipprueba test(el) pudín pudding(el) puente bridgepuerta de embarque boarding gatepuertorriqueño/a Puerto Rican(el) pulgar thumbpulsera bracelet

Q

quemado burnedqueso cheesequinto fifth

R

ración de an order of(el) rasgón tearrayado striped(el) rayón rayon(la) reacción alérgica allergic reactionrebanada de pan slice of bread(la) reclamación baggage claim de equipajesrecordar to remember(el) recorte trim (hair)redactor/a editorreflejos highlights (hair)remolacha beet(la) reservación reservationrevista magazinerizada kalerizado curlyrodilla kneerojo red(el) ron rum

ropa clothingropa interior underwearrosa roserosado rose (color)(el) rosbíf roast beefroto/a broken(el) rubí rubyruso/a Russian

S

sábado Saturdaysábana sheet(el) sacapuntas pencil sharpenersaco sacksalchicha hot dogsalchichonería delicatessensalida departuresalida de emergencia emergency exit(el) salmón salmon(el) salón de belleza beauty salonsalteado sautéedsalvado bransalvadoreño/a El Salvadoransandalias sandals

sandía watermelon(el) sandwich sandwich (on sliced bread)(la) sangre bloodser to besano healthy(el) secador de pelo hairdryersecadora clothes dryersecar el pelo blow drysecretario/a secretaryseda silksegundo secondseguro insurancesello stampseñas directionsSeñor SirSeñora Mrs.Señorita Missseptiembre Septemberséptimo seventhservilleta napkinsexto sixthsigue continuesimpático nice(el) sobre envelopesobrina/o niece/nephew

soldado soldiersombrero hatsopa soup(el) soplete blowtorchsoso bland(el) sostén brasudamericano/a South Americansuegra/o mother-in-law/father-in-lawsuela sole (of the shoe)(el) sujetapapeles paperclipsupermercado supermarketsur south

T

(el) tacón heeltaquilla ticket windowtarjeta postal postcardtarro jar(el) taxi taxi(el) taxista taxi drivertaza cup(el) tazón bowl(el) té teateatro theatertecho ceiling

teléfono telephone(la) televisión television(el) tenedor forktercero thirdterciopelo velvettía/o aunt/uncle(el) tiburón sharktienda de fotografía camera shoptienda de discos record storetienda de ropa clothing storetintorería dry cleaner'stoalla toweltoalla de baño bath toweltoalla para la cara face toweltoalla para las manos hand towel(el) tomate tomatotopacio topaztorta caketostado toastedtrabajo jobtráfico traffic(el) traje suit(el) traje de baño bathing suittrigo wheattrucha trout

turquesa turquoise

U

uva grape

V

(al) vapor steamedvaqueros jeans, cowboysvaso glassvecino/a neighborvendedor/a salesman/womanventana windowverano summerverde greenverdura vegetablevestido dressviernes Fridayvino winevuelo flight

W, Y, Z

(el) wáter toilet

(el) yogur yogurtzafiro sapphirezanahoria carrotzapatería shoe storezapato shoe

English to Spanish Dictionary

A

accountant contableacross from a través deactor actoractress actrizahead adelanteair-conditioning aire acondicionadoairplane aviónaisle pasilloalbum álbumalcohol alcoholallergy alergiaallergic reaction reacción alérgicaalpaca alpacaa lot muchoaltitude altitudAmerican americano/aanchovy anchoaangora angoraantique shop anticuario

aorta aortaappetizer aperitivoapple manzanaapricot albaricoqueApril abrilarch empeineArgentinean argentino/aarm brazoarmpit axilaarrival llegadaartery arteriaartichoke alcachofaartist artistaasparagus espárragosasthma asmato attend asistirAugust agostoAustralian australiano/aaunt tíaavocado aguacate

B

back espaldaa bag of una bolsa de

baggage equipajebaggage claim reclamación de equipajesbaggage compartment portaequipajesbaked asadobakery panaderíabanana bananabangs flequillobar barbarbershop barberíabartender camarerobass merluzabathing suit traje de bañobathroom cuarto de bañobathtub bañerabattery pilato be estar, serbeans frijolesbeard barbabeauty salon salón de bellezabed camabed, double cama matrimonialbed, twin cama individualbeef carne de vacabeer cervezabeet remolacha

belt cinturónbetter mejorbehind detrás debeige beigebill cuentabiography biografíaa bit of un pincho deblack negrobland sosobleach lejíablock manzanablood sangreblouse blusablow dry secar el peloblowtorch sopleteblue azulblueberry mirtiloboarding card pase de abordarbody cuerpoboarding gate puerta de embarquea bottle of una botella debone huesobook librobookstore libreríaboot botaboss jefe/a

bother, to molestar

bowl tazóna box of una caja deboyfriend noviobra sosténbracelet pulserabrain cerebrobran salvadobrave bizarrobreakfast desayunobreakfast cereal cereal del desayunobread panbread and butter pan y mantequillabread, loaf of barra de panbread, slice of rebanada de panbread, whole wheat pan integralbreakdown averíabridge puentebroccoli brécolbroken roto/abroken zipper cremallera rotabrother hermanobrother-in-law cuñadobrown marrón, cafébuilding edificio

burned quemadobus autobúsbus driver conductorbus stop parada de autobúsbutcher shop carniceríabutter mantequilla

C

cabbage colcake tortacalculator calculadoracamera cámaracamera film películacamera shop tienda de fotografíaa can of una lata deCanadian canadiensecandy carameloscantaloupe melóncap gorrocar cochecar accident choquecar rental alquiler de cochescarrot zanahoriacart carrito

cash efectivocashmere cachemiracassette tape cintacauliflower coliflorceiling techocelery apiochampagne champáncheck (bill) cuentacheck (form of payment) chequecheek mejillacheese quesochef cocinero/acherry cerezachest pechochicken pollochickpeas garbanzoschildren's book libro para niñosChilean chileno/achocolate chocolatechopped picadocinema cineclam almejaclothes dryer secadoraclothing ropaclothing store tienda de ropa

coat abrigococonut cococod bacalaocoffee cafécold fríocold (a cold) constipaciónColombian colombiano/ato comb peinarcommitment compromisocompact disc disco compactocomputer computadora/ordenadorconductor cobradorcontinue siguecookie galletacorduroy panacorn maízCosta Rican costarricensecotton algodóncousin primo/acrab cangrejocream natacrepe crespóncross cruceCuban cubano/acucumber pepinocup taza

curly rizado

current actualcustoms aduanacutlet chuleta

D

dairy productos lácteosdance floor pista de bailedancer bailarín/inaDanish danés/esadark oscurodate dátildaughter hijaday díaDecember diciembredelicatessen salchichoneríadenim drildent abolladuradentist dentistadepartment store almacéndeparture salidadesk escritoriodessert postredetergent detergente

diamond diamantedinner cenadinner roll bollodirections señasdisappointment decepcióndisk disquetedoctor médico/aDominican dominicano/adoorman porterodress vestidoto drive conducirdriver's license carné de conducirdry cleaner's tintoreríaduck patodust polvoDutch holandés/esaduty free libre de impuestos

E

east esteear orejaearrings pendientesEcuadorian ecuatoriano/aeditor redactor/a

eel anguilaegg huevoeggplant berenjenaEgyptian egipcio/aeighth octavoelevator ascensoremergency exit salida de emergenciaemerald esmeraldaengineer ingeniero/aemployee empleado/aEnglish inglésentrance entradaentree plato principalenvelope sobreeraser gomaEuropean europeo/aexit salidaexpensive caroexposures exposicioneseye ojoeyebrow cejaeyelash pestañaeyelid párpado

F

face carafall otoñofar lejosfare precio del viajefat grasafather padrefather-in-law suegrofax machine faxFebruary febrerofiance/ee prometido/afiction ficciónfifth quintofig higofilet mignon lomo finoFilipino/a filipino/afinger dedofirefighter bombero/afirst primerofirst class ticket billete de primera clasefish pescadofish shop pescaderíaflight vueloflight attendant azafato/aflight number número de vuelofloor piso

flour harinafoot pieforehead frentefork tenedorform of forma de identificaciónidentificationfourth cuartoFrench francés/esafresh frescaFriday viernesfried fritofruit frutafriend amigo/a

G

gasoline gasolinaGerman alemán/anagirlfriend noviaglass vasogloves guantesglue pegamentogoat chivogo back vuelvego down baje

go past pasego up subegold orogolden doradogood afternoon buenas tardesgood evening buenas nochesgood morning buenos díasgrains cerealesgranddaughter nietagrandfather abuelograndmother abuelagrandson nietogrape uvagrapefruit pomelogray grisgreen verdegreen beans judíasgrilled a la parrillagrocery store colmadoguava guayabaguitarist guitarristagym gimnasio

H

hair peloa haircut un corte de pelohairdryer secador de pelohairstyle peinadoham jamónhamburger hamburguesahanger perchahallway pasillohat sombreroheadphones auriculareshealthy sanoheart corazónheart attack ataque al corazónheel tacónhello holahighlights reflejoshighway carreterahole huecoHonduran hondureño/ahostel hostalhot calientehot chocolate chocolate calientehot dog salchichahotel hotelhusband esposo, marido

I

ice cream heladoice cream shop heladeríaice cubes cubitos de hieloI'm going to . . . Voy a . . .inexpensive baratoinsurance seguroIranian iraníIraqi iraquíIrish irlandés/esaItalian italiano/a

J

jacket chaquetaJanuary eneroa jar of un tarro dejeans vaquerosjeweler joyero/ajewelry store joyeríajob trabajojournalist periodistaJuly juliojuice jugo

June junio

K

kale rizadakey llaveknee rodilla

L

lace encajeladder escalera de manolamb carne de corderolamp lámparalanding aterrizajelarge grandelarger más grandeLaundromat lavanderíalawyer abogado/aleather cueroleft izquierdaleg piernalemon limónlentils lentejasless expensive más barato

lettuce lechugalife vest chaleco salvavidaslight luzlight clarolime limalinen linolip labioa little bit un poco deliver hígadolobster langostalong largolonger más largoloose ancholost baggage equipaje extraviadolost and found oficina de objetos perdidoslunch almuerzo

M

magazine revistamanager gerentemango mangoa manicure una manicuraMarch marzoMay mayo

meat carnemechanic mecánico/amedium medianomelon melónmenu carta, menúmessage mensajeMexican mexicano/ametro station estación de metromilk lechemilk shake batidomineral water agua mineralMiss Señoritamissing button botón perdidoMonday lunesmoney dineromoney exchange cambio de dineromonth mesmother madremother-in-law suegramouth bocamovie screen pantallamovie ticket entradamoving walkway cintas transportadorasMrs. Señoramuscle músculo

musician músico/amushroom champiñonmusic músicamuslin muselinamussel mejillónmustache bigote

N

nail clavonapkin servilletanear cercaneck cuellonecklace collarnectarine nectarinaneighbor vecino/anephew sobrinonerve nervionewspaper periódiconext to al lado deNicaraguan nicaragüensenice simpáticoniece sobrinaninth novenononfiction literatura no novelescanorth norte

North American norteamericano/aNorwegian noruego/anose nariznostril fosa nasalnotebook cuadernonovel novelaNovember noviembrenurse enfermero/anylon nilon

O

oatmeal copos de avenaoats avenaOctober octubreoil aceiteone-way ticket billete sencilloonion cebollaorange naranjaan order of una ración deorgan órganooyster ostra

P

paint pinturapaintbrush brochapainter pintor/apanties bragaspants pantalonespantyhose pantimediaspaper papelpaperclip sujetapapelesParaguayan paraguayo/apassport pasaportepastry shop pasteleríato pay pagarpeach melocotón/duraznopear perapeas guisantesa pedicure una pedicurapen plumapencil lápizpepper (condiment) pimientapepper (vegetable) pimientopencil sharpener sacapuntasperm permanentePeruvian peruano/apharmacist farmacéutico/apharmacy farmacia

photocopier fotocopiadorapianist pianistapie pastelpillow almohadapilot piloto/apineapple piñapink rosadoplace setting cubiertoplantain plátanoplate platoplatform andénplatinum platinoplum ciruelapoetry poesíapolice officer agente de policíaPolish polaco/apolyester poliésterpopcorn palomitaspork carne de cerdopostal worker cartero/apostcard tarjeta postalpotato papapoultry aves de corralprune ciruela pasapregnant embarazadapretty bonito

printer impresora

pudding pudínPuerto Rican puertorriqueño/apurple morado

R

raisin pasarare poco cocidoraspberry frambuesaraw crudorayon rayónrecord store tienda de discosred rojoto remember recordarto rent alquilarreservation reservaciónrestrooms bañosrice arrozrice pudding arroz con lecheright derecharing anilloroast beef rosbífroom habitaciónround-trip ticket billete de ida y vuelta

roasted asadorow filaruby rubírum ronRussian ruso/a

S

a sack of un saco dea safe caja de seguridadsailor marinero/asalad ensaladasalesman/woman vendedor/asalmon salmónSalvadoran salvadoreño/asandals sandaliassandwich (on a roll) bocadillosandwich (on sliced bread) sandwichsapphire zafiroSaturday sábadosausage chorizosautéed salteadoscallops conchas de peregrinoscarf bufandaschedule horario

school escuelascuff rayaseason estaciónseat asientosecond segundosecond class ticket billete de segunda clasesecretary secretario/aSeptember septiembreto serve atenderseventh séptimoshampoo champúshark tiburónsheet sábanashellfish mariscosherry jerezshirt camisashoe zapatoshoelace cordón de zapatoshoe store zapateríashort (not tall) bajoshort (not long) cortoshorter más cortoshorts pantalones cortosshower duchashrimp gambas

sideburns patillassidewalk acerasilk sedasilver platasinger cantantesink lavaboSir Señorsister hermanasister-in-law cuñadasixth sextoskeleton esqueletoskin pielskirt faldasmall pequeñosmaller más pequeñosnack meriendasocks calcetinessoda gaseosasoldier soldadosole (fish) lenguadosole (of the shoe) suelason hijosong canciónsoup sopasouth sursoup spoon cuchara sopera

sour agrio

South American sudamericano/aSpanish español/aspicy picantespinach espinacaspoon cucharaspring primaverasquash calabazastage escenastain manchastamp sellostapler grapadorastationery store papeleríasteak bistecsteamed al vaporstepbrother hermanastrostepdaughter hijastrastepfather padrastrostepmother madrastrastepsister hermanastrastepson hijastrostockings mediasstop here pare aquístraight derechostrawberry fresa

street callestreet corner esquinastriped rayadostroke ataque de apoplejíastudent estudiantesubway metrosuccess éxitosuede antesuit trajesummer veranoSunday domingosupermarket supermercadosweet dulceswimming pool piscinaswordfish pez espada

T

T-shirt camisetatable mesatablecloth manteltake tometake-off despeguetape cinta adhesivataxi taxi

taxi driver taxistataxi stand parada de taxisteacher profesor/atear rasgóntea téteaspoon cucharitatelephone teléfonotelevision televisióntenth décimotest pruebatheater teatrothick gruesothin delgado, finothird tercerothumb pulgarThursday juevesticket billeteticket machine máquina de billetesticket window taquillatie corbatatight estrechotip propinatoday hoytoast pan tostadotoasted tostado

tobacco shop estanquillotoe dedo del pietoilet wátertoilet paper papel higiénicotoll peajetomato tomatetomorrow mañanatongue lenguatoo big demasiado grandetoo small demasiado pequeñotooth dientetopaz topaciotowel toallatowel, bath toalla de bañotowel, face toalla para la caratowel, hand toalla para las manostrim recortetrout truchato try pretender, tratartraffic tráficoTuesday martestuna atúnturkey pavoturn dobleturquoise turquesato type escribir a máquina

U

ugly feouncle tíounderpants (for men) calzoncillosunderwear ropa interiorUruguayan uruguayo/a

V

veal carne de terneravegetable verduravelvet terciopeloVenezuelan venezolano/avest chalecovideo camera cámara de video

W, Y, Z

waiter camarerowaitress camarerawalk caminewashing machine lavadorawater aguawater, carbonated agua con gas

water, cold agua fríawater, hot agua calientewater, noncarbonated agua sin gaswatermelon sandíawavy onduladoa waxing una depilaciónWednesday miércoleswell-done bien cocidowest oestewheat trigowhite blancowife esposawindow ventanawine vinowine glass copa de vinowinter inviernowool lanaworse peorwriter escritor/ayellow amarilloyogurt yogurzucchini calabacín

I

Introduction toItalian

talian is a Romance language spoken by about63 million people in Italy and parts of Switzerland.Modern standard Italian was adopted by the Italiangovernment after the unification of Italy in about1871 and has its roots in the region of Tuscany, incentral Italy. There are many dialects of Italianspoken throughout the Italian peninsula. Dialectsare generally not used for purposes of masscommunication and are usually spoken in local,informal contexts by native speakers. Most allItalians speak a dialect (Venetian, Neapolitan,Sicilian, etc.), but they can easily switch tostandard Italian.

Reading and PronouncingItalianItalian is based on a twenty-one-letter alphabet.

Italian is based on a twenty-one-letter alphabet.Though you will come across the letters J, K, W,X, and Y in your travels, you will notice that theseletters only appear in words borrowed from otherlanguages (whiskey and jolly, to name a few).English and Italian share many cognates—wordsthat are spelled similarly in the two languages.Some of these words are modern and are related torecent technology: telefono, calcolatrice,macchina. You will recognize many words relatedto musical terminology (alto, soprano, trombone)and to cuisine as well (al dente, biscotti,pepperoni).

Pronunciation Guide

ItalianLetter(s)

EnglishRepresentation

Comparable EnglishPronunciation

Example inItalian

A ahh as in far altaB b as in boy bello

C chi as ch in children whenfollowed by e or i Cina, Gucci

k as k in keep when followedby he or hi

chi,bruschetta

as kee in keep when caro, scopo,

k followed by a, o, or u scuba

k as kee in keep whenfollowed by a consonant criminale

sh as sh in she when precededby s and followed byi or e scelta, sci

D d as in David dormoE e as in elf elefanteF f as in father fareG j as j in gem or jeep

when followed by e or i gelato,giorno

g as g in go when

followed by he or hi spaghetti,paghi

g as g in go when

followed by a, o, or u gastronomia,lago, Gucci

lli as lli in million whenfollowed by l

figlio, aglio,famiglia

ni as ni in onion when followedby n

gnocchi,ognuno,signore

H always silent spaghetti, hotel hannoI ee as in meet ItaliaL l as l in love LuccaM m as m in meet Marco

N n as n in nice NapoliO o as o in loan ComoP p as p in Peter pizzaQ qu as qu in quick questoR r as r in ladder raro

S s/z as in hose when it isbetween two vowels casa

s/z

as in hose when it begins aword and is immediatelyfollowed by b, d, g, l, m, n,r, or v

sbadiglio,smettere

s as in sky elsewhere sasso,sentire

T t as t in time teatroU oo as oo in cool unoV v as v in victory vittoriaZ ts as tz in pretzel pizza

ds as ds in lads zero

In addition to the twenty-one Italian letters, thereare five foreign letters, used in words borrowedfrom other languages.

Foreign Letters

Italian Italian Comparable English Example in

Letter(s) Pronunciation Pronunciation ItalianJ i lunga as j in joy jollyK cappa as k in key kiwiW doppia vu as w in whiskey whiskeyX ics as x in extra mixerY ipsilon as y in yogurt yogurt

Double ConsonantsNative speakers of English often have greatdifficulty in mastering the pronunciation of doubleconsonants in Italian. One rule to keep in mind inlearning correct pronunciation is that every letterin an Italian word must be pronounced. With this inmind, it logically follows that double consonantsare pronounced longer than single consonants:

sano (pronounced sa-no) / sanno (pronounced san-no)lego (pronounced le-go) / leggo (pronounced leg-go)fata (pronounced fa-ta) / fatta (pronounced fat-ta)papa (pronounced pa-pa) / pappa (pronounced

pap-pa)

The double s in Italian has a differentpronunciation than the single s:

casa (here the s is pronounced as in the Englishhose)cassa (here thess is pronounced as in the Englishhouse)

Accent/StressMost words in Italian are pronounced with thestress falling on the next-to-last syllable.

amico mangiare cartolina volere

ah-MEE-koh mahn-JAH-ray kahr-toh-LEE-nah vohl-EH-ray

There is also a group of words that are pronouncedwith the stress falling in the last syllable. All ofthese words have a written accent:

università perché venerdì virtùoo-nee-vehr-see-TAH pehr-KAY vehn-ehr-DEE veer-TOO

Many words are pronounced with the stress on thethird-to-last or fourth-to-last syllable. There is norule governing the placement of the stress in thesecases. As you develop an ear for the language youwill learn which pronunciation sounds better.

facile portabile aspettano

FAH-chee-leh pohr-TAH-bee-leh ah-SPEHT-tah-noh

Introduction to NounsSingular NounsItalian nouns almost always end in a vowel. Thosethat don't are usually words borrowed from otherlanguages. Generally speaking, nouns that end in –o are masculine, and words that end in –a arefeminine. Nouns ending in –e can be eithermasculine or feminine. The gender of these nounsmust be learned.

libro (masculine) LEE brohcasa (feminine) KAH zahmadre (feminine) MAH dray

padre (masculine) PAH dray

Plural NounsMasculine nouns that end in –o form the plural bychanging the –o into an –i. Feminine nouns that endin –a form the plural by changing the –o into an –e.Both masculine and feminine nouns that end in –eform the plural by changing the –e into an –i. Hereare some examples:

libro (LEE-broh) changes to libri (LEE-bree)amico (ah-MEE-koh) changes to amici (ah-MEE-chee)gatto (GAHT-toh) changes to gatti (GAHT-tee)sorella (soh-REHL-lah) changes to sorelle (soh-REHL-leh)casa (KAH-zah) changes to case (KAH-zeh)tazza (TAHTS-sah) changes to tazze (TAHTS-seh)dottore (doht-TOH-ray) changes to dottori (doht-TOH-ree)stazione (stahts-see-YOH-nay) changes to stazioni

(stahts-see-YOH-nee)cane (KAH-neh) changes to cani (KAH-nee)

Definite and Indefinite ArticlesNouns often are accompanied by a definite article(corresponds to “the” in English). There are sevendefinite articles in Italian: il,lo,l',la (singular);i,gli,le (plural). There are four indefinite articles(corresponding to “a” or “an” in English)—un,uno, un', and una are all used before singularnouns. Which definite or indefinite article youchoose depends on the number (singular or plural),the gender (masculine or feminine), and the firstletter of the word in question.

Indefinite ArticlesThe indefinite articles un and uno are used formasculine nouns, and un' and una are used forfeminine nouns. We must look at the first letter ofthe word in order to come up with the correct formof the indefinite article.

If the first letter of thenoun is . . . Masculine Feminine

. . . a consonant un ragazzo una casaoon rah-GAHTS-so oo-nah KAH-zah

. . . a vowel un amico un'amicaoon ah-MEE-koh oon-ah-MEE-kah

. . . s + consonant uno stadio una studentessaoo-noh STAH-dee-yoh

oo-nah stoo-dehn-TESS-ah

. . . z uno zero una zebraoo-noh DSEH-roh oo-nah DSAY-brah

Definite ArticlesThere are seven forms of the definite article inItalian—il,l', lo, i, gli (masculine), and la, l', le(feminine).

If the word is feminine, and the firstletter of the word is . . . Singular Plural

. . . a consonant la ragazza le ragazzelah rah-GAHTS-sah

leh rah-GAHTS-seh

. . . a vowel l'amica le amiche

lah-MEE-kah

leh ah-MEE-keh

If the word is masculine, and the firstletter of the word is . . . Singular Plural

. . . a consonant il libro i librieel LEE-broh ee LEE-bree

. . . a vowel l'amico gli amicilah-MEE-koh

lyee ah-MEE-chee

. . . z lo zero gli zeriloh DSEH-roh

lyee DSEH-ree

. . . an s + a consonant lostudentel gli studenti

oh stoo-DEHN-teh

lyee stoo-DEHN-tee

CognatesLearning Italian can be made easier by developingan ability to recognize cognates—words that looklike English words and have a meaning similar to

those words. There are some patterns to recognizeand follow in order to sharpen your ability torecognize and use cognates.

Nouns that end in –ia in Italian usually end in –y inEnglish.

Spelling Equivalents

Italian Word English Equivalentpsicologia psee-koh-loh-JEE-yah psychologyautonomia ou-toh-noh-MEE-yah autonomy

Nouns that end in –ica in Italian usually end in –ic(s) in English.


Italian Word English Equivalentfisica FEE-zee-kah physicsmusica MOO-zee-kah music

Nouns that end in –tà in Italian usually end in –tyin English.


Italian Word English Equivalentuniversità oo-nee-vehr-see-TAH universityautorità ahw-toh-ree-TAH authority

Nouns that end in –ista in Italian usually end in –ist in English.


Italian Word English Equivalentdentista dehn-TEES-tah dentistartista ahr-TEES-tah artist

Nouns that end in –ario in Italian usually end in –ary in English.


Italian Word English Equivalentdiario dee-AH-ree-oh diarydizionario deet-see-oh-NAH-ree-yoh dictionary

Nouns that end in –ore in Italian usually end in –or

in English.


Italian Word English Equivalentprofessore proh-fess-SOHR-ray professorattore aht-TOHR-ray actor

Nouns that end in –ione in Italian usually end in –ion in English.


Italian Word English Equivalentstazione stahts-see-YOH-nay stationreligione reh-lee-JOH-nay religion

Nouns that end in –za in Italian usually end in –cein English.


Italian Word English Equivalentimportanza eem-pohr-TAHNZ-ah importanceindipendenza een-dee-pehn-DEHNZ-ah independence

Adjectives ending in –ale in Italian usually end in–al in English.


Italian Word English Equivalentspeciale speh-CHAH-lay speciallocale loh-KAH-lay local

Adjectives ending in –oso usually end in –ous inEnglish.


Italian Word English Equivalentreligioso reh-lee-JOH-soh religiousamoroso ah-mohr-OH-soh amorous

False FriendsThe following section will help you to avoid manycommon mistakes. False friends are words thatlook alike but have different meanings. There arenumerous false friends in Italian and English!

False Friends

addizione ≠ addiction addizione = sumahd-deets-YOH-nayannoiato ≠ annoyed annoiato = boredahn-noy-YAH-tohapprendere ≠ to apprehend apprendere = to learnahp-PREHN-deh-rayargomento ≠ argument argomento = subjectahr-goh-MEHN-tohassistere ≠ to assist assistere = to attendahs-SEES-teh-rayasso ≠ ass asso = aceahss-sohattendere ≠ to attend attendere = to waitaht-TEHN-deh-rayattualmente ≠ actually attualmente = currentlyaht-too-ahl-MEHN-taybaldo ≠ bald baldo = courageousBAHL-dohbravo ≠ brave bravo = good/cleverBRAH-vohcamera ≠ camera camera = roomKAH-meh-rahcantina ≠ canteen cantina = cellar

kahn-TEE-nahcaldo ≠ cold caldo = hotKAHL-dohcollegio ≠ college collegio = boarding schoolkohl-LEH-jee-yohcomprensivo ≠comprehensive comprensivo = understanding

kohm-prehn-SEE-vohconcorrenza ≠ concurrence concorrenza = competitionkohn-kohr-REHN-Zahcocomero ≠ cucumber cocomero = watermelonkoh-KOH-meh-rohdelusione ≠ delusion delusione = disappointmentdeh-looz-YOH-naydisgrazia ≠ disgrace disgrazia =misfortunedees-GRAHTS-see-yaheditore ≠ editor editore = publishereh-dee-TOH-rayeducato ≠ educated educato = politeeh-doo-KAH-toh

eventualmente ≠ eventually eventualmente = possibly, ifnecessary

eh-vehn-too-ahl-MEHN-tayfabbrica ≠ fabric fabbrica = factoryFAHB-bree-kahfattoria ≠ factory fattoria = farm

faht-toh-REE-yah

inabitato ≠ inhabited inabitato = uninhabitedeen-ah-bee-TAH-tohgenitore ≠ janitor genitore = parentjeh-nee-TOH-rayparente ≠ parent parente = relativepah-REHN-taylargo ≠ large largo = wideLAHR-gohlettura ≠ lecture lettura = readingleht-TOO-rahlibreria ≠ library libreria = bookstorelee-breh-REE-yahlicenziare ≠ to license licenziare = to dismiss, to firelee-chenz-YAH-raylussuria ≠ luxury lussuria = lustloos-soo-REE-yahmagazzino ≠ magazine magazzino = warehousemah-gahts-SEE-nohmessa ≠ mess messa = massMEHSS-sahmorbido ≠ morbid morbido = softMOHR-bee-dohnotizia ≠ notice notizia = newsnoh-TEETS-ee-yah

novella ≠ novel novella = short storynoh-VEHL-lahparente ≠ parent parente = relativepah-REHN-taypatente ≠ patent patente = driver's licensepah-TEHN-taypreservativo ≠ preservative preservativo = condompreh-zehr-vah-TEE-vohromanza ≠ romance romanza = novelroh-MAHN-zahstormo ≠ storm stormo = flockSTOHR-mohtasto ≠ taste tasto = key (on a keyboard)TAHSS-tohvacanza ≠ vacancy vacanza = vacationvah-KAHN-zah

TEssential Italian

his chapter outlines vocabulary andexpressions that will prove useful to travelers.Apart from the ubiquitous phrases like “Do youspeak English?” and “Where are you from?,” thischapter discusses the differences between formaland informal speech, as well as numbers, days ofthe week, the calendar, and instructions for tellingtime.

Survival ItalianTake a look at the following Italian phrases—theymight come in handy as you begin communicating.

I don't speak much Italian.Non parlo bene l'italiano.nohn PAHR-loh BEH-neh lee-tah-LYAH-noh

Repeat, please.

Ripeta, per favore.REE-peh-tah peer fah-VOR-ay

Can you speak more slowly?Può parlare più piano?pwoh par-LAH-ray pyou PYAH-no

I don't understand.Non capisco.non kah-PEESS-koh

Do you speak English? (informal)Parli inglese?PAHR-lee een-GLEH-zhe

Do you speak English? (formal)Parla inglese?PAHR-lah een-GLEH-zhe

What does . . . mean?Che cosa vuol dire . . . ?keh coh-sah vwohl DEE-reh

How do you say . . . in Italian?Come si dice . . . in italiano?KOH-meh see DEE-cheh . . . in ee-tah-LYAH-noh

Language BasicsThe following vocabulary forms the foundation ofany conversation. Learning how to say yes and noand the valuable question words—who, what,when, where, and why—will help get anyconversation started!

yes sì no nosee noh

okay d'accordo and edah-KOHR-doh eh

or o who chioh kee

what che when quandokeh KWAHN-doh

where dove why perchéDOH-veh pehr-KEH

how comeKOH-meh

Being PoliteYou'll notice that Italian verbs have both formal(Lei) and informal (tu) conjugations. Nativespeakers of English may find it difficult to gaugewhen the formal way of speaking should be used.As a general rule, the formal way of speakingshould be used when meeting people for the firsttime, when greeting elders, and in businesssituations. Italians may tell you when it's time touse the informal by saying Diamoci del tu, whichmeans “Let's address each other informally.” Inany event, when you're not sure which to use, it'salways safe to go with the formal. Though this maybe too much to learn for the casual traveler, thefollowing “polite” words can go a long way!

please per favore/per piacere/per cortesiapehr FAHV-ohr-eh/pehr pyah-CHAY-reh/pehrcohr-teh-ZEE-ah

thank you grazieGRAH-tsee-ay

thank you verymuch mille grazie

MEEL-leh GRAH-tsee-ayyou're welcome prego

PRAY-gohit's my pleasure piacere mio

pyah-CHAY-reh MEE-ohpardon me mi scusi

Mee SCOO-zeeI'm sorry mi dispiace

mee dees-PYAH-chay

Titles (capitalized before a name)

sir, Mr. signoreseen-YOHR-ay

ma'am, Mrs. signoraseen-YOHR-ah

miss signorinaseen-YOHR-ee-nah

Numbers 1 Through 100and BeyondHow many bottles of wine should you order? Howmuch bread should you buy? Learning the numbers

will help you communicate these decisions!

Numbers 1 to 100

1 Uno OO-noh2 Due DOO-ay3 Tre tray4 Quattro KWAHT-troh5 Cinque CHIN-kway6 Sei say7 Sette SET-tay8 Otto OHT-toh9 Nove NOH-vay10 Dieci DYEH-chee11 Undici OON-dee-chee12 Dodici DOH-dee-chee13 Trédici TREH-dee-chee14 Quattordici kwaht-TOHR-dee-chee15 Quindici KWEEN-dee-chee16 Sedici SAY-dee-chee17 Diciassette dee-chah-SEHT-tay18 Diciotto dee-CHOHT-toh19 Diciannove dee-chah-NOH-vay20 Venti VEHN-tee21 Ventuno vehn-TUH-noh

22 Ventidue vehn-tee-DOO-eh23 Ventitré vehn-tee-TREH24 Ventiquattro vehn-tee-KWAHT-troh25 Venticinque vehn-tee-CHIN-kweh26 Ventisei vehn-tee-SAY27 Ventisette vehn-tee-SEHT-teh28 Ventotto vehn-TOHT-toh29 Ventinove vehn-tee-NOHV-vay30 Trenta TREHN-tah40 Quaranta kwah-RAHN-tah50 Cinquanta chin-KWAHN-tah60 Sessanta sess-AHN-tah70 Settanta seht-TAHN-tah80 Ottanta oht-TAHN-tah90 Novanta nohv-AHN-tah100 Cento CHEHN-toh

The numbers venti, trenta, quaranta, up tonovanta drop the final vowel before adding unoand otto. Tre takes on an accent mark when it isadded to venti, trenta, and so on.

Larger Numbers

1,000 Mille

MEEHL-leh1,200 milleduecento

meehl-leh-doo-ay-CHEN-toh2,000 Duemila

doo-ay-MEE-lah5,000 Cinquemila

chin-kway-MEE-lah10,000 Diecimila

dyeh-chee-MEE-lah100,000 Centomila

chen-toh-MEE-lah1,000,000 un milione

oon mil-LYOH-neh1,000,000,000 un miliardo

oon meel-YAHR-doh

Che ora è? Che ore sono?:Telling Time in ItalianYou have a flight at 15.00 and you have to get tothe bank before it closes at 13.00. Telling time inItalian differs from telling time in English. Italiansuse military time to track the hours of the day, andthey use a period where a colon would be used in

English. It can be tricky, but the following guidewill save you from missing your importantappointments!

The questions Che ora è? and Che ore sono? bothmean “What time is it?” and can be usedinterchangeably.

What time is it? Che ora è?keh OHR-ah EH

What time is it? Che ore sono?keh OHR-eh SOH-noh

It's 8:30. Sono le otto e trenta.soh-noh leh OHT-toh eh TREHN-tah

The expression È l' . . . is used to express all timesusing the 1:00 hour.

It's 1:00. È l'una.eh LOO-nah

It's 1:10. È l'una e dieci.eh LOO-nah eh DYEH-chee

It's 12:55. (It's 1:00 minus5.) È l'una meno cinque.

eh LOO-nah MAY-noh CHIN-kwayIt's 1:45. È l'una e quarantacinque.

eh LOO-nah eh kwah-rahn-tah CHIN-kway

A nd È . . . is used with the following timeexpressions:

It's noon. È mezzogiorno.eh mehts-oh JOHR-noh

It's midnight. È mezzanotte.eh mehts-ah NOHT-tay

The expression Sono le . . . is used to express alltimes from 2:00 on:

It's12:20. Sono le dodici e venti.

soh-noh leh DOH-dee-chee eh VEHN-teeIt's 2:00. Sono le due.

soh-noh leh DOO-ayIt's 3:15. Sono le tre e quindici.

soh-noh leh treh e KWEEN-dee-cheeIt's 4:30. Sono le quattro e mezzo.

soh-noh leh KWAHT-troh a MEHD-soh

It's 4:42. Sono le quattro e quarantadue.soh-noh leh KWAHT-troh eh kwah-rahn-tah-DOO-ay

It's 5:05. Sono le cinque e cinque.soh-noh leh CHIN-kway e CHIN-kway

It's 6:55. Sono le sette meno cinque or Sono le sei ecinquantacinque.soh-noh leh SEHT-teh MAY-noh CHIN-kway or soh-nohleh say eh chin-kwahn-tah-CHIN-kway

It's 7:58.(It's 8:00minus 2.)

Sono le otto meno due.

soh-noh leh OHT-toh MAY-noh DOO-ayIt's 8A.M . Sono le otto di mattina.

soh-noh leh OHT-toh dee maht-TEE-nahIt's 10P.M . Sono le dieci di sera.

soh-noh leh DYEH-chee dee say-rah

The CalendarThe Italian calendar begins with Monday and endswith the weekend (logical, no?) days Saturday andSunday. Days of the week, months of the year, andnames of seasons are not capitalized in Italianunless, of course, they are at the beginning of the

sentence.

Days of the Week

Monday lunedì loo-neh-DEETuesday martedì mahr-teh-DEEWednesday mercoledì mehr-coh-leh-DEEThursday giovedì joh-veh-DEEFriday venerdì vehn-ehr-DEESaturday sabato SAH-bah-tohSunday domenica doh-MEH-nee-kah

The days of the work week are related to thenames of the planets: lunedì, the day of the Moon(Luna) ; martedì, the day of Mars (Marte);mercoledì, the day of Mercury (Mercurio);giovedì, the day of Jupiter (Giove) ; venerdì, theday of Venus (Venere). The word for Saturday(sabato) is related to the word for Sabbath, and theword for Sunday (domenica), is related to theLatin words Dominicus andDominus,which have areligious significance, referring to God.

Months of the Year

January gennaio jehn-NAHY-ohFebruary febbraio fehb-BRAHY-ohMarch marzo MARTS-ohApril aprile ahp-REE-lehMay maggio MAHJ-johJune giugno JOON-yohJuly luglio LOOL-yohAugust agosto ah-GOHS-tohSeptember settembre seht-TEHM-brehOctober ottobre oht-TOH-brehNovember novembre nohv-EHM-brehDecember dicembre dee-CHEM-breh

You may notice that the monthssettembre,ottobre,novembre,anddicembre looksimilar to the words for seven (sette), eight (otto),nine (nove), and ten (dieci). This may lead one toconclude that settembre (September) is the seventhmonth, ottobre (October) is the eighth, novembre(November) is the ninth, and dicembre(December) is the tenth, which is obviously not thecase in modern times. This interesting phenomenon

has its roots in the Roman calendar, which beganin March so that September, October, November,and December were the seventh, eighth, ninth, andtenth months of the Roman year.

Seasons

spring la primavera lah pree-mah-VEHR-ahsummer l'estate less-TAH-tehautumn l'autunno lahw-TOO-nohwinter l'inverno leen-VEHR-noh

Exchanging MoneyMany tourists may be used to the old and faithfultraveler's checks. This chapter will help shed somelight on other, more convenient, and perhaps easierways of getting your hands on some euros whileyou vacation in Italy.

ATMs are Called BancomatBuying euros from your bank in the United Statescan be expensive. Most banks will charge up to 10

percent in fees. The same goes for exchangingmoney at exchange counters in airports and hotelsin Italy. The best exchange rates can be found atATMs (bancomat,pronounced BAHN-koh-maht).Check with your bank before you leave todetermine if there are any service charges involvedwith ATM use abroad. Your bank may allow freeATM use through a specific Italian network(Cirrus or BankMate are two of the most widelyavailable). ATMs in Italy will usually only allowyou to withdraw money from your primary account(usually your checking account). If you're used tokeeping a low balance in your checking accountand a high balance in savings, you may want to callyour bank to make sure that your checking andsavings accounts are linked.

BanksIf you do not have an ATM card, your best bet is toexchange money at a bank. Be advised, though—banks in Italy have limited hours. They are usuallyopen from 8:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M., and again from

3:00 P.M. to 4:00 or 5:00 P.M. Paperwork cantake some time, and the exchange rate, though itmay be better than what you might find at theairport, still leaves a bit to be desired.

Credit CardsMajor credit card accounts usually offer cashadvance type services. These transactions benefitfrom the antifraud protection that accompaniesyour account (save your receipts!). Though theexchange rates can be compatible, check on thetypes of fees and charges associated with thesetransactions. If you plan on using a credit card forpurchases while you are in Italy, make sure to callyour bank or credit card company before you leaveto confirm that you will be using your card in Italy.Not doing so may alert your credit card company'santifraud department at an inopportune time!

Traveler's ChecksMany travelers still insist on the convenience and

Many travelers still insist on the convenience andsafety that traveler's checks offer. With theprominence of ATMs and credit card use, travelerswill find that traveler's checks are not as widelyaccepted as they used to be. You will be able toexchange them in banks and in hotels, but don'tcount on them being accepted at local shops andrestaurants.

The EuroThe euro is used as the national currency in twelveEuropean countries, including Italy. The sevenbanknote denominations (5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200,500) have a common design in all countries, butthe eight denominations of coins have a singleEuropean design on one side, and unique nationaldesigns on the other.

Coin Design1 cent Castel del Monte in Apulia2 cent the Mole Antonelliana Tower in Torino5 cent the Colosseum in Rome

10cent

Sandro Botticelli's Birth of Venus20cent

Unique Forms of Continuity in Space sculpture byUmberto Boccioni

50cent Statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius on horseback

1euro Leonardo da Vinci's famous drawing of the human body

2euro drawing of Dante Alighieri by Raphael

Useful Vocabulary and PhrasesThe following terms and expressions will help younavigate Italian financial institutions—or at leastthey will help you as you try to exchange money.

Money and the Bank

money il denaro/i soldieel deh-NAH-roh/ee SOHL-dee

the euro l'euroleh-oo-roh

change il cambioeel KAHM-bee-yoh

banknote la banconotalah bahn-kah-NOH-tah

coin la monetalah moh-NEH-tah

currency la valutalah vah-LOO-tah

dollar il dollaroeel DOHL-lah-roh

British pound sterling la sterlinalah stehr-LEE-nah

check l'assegnolahss-SEHN-yoh

traveler's check il travelers checkeel travelers check

to cash (a check) incassare un assegnoeen-cahss-SAH-ray oon ahss-SEHN-yoh

bank la bancalah BAHN-kah

counter lo sportelloloh spohr-TEHL-loh

teller window la cassalah CAHSS-sah

exchange rate il tasso di cambioeel TAHSS-oh dee KAHM-bee-yoh

to sign firmarefeehr-MAH-ray

At the BankTo which counter do I go to change money?A che sportello devo andare per cambiare deldenaro?ah keh spohr-TEHL-loh DAY-voh ahn-DAH-raypehr kahm-BYAH-ray dehl deh-NAH-roh

Is there a commission?C'è una commissione da pagare?cheh oo-nah kohm-mees-YOH-nay dah pah-GAH-ray

What's the exchange rate for the dollar?Qual'è il tasso di cambio per il dollaro?kwahl eh eel TAHSS-soh dee KAHM-bee-yohpehr eel DOHL-lah-roh

Where do I have to sign?Dove devo firmare?DOH-veh DAY-voh feehr-MAH-ray

What is today's date?Qual'è la data di oggi?kwahl eh lah DAH-tah dee ohj-jee

What time does the bank open?A che ora apre la banca?ah keh oh-rah AH-preh lah BAHN-kah

What time does the bank close?A che ora chiude la banca?ah keh oh-rah KYOO-deh lah BAHN-kah

Do you accept credit cards?Accettate la carta di credito?ah-cheht-TAH-tay lah KAHR-tah dee CREH-dee-toh

Can you change money for me?Potete cambiare delle banconote per me?poh-TEH-teh kahm-BYAH-ray dehl-leh bahn-kah-NOHT-tay pehr meh

Can you change dollars for me?

Potete cambiare dei dollari per me?poh-TEH-teh kahm-BYAH-ray day DOHL-lah-reepehr meh

Can you change American/Australian/Canadiandollars for me?Potete cambiare dei dollariAmericani/Australiani/Canadesi per me?poh-TEH-teh kahm-BYAH-ray day DOHL-lah-reeah-meh-ree-KAH-nee/ous-strahl-YAH-nee/kah-nah-DAY-zee pehr meh

Where can I get money changed?Dove posso cambiare delle banconote?DOH-veh POHSS-soh kahm-BYAH-ray dehl-lehbahn-kah-NOHT-tay

Where can I get foreign money changed?Dove posso cambiare della valuta straniera?DOH-veh POHSS-soh kahm-BYAH-ray dehl-lahvah-LOO-tah strahn-YEH-rah

Where can I change a traveler's check?

Dove posso cambiare un travelers check?DOH-veh POHSS-soh kahm-BYAH-ray oontravelers check

What is today's exchange rate?Quant' è il cambio di oggi?kwahn-TEH eel KAHM-byoh dee ohj-jee

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?Dove posso trovare un Bancomat?DOH-veh pohss-soh troh-VAH-ray oon BAHN-koh-maht

TMeeting People

his book provides you with ready-madesentences and expressions to help you greet peopleand exchange pleasantries. However, it is stillvery important to know the basics of grammar.Understanding the mechanics of the sentences andphrases presented here will make them that muchmore meaningful for you and can certainly help youto understand better when people are speaking toyou!

Verbs and ConjugationThe following sections will help you to formulatebasic sentences and questions. You've alreadylearned about articles and nouns. Verbs form thefoundation of any language. Here you will learn thebasics about the simple present tense and simplepast tense.

Verbs in the Present TenseMost all Italian verbs fall into one of threecategories—first conjugation verbs, secondconjugation verbs, and third conjugation verbs. Inorder to determine in which category a particularverb belongs, we must look at the infinitive form ofthe verb. The infinitive is the unconjugated form ofthe verb (to run, to eat, etc.). First conjugationverbs end in –are; second conjugation verbs end in–ere; and third conjugation verbs end in –ire.Some examples follow:

–are verbs (first conjugation)

affittare ahf-feet-TAHR-ray to rentguidare gwee-DAH-ray to driveparlare pahr-LAH-ray to speak

–ere verbs (second conjugation)

vedere veh-DEH-ray to seeripetere ree-PEH-the-ray to repeatleggere LEHJ-jeh-ray to read

–ire verbs (third conjugation)

dormire door-MEE-ray to sleeppartire pahr-TEE-ray to leavecapire cah-PEE-ray to understand

The first step in conjugating a verb is to identifythe subject—I, you, he, Marco, John and I, etc.With the correct subject pronoun, you can correctlyconjugate the verb.

Subject PronounsThe subject pronouns (also referred to as personalpronouns) are used to indicate the subject of averb.

Singular Pluralio I noi weee-oo noytu you (informal) voi you (informal)too voylui, lei he, she loro theyloo-ee, lay law-roh

Lei you (formal) Loro you (formal)lay law-roh

The next step is to conjugate the verb so that it is inthe same person as the subject.

–Are Verbs in the Present TenseAlmost all –are verbs are regular—that is, theyfollow a pattern of conjugation. Once you learnthis pattern, conjugating most –are verbs is easy!To conjugate the first conjugation verbs in thepresent tense, remove the –are ending and replaceit with a different ending for each subject:

Singular Pluralio parlo (I speak) noi parliamo (we speak)ee-oh PAHR-loh noy pahr-lee-AHM-ohtu parli (you speak) voi parlate (you speak)too PAHR-lee voy pahr-LAH-taylui parla (he speaks) loro parlano (they speak)loo-ee PAHR-lah law-roh PAHR-lah-nohlei parla (she speaks)lay PAHR-lah

Lei parla (you [formal] speak) Loro parlano (you [formal] speak)lay PAHR-lah law-roh PAHR-lah-noh

The present tense in Italian can carry differentmeanings in English, depending on the context:

Io parlo italiano can mean “I speak Italian,” “I amspeaking Italian,” or “I do speak Italian."Io non parlo italiano can mean “I don't speakItalian” or “I am not speaking Italian."

The present tense in Italian can also be used toexpress an action that will take place in the future:

Stasera guardo la televisione.I will watch TV this evening.

–Ere and –ire Verbs in thePresent TenseSecond and third conjugation verbs are verbswhose infinitive forms end in –ere and –ire,respectively. You will notice from the

conjugations below that –ere and –ire verbs differfrom each other only in the voi forms.

scrivere to write dormire to sleepSCREE-veh-ray

door-MEE-ray

io scrivo noi scriviamo io dormo noi dormiamoee-ohSCREE-voh

noy scree-vee-AH-moh

ee-oh DOOR-moh

noy door-mee-AH-moh

tu scrivi voi scrivete tu dormi voi dormitetoo SCREE-vee

voy scree-VEH-tay

too DOOR-mee voy door-MEE-tay

lui scrive loro scrivono lui dorme loro dormonoloo-eeSCREE-veh

law-roh SCREE-voh-noh

loo-eeDOOR-meh

law-roh DOOR-moh-noh

Lei scrive Loro scrivono Lei dorme Loro dormonolay SCREE-veh

law-roh SCREE-voh-noh

lay DOOR-meh

law-roh DOOR-moh-noh

lei scrive lei dormelay SCREE-veh

lay DOOR-meh

The Verbs Essere and AvereEssere (to be) and avere (to have) are two of the

most common verbs, but they both require irregularconjugations.

Essere: To Be

The verb essere (to be) is one of the mostcommonly used verbs in Italian. It is important tolearn this verb inside and out, as you will hear it inalmost every conversation you have!

In the present tense, it is conjugated as follows:

Singular Pluralio sono I am noi siamo we areee-oh SOH-noh

noy see-YAH-moh

tu sei you (informal)are voi siete you (informal)

aretoo say voy see-YEH-thelui è he is loro sono they are

loo-ee eh LAW-roh soh-noh

lei è she islay eh

Lei è you (formal) are Loro sono

lay eh LAW-roh soh-noh

It is common, but not required, to omit the subjectpronoun in both spoken and written Italian:

I am American.Io sono americano.ee-oh SOH-noh ah-meh-ree-CAH-noh

I am American.Sono americano.

Essere can be used to indicate provenance whenfollowed by the preposition di + a place name:

We are from Philadelphia.Siamo di Philadelphia.see-YAH-moh dee fill-ah-DEHL-fee-yah

To find out where someone is from, ask thequestion:

Di dove sei? (informal)dee DOH-veh say?

Di dov'è? (formal)dee doh-VEH?

Essere can be used to indicate possession whenfollowed by the preposition di + a noun or aproper name:

It's my wife's suitcase.È la valigia di mia moglie.eh lah vah-LEE-jah dee mee-ah MOHL-yay

It's Paul's.È di Paul. eh dee Paul

To find out to whom something belongs, ask thequestion:

Whose is it?Di chi è? dee key eh

Whose are they?Di chi sono? dee key SOH-noh

Avere: To HaveThe verb avere (to have) is a commonly used verbin Italian. It is conjugated in the present tense asfollows:

Singular Pluralio ho I have noi abbiamo we haveee-ohoh

noy ahb-bee-YAH-moh

tu hai you (informal)have voi avete you (informal)

havetoo eye voi ah-VEH-taylui ha he has loro hanno they haveloo-eeah LAW-roh AHN-noh

lei ha she haslay ahLei ha you (formal) have Loro hanno you (formal) havelay ah LAW-roh AHN-noh

Do you have cousins in Florida?

Hai cugini in Florida?eye koo-JEE-nee een FLOH-ree-dah

I have two cousins in Florida.Ho due cugini in Florida.oh doo-ay koo-JEE-nee een FLOH-ree-dah

The Past TenseIn order to form the passato prossimo,it isimportant to have mastered the auxiliary verbsavere and essere. The second component of thepassato prossimo conjugations is the pastparticiple. In Italian the past participle is formedby replacing the –are,–ere,–ire of the infinitivewith –ato,–uto,–ito, respectively.

Infinitive Past Participlemangiare mangiatomahn-JAH-ray mahn-JAH-tohvedere vedutoveh-DEH-ray ved-DOO-tohpartire partitopahr-TEE-ray pahr-TEE-toh

For most Italian verbs (including transitive verbs—those that can take a direct object), the passatoprossimo is formed with the auxiliary verb avereplus the past participle of the main verb. Theauxiliary verb essere is used with most intransitiveverbs (verbs that cannot take a direct object).When the auxiliary verb essere is used, the lastletter of the past participle must agree in numberand in gender with the subject of the verb.

The Past Tense of the Verb Vedere (tosee)

ho veduto I saw; I have seenoh veh-DOO-tohhai veduto you saw; you have seeneye veh-DOO-tohha veduto he/she saw; has seenah veh-DOO-tohabbiamo veduto we saw; we have seenahb-bee-YAH-moh veh-DOO-tohavete veduto you saw; you have seenah-VEH-tay veh-DOO-tohhanno veduto they saw; they have seen

AHN-noh veh-DOO-toh

Some examples of the past tense using essere:

The girls have left.Le ragazze sono partite.leh rah-GAHTS-seh SOH-noh pahr-TEE-teh

The boys arrived late.I ragazzi sono arrivati in ritardo.ee rah-GAHTS-see SOH-noh ahr-ree-VAH-tee eenree-TAHR-doh

The children went to the museum.I bambini sono andati al museo.ee bahm-BEE-nee SOH-noh ahn-DAH-tee ahlmoo-ZAY-oh

Forming a SentenceDeveloping your communication skills will requirean understanding of basic sentence structure inItalian. Bear in mind that the following guidelines

are not carved in stone; you will hear manyvariations in sentence structure based on context.These basic rules will help get you started.

1. Affirmative statement: Paolo mangia la pizza.(POWH-loh MAHN-jah lah PEETS-ah)

2. Negative statement: Paolo non mangia la pizza.(POWH-loh nohn MAHN-jah lah PEETS-ah)

3. Question: Paolo mangia la pizza? (POWH-lohMAHN-jah lah PEETS-ah?)

The basic structure of an affirmative statement inItalian is subject+verb+object. Making sentencesnegative in Italian is as easy as placing the wordnon in front of the conjugated verb.

Paul and Virginia are not from Boston.Paul e Virginia non sono di Boston.Paul eh Virginia nohn SOH-noh dee Boston

There are some two-part negative adverbs:

non . . . ancora not yetnohn ahn-KOH-rahnon . . . mai nevernohn meyenon . . . più no longernohn pyou

I've never traveled by train.Non ho mai viaggiato in treno.nohn oh meye vee-yah-JAH-toh een tray-noh

I am no longer working.Non lavoro più.nohn lah-VOH-roh PYOU

Asking a question in Italian is as easy as raisingthe pitch of your voice at the end of any sentence:

Are you American?Tu sei americano?too say ah-meh-ree-KAH-noh

AdjectivesAn adjective is a word that describes or modifies

An adjective is a word that describes or modifiesa noun (an interesting book, an Americanbusinessman). In English, all adjectives comebefore the noun that they describe. This is not thecase in Italian. In Italian, most adjectives followthe noun that they modify, but there is a category ofcommonly used adjectives that precede the nouns.Also, remember that, as we learned in Introductionto Italian, nouns have a number (singular or plural)and a gender (masculine or feminine). Italianadjectives must agree in gender and number withthe nouns that they modify. That is, if a noun ismasculine plural (fratelli [brothers], for example),the adjective that modifies it must be masculineand plural as well (fratelli maggiori [olderbrothers]). This means that there can be up to fourforms of each adjective: masculine singular,feminine singular, masculine plural, and feminineplural.

Possessive, Demonstrative, and InterrogativeAdjectives

Possessive, demonstrative, and interrogativeadjectives all precede the nouns they modify.

Possessive adjectives: il mio, il tuo, il suo, etc.Demonstrative adjectives: questo (this) questi(these), etc.Interrogative adjectives: quale (which)

Adjectives That Precede theNounAlmost all adjectives follow the noun that theymodify, but there are exceptions to that rule. Thefollowing is a group of commonly used adjectivesthat precede the noun they modify.

Italian Adjective English Equivalentaltro AHL-troh otherbello BEHL-loh beautifulbravo BRAH-voh good, ablebrutto BROOT-toh uglybuono bwoo-OH-noh goodcaro KAH-roh dear; expensivecattivo kaht-TEE-voh bad

giovane JOH-vah-nay younggrande GRAHN-day large; greatlungo LOON-goh longnuovo NWOH-voh newpiccolo PEEK-koh-loh small, littlestesso stehss-soh samevecchio VEHK-kee-yo oldvero VEH-roh true

When the adjective ends in –e, there is nodifference between the masculine and femininefo r ms : un ragazzo intelligente,una ragazzaintelligente.

Some Useful Adjectives forDescribing YourselfAlmost all adjectives follow the noun that theymodify. The following is a group of commonlyused adjectives that follow this rule:

Italian Adjective English Equivalentbiondo BYOHN-doh blondebruno BROO-noh dark-haired

alto AHL-toh tallbasso BAHSS-soh shortsnello SNEHL-loh slendergrasso GRAHSS-soh fatgiovane JOH-vah-nay youngvecchio VEHK-kee-yo oldbrutto BROO-toh uglyricco REEK-koh richpovero POH-veh-roh poorbuono bwoo-OH-noh goodcattivo kaht-TEE-voh badintelligente een-tehl-lee-JEHN-tay intelligentstupido STOO-pee-doh stupidpigro PEE-groh lazysimpatico seem-PAH-tee-koh kindantipatico ahn-tee-PAH-tee-koh unpleasantgeneroso jehn-ehr-OHS-oh generousavaro ah-VAH-roh greedynoioso noy-OHS-oh boringfelice feh-LEE-cheh happytriste TREESS-teh sad

Adverbs

An adverb is a word that is used to modify a verb,

An adverb is a word that is used to modify a verb,an adjective, or an adverb. Adverbs areinvariable; that is, they have only one form.Adverbs are used in a sentence to indicate manner,time, place, cause, or degree and to answerquestions such as how, when, where, or how much.The placement of the adverb in Italian can betricky, but the general rule states that when anadjective is modifying a verb, it should be placedafter the verb: Mangio volentieri in quelristorante. (I will gladly eat in that restaurant.)When the adverb modifies an adjective, it isplaced in front of that adjective: Maria è moltocoraggiosa. (Maria is very courageous.)

PrepositionsA preposition is a word that generally precedes anoun or pronoun and links it to another word in thesentence. Prepositions can have a variety offunctions in a sentence:

Direction: He's going to the store.

Location: It's in the cabinet.Time: She arrived after the game ended.Possession: the United States of America

Here are some common Italian prepositions:

di (d') dee of, froma ah at, to, inda dah from, byin een incon kohn withsu soo onper pehr fortra,fra trah, frah betweenverso VEHR-soh towardtranne TRAHN-neh exceptsenza SEHNZ-ah withoutsotto SOHT-toh underoltre OHL-treh besidesopra SOH-prah abovedietro dee-AY-troh behindprima PREE-mah beforedavanti dah-VAHN-tee in front

Articulated PrepositionsThe prepositions a,da,di,in, and su, when usedwith a definite article, combine with the definitearticle to form one word. These are often referredto as prepositional articles, contractions, orarticulated prepositions.

Vado a+il negozio = Vado al negozio. I am goingto the store.Sono i bagagli di+gli studenti = Sono i bagaglidegli studenti. They are the students' suitcases.

il lo l'(m.) la l'(f.) i gli lea al allo all' alla all' ai agli alle

ahl AHL-loh ahll AHL-lah ahll eye AHL-yee ahl-lehdi del dello dell' della dell' dei degli delle

dehlDEHL-loh dehll DEHL-

lah dehllday DEHL-yee

DEHL-leh

da dal dallo dall' dalla dall' dai dagli dalle

dahlDAHL-loh dahll DAHL-

lah dahlldeye DAHL-yee dahl-leh

su sul sullo sull' sulla sull' sui sugli sulle

sool SOOL-loh sooll SOOL-

lah sooll SOO-ee

SOOL-yee

SOOL-leh

in nel nello nell' nella nell' nei negli nelle

nehlNEHL-loh nehll NEHL-

lah nehllnay NEHL-yee

NEHL-leh

Mastering PronounsPronouns are words that substitute for nouns. Thereare many different types of pronouns, andmastering them can take time and effort. You'vealready learned about subject pronouns inIntroduction to Italian; in this chapter we will havea look at direct object, indirect object, reflexive,and relative pronouns, all of which are very usefultools in developing a mastery of the language.

Direct Object PronounsA direct object pronoun is used to avoidunnecessary repetition of words in a sentence.Take a look at the following conversation:

Are you reading the newspaper?No, I am not reading the newspaper.Do you know if Mary is reading the newspaper?

No, I don't know if Mary is reading the newspaper.

The repetition of the direct object (newspaper)sounds rather strange to a native speaker ofEnglish. In order to avoid this unnecessaryrepetition, we can use the pronoun “it” in place ofthe direct object. The following conversation willsound better:

Are you reading the newspaper?No, I'm not reading it.Do you know if Mary is reading it?No, I don't know if Mary is reading it.

Direct object pronouns are used the same way inItalian. In Italian the forms of the direct objectpronouns (i pronomi diretti) are as follows:

Singular Pluralmi me ci usmee cheeti you (informal) vi you (informal)tee vee

La you(formal, m. and f.) Li you (formal, m.)Le you (formal, f.)lah lee / lehlo him, it li them (m. and f.)loh leela her, it le them (f.)lah leh

A direct object pronoun is placed immediatelybefore a conjugated verb.

Leggo il giornale (LEHG-goh eel johr-NAH-lay)becomesLo leggo (loh LEHG-goh). (“I read thenewspaper” becomes “I read it.")Compro la frutta (KOHM-proh lah FROO-tah)becomesLa compro (lah KOHM-proh). (“I buy thefruit” becomes “I buy it.")

In a negative sentence, the word non must comebefore the object pronoun.

He doesn't eat it.Non lamangia.

nohn lah MAHN-jah.

Why don't you invite them?Perché non liinviti?pehr-KAY nohn lee een VEE-tee

Note that mi, ti, lo- and la change to m',t', and l' infront of a vowel or silent h.

Indirect Object PronounsThe direct object in a sentence answers thequestion what? or whom? in relation to the verb.The indirect object nouns and pronouns answer thequestion to whom? or for whom? in relation to theverb. In English, the word “to” is often omitted:“We gave Paul a watch,” instead of “We gave awatch to Paul.” In Italian, the preposition a isalways used before an indirect object noun. It goeswithout saying that if an article precedes the noun,then we must use an articulated preposition.

Indirect object pronouns (i pronomi indiretti )

replace indirect object nouns. They are identical inform to direct object pronouns, except for the thirdperson forms gli, le, and loro.

Singular Pluralmi (to/for) me ci (to/for) usmee cheeti (to/for) you vi (to/for) youtee veeLe (to/for) you Loro (to/for) youleh LAW-rohgli (to/for) him loro (to/for) themlyee (like ll sound in the English word million) LAW-rohle (to/for) herleh

Indirect object pronouns, like direct objectpronouns, precede a conjugated verb, except forloro and Loro, which always follow the verb.

I'm giving her the keys.Ledo le chiavi.leh doh leh kee-YAH-vee

They offer us an aperitif.Cioffrono un aperitivo.chee OHF-froh-noh oon ah-peh-ree-TEE-voh

We'll talk to them this evening.Parliamo lorostasera.pahr-lee-YAH-moh LAW-roh stah-SAY-rah

I'm giving him a watch.Gliregalo un orologio.lyee reh-GAH-loh oon oh-roh-LOH-joe

Note that mi andti change to m' andt' in front of avowel or silent h.

Reflexive PronounsReflexive pronouns are used with reflexive verbs,which are verbs whose action falls back on thesubject. Take a look at these sentences containingreflexive verbs:

I see myself in the mirror.

They enjoy themselves at the party.

In reflexive sentences, Italian verbs, like Englishverbs, are conjugated with reflexive pronouns.Reflexive pronouns (i pronomi riflessivi) areidentical in form to direct object pronouns, exceptfor the third person form si (the third-personsingular and plural form).

Singular Pluralmi Myself ci ourselvesmee cheeti yourself vi yourselvestee vee

si Himself, herself, itself,yourself (formal) si themselves,

yourselves (formal)see see

Just like direct object pronouns, reflexivepronouns are placed before a conjugated verb.

Michiamo Michael (mee KYAH-moh Michael) .My name is Michael. (Literally, “I call myselfMichael.")

Mi, ti, si, and vi may become m', t', s', and v'before a vowel or silent h. Ci may only become c'before an ior e.

She washes herself every day.Maria silava tutti i giorni.mah-REE-ah see LAH-vah TOOT-tee ee JOHR-nee.

We enjoy ourselves a lot.Cidivertiamo molto.chee dee-vehr-TYAH-moh MOHL-toh.

Reflexive verbs often have to do with parts of thebody or clothing. You can recognize reflexiveverbs by the si (oneself) attached to the infinitive.Here are some common reflexive verbs:

addormentarsi to fall asleepahd-dohr-mehn-TAHR-seealzarsi to get upahl-ZAHR-seeannoiarsi to get bored

ahn-noy-AHR-seearrabbiarsi to get angryahr-rahb-BYAHR-seechiamarsi to be calledkyah-MAHR-seedivertirsi to enjoy oneselfdee-vehr-TEER-seefermarsi to stop (oneself)fehr-MAHR-seeinnamorarsi to fall in loveeen-nah-mohr-AHR-seelavarsi to wash (oneself)lah-VAHR-seeprepararsi to get readypreh-pahr-AHR-seeriposarsi to relaxree-poh-ZAHR-seesposarsi to get marriedspoh-ZAHR-seesentirsi to feelsehn-TEER-seesvegliarsi to wake upsvel-YAHR-seevestirsi to get dressedvehs-TEER-see

GreetingsThis section introduces you to some valuableexpressions that you can use to greet people andstart a conversation. Remember, when introducingyourself, be confident and polite!

Ice BreakersThese are the essentials.

Good morning.Buona mattina.BWOHN-ah mah-TEE-na

Good day.Buon giorno.bwohn JOHR-no

Good evening.Buona sera.BWOHN-ah SAY-ra

Goodnight.

Buona notte.BWOHN-ah NOHT-tay

Hello! (formal)Salve!SAHL-vay

Hi! (informal)Ciao!chow

Conversation StartersOnce you get past the greetings, you may want toget the conversation rolling. Here are some usefulconversation starters.

How are you? Come stai?KOH-meh sty

Fine, thanks. Bene, grazie.BEH-neh, GROTS-ee-eh

Excellent! Ottimo!OHT-tee-moh

Yes. Sì.

seeNo. No.

nohMy name is . . . Mi chiamo . . .

mee KYAH-mohWhat's your name?(formal) Come si chiama Lei?

KOH-meh see KYAH-mah layWhat's your name?(informal) Come ti chiami?

KOH-meh tee KYAH-mee tooHis name is . . . Lui si chiama . . .

loo-ee see KYAH-mah . . .Her name is . . . Lei si chiama . . .

lay see KYAH-mahI am . . . Sono . . .

SOH-nohWhere are you from? Di dove sei?

dee DOH-veh sayI am from . . . Sono di

SOH-noh deeI come from . . . Vengo da. . .

VEN-goh dah. . . the United States gli Stati Uniti

llyee STAH-tee you-NEE-tee. . . England l'Inghilterra

lin-gill-TAY-rah. . . Australia l'Australia

louse-TRAH-lyah (louse, pronouncedlike house)

. . . Canada la Canadalah KAH-nah-dah

. . . France la Francialah FRAN-chah

. . . Spain la Spagnalah SPAHN-yah

. . . China la Cinalah CHEE-nah

. . . Japan il Giapponeeel jah-POH-nay

Thank you. Grazie.GROTS-ee-eh

Please (Here you are). Prego.PRAY-go

You're welcome. Non c'è di che.nohn che dee keh

May I introduce you to . . .? Posso presentarti . . . ?

POH-soh pre-zen-TAR-teeNice to meet you. Piacere di conoscerti.

pee-AHCH-air-ay dee koh-NOSH-ehr-tee

teeBye! Arrivederci.

ah-ree-vehr-DEHR-cheeGoodbye (for good). Addio.

AHD-dee-oSee you . . . Ci vediamo . . .

chee-vehd-YAH-moh. . . tomorrow. . . . domani.

doh-MAH-nee. . . this afternoon. . . . questo pomeriggio.

KWES-toh pohm-her-REEJ-ee-oh. . . this evening. . . . stasera.

stah-SAY-rah. . . next week. . . . la settimana prossima.

lah seht-tee-MAH-nah prohs-SEE-mah. . . in an hour. . . . tra un'ora.

trah oon OHR-ah. . . later. . . . piu'tardi.

pyoo TAHR-deeDo you speak . . .(informal) Parli . . .

PAHR-leeDo you speak . . . (formal) Parla . . .

PAHR-lah. . . English? . . . inglese?

een-GLEH-zay

. . . German? . . . tedesco?teh-DESS-Koh

. . . French? . . . francese?frahn-CHEH-zay

. . . Spanish? . . . spagnolo?spahn-YOH-loh

Where is . . . ?/Where are .. . ? Dov'è. . . ?/Dove sono. . . ?

dohv-EH/DOH-veh SOH-nohCan you tell me . . . ?(informal) Puoi dirmi . . . ?

poo-oi DEER-meeCan you tell me . . . ?(formal) Può dirmi . . . ?

pwoh DEER-meeCan you show me . . . ?(informal) Puoi mostrarmi . . . ?

poo-oi mohs-TRAHR-meeCan you show me . . . ?(formal) Può mostrarmi . . . ?

pwoh mohs-TRAHR-mee

Nationalities and LanguagesItaly is a tourist destination for travelers the world

over. Whether you arrive at one of Italy'sinternational airports or catch a train at one ofItaly's numerous train stations, you can expect tomeet travelers from just about any country in theworld. Talking about where you are from andasking where other people are from is a good wayto practice your Italian. The following is a list ofadjectives in the masculine form; refer to the firstpart of this chapter for an explanation of how toform the feminine and plural endings.

I am . . . Sono . . . (SOH-noh . . . )African africano

ah-free-KAH-nohAmerican americano

ah-meh-ree-KAH-noAustralian australiano

ouse-strahl-YAH-noBelgian belgo

BEHL-gohBrazilian brasiliano

brah-zeel-YAH-nohCanadian canadese

kah-nah-DEH-say

Chinese cinesechee-NEH-say

Dutch olandeseoh-lahn-DEH-say

English ingleseeen-GLEH-say

Egyptian egizianoeh-jits-YAH-noh

European europeoeh-oo-roh-PEH-oh

French francesefrahn-CHEH-say

German tedescoteh-DESS-koh

Indian indianoeen-dee-YAH-noh

Irish irlandeseeer-lahn-DAY-say

Italian italianoee-tahl-YAH-noh

Japanese giapponesejahp-poh-NEH-say

Mexican messicanomeh-see-KAH-noh

Moroccan marocchino

mah-roh-KEE-nohNew Zealander neozelandese

nay-oh-zeh-lahn-DAY-sayPolish polacco

poh-LAHK-kohPortuguese portoghese

pohr-toh-GAY-sayRussian russo

ROOS-sohScottish scozzese

skohts-ZAY-saySpanish spagnolo

spahn-YOH-lohSwedish svedese

sveh-DAY-saySwiss svizzero

sveets-TSEH-roh

Family MembersAfter you've introduced yourself, a good way tocontinue the conversation is to talk about yourfamily members.

father il padre (il papà)

eel PAH-dray, eel pah-PAHmother la madre (la mamma)

lah MAH-dray, lah MAH-mahparents i genitori

ee jehn-ee-TOHR-eebrother il fratello

eel frah-TEHL-lohsister la sorella

lah soh-REHL-lahson il figlio

eel FEEL-yohdaughter la figlia

lah FEEL-yahgrandfather il nonno

eel NOHN-nohgrandmother la nonna

lah NOHN-nahgrandparents i nonni

ee NOHN-neegrandchildren i nipoti

ee nee-POH-teeuncle lo zio

loh DSEE-ohaunt la zia

lah DSEE-ah

nephew il nipote

eel nee-POH-tayniece la nipote

lah nee-POH-tayhusband il marito

eel mah-REE-tohwife la moglie

lah MOHL-yayfiancé il fidanzato

eel fee-dahn-TSAH-tohfiancée la fidanzata

lah fee-dahn-TSAH-tahstepfather il patrigno

eel pah-TREEN-yohstepmother la matrigna

lah mah-TREEN-yahcousin il cugino,la cugina

eel koo-JEEN-oh, lah koo-JEEN-ahbrother-in-law il cognato

eel kohn-YAH-tohsister-in-law la cognata

lah kohn-YAH-tahfather-in-law il suocero

eel SWOH-cheh-rohmother-in-law la suocera

lah SWOH-cheh-rahchild il bambino,la bambina

eel bahm-BEE-noh, lah bahm-BEE-nahbaby il bimbo,la bimba

eel BEEM-boh, lah BEEM-bahmarried sposato

spoh-ZAH-tohsingle celibe (m.),nubile (f.)

CHE-lee-bay, NOO-bee-laydivorced divorziato(a)

dee-vohrts-YAH-toh (tah)separated separato

seh-pah-RAH-tohwidowed vedovo

VEH-doh-voh

Telephoning to and from ItalyFrom calling a hotel in Rome to calling arestaurant for a quiet table for two, this sectionwill help you navigate the Italiantelecommunications system.

Calling Italy from the United

States and CanadaTo place a call from the United States or Canada,first dial the United States international code 011,then dial Italy's country code 39, then dial the citycode (06 for Rome, 055 for Florence), and finallydial the number, which can be six or seven digits.For example, if the Italian phone number in Romeis 55-55-55, you must dial the following: 011-39-06-55-55.

Calling Another Country fromItalyTo place a call to another country from Italy, firstdial the Europe long distance code 00, then thecountry code (1 for the United States and Canada),then the area code and number.

Country Codes of Other Countries

United States 1Canada 1United Kingdom 44

France 33Germany 49Spain 34Switzerland 41

Placing a Call Within ItalyItalian phone numbers are comprised of an areacode (this can be from two to four digits andbegins with a zero) and the phone number. Cellphone area codes begin with the number 3, andarea codes that begin with the number 8 are toll-free. To make a call from one area code to another,you must dial the full area code and number. Tocall within the same area code, you must dial thearea code as well.

Public PhonesPublic phones are easy to find. They're literallyeverywhere, and most bars and coffee shops willhave one on the premises. The phone booths areegg-shaped and are usually painted a bright orangecolor for easy recognition. You can pay for a

public phone with coins (monete), with a phonecard (scheda telefonica), or with a credit card(carta di credito). Some older phones will onlytake coins, and some of the newer phones will onlytake a phone or credit card.

Phone cards can be purchased from machines at theairport and train stations and at most tobaccostores and bars. They are available in variousdenominations. To use the phone card, you mustfirst break off the perforated corner in the upperpart of the card, which will allow the card to fitinto the slot on the phone. Once you've inserted thecard, it is activated.

You may come across public Internet Corners.They can be used with phone cards. These stationsmay not work very well, so do not depend on themfor Internet access.

Emergency NumbersIn the rare instance that you need to get in touch

In the rare instance that you need to get in touchwith emergency services, here is how to reachthem:

112: Emergencies. Much like 911 in the UnitedStates, this is a European Union-wideemergency number with multilingualoperators that can route your emergency to theappropriate agency.

113: Emergencies (local police). Polizia di stato,national civilian police.

115: Fire department.117: Guardia di finanza (financial police). If a

business has cheated you, this is the number tocall.

118: Ambulance.

Cell PhonesWe've become accustomed to the convenience ofhaving a cell phone on our persons. Whether youplan on bringing your cell phone with you orbuying (or renting) one while you're there, this

section will give some valuable pointers.

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)is a type of cell phone and network that is used inmost countries in the world, including Europe.Some U.S. cell phone service providers use GSM,but most do not. You will need a GSM phone inItaly. GSM phones are sometimes called worldphones because they can be used around the world.

Check with your cell phone service provider todetermine if yours is a GSM phone. If it is not,world phones can be purchased easily andinexpensively from numerous online vendors. Ifyou have a GSM phone, check with your serviceprovider to determine the costs involved withusing your phone while you are abroad. Somecompanies offer reasonable rates for use abroad,while others are quite expensive.

If your U.S. cellular service provider does notoffer international service, it is possible—and

often economical—to rent a world phone completewith a SIM card from a reputable online sourcesuch as RangeRoamer (www.rangeroamer.com) orCall in Europe (www.callineurope.com). Waitinguntil you arrive in Italy and renting a phone at theairport or from a cell phone store is possible buttime-consuming.

SIM CardsA SIM (Subscriber Information Module) card is asmall chip inserted into your phone that containsyour cell phone number and your accountinformation. The SIM card can easily be switchedfrom one phone to another. Provided you're inpossession of a world phone, it may be possiblefor you to purchase a SIM card in Italy and simplyuse it while you travel. This is a good option allover Europe because cell phone plans in Europedo not require lengthy contract commitments. SIMcards come with a certain number of prepaidminutes; once you've used your minutes, you caneither discard the SIM card or purchase more

http://www.rangeroamer.com

http://www.callineurope.com

minutes. Also, there is no per-minute charge forincoming calls.

Telephone Vocabulary

cell phone telefonino/cellulareteh-leh-foh-NEE-noh/chehl-loo-LAH-reh

reverse charges/collectcall a carico del destinatario

ah KAH-ree-koh dehl des-tee-nah-TAH-ree-oh

busy occupatoohk-koo-PAH-toh

please hold stia in lineaSTEE-ah een LEE-nay-ah

to hang up riagganciareree-ah-gahn-CHAH-ray

to call back richiamareree-kyah-MAH-ray

to ring squillareskwee-LAH-ray

telephone il telefonoeel teh-LEH-foh-noh

telephone booth la cabina telefonicalah kah-BEE-nah teh-leh-FOH-nee-kah

telephone call la telefonatalah teh-leh-foh-NAH-tah

telephone directory la guida telefonicalah GWEE-dah teh-leh-FOH-nee-kah

telephone number il numero di telefonoeel NOO-meh-roh dee teh-LEH-foh-noh

dialing tone il segnale acusticoeel sehn-YAH-lay ah-KOO-stee-koh

TAirports and Hotels

he previous chapters have provided you withthe framework for basic conversation and thebuilding blocks (verbs, adjectives, adverbs, andbasic expressions) to expand your communicativeability. This chapter will build on that frameworkand will provide you with the very practical anduseful information you need to navigate the airportand your hotel.

The Verb VolereThe Italian verb volere means “to want."

I want to travel.Voglio viaggiare.vohl-yoh vee-ah-JAH-ray

I would like to travel.Vorrei viaggiare.

vohr-ray vee-ah-JAH-ray

Volere is an irregular Italian verb. For thepurposes of this book, it is presented here in itstwo most useful forms: the present indicative tenseand the present conditional mood.

present conditionalvoglio vohl-yoh vorrei vohr-rayvuoi voo-oy vorresti vohr-REHS-teevuole voo-OH-leh vorrebbe vohr-REHB-behvogliamo vohl-YAH-moh vorremo vohr-REH-mohvolete voh-LEH-teh vorreste voh-REHS-tehvogliono VOHL-yoh-noh vorrebbero vohr-REHB-beh-roh

In Italy, it is more polite to express your desiresand wishes with the present conditional mood.

I'd like a ticket.Vorrei un biglietto.voh-ray oon beel-YEH-toh

The Verbs Andare and VenireThese two verbs are also important for travelers to

These two verbs are also important for travelers toknow. Andare means “to go” and venire means “tocome.” These two verbs are most useful in thepresent indicative tense and the passato prossimo.

We are going to Rome.Andiamo a Roma.ahn-dee-YAH-moh ah roh-mah

He's coming with us.Lui viene con noi.loo-ee vyeh-neh kohn noy

Present andare venireio vado vengo

vah-doh vehn-gohtu vai vieni

veye vee-EH-neelui,lei,Lei va viene

vah vee-EH-nehnoi andiamo veniamo

ahn-dee-AH-moh veh-nee-YAH-mohvoi andate venite

ahn-DAH-tay veh-NEE-teh

loro,Loro vanno vengonovahn-noh VEHN-goh-noh

Both andare and venire are conjugated with esserein the past tense (passato prossimo). Thoughandare has a regular past participle (andato),venire has a slightly irregular past participle(venuto).

Airport and Flight VocabularyThe hustle and bustle of the airport can bestressful. The following terms and expressions mayhelp to alleviate some of that stress.

People, Places, and Things

airplane un aereooon ah-EH-reh-oh

airport un aeroportooon ah-eh-roh-POR-toh

baggage i bagagliee bah-GAHL-yee

baggage check la consegna bagagli

lah kohn-SEHN-yah bah-GAHL-yeeboarding pass la carta d'imbarco

lah KAHR-tah dee eem-BAHR-kohcarry-on luggage i bagagli a mano

ee bah-GAHL-yee ah MAH-nohchecked luggage i bagagli da stiva

ee bah-GAHL-yee dah STEE-vahcart un carello

oon kah-REHL-lohcheck-in desk il banco di check-in

eel BAHN-koh dee check-indepartures partenze

pahr-TEHN-zehearly in anticipo

een ahn-TEE-chee-pohlate in ritardo

een ree-TAHR-dohpassenger il passeggero

eel pahs-sehj-JEHR-ohpassport il passaporto

eel pahs-sah-POHR-tohpilot il pilota

eel pee-LOH-tahsecurity check il controllo di sicurezza

eel kohn-TROHL-loh dee see-koo-REHTS-sah

shuttle lo shuttleloh shuttle

steward/stewardess l'assistente di bordolahs-sees-TEHN-teh dee BOHR-doh

visa il vistoeel VEES-toh

Ticket Information

airline la compagnia aerealah kohm-pahn-YEE-ah ah-EH-reh-ah

first class la prima classelah PREE-mah KLAHS-say

flight il voloeel VOH-loh

gate l'uscitaloo-SHEE-tah

one-way ticket un biglietto solo andataoon-beel-YEH-toh soh-loh ahn-DAH-tah

round-tripticket un biglietto andata e ritorno

oon-beel-YEH-toh ahn-DAH-tah eh ree-TOHR-noh

terminal il terminaleel terminal

Travel Verbs

to board imbarcareeem-BAHR-kah-ray

to buy a ticket fare il bigliettofah-ray eel beel-YEH-toh

to check bags consegnare i bagaglikohn-sehn-YAH-ray ee bah-GAHL-yee

to make a reservation fare una prenotazionefah-ray oo-nah preh-noh-tat-see-YOH-nay

to sit down sedersi or accomodarsiseh-DEHR-see /ahk-koh-moh-DAHR-see

to take off decollaredeh-kohl-LAH-ray

to land atterrareaht-teh-RAHR-ray

Baggage Claim, Immigration,and CustomsBefore you can enjoy a nice dish of pasta allacarbonara,you have to get out of the airport. Thefollowing list of terms will help you get throughcustoms smoothly.

Arrivals and Baggage

arrivals arriviahr-REE-vee

baggage claim il ritiro bagaglieel ree-TEE-roh bah-GAHL-yee

lost luggage i bagagli smarritiee bah-GAHL-yee smahr-REE-tee

My luggage islost. I miei bagagli sono smarriti.

ee myay bah-GAHL-yee soh-noh smahr-REE-tee

Immigration and Customs

immigration l'immigrazionelee-mee-grahts-ee-OH-nay

last name il cognomeeel kohn-YOH-may

first name il nomeeel noh-may

customs la doganalah doh-GAH-nah

nothing to declare niente da dichiararenee-EHN-tay dah deek-yah-RAH-ray

customs declaration form il modula dogana

Here's my passport.Ecco il mio passaporto.ehk-koh eel mee-oh pahs-sah-POHR-toh

I have a visa.Ho un visto.oh oon VEES-toh

I don't have a visa.Non ho un visto.nohn oh oon VEES-toh

I would like to declare . . .Vorrei dichiarare . . .vohr-ray deek-yah-RAH-ray

At the HotelYou're jet-lagged and in need of a nap, a shower,and a bite to eat. All you have is a few euros andthis book. The following useful terms andexpressions will help satisfy your every need.

I would like a roomfor/with . . .

Vorrei una camera per/con . . .

one night una notteoo-nah NOHT-tay

two nights due nottidoo-eh NOHT-tee

one person una personaoo-nah pehr-SOH-nah

two people due personedoo-eh pehr-SOH-neh

two beds due lettidoo-eh LEHT-tee

a double bed un letto matrimonialeoon LEHT-toh mah-tree-moh-nee-AH-lay

a shower in the room con bagnokohn BAHN-yoh

a bathtub una vasca da bagnooo-nah VAHS-kah dah BAHN-yoh

a toilet un toiletteoon twah-LEHT

a television un televisoreoon teh-leh-vee-ZOHR-ah

a telephone un telefonooon teh-LEH-foh-noh

air conditioning il climatizzatoreeel klee-mah-teets-sah-TOHR-ay

Is there a(n) . . . ? Cè . . . ? chehelevator un ascensore

oon ah-shehn-SOH-rayhairdresser/barber un parucchiere/un barbiere

oon pah-rook-YEH-ray/oon bahrb-YEH-rayparking lot un parcheggio

oon pahr-KEHJ-johrestaurant un ristorante

oon rees-toh-RAHN-taypool una piscina

oo-nah pee-SHEE-nah

Navigating Your Hotel

first floor (U.S.), groundfloor (Italy) pian terreno pee-YAHN tehr-REH-

nohsecond floor (U.S.), firstfloor (Italy) primo piano PREE-moh pee-YAH-

nohhallway il corridoio eel kohr-ree-DOY-yohroom la camera lah KAH-meh-rahdoor la porta lah POHR-tahwindow la finestra lah fee-NESS-trahbed il letto eel LEHT-toh

pillow il cuscino eel koo-SHEE-nohlamp la lampada lah LAHM-pah-dahbathroom il bagno eel BAHN-yohtowel l'asciugamano lah-shoo-gah-MAH-noh

wake-up call il serviziosveglia

eel sehr-VEETS-see-ohSVEHL-yah

What time is check in/check out?A che ora è il check in/il check out?ah keh oh-rah eh eel check in/eel check out

Can I rent a car or a moped?È possibile noleggiare un auto o un motorino?eh pohs-SEE-bee-lay noh-lehj-JAH-ray oon ou-tohoh oon moh-toh-REE-noh

What kind of breakfast do you serve?Che tipo di colazione servite?keh tee-poh dee koh-lahts-see-YOH-neh sehr-VEE-teh

What time is breakfast served?A che ora viene servita la colazione?

ah keh oh-rah VYEH-neh sehr-VEE-tah lah koh-lahts-see-YOH-neh

Does your hotel have an elevator? A garage?Il vostro albergo dispone di un ascensore? Ungarage?eel VOHS-troh ahl-BEHR-goh dees-POH-neh deeoon ah-shehn-SOH-ray/oon garage

Is Internet access available for guests?Esiste una postazione Internet a disposizionedegli ospiti dell'albergo?eh-ZEES-teh oo-nah poh-stahts-see-OH-neyInternet ah dee-spoh-zeets-YOH-nay dehl-yeeOHS-pee-tee dehl ahl-BEHR-goh

How far away is the train station? (The airport?)Quanto dista la stazione centrale dei treni(l'aeroporto) dal vostro albergo?kwahn-toh dees-tah lah staht-see-YOH-nay chehn-TRAH-lay day treh-nee (leh-roh-POHR-toh) dahlvohs-troh ahl-BEHR-goh

How do we get to your hotel from the airport?Come possiamo raggiungere il vostro albergodall'aeroporto?koh-meh pohs-see-YAH-moh rah-JOON-jeh-rayeel vohs-troh ahl-BEHR-goh dahl ah-eh-roh-POHR-toh

How far is the closest bus stop?Quanto dista la fermata più vicina dell'autobus?kwahn-toh dees-tah lah fehr-MAH-tah pyou vee-CHEE-nah dehl OW-toh-boos

Can I reserve museum tickets through the hotel?È possibile prenotare i biglietti dei museidirettamente dal vostro albergo?eh pohs-SEE-bee-lay preh-noh-TAH-ray ee beel-YEH-tee day mooz-eh-ee dee-reht-tah-MEHN-taydahl vohs-troh ahl-BEHR-goh

Is the hotel in the historical center of the city?L'albergo è situato nel centro storico?lahl-BEHR-goh eh see-too-AH-toh nehl chehn-troh

STOH-ree-koh

Settling Your BillSadly, your trip is coming to an end. Here aresome useful expressions to help get your hotel billsettled.

How much is it?Quanto è?KWAHN-toh eh

I would like to pay my bill.Vorrei saldare il conto.vohr-ray sahl-DAH-ray eel kohn-toh

I would like to pay . . . Vorrei pagare . . . (vohr-ray pah-GAH-ray)in cash con contanti

kohn kohn-TAHN-teewith traveler's checks con i travelers checks

kohn ee travelers checkswith a credit card con la carta di credito

kohn lah kahr-ta dee KREH-dee-toh

A

Getting AroundTown

sking directions, hailing a cab, and reading abus schedule are all things you might want to knowhow to do for your upcoming trip. This chapterwill help you find your way around.

Asking for DirectionsPerhaps the most frequently asked questions in alltourist destinations have to do with asking fordirections. Here are some useful phrases to ask forhelp finding your way around:

Excuse me, where is . . . ?Mi scusi, dov'è . . . ?mee skoo-zee doh-veh

Is it very far?È molto lontano?

eh mohl-toh lohn-TAH-noh

How long will it take by car?Quanto ci vorrà in macchina?kwahn-toh chee vohr-RAH een mahk-KEE-nah

How far away is the station?Quanto dista la stazione?kwahn-toh dees-tah lah staht-see-OH-nay

How much further to . . . ?Quanto manca a . . . ?kwahn-toh mahn-kah ah

Excuse me, I'm lost.Scusi, mi sono perso.skoo-zee mee soh-noh pehr-soh

Where is the nearest gas station?Dove si trova il distributore di benzina piùvicino?doh-veh see troh-vah eel dees-tree-boo-TOH-raydee ben-TSEE-nah pyou vee-CHEE-noh

It's close by.È a due passi.eh ah doo-ay pahs-see

Can you tell me where it is?Può dirmi dov'è?poo-owe deer-mee dohv-EH

Can you give me directions to . . . ?Può indicarmi la strada per . . . ?poo-owe een-dee-KAHR-mee lah strah-dah pehr

Directions

Go straight. Vai diritto. veye dee-REET-tohTurn left. Gira a sinistra. jee-rah ah see-NEES-trahTurn right. Gira a destra. jee-rah a dess-trahto the left alla sinistra ahl-lah see-NEES-trahto the right alla destra ahl-lah dess-trahstraight ahead sempre diritto sehm-preh dee-REET-tohnext to accanto a ahk-KAHN-toh ahin front of davanti a dah-vahn-tee ahin back of dietro dee-EH-trohnear (to) vicino a vee-CHEE-noh ah

far (from) lontano da lohn-TAH-noh dahnorth nord nohrdsouth sud soodeast est ehstwest ovest oh-vehst

Some Useful DestinationsYou've left your map back in the hotel room, andyou know the museum you want to visit is aroundhere somewhere. Now if you could only rememberthe word for museum! This section presents someuseful place names found in most cities.

bank banca bahn-kahbus stop -la fermata lah fehr-MAH-tah

dell'autobus dehll AHW-toh-booscathedral cattedrale kaht-teh-DRAH-laychurch chiesa kee-AY-zahcoffee shop bar bahrfountain fontana fohn-TAH-nahgardens giardini jahr-DEE-neehotel hotel/albergo oh-tell/ahl-BEHR-gohmonument monumento mohn-oo-MEHN-tohmuseum museo moo-ZAY-oh

open-air market mercato mehr-KAH-tohpark parco pahr-kohrestaurant ristorante rees-toh-RAHN-taysupermarket supermercato soo-pehr-mehr-KAH-tohtheater teatro tay-AH-troh

Types of TransportationMany Italian cities offer a full range oftransportation options. Rome, Milan, Palermo, andNaples all have subway systems that arereasonably safe and reliable.

bicycle la bicicletta lah bee-chee-KLEH-tahbus l'autobus LAHW-toh-boos

bus stop la fermatadell'autobus

lah fehr-MAH-tah dehll AHW-toh-boos

car la macchina lah MAH-kee-nahmoped il motorino eel moh-toh-REE-nohmotorcycle la moto lah moh-tohsubway la metropolitana lah meh-troh-poh-lee-TAH-nahtaxi il taxi eel tahk-see

taxi stand la stazione dei taxi lah staht-see-OH-nay day tahk-see

train il treno eel tray-noh

trainstation

la stazione lah staht-see-OH-nay

Renting a CarPublic transportation and taxis are readilyavailable in all Italian cities, but you may want torent a car to explore off the beaten path. Keep inmind that standard transmissions in cars are thenorm in Italy. If you need a car with an automatictransmission, it is best to make a reservationbefore you leave for your trip.

I'd like to rent a car.Vorrei noleggiare una macchina.vohr-ray noh-lehj-JAH-ray oo-nah MAH-kee-nah

economy car macchina piccolaMAH-kee-nah PEEK-koh-lah

midsize car macchina mediaMAH-kee-nah MEH-dee-ah

full-size car macchina grandeMAH-kee-nah grahn-day

convertible decapotabile

deh-kah-poh-TAH-bee-lehtruck camion

KAH-mee-ohnautomatic automatico

ahw-toh-MAH-tee-koh

How much will it cost?Quanto costa?kwahn-toh kohs-tah

I'd like to pay by credit card.Vorrei pagare con la carta di credito.vohr-ray pah-GAH-ray kohn lah kahr-tah deeKREH-dee-toh

Finding Your Way AroundThis section presents some useful words andphrases to help you navigate the open road.

Street Smarts

accident un incidenteoon een-chee-DEHN-tay

all routes/directions tutte le direzionitoot-teh leh dee-rehts-YOH-nee

bypass road un tangenzialeoon tahn-jehnts-YAH-lay

dead end strada senza uscitastrah-dah sehn-tsah oo-SHEE-tah

diesel il dieseleel dee-zehl

driver l'autistalahw-TEES-tah

gas la benzinalah behn-TSEE-nah

gas station un distributore di benzinaoon dees-tree-boo-TOH-ray dee ben-TSEE-nah

highway un'autostradaoon-AHW-toh-strah-dah

lane una corsiaoo-nah kohr-SEE-ah

lights i fariee fah-ree

no parking vietato parcheggiarevee-eh-TAH-toh pahr-kehj-JAH-ray

no stopping vietata la sostavee-eh-TAH-tah lah sohs-tah

one way senso unicosehn-soh OO-nee-koh

pedestrian il pedonaleeel peh-doh-NAH-lay

pedestriancrosswalk le strisce pedonali

le stree-sheh peh-doh-NAH-leerush hour l'ora di punta

loh-rah dee poon-tahspeed limit il limite di velocità

eel LEE-mee-teh dee veh-loh-chee-TAHstop stop

stohptraffic lights il semaforo

eel seh-MAH-foh-roh

Car Talk

car una macchina/un' automobile/un'autooo-nah MAH-kee-nah/oon ahw-toh-MOH-bee-leh/oon ahw-toh

car hood il cofanoeel KOH-fah-noh

radio la radiolah RAH-dee-oh

rearview

mirror lo specchiettoloh spehk-KYEH-toh

seatbelt la cintura di sicurezzalah cheen-TOO-rah dee see-koo-REHTS-sah

steering wheel il volanteeel voh-LAHN-tay

tire la gomma/il pneumaticolah gohm-mah/eel neh-oo-MAH-tee-koh

trunk il bagagliaioeel bah-GAHL-yeye-oh (pronounced like the English“eye")

windshield la parabrezzalah pah-rah-BREHTS-sah

windshieldwipers i tergicristalli

ee tehr-jee-krees-TAHL-lee

Useful Driving VerbsHere are some essential verbs related to driving:

to pass/overtake sorpassaresohr-pahs-SAH-ray

to slow down rallentarerahl-lehn-TAH-ray

to yield dare la precedenza

dah-ray lah preh-cheh-DEHN-tsahto get a ticket prendere una multa

PREHN-deh-ray oo-nah mool-tahto give a ticket dare una multa

dah-ray oo-nah mool-tahto pull over to the sideof the road accostare

ahk-kohs-TAH-rayto get gas fare la benzina

fah-ray lah ben-TSEE-nahto fill it up fare il pieno

fah-ray eel pyeh-nohto hitchhike fare l'autostop

fah-ray LAHW-toh-stohpto park parcheggiare

pahr-kehj-JAH-rayto turn girare

jee-RAH-rayto drive guidare

gwee-DAH-rayto travel viaggiare

vee-ahj-JAH-rayto cross attraversare

aht-trah-vehr-SAH-rayto go andare

ahn-DAH-rayto buckle your seatbelt allacciare la cintura di sicurezza

ahl-lahch-CHAH-ray lah cheen-TOO-rahdee see-koo-REHTS-sah

Train VocabularyTraveling by train is often cheaper, faster, andmore convenient than traveling by airplane or carwithin Italy, though there are some exceptions.Italy's bullet train, the Eurostar, offers fast,affordable, comfortable, and somewhat reliableservice between major cities. Train travel frommajor cities to smaller cities and towns is certainlyan affordable option, but it can add time to yourtrip, especially in southern Italy.

arrival arrivo ahr-REE-vohcabin scompartimento skohm-pahr-tee-MEHN-tohcar carrozza kahr-ROH-tsahchief conductor capotreno kah-poh-TREH-nohconductor controllore kohn-trohl-LOH-rehcorridor corridoio kohr-ree-DOH-yoh

departure partenza pahr-TEHN-tzahfamily offer offerta famiglia ohf-FEHR-tah fah-MEE-lyahfirst class prima classe PREE-mah KLAHS-sehluggage rack(overhead)

retina orportabagagli

reh-TEE-nah/pohr-tah-bah-GAH-lyee

nonsmokers non fumatori nohn foo-mah-TOH-reesmokers fumatori foo-mah-TOH-reeplatform binario bee-NAH-ree-ohrailway ferrovia fehr-roh-VEE-ahreservation prenotazione preh-noh-tah-TZYO-neh

restaurant car carrozzaristorante

kahr-ROH-tzah ree-stoh-RAHN-teh

seat posto POH-stohsecond class seconda classe seh-KOHN-dah KLAHS-sehsleeper car vagone letto vah-GOH-neh LEHT-tohsleepingcompartment cuccetta koo-CHEHT-tah

station stazione stah-TZYOH-nehsupplement supplemento soop-pleh-MEHN-tohticket biglietto bee-LYEHT-tohticket office biglietteria bee-lyeht-tehr-REE-ahtoilet toilette twah-LEHTtracks binari bee-NAH-reetrain treno TREH-nohvalidate timbrare teem-BRAH-rehwindow finestrino fee-neh-STREE-noh

The names of some Italian cities are spelled andpronounced differently in English. Here is a list ofsome of Italy's major cities, with their Italianspellings and pronunciations.

English Italian PronunciationFlorence Firenze fee-REHN-tzehLeghorn Livorno lee-VOHR-nohMantua Mantova MAHN-toh-vahMilan Milano mee-LAH-nohNaples Napoli NAH-poh-leeRome Roma ROH-mahSienna Siena SYEH-nahTurin Torino toh-REE-nohVenice Venezia veh-NEH-tzyah

Some Useful Phrases for Train Travel

Sorry, is this the train to . . .? Mi scusi, è questo il treno per . . . ?

mee SKOO-zee, eh KWEH-stoh eelTREH-noh pehr

Good morning, I havebooked a seat . . .

Buon giorno, ho prenotato il posto .. .bwohn JOHR-noh, oh preh-noh-TAH-

toh eel POH-stoHow long until we get to . .. ? Fra quanto si arriva a . . . ?

frah KWAHN-toh see ahr-REE-vahah

Is the train late? Il treno è in ritardo?eel TREH-noh eh een ree-TAHR-doh

Is this seat taken? È libero questo posto?eh LEE-beh-roh KWEH-stoh POH-stoh

Yes, have a seat. Prego, si accomodi.PREH-goh, see ahk-KOH-moh-dee

No, it's occupied. No, è occupato.noh, eh ohk-koo-PAH-toh

ITime for Dinner

taly is known for its world-class cuisine.Culinary traditions and styles vary from region toregion (and from city to city as well). Knowinghow to order your meal will only enhance yourdining experience.

Dining OutHere are some general phrases related to dining ina restaurant:

Meals and Courses

meal il pasto eel pahs-tohbreakfast la colazione lah koh-lahts-YOH-nehlunch il pranzo eel prahn-zohdinner la cena lah cheh-nahsnack la merendina lah meh-rehn-DEE-nahantipasto gli antipasti lyee ahn-tee-PAHS-teefirst course il primo (piatto) eel pree-mohsoup la zuppa, lah dsoop-ah

la minestra lah mee-NESS-trah,la minestrone lah mee-ness-TROH-neh

second course il secondo (piatto) eel seh-KOHN-dohvegetable course il contorno eel kohn-TOHR-nohsalad l'insalata leen-sah-LAH-tahdessert il dessert/il dolce eel deh-sehrt, eel dohl-chay

At the Restaurant

restaurant il ristorante eel rees-toh-RAHN-tay(small) restaurant la trattoria lah trah-toh-REE-ahpublic house/inn l'osteria lohs-teh-REE-ahbuffet-style restaurant la tavola lah TAH-voh-lah

calda kahl-dahpizzeria la pizzeria lah peet-seh-REE-ahkitchen or cuisine la cucina lah koo-CHEE-nahdining room la sala lah sah-lahwaiter il cameriere eel kah-meh-RYEH-raywaitress la cameriera lah kah-meh-RYEH-rahcook il cuoco/ eel kwoh-koh/

lo chef loh shehfpizza maker il pizzaiolo eel peet-seye-OH-lohbartender il barista eel bah-REES-tah

What to Order?Ah, so many choices, and so few days to try themall. It's easy to find a restaurant in a touristy areathat offers Italian-American food (spaghetti withalfredo sauce, spaghetti and meatballs, and so on).Try to find something that's off the beaten path, andcertainly try to order something that you've nevertried before—you'll almost always be pleasantlysurprised!

AntipastoFrom city to city and region to region, you willfind thousands of different types of antipasti. Manyrestaurants will have a buffet table set up withnumerous types of antipasti to choose from. Thefollowing are some of the more common items youcan find throughout Italy.

Antipasto

le acciughe anchoviesleh ah-CHOO-geh

l'affettato misto various cold cutslahf-feht-TAH-toh mees-toh

l'arancino rice ball filled with meat andcheese

lah-rahn-CHEE-noh

la bruschetta toasted bread topped withdiced tomatoes

lah broo-SKEH-tah

la bruschetta col salmone toasted bread topped withsalmon

broo-SKEH-tah kohn sahl-MOH-nehi calamari fritti fried squidee kah-lah-MAH-ree free-teela caponata siciliana eggplant and tomato stewlah kah-poh-NAH-tah see-cheel-YAH-nah

il caprese mozzarella, tomatoes, freshbasil, and olive oil

eel kah-PRAY-zayi carciofi artichokesee kahr-CHOH-feeil carpaccio raw beef very thinly slicedeel kahr-PAH-chohla focaccia flat breadlah foh-KAH-chah

frutti di mare mixed seafood

froo-tee dee mah-rayi funghi imbottiti stuffed mushroomsee foon-gee eem-boh-TEE-teela giardiniera pickled vegetableslah jahr-deen-YEH-rahgli involtini di prosciutto rolled, stuffed prosciuttolyee een-vohl-TEE-nee dee pro-SHOO-tohle lumache snailsleh loo-MAH-keh

la peperonata peppers sautéed with oil andcapers

lah peh-peh-roh-NAH-tahi pomodori farciti di tonno tomatoes stuffed with tunaee poh-moh-DOH-ree fahr-CHEE-tee dee tohn-nohi pomodori ripieni con riso tomatoes stuffed with riceee poh-moh-DOH-ree ree-PYEH-nee kohn ree-zohle olive condite marinated olivesoh-LEE-veh kohn-DEE-tehil patè di vitello veal patèpah-TEH dee vee-TEHL-lohprosciutto e melone prosciutto and melonproh-SHOO-toh eh meh-LOH-neh

le seppioline alla griglia grilled cuttlefish

sehp-pyoh-LEE-neh ahl-lah greel-yahsauté di vongole sautéed clamssohw-teh dee VOHN-goh-lehi gamberi shrimpee GAHM-beh-ree

vongole in graticola clams with parsley and breadcrumbs

VOHN-goh-leh een grah-TEE-koh-lahvongole inciocchite steamed clamsVOHN-goh-leh een-chohk-KEE-teh

First Course Dishes: I primipiattiThe first course mainly consists of either a pasta orrice dish. There are dozens of different types ofpastas, some of which are unique to certain areasin Italy. Each type of pasta is usually matched witha specific sauce based on various factors. Forexample, thin, delicate pastas like angel hair or

thin spaghetti, are better served with light, thinsauces; thicker pasta shapes like fettuccine workwell with heavier sauces, and pasta shapes withholes or ridges are perfect for chunkier sauces.You may find that some Italians will substitute apizza for the first course.

I tipi di pasta (Types of Pasta)

agnolotti similar to ravioli but smaller; this is usually stuffedwith meat, cheese, or vegetables

ahn-yoh-LOHT-tee

cannelloni large, tube-shaped pasta, usually filled with meat orcheese

kahn-nehl-LOH-neecappellini very thin pasta, often called angel hairkahp-pehl-LEE-neeconchiglie shells of pastakohn-KEE-lyehfarfalle shaped like a butterfly or bow tiefahr-FAHL-

lehfettuccine thin noodles that are somewhat wider than spaghettifeht-too-CHEE-nehfusilli corkscrewsfoo-ZEE-lee

gemelli single S-shaped strands of pasta twisted in a loosespiral

jeh-MEHL-leegnocchi potato or ricotta-based pasta dumplingsnyohk-kee

lasagne broad, flat noodles, usually baked with meat, cheese,and tomato sauce

lah-ZAHN-yeh

linguine flat noodles, wider than spaghetti, but narrower thanfettuccine

leen-GWEE-nehmaltagliati flat, roughly cut trianglesmahl-tahl-YAH-teeorecchiette small bowl-shaped pastaoh-rehk-KYEH-tehpappardelle broad, long noodles

pahp-pahr-DEHL-leh

penne short pasta tubespehn-neh

ravioli pillows of pasta, stuffed with cheese, meat, orvegetables

rah-vee-OH-leerigatoni short, large tubesree-gah-TOH-neerotelle wagon wheel-shaped pastaroh-TEHL-lehrotini double-edged spiral, tightly woundroh-TEE-neespaghetti long, thin strands of pastaspah-GEHT-teetagliatelle long, flat strands of pastatahl-yah-TEHL-leh

tortellini small, folded pillows of pasta, usually stuffed withcheese, meat, or vegetables

tohr-tehl-LEE-nee

Types of Pasta Sauces

boscaiola tomatoes, butter, cheese, mushrooms, oliveoil, garlic

bohs-keye-OH-lahbolognese meat, tomatoes, cheeseboh-lohn-YEH-zehcarbonara olive oil, cheese, egg, baconkahr-boh-NAH-rahdiavolo tomato sauce with hot spicesDYAH-voh-lohgenovese basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oiljeh-noh-VEH-sehmarinara tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, sometimes olivesmah-ree-NAH-rahnapoletana cheese, tomatoes, herbsnah-poh-leh-TAH-nah

puttanesca tomatoes, black olives, peppers, olive oil,garlic

poot-tah-NESS-kahquattro formaggi literally, four cheeseskwaht-troh fohr-MAH-jeesiciliana provolone cheese and eggplantsee-cheel-YAH-nah

Pizza

asparagi tomato sauce, mozzarella, asparagusahs-PAH-rah-jeebismark tomato sauce, mozzarella, eggbeez-mahrkbufala tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarellaBOO-fah-lah

capricciosa tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto,mushrooms, egg, artichokes, sausage, olives

kahp-pree-CHOH-zahcarciofini tomato sauce, mozzarella, artichokeskahr-choh-FEE-nee

diavola tomato sauce, mozzarella, anchovies, blackolives, capers, spicy salami

DYAH-voh-lahfunghi tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushroomsfoon-geefunghi porcini tomato sauce, mozzarella, porcini mushroomsfoon-gee pohr-CHEE-neegorgonzola tomato sauce, mozzarella, gorgonzolagohr-gohn-ZOH-lah

marinara tomato sauce, garlic, oreganomah-ree-NAH-rahmargherita tomato sauce, mozzarellamahr-geh-REE-tahmelanzane tomato sauce, mozzarella, eggplantmeh-lahn-ZAH-neh

napoli tomato sauce, mozzarella, anchovies, capers,oregano

NAH-poh-leepeperoni tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperspeh-peh-ROH-neeprimavera mozzarella, sliced tomatopree-mah-VEH-rahprosciutto cotto tomato sauce, mozzarella, cured hamproh-SHOO-tohkoht-tohprosciutto crudo tomato sauce, mozzarella, cooked hamproh-SHOO-tohkroo-doh

pugliese tomato sauce, mozzarella, anchovies, olives,onion, oregano

pool-YEH-zay

quattro formaggitomato sauce, mozzarella, fontina, gorgonzola,pecorino cheeses

kwaht-troh fohr-MAH-jeequattro stagioni tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto,

mushrooms, egg, artichokes, oliveskwaht-troh stah-JOH-nee

romana tomato sauce, mozzarella, anchovies, capers,oregano, olives

roh-mah-nahsalame piccante tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy salamisah-LAH-mehpeek-KAHN-tehsalsiccia tomato sauce, mozzarella, sausagesahl-SEE-chahtonno tomato sauce, mozzarella, tunatohn-noh

verdure tomato sauce, mozzarella, with assortedvegetables

vehr-DOO-reh

Second Course Dishes: Meat, Fish,Poultry

beef il manzo eel man-zohchicken il pollo eel pohl-lohham il prosciutto eel proh-SHOOT-toh

hare il lepre eel leh-praylamb l'agnello lahn-YEHL-lohliver il fegato eel FEH-gah-tohmeat la carne lah kahr-naypork il maiale eel meye-AH-layrabbit il coniglio eel koh-NEEL-yohsausage la salsiccia lah sahl-SEE-chahseafood i frutti di mare ee froot-tee dee mah-raysteak la bistecca lah bees-TEHK-kahturkey il tacchino eel tahk-KEE-nohveal il vitello eel vee-TEHL-loh

Meat Preparation

rare al sangue ahl sahn-gwaywell done ben cotto behn-koht-toh

Dairy (i latticini)

butter il burro eel boo-rohcheese il formaggio eel fohr-MAHJ-johmilk il latte eel laht-tayyogurt il yogurt eel yoh-gurt

Fruit (le frutte)

apple una mela oo-nah meh-lahapricot un albicocca oon ahl-bee-KOHK-kahbanana una banana oo-nah bah-NAH-nahblackberry una mora oo-nah moh-rahblueberry un mirtillo oon meer-TEEL-lohcherry una ciliegia oo-nah chee-LYEH-jahgrape un'uva oon-oo-vahgrapefruit un pompelmo oon pohm-PEHL-mohlemon un limone oon lee-MOH-nayorange un'arancia oon-ah-RAHN-chahpeach una pesca oo-nah pess-kahpear una pera oo-nah peh-rahraspberry un lampone oon lahm-POH-naystrawberry una fragola oo-nah FRAH-goh-lah

Vegetables (i legumi)

artichoke il carcioffo eel kahr-CHOHF-fohasparagus gli asparagi lyee ahs-PAH-rah-jeebeans i fagioli ee fah-JOH-leecarrot la carotta la kah-ROHT-tahcabbage il cavolo eel KAH-voh-lohcelery il sedano eel SEH-dah-noheggplant la melanzana lah meh-lahn-ZAH-nahgarlic l'aglio lahl-yoh

lettuce la lettuga lah leht-TOO-gahonion la cipolla lah chee-POHL-lahpeas i piselli ee pee-ZEHL-leeradish il ravanello eel rah-vah-NEHL-lohspinach gli spinaci lyee spee-NAH-chee

Dessert (i dolci)

cake la torta lah tohr-tahcookie il biscotto eel bees-KOHT-tohfruit salad la macedonia lah mah-cheh-DOH-nee-ah

di frutta dee froot-tahice cream il gelato eel jeh-LAH-toh

Beverages: Da bereItaly is one of the world's largest wine producers.You may be overwhelmed by the selectionavailable in some restaurants. If you're not surewhat to order, ask your waiter.

Beverages

after-dinner drink il digestivo eel dee-jess-TEE-vohaperitif l'aperitivo lah-peh-reh-TEE-voh

beer la birra lah bee-rahcoffee il caffè eel kahf-FEHred wine il vino rosso eel vee-noh rohs-sohwhite wine il vino bianco eel vee-noh byahn-kohwine il vino eel vee-nohwater l'acqua lahk-wah

(minerale) (mee-neh-RAH-leh)

Dishes and SilverwareIf you need to ask for another fork or napkin, here'sthe vocabulary you'll need:

bowl la ciotola lah CHOH-toh-lahcup la tazza lah taht-sahfork la forchetta lah fohr-KEHT-tahglass il bicchiere eel beek-KYEH-rayknife il coltello eel kohl-TELL-lohnapkin il tovagliolo eel toh-vahl-YOH-lohplate il piatto eel pyaht-tohsilverware le posate leh poh-ZAH-tehspoon il cucchiaio eel kook-KYAH-yoh

Ordering Your MealHere are some useful words to help you order your

Here are some useful words to help you order yourmeal:

to be hungry aver fame ah-VEHR fah-mayto be thirsty avere sete ah-veh-ray seh-tehto order ordinare ohr-dee-NAH-rayto drink bere beh-rayto eat mangiare mahn-JAH-raycheck/bill il conto eel kohn-tohcover charge il coperto eel koh-PEHR-tohservice charge il servizio eel sehr-VEETS-ee-oomenu il menu eel meh-nootip la mancia lah mahn-chah

What would youlike?

Che cosamangia? keh koh-zah mahn-jah

I would like . . . Io vorrei . . . ee-oo vohr-ray

I am a vegetarian. Sonovegetariano.

soh-noh veh-jeh-tah-ree-AH-noh

I am on a diet. Sono a dieta. soh-noh ah dee-EH-tahI am allergic. Sono allergico. soh-noh ahl-LEHR-jee-koh

WShopping and Services

ith credit card in hand, you're off to spend,spend, spend! From clothing to jewelry to artisanalproducts, this chapter will introduce you to theplaces you can spend money and the questions youshould ask about your purchases.

Stores and BusinessesThere are many places that will gladly accept yourmoney in exchange for goods and services. Here isa list of the ones you might be most interested in:

bakery il fornaio eel fohr-NEYE-ohbutcher shop la macelleria lah mah-chehl-leh-REE-ahdelicatessen la salumeria lah sah-loo-meh-REE-ahdepartmentstore

un grandemagazzino

oon grahn-day mah-gaht-SEE-noh

dry cleaner la lavanderia asecco

lah lah-vahn-deh-REE-ah ahsehk-koh

fish market la pescheria lah pess-keh-REE-ahfruit stand il fruttivendolo lah froo-tee-VEHN-doh-lah

grocery store alimentari ah-lee-mehn-TAH-reeice creamshop la gelateria lah jeh-lah-teh-REE-ah

jewelry shop la gioielleria lah joy-ehl-leh-REE-ahnewsstand l'edicola leh-DEE-koh-lahoutdoormarket il mercato eel mehr-KAH-toh

pastry shop la pasticceria lah pahs-tee-cheh-REE-ahpharmacy la farmacia lah far-mah-CHEE-ahstore il negozio eel neh-GOHT-see-ohsupermarket il supermercato eel soo-pehr-mehr-KAH-tohtobacco shop il tabaccaio eel tah-bahk-KEYE-oh

Laundromat and Dry CleanerDid you spill some Chianti on the only dress shirtyou brought with you? Perhaps a smattering ofmarinara sauce on your blouse? Laundromats anddry cleaners are there to help.

to wash lavare lah-VAH-rayto dry clean lavare a secco lah-VAH-ray ah sehk-kohto dry asciugare ah-shoo-GAH-raybleach la candeggina lah kahn-dehj-JEE-nahdryer l'asciugatrice lah-shoo-gah-TREE-cheh

fabric softener l'ammorbidente lahm-mohr-bee-DEHN-tehto do the laundry fare il bucato fah-ray eel boo-KAH-tohsoap il sapone eel sah-POH-naystain la macchia lah mahk-kyahstarch(ed) inamidato een-ah-mee-DAH-tohwashing machine la lavatrice lah lah-vah-TREE-cheh

Hair Salon and BarbershopItalian hairstylists and barbers have the reputationof being among the best in the world. You'll findthat prices can be reasonable, especially in abarber shop. Hey, you're on vacation—give it atry!

barber il barbiere eel bahr-BYEH-raybeard la barba lah bahr-bahbeauty parlor la parrucheria lah pahr-rook-eh-REE-ahbrush la spazzola lah SPAHT-soh-lahcomb il pettine eel peht-tee-nehcurls i riccioli ee REE-choh-leedandruff la forfora lah FOHR-foh-rahdry hair i capelli secchi ee kah-PEHL-lee sehk-keehair i capelli ee kah-PEHL-leehaircut il taglio di eel tahl-yoh dee

capelli kah-PEHL-leehairstyle la pettinatura lah peh-tee-nah-TOO-rahhairstylist il parruchiere eel pahr-rook-YEH-raylong lungo loon-gohmoustache i baffi ee bahf-feeoily hair i capelli grassi ee kah-PEHL-lee grah-seepart la riga lah ree-gahscalp massage la frizione lah freets-YOH-nehshort corto kohr-tohstrand la frangetta lah frahn-JEHT-tahtrim una spuntatina oo-nah spoon-tah-TEE-nahwig la parrucca lah pahr-ROOK-kahwisp la ciocca di lah chohk-kah dee

capelli kah-PEHL-lee

Verbs

to blow dry asciugare con il phonah-shoo-GAH-ray kohn eel fohn

to curl arricciare i capelliah-reech-CHAH-ray ee kah-PEHL-lee

to cut tagliaretahl-YAH-ray

to perm fare la permanentefah-ray lah pehr-mah-NEHN-tay

to shave fare la barba/raderefah-ray lah bahr-bah/RAH-deh-ray

to wash lavarelah-vah-ray

to tease cotonarekoh-toh-NAH-ray

to do someone's hair fare i capellifah-ray ee kah-PEHL-lee

to dye/to color tingereTEEN-jeh-ray

to brush spazzolarespahts-soh-LAH-ray

to comb pettinarepeht-tee-NAH-ray

Clothing and JewelryMilan and Rome are at the center of the world'sfashion and jewelry industries. Besides the largerdepartment stores and big-name shops, you willfind numerous boutique shops that offer stylish(and affordable!) clothing. Shopping can be fun,but it can be overwhelming, too, so be sure to paceyourself.

Clothing

bathing suit il costume eel kohs-TOO-mehda bagno dah bahn-yoh

belt la cintura lah cheen-TOO-rahblouse la camicetta lah kah-mee-CHEHT-tahboots gli stivali lyee stee-VAH-leebra il reggiseno eel reh-jee-SEH-nohbutton il bottone eel boht-TOH-nehcloth, fabric, material il tessuto eel tehs-SOO-tohclothes i vestiti ee vehs-TEE-teecolor il colore eel koh-LOH-raycotton il cotone eel koh-TOH-naydress il vestito eel vehs-TEE-toh

donna doh-nahfootwear la calzatura lah kahl-tsah-TOO-rahglasses gli occhiali lyee ohk-KYAH-leegloves i guanti ee gwahn-teehandbag la borsa lah bohr-sahhat il cappello eel kahp-PEHL-lohjacket la giacca lah jahk-kahjeans i jeans ee jeansleather il cuoio eel kwoy-ohlining la fodera lah FOH-deh-rahlipstick il rossetto eel rohs-SEHT-toh

makeup il trucco eel trook-kohovercoat il cappotto eel kahp-POHT-tohpajamas il pigiama eel pee-JAH-mahpanties le mutandine leh moo-tahn-DEE-nehpants i pantaloni ee pahn-toh-LOH-neeperfume il profumo eel proh-FOO-mohpocket la tasca lah tahs-kahraincoat l'impermeabile leem-pehr-mee-AH-bee-lehsandals i sandali ee SAHN-dah-leescarf la sciarpa lah shahr-pahshirt la camicia lah kah-MEE-chahshoelace il laccio eel lahch-chohshoes le scarpe leh skahr-pehsilk la seta lah seh-tahskirt la gonna lah gohn-nahsleeve la manica lah MAH-nee-kahslippers le pantofole leh pahn-TOH-foh-lehsneakers le scarpe da leh skahr-peh dah

ginnastica jeen-NAHS-tee-kahsocks il calzini eel kahl-TSEE-neespike heel il tacco a spillo eel tahk-koh ah speel-lohstocking la calza lah kahl-tsahsuit il completo eel kohm-PLEH-tohsunglasses gli occhiali lyee ohk-KYAH-lee

da sole dah soh-lay

sweater il maglione eel mahl-YOH-nehtie la cravatta lah krah-VAHT-tahT-shirt la maglietta lah mahl-YEHT-tahumbrella l'ombrello lohm-BREHL-lohunderwear la biancheria lah byahn-keh-REE-ah

intima een-tee-mahvelvet il velluto eel vehl-LOO-tohwallet il portafoglio eel pohr-tah-FOHL-yohwool la lana lah lah-nahzipper la cerniera lah chehr-NYEH-rah

Jewelry

amber l'ambra lahm-brahbracelet il braccialetto eel brah-chah-LEHT-tohbrooch la spilla lah speel-lahcostume jewelry la bigiotteria lah bee-joht-teh-REE-ahcufflinks i gemelli da ee jeh-MEHL-lee dah

camicia kah-MEECH-ahdiamond il diamante eel dee-ah-MAHN-tehearrings gli orecchini lyee ohr-rehk-KEE-neeemerald lo smeraldo loh smeh-RAHL-dohgold l'oro loh-rohgold plated dorato doh-RAH-tohjewelry i gioielli ee joy-EHL-leenecklace la collana lah koh-LAH-nah

pearls le perle leh pehr-lehpendant il ciondolo eel CHOHN-doh-lohpin lo spillo loh-speel-lohring l'anello lah-NEHL-lohruby il rubino eel roo-BEE-nohsapphire lo zaffiro loh zahf-FEE-rohsilver l'argento lahr-JEHN-tohsilver plated argentato ahr-jehn-TAH-tohwatch l'orologio loh-roh-LOH-johwedding ring la fede lah feh-deh

Useful Verbs

to button up abbottonare ahb-boht-toh-NAH-ray

to change, to get changed cambiarsi kahm-BYAHR-seeto dress (oneself), to get dressed vestirsi vehs-TEER-see

to fit; to suit stare bene(a) stah-ray behn-ay ah

to knot, to tie annodare ahn-nohd-AH-rayto measure misurare mee-zoo-RAH-ray

to mend, to repair; to darn rammendare rahm-mehn-DAH-ray

to sew cucire koo-CHEE-rayto take off, to remove togliere TOHL-yeh-rayto try provare proh-vah-ray

to unbutton, to undo sbottonare sboht-toh-NAH-rayto undress (oneself), to getundressed spogliarsi spohl-YAHR-see

Useful Adjectives: ColorsRemember that colors are adjectives and thereforemust agree in number and gender with the nounsthey modify.

attractive attraente aht-trah-EHN-tehblack nero neh-roh(dark) blue blu bloo(pale) blue azzurro ahds-ZOO-rohbrown marrone mahr-ROH-nehcomfortable comodo KOH-moh-dohelegant elegante eh-leh-GAHN-tehfashionable, in fashion alla/di moda ahl-lah moh-dahgold (in color), golden d'orato doh-RAH-toh(made) of gold, gold d'oro doh-rohgray grigio gree-joegreen verde vehr-daylong lungo loon-gohnaked, bare, nude nudo noo-dohorange arancione ah-rahn-CHOH-nay

pink rosa roh-zahpurple, violet viola vyoh-lahred rosso rohs-sohrough, coarse rozzo rohts-sohshort corto kohr-tohsilver (in color), silvery argenteo ahr-jehn-TAY-oh(made) of silver, silver d'argento dahr-JEHN-tohsoft, smooth morbido MOHR-bee-dohthick spesso spehs-sohtight(-fitting) stretto streht-tohwhite bianco byahn-kohworn out consumato kohn-soo-MAH-tohyellow giallo jahl-loh

Useful Adjectives: SizesShoe and clothing sizes in Europe are differentthan those used in the United States. Be preparedthat the shoe salesman may tell you that you have asize 43 foot.

What size do you wear?Quale misura desidera?kwah-lay mee-ZOO-rah deh-zee-deh-rah

I would like . . .Desidero . . .deh-zee-deh-roh . . .

I don't know the sizes in Italian.Non conosco le misure italiane.nohn koh-NOHS-koh leh mee-zoo-reh ee-tahl-YAHN-eh

It's too big/small.È troppo grande/piccolo.eh trohp-poh grahn-day/PEEK-koh-loh

Clothing Size (la taglia/la misura)

large grande grahn-daylarger più grande pyou grahn-daymedium medio mehd-ee-ohsmall piccolo PEEK-koh-lohsmaller più piccolo pyou peek-koh-loh

TOut on the Town

o experience Italy, you have to be tuned in tothe culture. If you'd like to get out to a soccer gameor perhaps go to the theater, this chapter introducesyou to vocabulary and terms related to sports,pastimes, games, and cultural activities.

Sports and GamesSoccer, by far the most popular sport in Italy (andmost other countries in the world!), is by no meansthe only sport in Italy. You will find numeroussports and games available for your recreationalpleasure.

Commonly Heard WordsSome words are common to all sports and games.Whether you're reading the newspaper, watchingon television, or observing from the audience,you're bound to hear the following words sooner

or later.

ball il pallone eel pahl-LOH-nehchampionship il campionato eel kahm-pee-oh-NAH-tohcompetition la gara lah gah-rahdefeat la sconfitta lah skohn-FEET-tahto enjoy oneself divertirsi dee-vehr-TEER-seeentertaining divertente dee-vehr-TEHN-tayentertainment il divertimento eel dee-vehr-tee-MEHN-tohfan il tifoso eel tee-FOH-sohfree time il tempo libero eel tehm-poh LEE-beh-rohgame la partita lah pahr-TEE-tahto lose perdere PEHR-deh-rayplayer il giocatore eel joh-kah-TOH-raypopular popolare poh-poh-LAH-rayto prefer preferire preh-feh-REE-rayrace la gara lah gah-rahspectators gli spettatori lyee speht-tah-TOH-reesport lo sport loh sportteam la squadra lah skwah-drahvictory la vittoria lah veet-TOH-ree-ahto win vincere VEEN-cheh-ray

The Verbs Fareand GiocareThe verb fare (to do, to make) can prove very

The verb fare (to do, to make) can prove veryuseful when talking about sports and games.Faccio lo sci nautico can translate as “I amwaterskiing (right now)” or “I waterski (ingeneral).” In the present tense the verb fare isirregular.

fare (to do, to make)

io faccio ee-oh fah-chohtu fai tu feye (like the English “eye")lui, lei, Lei fa loo-ee, lay fahnoi facciamo noy fah-CHAH-mohvoi fate voy fah-tayloro, Loro fanno loh-roh fahn-noh

Io faccio . . .

l'alpinismo mountain climbinglahl-pee-NEEZ-mohla caccia huntinglah kah-chahil campeggio campingeel kahm-PEHJ-johil canotaggio rowing

eel kah-noh-TAHJ-johil ciclismo bicyclingeel chee-KLEEZ-mohla corsa automobilistica auto racing

lah kohr-sah ohw-toh-moh-bee-LEES-tee-kahla corsa nautica boat racinglah kohr-sah NOHW-tee-kahl'equitazione horseback ridingleh-kwee-tahts-YOH-nehl'excursionismo hikinglehk-skoor-zee-oh-NEEZ-mohil footing joggingeel footingla ginnastica gymnasticslah jeen-NAHS-tee-kahil gioco dei birilli bowlingeel joh-koh day bee-REEL-leegli sport sportslyee sportil nuoto swimmingeel noo-OH-tohla pallamano handballlah pahl-lah-MAH-nohla pallanuoto water pololah pahl-lah-noo-OH-toh

la pallavolo volleyballlah pahl-lah-VOH-lohil patinaggio skatingeel pah-tee-NAHJ-johil pugilato boxingeel poo-jee-LAH-tohlo sci di discesa downhill skiingloh shee dee dee-SHAY-zahlo sci di fondo cross-country skiingloh shee dee fohn-dohlo sci nautico waterskiingloh shee NOHW-tee-koh

The verb giocare (to play) is usually used whenreferring to the name of a sport or game. Gioco acalcio means “I play soccer.” Note that the verbgiocare takes the preposition a when followed bythe name of the sport or game.

giocare (to play)

io gioco ee-oh joh-kohtu giochi too joh-keelui, lei, Lei gioca loo-ee, lay joh-kahnoi giochiamo noy johk-YAH-moh

voi giocate voy joh-KAH-tayloro,Loro giocano loh-roh JOH-kah-noh

Io gioco a . . .

baseball bayz-ball baseballbiliardi beel-YAHR-dee poolbocce boh-cheh bocce ballcalcio kahl-choh soccercarte kahr-teh cardsdardi dahr-dee dartsgolf golf golffootballamericano

foot-ballah-meh-ree-KAHnoh

Americanfootball

nascondino nahs-kohn-DEE-noh hide-and-seekpallacanestro pahl-lah-kah-NES-troh basketballpallamano pahl-lah-MAH-noh handballpallavolo pahl-lah-VOH-loh volleyballpallone pahl-LOH-neh ballscacchi skah-kee chesstennis tennis tennis

SoccerFor the uninitiated, soccer can be confusing. The

following are some terms you might come acrosswhen watching a soccer match:

bicycle kick la rovesciatalah roh-veh-SHAH-tah

to cheat bararebah-RAH-ray

corner flag la bandierina d'angololah bahn-dyeh-REE-nah DAHN-goh-loh

crossbar la traversalah trah-VEHR-sah

dribble il dribblingeel dreeb-bleeng

field il campo di calcioeel kahm-poh dee kahl-choh

foul il falloeel fahl-loh

free kick il calcio di punizioneeel kahl-choh dee poo-neets-YOH-nay

goalkeeper il portiereeel pohr-TYEH-reh

goal kick il calcio di rinvioeel kahl-choh dee reen-vyoh

goal line la linea di fondolah LEE-neh-ah dee fohn-doh

halfway line la linea di metà campolah LEE-neh-ah dee meh-TAH kahm-poh

header il colpo di testaeel kohl-poh dee tess-tah

to kick calciarekahl-CHAH-ray

linesman il guardalineeeel gwahr-dah-LEE-neh-eh

midfield player il centrocampistaeel chehn-troh-kahm-PEES-tah

obstruction l'ostruzionelohs-troots-YOH-nay

offside il fuorigiocoeel fwoh-ree-JOH-koh

pass il passaggioeel pahs-SAHJ-joh

penalty area l'area di rigorelah-reh-ah dee ree-goh-ray

post il paloeel pah-loh

referee l'arbitroLAHR-bee-troh

to score a goal fare un golfah-ray oon gohl

shirt (jersey) la maglia

lah mahl-yah

short pass il passaggio cortoeel pahs-SAHJ-joh kohr-toh

sweeper il liberoeel LEE-beh-roh

throw-in la rimessa lateralelah ree-MEHS-sah lah-teh-rah-lay

tie score il pareggioeel pah-REHJ-joh

touch line la linea lateralelah LEE-neh-ah lah-teh-RAH-lay

HobbiesWhat to do with all your free time? Here's a shortlist of some hobbies and pastimes practicedthroughout the world:

art l'arte lahr-tehart exhibit la mostra d'arte lah mohs-trah dahr-tehballet il balletto eel bahl-LEHT-tohbook il libro eel lee-brohcinema il cinema eel CHI-neh-mahcrossword puzzle il cruciverba eel kroo-chee-VEHR-bahto dance ballare bahl-LAH-ray

dancing il ballo eel bahl-lohto draw disegnare dee-zen-YAH-raydrawing il disegno eel dee-ZEHN-yohhorse racing l'ippica LEEP-pee-kahto listen to music ascoltare ah-skohl-TAH-ray

la musica lah MOO-zee-kahliterature la letteratura lah leht-teh-rah-TOO-rahnovel il romanzo eel roh-MAHN-zohopera l'opera LOH-peh-rahto paint dipingere dee-PEEN-jeh-raypaintbrush il pennello eel pehn-NEHL-lohpainting la pittura lah peet-TOO-rahpasttime il passatempo eel pahs-sah-TEHM-pohphotography la fotografia lah foh-toh-grah-FEE-ahpoetry la poesia lah poh-eh-ZEE-ahto read leggere LEHJ-jeh-raysculpture la scultura lah skool-TOO-rahtheater il teatro eel teh-AH-troh

Live PerformancesItaly has a rich history of performance art. Fromopera to theater to live concerts, you're bound tofind something that appeals to you.

Theater and OperaMany of Italy's cities have world-class operahouses and theaters. If time is on your side, be sureto book your tickets well in advance—tickets forLa Scala performances sell out years in advance!

accompanist l'accompagnatorelahk-kohm-pahn-yah-TOH-ray

act l'attolaht-toh

to act recitarereh-chee-TAH-ray

coat check room il guardarobaeel gwahr-dah-ROH-bah

comedy la commedialah kohm-MEH-dee-ah

conductor il direttore d'orchestraeel dee-reht-TOH-ray dohr-KEHS-trah

costumes i costumiee kohs-TOO-mee

curtain il siparioeel seep-AH-ree-oh

dancer il ballerinoeel bahl-leh-REE-noh

drama il drammaeel drahm-mah

dress rehearsal la prova generalelah proh-vah jeh-neh-RAH-lay

duet il duettoeel doo-EHT-toh

to improvise improvvisareeem-proh-vee-ZAH-ray

intermission l'intervalloleen-tehr-VAHL-loh

lobby l'ingressoleen-GREHS-soh

orchestra l'orchestralohr-KESS-trah

overture il preludioeel preh-LOO-dyoh

part la partelah pahr-tay

performance la rappresentazionelah rahp-preh-zehn-tahts-YOH-nay

producer il produttoreeel proh-doot-TOH-ray

production la messa in scenalah mehs-sah een sheh-nah

program il programma

eel proh-GRAHM-mahscenery lo scenario

loh sheh-NAH-ree-ohstage il palcoscenico

eel pahl-koh-SHEH-nee-kohticket il biglietto

eel beel-YEHT-tohtitle il titolo

eel tee-toh-lohtragedy la tragedia

lah trah-JEH-dee-ah

ConcertsFrom the symphony to rock and pop, Italy has it all.Try to take in a show of an Italian artist—music isa great way to learn the language!

to applaud applaudireahp-plohw-DEE-ray

applause l'applausolahp-plohw-zoh

cello il violoncelloeel vee-oh-leen-CHEH-loh

chorus il coroeel koh-roh

clarinet il clarinettoeel klah-ree-NEHT-toh

classical music la musica classicalah MOO-zee-kah KLAHS-see-kah

concert il concertoeel kohn-CHEHR-toh

drums la batterialah baht-teh-REE-ah

flute il flautoeel flohw-toh

guitar la chitarralah-kee-TAHR-rah

instrument lo strumentoloh stroo-MEHN-toh

jazz il jazzeel jehts

to listen (to) ascoltareahs-kohl-TAH-ray

oboe l'oboeLOH-boh-eh

opera l'operaLOH-peh-rah

orchestra l'orchestralohr-KEHS-trah

piano il pianoforte

eel pyah-noh-FOHR-tehto play by ear suonare a orecchio

swoh-NAH-ray ah oh-REHK-kyohto play by sight suonare a prima vista

swoh-NAH-ray ah pree-mah vees-tahto play the guitar suonare la chitarra

swoh-NAH-ray lah kee-TAHR-rahto play the piano suonare il pianoforte

swoh-NAH-ray eel pyah-noh-FOHR-tehrock music la musica rock

lah MOO-zee-kah rocksaxophone il sassofono

eel sahs-SOH-foh-nohshow lo spettacolo

loh speht-TAH-koh-lohto sing cantare

kahn-tah-raysinger il cantante

eel kahn-TAHN-taysong la canzone

lah kahn-TSOH-naystage il palcoscenico

eel pahl-koh-SHEH-nee-kohtrombone il trombone

eel trohm-BOH-neh

trumpet la trombalah trohm-bah

violin il violinoeel vee-oh-LEE-noh

IIn the Community

f you plan on staying in Italy for an extendedperiod of time, you will need to take care of theinevitable day-to-day tasks. This chapter willprovide you with common terms and expressionsfor your everyday interactions with shopkeepersand postal employees. Remember, Italians are veryreceptive to outsiders who make an effort to speaktheir language!

At the MarketFood shopping in Italy can be a fun and interestingexperience. You will find supermarkets (verysimilar to their American counterparts) pretty mucheverywhere. Many Italians, however, prefer toshop at local, privately owned specialty shops orperhaps at the local mercato centrale.

bakery la panetterialah pah-neht-teh-REE-ah

book shop la librerialah lee-breh-REE-ah

butcher shop la macellerialah mah-chehl-leh-REE-ah

central market mercato centralemehr-KAH-toh chehn-TRAH-leh

dairy la latterialah laht-teh-REE-ah

department store il grande magazzinoeel grahn-day mah-gahts-SEE-noh

fishmonger la pescherialah pehs-keh-REE-ah

florist il fioraioeel fyoh-REYE-oh

green grocer il fruttivendoloeel froot-tee-VEHN-doh-loh

grocery store un alimentarioon ah-lee-mehn-TAH-ree

hardware store la ferramentalah fehr-reh-MEHN-tah

jewelry store la gioiellerialah joy-ehl-leh-REE-ah

newsstand il giornalaioeel johr-nah-LEYE-oh

paper store la cartoleria

lah kahr-toh-leh-REE-ahpastry shop la pasticceria

lah pahs-tee-cheh-REE-ahperfume store la profumeria

lah proh-foo-meh-REE-ahpharmacy la farmacia

lah fahr-mah-CHEE-ahsupermarket il supermercato

eel soo-pehr-mehr-KAH-tohtoy store il negozio di giocattoli

eel neh-GOHT-see-oh dee joh-KAHT-toh-lee

In the Shop

cash register la cassalah kahs-sah

closed chiusokyou-zoh

entrance l'entratalehn-TRAH-tah

exit l'uscitaloo-SHEE-tah

sale i saldiee sahl-dee

special offer offerta speciale

ohf-FEHR-tah speh-CHAH-lehopen aperto

ah-PEHR-tohopening hours orario di apertura

oh-RAH-ree-oh dee ah-pehr-TOO-rah

Quantities, Weights, andMeasuresKnowing the correct terms for quantities, weights,and measures can be very helpful when you are outshopping for food.

How much does it weigh? It weighs . . . kilograms.Quanto pesa? Pesa . . . kili.Kwahn-toh peh-zah Peh-zah keelee

bit, piece un po' di oon poh deebottle bottiglia boht-TEEL-yahbox scattola SKAHT-toh-lahcan lattina laht-TEE-nahjar barattola bah-RAHT-toh-lahgram gramma grahm-mahhectogram un etto oon eht-toh

kilogram un kilo oon kee-lohliter litro lee-troh

enough basta bahs-tahmore ancora ahn-KOH-rahless, fewer meno may-noha little un po' di oon poh deetoo much, too many troppo trohp-poh

In the Coffee ShopThere seems to be a coffee shop—in Italian, ilbar—on every street corner in Italy. It is the placewhere people go for a quick breakfast or lunch, acup of coffee, an aperitif, or a quick snack.

a cup of coffee un caffèoon kahf-feh

a cup of tea un tèoon-teh

a glass of orangejuice un bicchiere di succo d'arancia

oon bee-KYEH-reh dee soo-koh dee ah-RAHN-chah

a piece of cake una fetta di torta

oo-nah feht-tah dee tohr-tahcake la torta

lah tohr-tahchocolate il cioccolato

eel choh-koh-LAH-tohcoffee il caffè

eel kahf-fehcookies i biscotti

ee beez-KOHT-teefruit tart la torta di frutta

lah tohr-tah dee froot-tahice cream il gelato

eel jeh-LAH-tohchocolate icecream il gelato al cioccolato

eel jeh-LAH-toh ahl choh-koh-LAH-tohstrawberry icecream il gelato alla fragola

eel jeh-LAH-toh ahl-lah FRAH-goh-lahvanilla ice cream il gelato alla vaniglia

eel jeh-LAH-toh ahl-lah vah-NEEL-yahlemon sherbet il sorbetto al limone

eel sohr-BEHT-toh ahl lee-MOH-nehorange sherbet il sorbetto all'arancia

eel sohr-BEHT-toh ahl-lah-RAHN-chahraspberry sherbet il sorbetto ai lamponi

eel sohr-BEHT-toh eye lahm-POH-nee

sugar lo zuccheroloh ZOO-keh-roh

sweets i dolciee dohl-chee

whipped cream la panna montatalah pahn-nah mohn-TAH-tah

At the Post OfficeLe Poste Italiane offers numerous services,including banking services, pension services, billprocessing, and, last but not least, postal services.The post office is generally open Monday toFriday from 8:30 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. and onSaturdays from 8:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Summerhours will vary, and there may occasionally be achiuso per sciopero (“closed for strike") sign inthe window when there's an important soccer gameon television.

address l'indirizzoleen-dee-REETS-soh

addressee il destinatario

eel dehs-tee-nah-TAH-ree-ohair mail la posta aerea

lah pohs-tah ah-EH-reh-ahcoin changer il distributore monete

eel dees-tree-boo-TOH-reh moh-NEH-tehcommemorativestamp il francobollo emissione speciale

eel frahn-koh-BOHL-loh eh-mees-YOH-nehspeh-CHAH-leh

counter lo sportelloloh spohr-TEHL-loh

customsdeclaration la dichiarazione doganale

lah dee-kyah-rahts-YOH-neh doh-goh-NAH-lehdestination la destinazione

lah dehs-tee-nahts-YOH-nehinformation l'informazione

leen-fohr-mahts-YOH-nehletter la lettera

lah LEHT-teh-rahmailbox la buca delle lettere

lah boo-kah dehl-leh LEHT-teh-rehpackage il pacco

eel pahk-kohpostage l'affrancatura

lahf-frahn-kah-TOO-rah

postal clerk l'impiegato postaleleem-pyeh-GAH-toh pohs-TAH-leh

postcard la cartolina postalelah kahr-toh-LEE-nah pohs-TAH-leh

post office box la casella postalelah kah-ZEHL-lah pohs-TAH-leh

postman il postinoeel pohs-TEE-noh

printed matter le stampeleh stahm-peh

receipt la ricevutalah ree-cheh-VOO-tah

to register fare una raccomandatafah-ray oo-nah rahk-koh-mahn-DAH-tah

registered letter la raccomandatalah rahk-koh-mahn-DAH-tah

sender il mittenteeel meet-TEHN-teh

small parcel il pacchettoeel pahk-KEHT-toh

special delivery l'espressolehs-PRESS-oh

stamp (noun) il francobolloeel frahn-koh-BOHL-loh

stamp (verb) affrancare

ahf-frahn-KAH-rehstamp machine il distributore francobolli

eel dees-tree-boo-TOH-reh frahn-koh-BOHL-leetelegram il telegramma

eel teh-leh-GRAHM-mahunstamped non affrancato

nohn ahf-frahn-KAH-tohvalue declaration la dichiarazione del valore

lah dee-kyah-rahts-YOH-neh dehl vah-LOH-reh

Weather Words and ExpressionsIf you're out and about and the weather starts tochange, this section will help you come up with thecorrect words and terms.

How's the weather?Che tempo fa?Keh tehm-poh fah

It's sunny. C'è il sole. cheh eel soh-lehIt's nice. Fa bel tempo. fah behl tehm-pohIt's cold. Fa freddo. fah frehd-dohIt's hot. Fa caldo. fah kahl-dohIt's snowing. Nevica. NEH-vee-kah

It's raining. Piove. pyoh-vehIt's windy. Tira vento. tee-rah vehn-tohIt's foggy. C'è la nebbia. cheh lah nehb-byahstorm il temporale eel tehm-poh-RAH-lehlightning il lampo eel lahm-pohchangeable variabile vah-ree-AH-bee-lehair l'aria lah-ree-ahrain la pioggia lah pyoh-jahbarometer il barometro eel bah-ROH-meh-trohto rain piovere PYOH-veh-rehblizzard la tormenta lah tohr-MEHN-tahsnow la neve lah neh-vehclimate il clima eel klee-mahstorm la tempesta lah tehm-PESS-tahcloud la nuvola lah noo-voh-lahsun il sole eel soh-lehrainstorm il temporale eel tehm-poh-RAH-lehcloudy nuvoloso noo-voh-LOH-sohdusk il crepuscolo eel kreh-POOS-koh-lohfog la nebbia lah nehb-byahfrost il gelo eel jeh-lohhail la grandine leh GRAHN-dee-nehice il ghiaccio eel gyah-chohmist la foschia lah fohs-kyahweather report il bollettino eel bohl-leht-TEE-noh

meteorologico meh-tee-oh-roh-LOH-jee-koh

U

Common Italian Idioms,Expressions, and

Slang

nderstanding and correctly using idioms,expressions, and slang will help add character toyour spoken language. These terms andexpressions often don't translate literally from onelanguage to another, and non-native speakers mayhave difficulty understanding how and when to usethem. Try to tune your ear into conversations asyou travel—you will find that Italians have manycolorful (and amusing!) sayings and expressionsfor many different situations.

Idiomatic Expressions with theVerbs Avere, Essere, Stare, andFareAvere, essere, stare, and fare are commonly used

Avere, essere, stare, and fare are commonly usedverbs in Italian, and they are often used inidiomatic expressions. The following lists are byno means exhaustive, but they are a goodrepresentation of everyday expressions.

Idiomatic Expressions with AvereAvere is an irregular verb in the present tense.

avere fame to be hungryah-VEH-ray fahm-ayavere sete to be thirstyah-VEH-ray seh-tayavere sonno to be sleepyah-VEH-ray sohn-nohavere caldo to be warm (hot)ah-VEH-ray kahl-dohavere freddo to be coldah-VEH-ray frehd-dohavere fretta to be in a hurryah-VEH-ray freht-tahavere paura (di) to be afraid (of)ah-VEH-ray pah-OOH-rah deeavere bisogno di to need, have need ofah-VEH-ray bee-ZOHN-yoh dee

avere voglia di to want, to feel likeah-VEH-ray vohl-yah deeavere ragione to be right, correctah-VEH-ray rah-JOH-nayavere torto to be wrong, incorrectah-VEH-ray tohr-toh

avere un chiodo fisso in testa to be fixated onsomething

ah-VEH-ray oon key-OH-doh fees-soh eentehs-tahavere + number + anni to be . . . years oldah-VEH-ray + ____ + ahn-neeQuanti anni hai? ? How old are you?kwahn-tee ahn-nee eye

Ho trentadue anni. I'm thirty-two yearsold.

oh trehn-tah-DOO-eh ahn-nee

Idiomatic Expressions withEssereThough not as common as idiomatic expressionsw i th avere, there are a few useful idiomaticexpressions using the verb essere.

essere al verde to be brokeEHS-seh-ray ahl vehr-dayessere in gioco to be at stakeEHS-seh-ray een joh-koh

essere nelle nuvole to daydream, to have one's head inthe clouds

EHS-seh-ray nehl-leh NOO-voh-lehessere un po' di fuori to be out of one's mindEHS-seh-ray oon poh dee foo-OHR-ee

Idiomatic Expressions withStareThe verb stare can mean “to feel,” “to be,” or “tostay,” depending on the context. The following areits conjugations in the present tense:

stare (to stay, to feel), irregular –are verb

presentio stotu stai

lui,lei,Lei stanoi stiamovoi stateloro,Loro stanno

stare attento to pay attentionstah-ray ah-TEHN-tohstare bene/male to be well/not wellstah-ray beh-nay/mah-laystare zitto to keep quietstah-ray zee-tohstare fuori to be outsidestah-ray foo-OHR-eestarsene da parte to stand aside, to be on one sidestahr-seh-neh da par-taystare su to stand (sit) up straightstah-ray soostare a cuore to matter, to have at heartstah-ray ah koo-OH-raystare con to be withstah-ray kohnstare in piedi to be standingstah-ray een pee-EH-deestare in guardia to be on one's guardstah-ray een GWAHR-dee-ah

Idiomatic Expressions with FareThere are numerous idiomatic expressions usingthe verb fare (to do). Try not to get into the habit oftranslating these expressions word for word!

fare (to do, to make), irregular –are verbpresentio facciotu failui, lei,Lei fanoi facciamovoi fateloro,Loro fanno

fare attenzione to pay attentionfah-ray aht-tehnts-YOH-nayfare il bagno to take a bathfah-ray eel ban-yohfare caldo to be hot (weather)fah-ray kahl-dohfare colazione to have breakfastfah-ray koh-lahts-YOH-nayfare la doccia to take a shower

fah-ray lah doh-chahfare una domanda to ask a questionfah-ray oo-nah doh-MAHN-dahfare un errore to make a mistakefah-ray oon eh-ROHR-ayfare una foto to take a picturefah-ray oo-nah foh-tohfare freddo to be cold (weather)fah-ray frehd-dohfare una gita to take a short tripfah-ray oo-nah jee-tahfare un giro to go for a ridefah-ray oon jee-rohfare il grande to show offfah-ray eel grahn-dayfare la guerra to wage warfah-ray lah gwehr-rahfare impazzire to drive someone crazyfah-ray eem-pahts-SEE-rayfare una passeggiata to take a walkfah-ray oo-nah pahs-seh-JAH-tahfare una pausa to take a breakfah-ray oo-nah pow-zahfare un regalo to give a giftfah-ray oon reh-GAH-loh

fare la spesa to go food shoppingfah-ray lah speh-zahfare le spese to go shoppingfah-ray leh speh-zehfare un viaggio to take a tripfah-ray oon vee-AH-joh

Common Idiomatic ExpressionsThe following expressions apply to a great varietyof situations and are commonly used andunderstood throughout the Italian peninsula. Mostcan be used in both formal and informal situations.

A chi lo dici! You don't say!ah kee loh dee-cheea tutti i costi at any cost; no matter whata toot-tee ee kohs-teeAffare fatto. It's a deal.ahf-fah-ray faht-tohAlla buon'ora! It's about time!ahl-lah boo-ohn oh-rahAltroché! Of course; you can bet your life!ahl-troh kehBell'affare! That's really good (ironic)!

behl ahf-FAH-rayBella roba! Very nice! (ironic)behl-lah roh-bahBeato te! Lucky you!bay-AH-toh tehChe barba! How boring!keh bahr-bahChe macello! What a mess!keh mah-CHEL-lohChe noia! How boring!keh noy-ahChe roba! I can't believe it!keh roh-bahChe schifo! How disgusting!keh skee-fohChe ti passa per la testa? What's the matter with you?keh tee pahs-sah pehr lah tess-tahCi mancherebbe altro! God forbidchee mahn-keh-REHB-beh ahl-trohCi vuole altro! It takes much more than that.chee voo-oh-leh ahl-trohd'altro canto on the other handdahl-troh kahn-tohda morire a lot

dah moh-REE-rehdavvero? really?dahv-VEH-rohfa presente che. . . bear in mind . . .fah preh-ZEHN-teh kehFatti gli affari tuoi. Mind your own business.faht-tee lyee ahf-FAH-ree too-oifra l'altro. . . among other things . . .frah lahl-trohin ogni modo anyway; at any costeen ohn-yee moh-dohin poche parole in a few wordseen poh-keh pah-ROH-lehlascia perdere forget itlah-shah PEHR-deh-raylascia stare forget itlah-shah stah-rayLasciami stare. Leave me alone.lah-shah mee stah-ray

Ma va. I don't believe you; that'simpossible.

mah vahManco per sogno! Not even in your dreams!mahn-koh pehr sohn-yohMeglio così. It's better this way.

mehl-yoh koh-zeeMeglio di niente. Better than nothing at all.mehl-yoh dee nee-EHN-tehMeno male! Luckily!may-noh mah-layNon ne posso più. I can't take it anymore.nohn neh poh-soh pyouoggi come oggi nowadaysoh-jee koh-meh oh-jeePer carità! God forbid!pehr kah-ree-TAHper farla breve to cut it shortpehr fahr-lah breh-vehPorca miseria! Damn it!pohr-kah mee-ZEH-ree-ahRoba da matti. That's crazy.roh-bah dah maht-teeSei sicuro/a? Are you sure?say see-KOO-roh/rahsenz'altro certainlysehn-ZAHL-trohSiamo alle solite. Here we go again.see-AH-moh ah-leh SOH-lee-tehSul serio? Really?sool SEH-ree-oh

tanto meglio so much the bettertahn-toh mehl-yohtanto peggio so much the worsetahn-toh pehj-johtieni presente. . . keep in mind . . .tee-EH-nee preh-zehn-taytutt'altro on the contrarytoot-AHL-trohVale la pena. It's worth it.vah-lay lah peh-nah

What Your Teacher NeverTaught YouBy no means exhaustive, nor rife with vulgarities,the following list contains some fun and colorfulexpressions to be used in a variety of situations:

accidenti a mild expletive,like darn or heck

ah-chee-DEHN-teealito puzzolente bad breathAH-lee-toh poots-oh-LEHN-tayamore a prima vista love at first sight

ah-MOHR-ay ah pree-mah VEE-stah

arrapare to become sexuallyexcited

ahr-rah-PAH-raybel niente nothing, nada, zipbehl nee-EHN-teh

bischero a stupid person(Tuscany)

BEE-skeh-roh

casino can mean “a lot”or “a mess"

kah-ZEE-no (Mi è piaciuto un casino. I likedit a lot. Che casino! What a mess!)

chiudere il becco to shut up, to shutone's trap

KYEW-deh-ray eel behk-kohfannullone lazy bumfahn-nool- a LOH-nay

fregare to cheat or swindlesomebody

freh-GAHR-ay

fuori di testa to be out of one'smind

fwoh-ree dee tess-taleccaculo or leccapiedi brownnoserLEHK-kah-KOO-loh/leh-kah-PYAY-dee

mollare qualcuno to dump someonemohl-lah-ray kwahl-KOO-nohmorire dalla noia to die of boredommoh-REE-reh dahl-lah noy-ahparolaccia dirty wordpah-roh-LAHCH-ahpigrone/a a lazy bumpee-groh-nay/pee-groh-nahportare male gli anni to age badlypohr-TAH-ray mah-lay lyee ahn-neeroba da matti crazy stuffroh-bah dah maht-tee

preso in giro to be made fun of,made a fool of

PRAY-zoh een JEE-roh

scemo/a a stupid person, ajerk

sheh-moh/sheh-mahschifo disgust, grossnessSKEE-foh (widely used in expressions like Cheschifo! “Ew! Gross!")scocciare to irritate or annoySKOH-chahr-ayvalere la pena to be worthwhilevah-LEHR-ay lah pay-nah

Italian to English Dictionary

A

a at, to, ina carico del destinatario reverse charges/collect calla casa at homeA chi lo dici! You don't say!a tutti i costi at any cost; no matter whatabbottonare to button upaccanto a next to; besideaccendere to turn on/switch onaccompagnatore accompanistaccostare to pull over to the side of the roadacqua (minerale) waterAddio. Goodbye (for good).addormentarsi to fall asleep; to go to sleepaereo airplaneaeroporto airportAffare fatto. It's a deal.affittare to rentaffrancare stamp (verb)affrancatura postage

africano Africanagente di cambio stockbrokeraglio garlicagnello lambagosto AugustAiuto! Help!Al ladro! Thief!al sangue rarealbergo hotelalbicocca apricotalimentari grocery storealito puzzolente bad breathAlla buon'ora! It's about time!alla destra to the rightalla sinistra to the leftalla/di moda fashionable, in fashionallacciare la cintura di sicurezza to buckle your seat beltallergia allergyallergico allergicalpinismo mountain climbingalto tallaltro otherAltroché! Of course; you can bet your life!alzarsi to get up, to riseambra amber

americano Americanamministratore delegato CEOammorbidente fabric softeneramore a prima vista love at first sightanalisi examinationanalisi del sangue blood testanca hipancora moreandare to goandare a letto to go to bedanello ringanestesia locale local anesthesiaanestetico anestheticannodare to knot, to tieannoiarsi to get boredantipasto antipastoantipatico unpleasantanulare ring fingeraperitivo aperitifaperto openapparecchio bracesappartamento apartmentappendicite appendicitisapplaudire to applaud, to clapapplauso applauseapprendista apprentice

aprile April

aprire to openaprire le tende to open/draw the curtainsarancia orangearancione orange (in color)arbitro refereearea di rigore penalty areaargentato silver platedargenteo silver (in color), silveryargento silveraria airaria condizionata air conditioningarmadietto cupboardarmadio cabinetarmadio closet, wardrobearmadio per pratiche filing cabinetarrabbiarsi to get angryarrapare to become sexually excitedarricciare i capelli to curlArrivederci! Bye!arrivi arrivalsarte artarteria arteryartrite arthritisascella armpit

ascensore elevatorascesso abscessasciugamano towelasciugare to dryasciugare con il phon to blow dryascoltare to listen (to)ascoltare la musica to listen to musicasciugatrice dryerasmatico asthmaticasparagi asparagusaspirapolvere vacuum cleaneraspirina aspirinassegno checkassistente clerical assistantassistente di bordo steward/stewardessassonnato tiredassumere to hireattentato attackAttenzione! Watch out!atterrare to landatto actattraente attractiveattraversare to crossaula classroomaumento di stipendio raise

Australia Australiaaustraliano Australian

autista driverautomobile/auto carautobus busautomatico automaticautostrada highwayautunno autumnavaro greedyavere to haveavere + number + anni to be years oldavere bisogno di to need, have need ofavere bisogno di medicina to need medicineavere caldo to be warm (hot)avere fame to be hungryavere freddo to be coldavere fretta to be in a hurryavere l'ipertensione to have high blood pressureavere l'ipotensione to have low blood pressureavere paura (di) to be afraid (of)avere ragione to be right, correctavere sete to be thirstyavere sonno to be sleepyavere torto to be wrong, incorrectavere un chiodo fisso in testa to be fixated on something

avere voglia di to want, to feel likeavvocato lawyerazalea azaleaazienda companyazzurro blue (pale)

B

baffi moustachebagagli baggagebagagli da stiva checked luggagebagagliaio trunkbagaglio a mano carry-on luggagebagagli smarriti lost luggagebagno bathroombalcone balconyballare to danceballerino dancerballetto balletballo dancingbambino, bambina childbanana bananabanca bankbanchiere bankerbanco di check-in check-in deskbancomat ATM

banconota banknotebandierina d'angolo corner flagbar coffee shopbarare to cheatbarattola jarbarba beardbarbiere barberbarista bartenderbarometro barometerbaseball baseballbasso shortbasta enoughbatteria drumsBeato te! Lucky you!begonia begoniabel niente nothing, nada, zipbelgo BelgianBella roba! Very nice! (ironic)Bell'affare! That's really good! (ironic)bello beautifulben cotto well donebenda elastica ace bandageBene, grazie. Fine, thanks.benzina gasbere to drink

biancheria intima underwearbianco whitebicchiere glassbicchiere di succo d'arancia glass of orange juicebicicletta bicyclebigiotteria costume jewelrybiglietteria ticket officebiglietto ticketbiglietto andata e ritorno round-trip ticketbiglietto solo andata one-way ticketbiliardi poolbimbo, bimba babybinari tracksbinario platformbiologo biologistbiondo blondebirra beerbischero stupid person (Tuscany)biscotto cookiebistecca steakblu blue (dark)bocca mouthbocce bocce ballbollettino meteorologico weather reportbollitore kettle

borsa handbagbottiglia bottlebottone buttonbraccialetto braceletbraccio armbrasiliano Brazilianbravo good, ablebrocca per vino wine jugbruciore di stomaco heartburnbruno dark-hairedbrutto uglybuca delle lettere mailboxBuon giorno. Good day.Buona mattina. Good morning.Buona notte. Goodnight.Buona sera. Good evening.buono goodburro butterbusta paga pay envelope

C

cabina telefonica telephone boothcaccia huntingcadere to fallcaffè coffee

caffettiera coffeemakercalcagno heelcalciare to kickcalcio soccercalcio di punizione free kickcalcio di rinvio goal kickcalcolatrice pocket calculatorcaldo hotcalendario da parete wall calendarcalza stockingcalzatura footwearcalzini sockscambiarsi to change, to get changedcambio changecamera roomcamera da letto bedroomcameriera waitresscameriere waitercamicetta blousecamicia shirtcaminetto fireplacecamino chimneycamion truckcampeggio campingcampionato championship

campo di calcio soccer fieldCanada Canadacanadese Canadiancancello gatecandeggina bleachcanino cuspidcanotaggio rowingcantante singercantare to singcanzone songcapelli grassi oily haircapelli haircapelli secchi dry haircapire to understandcapogiro dizzinesscapotreno chief conductorcappello hatcappotto overcoatcaraffa per acqua water jugcarciofo artichokecarello cartcarie cavitiescarne meatcaro dearcarotta carrot

carrozza carcarrozza ristorante restaurant carcarta papercarta d'imbarco boarding passcarta da pareti wallpapercarta da visita business cardcarta igienica toilet papercarte cardscartelda da scrittoio blottercartella foldercartella sistema system foldercartoleria paper storecartolina postale postcardcasa house; homecasella posta elettronica inboxcasella postale post office box

D

d'accordo okayd'orato gold (in color), goldenda from, byda morire a lotdal dentista at the dentist's officedalia dahliad'altro canto on the other hand

dardi dartsdare la precedenza to yielddare una multa to give a ticketd'argento silver, made of silverdavanti in front davanti a in front ofDavvero? Really?decapotabile convertibledecollare to take offdeluvione flooddenaro/soldi moneydente toothdente del giudizio wisdom toothdentiera denturedentifricio toothpastedentista dentistdentro inside, indoorsdessert/dolce dessertdestinatario addresseedestinazione destinationdestra right (direction)di (d') of, fromDi dove sei? Where are you from?di moda fashionable, in fashiondiabete diabetes

diabetico diabeticdiagnosi diagnosisdiagramma della temperatura temperature chartdiamante diamonddicembre Decemberdichiarazione del valore value declarationdichiarazione doganale customs declarationdiesel dieseldietro behind, in back ofdigestivo after-dinner drink, digestive tonicdimettere dall'ospedale dischargedipingere to paintdiploma diploma (high school)direttore d'orchestra conductordirettore medico medical directordirigente boss, managerdisegnare to drawdisegno drawingdisinfettante disinfectantdisoccupato unemployeddisoccupazione unemploymentdistributore di benzina gas stationdistributore francobolli stamp machinedistributore monete coin changerdito finger

divano couch, sofadivertente entertainingdivertimento entertainmentdivertirsi to enjoy oneselfdivorziato(a) divorceddizionario dictionarydoccia showerdogana customsdolci sweets, dessertdollaro dollardolore paindomani tomorrowdomenica Sundaydorato gold plateddormire to sleepd'oro golden, made of golddottorato doctorate degreedottore/dottoressa doctordove whereDov'è . . . ?/Dove sono . . . ? Where is . . . ?/Where are . . . ?dramma dramadribbling dribbledue letti two bedsdue notti two nightsdue persone two peopleduetto duet

E

e andeconomista economistedicola, giornalaio newsstandegiziano Egyptianelegante elegantelenco telefonico phonebookentrata entranceequitazione horseback ridingerba grasserbaccia weedesame testespresso special deliveryessere to beessere al verde to be brokeessere in gioco to be at stakeessere nelle nuvole to daydream, to have one's head in the cloudsessere un po' di fuori to be out of one's mindest eastestate summerestrarre to pull out, removeetto hectogrameuro the euro

europeo Europeanexcursionismo hiking

F

Fa bel tempo. It's nice.Fa caldo. It's hot.Fa freddo. It's cold.fa presente che bear in mindfagioli beansfallo foulfannullone lazy bumfare to do, to makefare attenzione to pay attentionfare benzina to get gasfare caldo to be hot (weather)fare colazione to have breakfastfare freddo to be cold (weather)fare i capelli to do someone's hairfare il bagno to take a bathfare il biglietto to buy a ticketfare il bucato to do the wash/laundryfare il grande to show offfare il numero to dial the numberfare il pieno to fill it upfare impazzire to drive someone crazy

fare l'autostop to hitchhikefare la barba/radere to shavefare la doccia to take a showerfare la guerra to wage warfare la permanente to permfare la spesa to go food shoppingfare le spese to go shoppingfare un bagno to take a bathfare un errore to make a mistakefare un giro to go for a ridefare un gol to score a goalfare un regalo to give a giftfare un viaggio to take a tripfare una domanda to ask a questionfare una foto to take a picturefare una gita to take a short tripfare una passeggiata to take a walkfare una pausa to take a breakfare una prenotazione to make a reservationfare una raccomandata registerfare una radiografia to x–rayfari lightsfaringite sore throatfarmacia pharmacyfarmacista pharmacist

fatti gli affari tuoi mind your businessfebbraio Februaryfebbre feverfede wedding ringfegato liverfelice happyferita woundfermaglio paper clipfermarsi to stop (oneself)fermata dell'autobus bus stopferramenta hardware storeferro da stiro ironferrovia railwayfetta di torta piece of cakefidanzata fiancéefidanzato fiancéfiglia daughterfiglio sonfinestra windowfinestra di dialogo dialog boxfinestrino windowfioraio floristfirmare to signflauto flutefodera lining

foglie leavesfoglio di carta piece of paper

fontana fountainfootball americano American footballfooting joggingforchetta forkforfora dandruffformaggio cheesefornaio bakeryfornello burner (stove)forno ovenforno a microonde microwave (oven)foschia mistfotografia photographyfra betweenfra l'altro among other thingsfragola strawberryfrancese FrenchFrancia Francefrancobollo stamp (noun)francobollo emissione speciale commemorative stampfrangetta strandfratello brotherfreddo coldfregare to cheat or swindle somebody

frigorifero fridgefrizione scalp massage

fronte foreheadfrutte fruitfrutti di mare seafoodfruttivendolo green grocerfucsia fuchsiafumatori smokersfuori outside, outdoorsfuori di testa to be out of one's mindfuorigioco offsidefurto burglary

G

gamba leggara competition, racegarage garagegardenia gardeniagarofano carnationgarza gauze bandagegelateria ice cream shopgelato ice creamgelato al cioccolato chocolate ice creamgelato alla fragola strawberry ice cream

gelato alla vaniglia vanilla ice creamgelo frostgelsomino jasminegemelli da camicia cufflinksgeneroso generousgengive gumsgenitori parentsgennaio Januarygeranio geraniumgesso chalkghiaccio icegiacca jacketgiacinto hyacinthgiallo yellowGiappone Japangiapponese Japanesegiardini gardensgiardino yard, gardengiglio lilyginnastica gymnasticsginocchio kneegiocatore playergioco dei birilli bowlinggioielleria jewelry shopgioielli jewelry

giornalista journalistgiovane younggiovedi Thursdaygira a destra turn rightgira a sinistra turn leftgirare to turngiudice judgegiugno Junegladiolo gladiolusglicine wisteriaglobo oculare eyeballgocce dropsgolf golfgomito elbowgomma erasergomma tiregonna skirtgramma gramgrande large; greatgrande magazzino department storegrandine hailgrasso fatgrazie thank yougrigio grayguancia cheekguanti gloves

guardalinee linesman

guardaroba coat check roomguida telefonica telephone directoryguidare to drivehotel hotel

I

ibisco hibiscusicona iconimbarcare to boardimmigrazione immigrationimpermeabile raincoatimpiegato employeeimpiegato dello stato civil servantimpiegato postale postal clerkimposta shutterimprovvisare to improvisein inin anticipo earlyin linea onlinein ogni modo any way; or at any costin poche parole in a few wordsin ritardo lateinamidato starch(ed)

incassare un assegno to cash (a check)incendio fireincidente accidentincinta pregnantincisivo incisorindiano Indianindice index fingerindirizzo addressinfermiera nurseinfermiera di notte night nurseinformazione informationinfuso infusioningegnere engineerInghilterra Englandinglese Englishiniezione injectioninnamorarsi to fall in loveinsalata saladinsalatiera salad bowlinsetticida insect repellantinsonnia insomniaintelligente intelligentinterruttore electrical switchintervallo intermissionintervento operation

intervista interviewinverno winterinvestigatore detectiveipercollegamento hyperlinkipertensione hypertensionippica horse racingiride irisirlandese Irishitaliano Italian

J

jazz jazzjeans jeans

K

kilo kilogram

L

labbro liplaccio shoelacelampada lamplampadario chandelier

lampo lightninglampone raspberrylana woollaringe larynxlascia perdere forget itlasciami stare leave me alonelasciare un messaggio to leave a messagelassativo laxativelatte milklatteria dairylatticini dairy productslattina canlaurea diploma (university)lavagna chalkboardlavanderia a secco dry cleanerlavandino sinklavare to washlavare a secco to dry cleanlavarsi to wash (oneself), to wash uplavarsi i denti to clean/brush one's teethlavastoviglie dishwasherlavatrice washing machinelavorare to worklavoro jobleccaculo/leccapiedi brownnoser

leggere to read

Lei si chiama . . . Her name is . . .lenzuola sheetslepre harelettera letterletteratura literatureletto bedletto matrimoniale double bedlettore DVD DVD playerlettuga lettucelibero sweeperlibreria book shoplibro booklicenziare to fireliceo high schoollilla lilaclimite di velocità speed limitlimone lemonlinea di fondo goal linelinea di metà campo halfway linelinea laterale touch linelingua tonguelitro literlontano da far (from)luglio July

Lui si chiama . . . His name is . . .lunedì Monday

lungo long

M

Ma va. I don't believe you. That's impossible.macchia stainmacchina/automobile/auto carmacchina grande full-size carmacchina media mid-size carmacchina piccola economy carmacedonia di frutta fruit saladmacelleria butcher shopmadre (mamma) mothermaggio Maymaglia shirt (jersey)maglietta T-shirtmaglione sweatermagnolia magnoliamaiale porkmal di denti toothachemal di mare seasicknessmalato sickmancia tip

Manco per sogno! Not even in your dreams!mangiare to eatmanica sleevemano handmanzo beefmargherita daisymarito husbandmarocchino Moroccanmarrone brownmartedì Tuesdaymarzo Marchmascella jawmatrigna stepmothermattita pencilmediatore brokermedicina medicinemedio mediummedio middle fingerMeglio così. It's better this way.Meglio di niente. Better than nothing at all.mela applemelanzana eggplantmeno less, fewerMeno male! Luckily!mento chin

menù menumercato open-air marketmercato centrale central marketmercoledì Wednesdaymerendina snackmessa in scena productionmessicano Mexicanmetropolitana subwayMi chiamo . . . My name is . . .mi dispiace I'm sorrymi scusi pardon memignolo pinkiemille grazie thank you very muchmimosa mimosaminestra, minestrone soupmirtillo blueberrymisura clothing sizemisurare to measuremittente sendermobili furnituremodello in gesso plaster castmodulo dogana customs declaration formmoglie wifemolare molarmollare qualcuno to dump someonemoneta coin

monumento monument

moquette carpetmora blackberrymorbido soft, smoothmorire dalla noia to die of boredommostra d'arte art exhibitmoto motorcyclemotore di ricerca search enginemotorino mopedmultimediale multimediamuscolo musclemuseo museummusica classica classical musicmusica rock rock musicmutande underwearmutandine panties

N

nascondino hide and seeknaso nosenavigatore browsernebbia fognegozio storenegozio di giocattoli toy store

neozelandese New Zealandernero blacknervo nerveneve snowNevica. It's snowing.niente da dichiarare nothing to declarenipote nephewnipote niecenipoti grandchildrenno nonoioso boringnome first namenon affrancato unstampedNon c'è di che. You're welcome.non fumatori nonsmokersNon ne posso più. I can't take it anymore.nonna grandmothernonni grandparentsnonno grandfathernord northnotaio notarynotte one nightnovembre Novembernudo naked, bare, nudenumero di telefono phone number

nuoto swimmingnuovo newnuvola cloudnuvoloso cloudy

O

o oroboe oboeocchiali glassesocchiali da sole sunglassesoccupato busyodontoiatra oral surgeonofferta famiglia family offerofferta speciale special offeroggi come oggi nowadaysolandese Dutcholtre besides ombrello umbrellaopera operaoperare to operateora di punta rush hourorario delle visite visiting hoursorario di apertura opening hoursorchestra orchestra

ordinare to orderorecchini earringsorecchio earoro goldorologio clock, watchortensia hydrangeaorto vegetable gardenortodontista orthodontistospedale hospitalosso boneosteria innostruzione obstructionOttimo! Excellent!ottobre Octoberotturare fillotturazione fillingotturazione provvisoria temporary fillingovest west

P

pacchetto small parcelpacco packagepadella frying panpadre (papà) father

pagina pagepala shovelpalato palatepalcoscenico stagepallacanestro basketballpallamano handballpallanuoto water polopallavolo volleyballpallone ballpalo postpalpebra eyelidpanetteria bakerypanna montata whipped creampannello di controllo control panelpantaloni pantspantofole slippersparabrezza windshieldparcheggiare to parkparcheggio parking lotparco parkpareggio tie scoreparete wallparete divisoria partition wallParla . . . ? Do you speak . . . ? (formal)parlare to speak

Parli . . . ? Do you speak . . . ? (informal)parola d'accesso passwordparolaccia dirty wordparole chiavi keywordsparrucca wigparrucheria beauty parlorparruchiere hairstylistparte partpartenza departurepartenze departurespartire to leavepartita gameparucchiere/barbiere hairdresser/barberpassaggio passpassaggio corto short passpassaporto passportpassatempo pastimepasseggero passengerpasticceria pastry shoppastiglia pillpasto mealpatinaggio skatingpatrigno stepfatherpavimento floorpaziente patientpedonale pedestrian

pelle skin

penicillina penicillinpenna penpennarello felt-tip penpennello paintbrushpentola saucepanper forPer carità! God forbid!per farla breve to cut it shortper favore/per piacere/percortesia please

pera pearperché whyperdere to loseperdere un dente to lose a toothperforatore punchperle pearlspersona personpesca peachpesce fishpescheria fish market, fishmongerpettinare to combpettinarsi to comb one's hairpettinatura hairstylepettine comb

petunia petuniaphon hairdryerPiacere mio. It's my pleasure.

pian terreno first floor (U.S.), ground floor(Italy)

piano floor, storypianoforte pianopiatto platepiatto fondo soup bowlpiccolo smallpiede footpigiama pajamaspigro lazypigrone/a lazy bumpilota pilotpioggia rainPiove. It's raining.piovere to rainpiscina poolpiselli peaspittura paintingpiù grande largerpiù piccolo smallerpiù tardi laterpizzaiolo pizza maker

pizzeria pizzeriapneumatico tirepoesia poetrypolacco PolishPolizia! Police!polizotto police officerpollice thumbpollo chickenpolmonite pneumoniapolpaccio calfpolso wristpoltrona armchairpolvere dustpompelmo grapefruitponte bridgepopolare popularPorca miseria! Damn it!porta doorportafoglio walletportare male gli anni to age badlyportiere goalkeeperportoghese Portugueseposate silverwareposta aerea air mailpostino postmanposto seat

povero poorpranzo lunch

prato lawnpreferire to preferPrego. You're welcome.Prego. Please./Here you are.preludio overtureprendere una multa to get a ticketprenotazione reservationprepararsi to get readypresa (di corrente) electric socketpreservativi prophylacticspresidente presidentpreso in giro to be made fun of, made a fool ofprima beforeprima classe first classprimavera springprimo (piatto) first course

primo piano second floor (U.S.), first floor(Italy)

produttore producerprofumeria perfume storeprofumo perfumeprogramma programprogrammazione aziendale corporate planning

prosciutto hamprotesi false toothprova generale dress rehearsalprovare to trypugilato boxingpulire to cleanpulito cleanPuò dirmi . . . ? Can you tell me . . . ? (formal)Puoi dirmi . . . ? Can you tell me . . . ? (informal)

Q

quaderno notebookquadro ematologico blood countquando whenquesto pomeriggio this afternoon

R

raccoglitore delle schede suspension fileraccomandata register letterradice rootradio radioraffreddato sick with a coldraffreddore coldrallentare to slow down

rammendare to mend, to repair; to darnrappresentazione performancerastrello rakeravanello radishreceptionist receptionistrecinto fencerecitare to actreggiseno brareparto di cure intensive intensive care unitrete Internetretina or portabagagli luggage rack (overhead)riagganciare to hang upriattaccare to hang upriavviare to restartriccioli curlsricco richricercatore researcherricetta prescriptionricevuta receiptrichiamare to call backridotto lobbyrifare il booting to rebootriga partriga rulerrimedio remedy

rimessa laterale throw-inriparare to repairripetere to repeatriposarsi to relaxriscaldamento centrale central heatingristorante restaurantritiro bagagli baggage claimriunione meetingroba da matti crazy stuffromanzo novelrompersi il braccio/la gamba to break one's arm/legrosa pinkrosa roserossetto lipstickrosso redrovesciata bicycle kickrozzo rough, coarserubino rubyrusso Russian

S

sabato Saturdaysala da pranzo dining roomsalario salary

saldi salesalsiccia sausagesalumeria delicatessenSalve! Hello! (formal)sandali sandalssanguinare to bleedsapone soapsassofono saxophonesbottonare to unbutton, to undoscacchi chessscaffale shelf; bookcasescala staircase, stairsscanner scannerscaricare to downloadscarpe shoesscarpe da ginnastica sneakersscattola boxscemo/a stupid person, a jerkscenario sceneryschifo disgust, grossnesssci di discesa downhill skiingsci di fondo cross-country skiingsci nautico waterskiingsciacquare to rinsesciarpa scarf

scienzato scientistsciroppo per la tosse cough syrupscocciare to irritate or annoyscolapiatti drying rackscompartimento cabinsconfitta defeatscopa broomscozzese Scottishscrittore writerscrivania deskscultura sculpturescuola schoolscuola media junior high schoolsdraiarsi to lie downsecchio bucketsecco dryseconda classe second classsecondo (piatto) second coursesedano celerysedersi to sit downsedersi to sit downsedia chairsegnale acustico dial tonesegretaria secretarysegreteria telefonica answering machineSei sicuro/a? Are you sure?

semaforo traffic lights

sempre diritto straight aheadsenso unico one waysentirsi to feelsenza withoutsenz'altro certainlyseparato separatedserratura lockservizio service chargeservizio sveglia wake-up callseta silksettembre Septembersetticemia blood poisoningsettimana prossima next weeksgabello stoolshampoo shampooshuttle shuttlesì yessiamo alle solite here we go againsignora ma'am, Mrs.signore sir, Mr.signorina misssimpatico kindsinistra leftsipario curtain

sistema operativo operating systemsito sitesmeraldo emeraldsnello slendersoffitta atticsoffitto ceilingsoggiorno living roomsoldato soldiersole sunSono . . . I am . . .Sono di . . . I am from . . .sopra above sopracciglio eyebrowsorbetto ai lamponi raspberry sherbetsorbetto al limone lemon sherbetsorbetto al arancia orange sherbetsorella sistersorpassare to pass/overtakesotto under Spagna Spainspagnolo Spanishspalla shoulderspazzatura garbagespazzola brushspazzola per i denti toothbrush

spazzolare to brushspazzolarsi i denti to brush (one's teeth)

specchietto rearview mirrorspecchio mirrorspesso thickspettacolo showspettatori spectatorsspilla broochspillatrice staplerspillo pinspina dorsale spinespinaci spinachspogliarsi to undress (oneself), to get undressedsporco dirtysport sportsportello countersposarsi to get marriedsposato marriedspuntatina trimsquadra teamsquillare to ringstampante printerstampe printed matterstanza roomstare a cuore to matter, to have at heart

stare attento to pay attentionstare bene (a) to fit; to suitstare bene/male to be well/unwellstare con to be withstare fuori to be outsidestare in guardia to be on one's guardstare in piedi to be standingstare su to stand (sit) up straightstare zitto to keep quietstarnutire to sneezestarsene da parte to stand aside, to be on one sidestasera this eveningStati Uniti United Statesstazione train stationstazione dei taxi taxi standstendere il bucato to hang up the wash/laundrysterlina British pound sterlingstesso sameStia in linea. Please hold.stirare to ironstitichezza constipatedstivali bootsstomaco stomachstop stopstraccio cloth, ragstrada senza uscita dead end

strappo muscolare sprainstretto tight(-fitting)

strisce pedonali pedestrian crosswalkstrumento instrumentstudio studystupido stupidsu onsud southSul serio? Really?suocera mother-in-lawsuocero father-in-lawsuonare to ringsuonare a orecchio to play by earsuonare a prima vista to play by sightsuonare il pianoforte to play the pianosuonare la chitarra to play the guitarsupermercato supermarketsvedese Swedishsveglia alarm clocksvegliarsi to wake upsvenire to faintsvizzero Swiss

T

tabaccaio tobacco shoptacchino turkeytacco a spillo spike heeltaglia clothing sizetagliaerba lawnmowertagliare to cuttaglio di capelli haircuttangenziale bypass roadtanto meglio so much the bettertanto peggio so much the worsetappeto rug, mattartaro tartartasca pockettasso di cambio exchange ratetastiera keyboardtavo la calda buffet-style restauranttavola tabletaxi taxitazza cuptè cup of teateatro theatertecnico techniciantedesco German

telefonare to calltelefonata telephone calltelefonino/cellulare cell phonetelefono telephonetelegramma telegramtelevisore television settemperamatite pencil sharpenertempesta stormtempia templetempo libero free timetemporale rainstormtenda curtaintenda da doccia shower curtaintennis tennistergicristalli windshield wipersterminal terminaltermometro thermometertermosifone radiatortessuto cloth, fabric, materialtesta headtetto rooftieni presente keep in mindtifoso fantimbrare validatetingere to dye/to color

Tira vento. It's windy.titolo titletogliere to take off, to removetoilette toilettonsille tonsilstorace chesttormenta blizzardtorta caketorta di frutta fruit tarttosse coughtossire to coughtostapane toastertovaglia tableclothtovagliolo napkintra betweentrachea throattragedia tragedytranne excepttranquillante tranquilizertrasfusione di sangue blood transfusiontrattamento della radice root canal worktrattoria restaurant (small)travelers check traveler's checktraversa crossbartreno traintriste sad

tromba trumpet

trombone trombonetroppo too much, too manytrucco makeuptulipano tuliptutt'altro on the contrarytutte le direzioni all routes/directions

U

ulcera ulcerumido damp, moistun po' di a littleunghia nailuniversità universityuscita exituscita gate (airport)uva grape

V

vagone letto sleeper carvai diritto go straightVale la pena. It's worth it.valere la pena to be worth the trouble

valuta currencyvariabile changeablevaricella chicken poxvasca da bagno bathtubvaselina vaselinevaso vasevecchio oldvedere to seevedovo widowedvelluto velvetvena veinvenerdì FridayVengo da . . . I come from . . .verde greenverniciare to paint; to varnishvero trueverso towardvestirsi to dress (oneself), to get dressedvestiti clothesvestito da donna dressviaggia to travelvicino a nearvideoregistratore VCRvietata la sosta no stoppingvietato parcheggiare no parking

vincere to winvino wineviola purple, violetviolentare to rapeviolino violinvioloncello cellovisitare to examineviso facevisto visavitello vealvittoria victoryvolante steering wheelvolo flightvomitare to vomit

Y

yogurt yogurt

Z

zaffiro sapphirezaino backpackzappa hoezia aunt

zinnia zinniazio unclezucchero sugarzuppa soup

English to Italian Dictionary

A

a little un po' dia lot da morireable bravoabove sopraabscess ascessoaccident incidenteaccompanist accompagnatoreaccountant contabileace bandage benda elasticaact attoto act recitareaddress indirizzoaddressee destinatarioadhesive bandage cerottoAfrican africanoafter-dinner drink digestivoto age badly portare male gli anniair ariaair conditioning aria condizionata, climatizzatore

air mail posta aereaairline compagnia aereaairplane aereoairport aeroportoalarm clock svegliaall routes/directions tutte le direzioniallergic allergicoallergy allergiaamber ambraambulance un'ambulanzaAmerican americanoAmerican football football americanoamong other things fra l'altroand eanesthetic anesteticoankle cavigliaanswering machine segreteria telefonicaantipasto antipastoany way or at any cost in ogni modoapartment appartamentoaperitif aperitivoappendicitis appendiciteto applaud applaudireapplause applausoapple mela

apprentice apprendistaapricot albicoccaApril aprileAre you sure? Sei sicuro/a?arm braccioarmchair poltronaarmpit ascellaarrivals arriviart arteart exhibit mostra d'arteartery arteriaarthritis artriteartichoke carciofoto ask a question fare una domandaasparagus asparagiaspirin aspirinaasthmatic asmaticoat any cost; no matter what a tutti i costiat aat home a casaat the dentist's office dal dentistaATM bancomatattack attentatoattic soffittaattractive attraenteAugust agosto

aunt zia

Australia AustraliaAustralian australianoauto racing corsa automobilisticaautomatic automaticoautumn autunnoazalea azalea

B

baby bimbo, bimbabackpack zainobad cattivobad breath alito puzzolentebaggage bagaglibaggage check consegna bagaglibaggage claim ritiro bagaglibakery fornaiobakery panetteriabalcony balconeball palloneballet ballettobanana bananabank bancabank teller cassiere

banker banchierebanknote banconotabarber barbierebarometer barometrobartender baristabaseball baseballbasketball pallacanestrobath; bathroom bagnobathing suit costume da bagnobathroom bagnobathtub vasca da bagnoto be essereto be afraid (of) avere paura (di)to be at stake essere in giocoto be broke essere al verdeto be called chiamarsito be cold avere freddoto be cold (weather) fare freddoto be fixated on something avere un chiodo fisso in testato be hot (weather) fare caldoto be hungry avere fameto be in a hurry avere frettato be made fun of preso in giroto be on one's guard stare in guardiato be out of one's mind essere un po' di fuori

to be out of one's mind fuori di testato be outside stare fuorito be right, correct avere ragioneto be sleepy avere sonnoto be standing stare in piedito be thirsty avere seteto be warm (hot) avere caldoto be well/unwell stare bene/maleto be with stare conto be worth the trouble valere la penato be wrong, incorrect avere tortoto be years old avere + number + annibeans fagiolibear in mind fa presente chebeard barbabeautiful bellobeauty parlor parrucheriato become sexually excited arraparebed lettobedroom camera da lettobeef manzobeer birrabefore primabegonia begoniabehind dietro

Belgian belgobelt cinturabeside accanto abesides oltrebetter than nothing at all meglio di nientebetween tra, frabicycle biciclettabicycle kick rovesciatabicycling ciclismobill contobiologist biologobit, piece un po' diblack neroblackberry morablanket copertableach candegginato bleed sanguinareblizzard tormentablonde biondoblood count quadro ematologicoblood poisoning setticemiablood test analisi del sangueblood transfusion trasfusione di sangueblotter carteli da scrittoioblouse camicettato blow dry asciugare con il phon

blue (dark) blu

blue (pale) azzurroblueberry mirtilloto board imbarcareboarding pass carta d'imbarcoboat racing corsa nauticabocce ball boccebody corpobone ossobook librobook shop libreriabookcase scaffaleboots stivaliboring noiosoboss, manager dirigentebrother-in-law cognatobottle bottigliabowl ciotolabowling gioco dei birillibox scattolaboxing pugilatobra reggisenobracelet braccialettobraces apparecchiobrain cervello

Brazilian brasilianoto break one's arm, leg rompersi il braccio/la gambabreakfast colazionebridge ponteBritish pound sterling sterlinabroker mediatorebrooch spillabroom scopabrother fratellobrown marronebrowser navigatorebrush spazzolato brush spazzolareto brush (one's teeth) spazzolarsi i dentibucket secchioto buckle one's seat belt allacciare la cintura di sicurezzabuffet credenzabuffet-style restaurant tavola caldato build, to construct costruireburglary furtoburner (stove) fornellobus autobusbus stop fermata dell'autobusbusiness card carta da visitabusy occupato

butcher shop macelleriabutter burro

button bottoneto button up abbottonareto buy a ticket fare il bigliettoby dabypass road tangenziale

C

cabbage cavolocabin scompartimentocabinet armadiocake tortacalf polpaccioto call chiamare, telefonare ato call back richiamarecamping campeggiocan lattinaCan you tell me . . . ? (formal) Può dirmi . . . ?Can you tell me . . . ? (informal) Puoi dirmi . . . ?Canada CanadaCanadian canadesecar carrozzacar macchina/automobile/auto

car hood cofanocards cartecarnation garofanocarpet moquettecarrot carottacarry-on luggage bagaglio a manocart carelloto cash (a check) incassare un assegnocash register cassacashier cassieracathedral cattedralecavities carieceiling soffittocelery sedanocell phone telefonino/cellularecello violoncellocentral heating riscaldamento centralecentral market mercato centraleCEO amministratore delegatocertainly senz'altrochair sediachalk gessochalkboard lavagnachampionship campionatochandelier lampadario

change cambio

to change cambiarsichangeable variabileto cheat barareto cheat or swindle somebody fregarecheck assegnocheck/bill contoto check bags consegnare i bagaglichecked luggage bagagli da stivacheck-in desk banco di check-incheek guanciacheese formaggiocherry ciliegiachess scacchichest toracechest of drawers cassettonechicken pollochicken pox varicellachief conductor capotrenochild bambino, bambinachimney caminochin mentoChina CinaChinese cinesechocolate cioccolato

chocolate ice cream gelato al cioccolatochorus coro

chrysanthemum crisantemochurch chiesacinema cinemacivil servant impiegato dello statoto clap applaudireclarinet clarinettoclassical music musica classicaclassroom aulaclean pulitoto clean pulireto clean/brush one's teeth lavarsi i denticlerical assistant assistenteto click cliccareclimate climaclock orologioto close chiudereto close/shut the curtains chiudere le tendeclosed chiusocloset armadiocloth tessutocloth straccioclothes vestiticlothing size taglia, misura

cloud nuvolacloudy nuvoloso

coat check room guardarobacoffee caffècoffee shop barcoffeemaker caffettieracoin monetacoin changer distributore monetecold (temperature) freddocold (illness) raffreddorecold (sick with a) raffreddatocollarbone clavicolacollect call a carico del destinariocolor colorecomb pettineto comb pettinareto comb one's hair pettinarsicomedy commediacomfortable comodocommemorative stamp francobollo emissione specialecompany aziendacompetition garacomputer computerconcert concertoconductor controllore

conductor direttore d'orchestraconstipated stitichezzacontract contratto

control panel pannello di controlloconvertible decapotabilecook cuoco/chefto cook cucinare/cuocerecookie biscottocorner flag bandierina d'angolocorporate planning programmazione aziendalecorridor corridoiocostume jewelry bigiotteriacostumes costumicotton cotonecouch, sofa divanocough tosseto cough tossirecough syrup sciroppo per la tossecounter sportellocourse corsocousin cugino, cuginacover charge copertocrazy stuff roba da mattito cross attraversarecrossbar traversa

cross-country skiing sci di fondocrossword puzzle cruciverbacrown coronacufflinks gemelli da camiciacup tazzacup of coffee caffècup of tea tècupboard armadiettoto curl arricciare i capellicurls ricciolicurrency valutacurtain tendacurtain sipariocuspid caninocustoms doganacustoms declaration dichiarazione doganalecustoms declaration form modulo doganato cut tagliareto cut it short per farla breve

D

dahlia daliadairy latteriadairy products latticinidaisy margherita

Damn it! Porca miseria!damp, moist umidoto dance ballaredancer ballerinodancing ballodandruff forforadark-haired brunodarts dardidaughter figliato daydream essere nelle nuvoledead end strada senza uscitadear caroDecember dicembredefeat sconfittadelicatessen salumeriadental clinic clinica odontoiatricadentist dentistadenture dentieradepartment store grande magazzinodeparture partenzadepartures partenzedesk scrivaniadesk drawer cassetto della scrivaniadessert dessert/dolcedestination destinazione

detective investigatorediabetes diabetediabetic diabeticodiagnosis diagnosito dial the number fare il numerodial tone segnale acusticodialog box finestra di dialogodiamond diamantedictionary dizionarioto die of boredom morire dalla noiadiesel dieseldigestive tonic digestivodining room sala da pranzodinner cenadinner plate piattodiploma (high school) diplomadiploma (university) laureadirty sporcodirty word parolacciadischarge dimettere dall'ospedaledisgust schifodishwasher lavastovigliedisinfectant disinfettantedivorced divorziato(a)dizziness capogiro

Do you speak . . . ? (formal) Parla . . . ?Do you speak . . . ? (informal) Parli . . . ?to do someone's hair fare i capellito do the washing/laundry fare il bucatoto do, to make faredoctor dottore/dottoressadoctorate degree dottoratodollar dollarodoor portadouble bed letto matrimonialedownhill skiing sci di discesato download scaricaredrama drammato draw disegnaredrawer cassettodrawing disegnodress vestito da donnato dress (oneself), to get dressed vestirsidress rehearsal prova generaledribble dribblingto drink bereto drive guidareto drive someone crazy fare impazziredriver autistadrops goccedrums batteria

dry secco

to dry asciugareto dry clean lavare a seccodry cleaner lavanderia a seccodry hair capelli secchidryer asciugatricedrying rack scolapiattiduet duettoto dump someone mollare qualcunodusk crepuscolodust polvereDutch olandeseDVD player lettore DVDto dye/to color tingere

E

ear orecchioearly in anticipoearrings orecchinieast estto eat mangiareeconomist economistaeconomy car macchina piccola

eggplant melanzanaEgyptian egizianoelbow gomitoelectric socket presa (di corrente)electric stove cucina elettricaelectrical switch interruttoreelegant eleganteelevator ascensoreemerald smeraldoemployee impiegatoengineer ingegnereEngland InghilterraEnglish ingleseto enjoy oneself divertirsienough bastaentertaining divertenteentertainment divertimentoentrance entrataeraser gommaEuropean europeoto examine visitareexamination analisiexcellent ottimoexcept tranneexchange rate tasso di cambio

exit uscitato extract estrarre

eyeball globo oculareeyebrow sopracciglioeyelid palpebra

F

fabric tessutofabric softener ammorbidenteface visoto faint svenireto fall cadereto fall asleep addormentarsito fall in love innamorarsifalse tooth protesifamily offer offerta famigliafan tifosofar (from) lontano dafashionable, in fashion alla/di modafat grassofather padre (papà)father-in-law suoceroFebruary febbraioto feel sentirsi

to feel like avere voglia difelt-tip pen pennarellofence recintofever febbrefewer menofiancé fidanzatofiancée fidanzatafield campo di calciofiling cabinet armadio per pratichefill otturarefilling otturazioneto fill it up fare il pienoFine, thanks. Bene, grazie.finger ditofire incendioto fire licenziarefireplace caminettofirst class prima classefirst course primo (piatto)first floor (U.S.), ground floor(Italy) pian terreno

first name nomefish peschefish market, fishmonger pescheriato fit; to suit stare bene (a)

flight voloflood deluvione

floor pavimentofloor, story pianoflorist fioraioflute flautofog nebbiafolder cartellafoot piedefootwear calzaturafor perforehead fronte

Forget it. Lascia perdere. or Lasciastare.

fork forchettafoul fallofountain fontanaFrance Franciafree kick calcio di punizionefree time tempo liberofreezer congelatoreFrench franceseFriday venerdìfridge frigoriferofrom da, di (d')frost gelo

frostbite congelamentofruit fruttefruit salad macedonia di fruttafruit stand fruttivendolafruit tart torta di fruttafrying pan padellafuchsia fucsiafull-size car macchina grandefurniture mobili

G

game partitagarage garagegarbage spazzaturagardenia gardeniagardens giardinigarlic agliogas benzinagas station distributore di benzinagas stove cucina a gasgate cancellogate (airport) uscitagauze bandage garzagenerous generoso

geranium geranioGerman tedescoto get a ticket prendere una multato get angry arrabbiarsito get bored annoiarsito get dressed vestirsito get gas fare benzinato get married sposarsito get ready prepararsito get up, to rise alzarsito give a gift fare un regaloto give a ticket dare una multagladiolus gladiologlass bicchiereglass of orange juice bicchiere di succo d'aranciaglasses occhialigloves guantigo straight vai dirittogoal kick calcio di rinviogoal line linea di fondogoalkeeper portiereGod forbid! Ci mancherebbe altro!God forbid! Per carità!gold orogold (in color), golden d'orato

gold plated doratogolden, made of gold d'orogolf golfto go andareto go food shopping fare la spesato go for a ride fare un giroto go shopping fare le speseto go to bed andare a lettoto go to sleep addormentarsigood buonoGoodbye. Arrive derci.Goodbye. (for good) Addio.Good day. Buon giorno.Good evening. Buona sera.Good morning. Buona mattina.Goodnight. Buona notte.good bravogram grammagrandchildren nipotigrandfather nonnograndmother nonnagrandparents nonnigrape uvagrapefruit pompelmograss erbagray grigio

great grande

greedy avarogreen verdegreen grocer fruttivendologrocery store alimentariguitar chitarragums gengivegunshot colpo di pistollagymnastics ginnastica

H

hail grandinehair capellihairstyle pettinaturahairstylist parruchierehaircut taglio di capellihairdresser/barber parucchiere/barbierehairdryer phonhalfway line linea di metà campohallway corridoioham prosciuttohand manohandbag borsahandball pallamano

to hang up riagganciareto hang up riattaccareto hang up the wash/laundry stendere il bucatohappy felicehardware store ferramentahare leprehat cappelloto have avereto have breakfast fare colazioneto have high blood pressure avere l'ipertensioneto have low blood pressure avere l'ipotensionehead testaheader colpo di testaheart cuoreheartburn bruciore di stomacohectogram ettoheel calcagnoHello! (formal) Salve!help aiutoHer name is . . . Lei si chiama . . .Here we go again. Siamo alle solite.Hi! (informal) Ciao!hibiscus ibiscohide-and-seek nascondinohigh school liceo

highway autostradahiking excursionismohip ancato hire assumereHis name is . . . Lui si chiama . . .to hitchhike fare l'autostophoe zappahomework compitihorseback riding equitazionehorse racing ippicahospital ospedalehot caldohotel hotel/albergohouse; home casahow comeHow are you? Come stai?How boring. Che barba. or Che noia.How disgusting! Che schifo!hunting cacciahusband maritohyacinth giacintohydrangea ortensiahyperlink ipercollegamentohypertension ipertensione

I

I am . . . Sono . . .I am from . . . Sono di . . .I can't take it anymore. Non ne posso più.I can't believe it. Che roba.I come from . . . Vengo da . . .I don't believe you. That's impossible. Ma va.I'm sorry mi dispiaceice ghiaccioice cream gelatoice cream shop gelateriaicon iconaimmigration immigrazioneto improvise improvvisarein in, ain a few words in poche parolein back of dietroin cash con contantiin front davantiin front of davanti ainbox casella di posta elettronicaincisor incisivoindex finger indiceIndian indiano

information informazioneinfusion infusoinjection iniezioneinn osteriainsect repellant insetticidainside, indoors dentroinsomnia insonniainstrument strumentointelligent intelligenteintensive care unit reparto di cure intensiveintermission intervalloInternet reteinterview intervistairis irideIrish irlandeseiron ferro da stiroto iron stirareto irritate or annoy scocciareIt's my pleasure. Piacere mio.It takes much more than that. Ci vuole altro.It's about time. Alla buon'ora.It's better this way. Meglio così.Italian italianoIt's a deal. Affare fatto.It's cold. Fa freddo.

It's foggy. C'è la nebbia.It's hot. Fa caldo.It's nice. Fa bel tempo.It's raining. PioveIt's snowing. Nevica.It's sunny. C'è il sole.It's windy. Tira vento.It's worth it. Vale la pena.

J

jacket giaccaJanuary gennaioJapan GiapponeJapanese giapponesejar barattolajasmine gelsominojaw mascellajazz jazzjeans jeansjewelry gioiellijewelry shop gioielleriajob lavorojogging footingjournalist giornalistajudge giudice

July luglioJune giugnojunior high school scuola media

K

keep in mind tieni presenteto keep quiet stare zittokettle bollitorekey chiavekeyboard tastierakeywords parole chiavito kick calciarekilogram kilokind simpaticokitchen cucinaknee ginocchioknife coltelloto knot, to tie annodare

L

lamb agnellolamp lampadato land atterrare

lane corsialarge grandelarger più grandelarynx laringelast name cognomelate in ritardolater piu' tardilawn pratolawnmower tagliaerbalawyer avvocatolaxative lassativolazy pigrolazy bum fannullonelazy bum pigrone/aleather cuoioto leave partireto leave a message lasciare un messaggioLeave me alone. Lasciami stare.leaves foglieleft sinistraleg gambalemon limonelemon sherbet sorbetto al limoneless menoletter lettera

lettuce lettugato lie down sdraiarsilightning lampolights farililac lillalily gigliolinesman guardalineelining foderalip labbrolipstick rossettoto listen (to) ascoltareto listen to music ascoltare la musicaliter litroliterature letteraturaliver fegatoliving room soggiornolobby ridottolocal anesthesia anestesia localelock serraturalong lungoto lose perdereto lose a tooth perdere un dentelost luggage bagagli smarritilove at first sight amore a prima vistaluckily meno maleLucky you. Beato te.

luggage rack (overhead) retina or portabagagli

lunch pranzo

M

ma'am, Mrs. signoramagnolia magnoliamailbox buca delle lettereto make a mistake fare un erroreto make a reservation fare una prenotazionemakeup truccomanager dirigente/managerMarch marzomarried sposatoto matter, to have at heart stare a cuoreMay maggiomeal pastoto measure misuraremeat carnemedical director direttore medicomedicine medicinamedium mediomeeting riunioneto mend rammendaremenu menù

mess casinoMexican messicanomicrowave (oven) forno a microondemiddle finger mediomidfield player centrocampistamid-size car macchina mediamilk lattemimosa mimosaMind your own business. Fatti gli affari tuoi.mirror specchiomiss signorinamist foschiamolar molareMonday lunedìmoney denaro/soldimonument monumentomoped motorinomore ancoraMoroccan marocchinomother madre (mamma)mother-in-law suoceramotorcycle motomountain climbing alpinismomoustache baffimouth bocca

multimedia multimedialemuscle muscolomuseum museoMy luggage is lost. I miei bagagli sono smarriti.My name is . . . Mi chiamo . . .

N

nail unghianaked nudonapkin tovagliolonear vicino aneck collonecklace collanato need medicine avere bisogno di medicinato need, have need of avere bisogno dinephew nipotenerve nervonew nuovoNew Zealander neozelandesenewsstand edicola, giornalaionext to accanto anext week settimana prossimaniece nipotenight nurse infermiera di notte

no nono parking vietato parcheggiareno stopping vietata la sostanonsmokers non fumatorinorth nordnose nasoNot even in your dreams. Manco per sogno.notary notaionotebook quadernonothing to declare niente da dichiararenothing, nada, zip bel nientenovel romanzoNovember novembrenowadays oggi come ogginude nudonurse infermiera

O

oboe oboeobstruction ostruzioneOctober ottobreof course; you can bet your life altro chéof di (d')offside fuorigioco

oily hair capelli grassiokay d'accordoold vecchioon suon the contrary tutt'altroon the other hand d'altro cantoone night notteone person personaone way senso unicoone-way ticket biglietto solo andataonion cipollaonline in lineaopen apertoto open aprireto open/draw the curtains aprire le tendeopen-air market mercatoopening hours orario di aperturaopera operato operate operareoperating system sistema operativooperation interventoor ooral surgeon odontoiatraorange aranciaorange (color) arancione

orange sherbet sorbetto al aranciaorchestra orchestrato order ordinareorthodontist ortodontistaother altrooutdoor market mercatooutdoors fuorioven fornoovercoat cappottooverture preludio

P

package paccopage paginapain doloreto paint dipingere, verniciarepaintbrush pennellopainting pitturapajamas pigiamapalate palatopanties mutandinepants pantalonipaper cartapaper clip fermagliopaper store cartoleria

Pardon me. Mi scusi.parents genitoripark parcoto park parcheggiareparking lot parcheggiopart partepart rigapartition wall parete divisoriapass passaggioto pass (overtake) sorpassarepassenger passeggeropassport passaportopassword parola d'accessopastime passatempopastry shop pasticceriapatient pazienteto pay attention fare attenzioneto pay attention stare attentopay envelope busta pagapeach pescapear perapearls perlepeas pisellipedestrian pedonalepedestrian croswalk strisce pedonali

pen pennapenalty area area di rigorepencil mattitapencil sharpener temperamatitependant ciondolopenicillin penicillinaperformance rappresentazioneperfume profumoperfume store profumeriato perm fare la permanentepetunia petuniapharmacist farmacistapharmacy farmaciaphonebook elenco telefonicophone number numero di telefonophotography fotografiapiano pianofortepiece of cake fetta di tortapiece of paper foglio di cartapill pastigliapillow cuscinopilot pilotapin spillopink rosapinkie mignolo

pizza maker pizzaiolopizzeria pizzeriaplaster cast modello in gessoplate piattoplatform binarioto play giocare ato play by ear suonare a orecchioto play by sight suonare a prima vistato play the guitar suonare la chitarrato play the piano suonare il pianoforteplayer giocatore

please per favore/per piacere/percortesia

Please (here you are). Prego.Please hold. Stia in linea.pneumonia polmonitepocket tascapocket calculator calcolatricepoetry poesiapolice officer polizottopolice poliziaPolish polaccopool biliardipool piscinapoor poveropopular popolare

pork maiale

Portuguese portoghesepost palopost office box casella postalepostage affrancaturapostal clerk impiegato postalepostcard cartolina postalepostman postinoto prefer preferirepregnant incintaprescription ricettapresident presidenteprinted matter stampeprinter stampanteproducer produttoreproduction messa in scenaprogram programmaprophylactics preservativito pull out estrarreto pull over to the side of theroad accostare

punch perforatorepurple viola

R

rabbit conigliorace gararadiator termosifoneradio radioradish ravanellorailway ferroviarain pioggiato rain piovereraincoat impermeabilerainstorm temporaleraise aumento di stipendiorake rastrelloto rape violentarerare al sangueraspberry lamponeraspberry sherbet sorbetto ai lamponito read leggereReally? Davvero?Really? Sul serio?rearview mirror specchiettoreceipt ricevutareceptionist receptionistred rossoto reboot rifare il bootingreferee arbitro

refrigerator frigoriferoregister fare una raccomandataregister letter raccomandatato relax riposarsiremedy rimedioto remove estrarre, togliereto rent affittareto repair riparare, rammendareto repeat ripetereresearcher ricercatorereservation prenotazioneto restart riavviarerestaurant ristoranterestaurant (small) trattoriarestaurant car carrozza ristoranteresume CV/curriculumreverse charges a carico del destinatariorib costolarich riccoright (direction) destraring anelloto ring squillareto ring suonarering finger anulareto rinse sciacquare

rock music musica rockroof tettoroom cameraroom stanzaroot radiceroot canal work trattamento della radicerose rosarough, coarse rozzoround-trip ticket biglietto andata e ritornorowing canotaggioruby rubinorug tappetoruler rigarush hour ora di puntaRussian russo

S

sad tristesalad insalatasalad bowl insalatierasalary salariosale saldisame stessosandals sandalisapphire zaffiroSaturday sabatosaucepan pentolasausage salsicciasaxophone sassofonoscalp massage frizionescanner scannerscarf sciarpascenery scenarioschool scuolascientist scienzatoto score a goal fare un golScottish scozzesesculpture sculturaseafood frutti di maresearch engine motore di ricerca

seasickness mal di mareseat postoseatbelt cintura di sicurezzasecond class seconda classesecond course secondo (piatto)second floor (U.S.), first floor (Italy) primo pianosecretary segretariasecurity check controllo di sicurezzato see vedereSee you . . . Ci vediamo . . .sender mittenteseparated separatoSeptember settembreservice charge servizioset of drawers cassettierato sew cucireshampoo shampooto shave fare la barba/raderesheets lenzuolashelf scaffaleshirt camiciashirt (jersey) magliashoelace laccioshoes scarpeshort basso

short cortoshort pass passaggio cortoshoulder spallashovel palashow spettacoloto show off fare il grandeshower docciashower curtain tenda da docciashower in the room con bagnoshutter impostashuttle shuttleto shut up, to shut one's trap chiudere il beccosick malatosideboard credenzato sign firmaresilk setasilver argentosilver (in color), silvery argenteosilver plated argentatosilver, made of silver d'argentosilverware posateto sing cantaresinger cantantesingle celibe (m.), nubile (f.)sink lavandinosir, Mr. signore

sister sorella

sister-in-law cognatato sit down sedersi or accomodarsisite sitosize taglia, misuraskating patinaggioskin pelleskirt gonnaskull cranioto sleep dormiresleeper car vagone lettosleeping compartment cuccettasleeve manicaslender snelloslippers pantofoleto slow down rallentaresmall piccolosmall parcel pacchettosmaller più piccolosmokers fumatorismooth morbidosnack merendinasneakers scarpe da ginnasticato sneeze starnutiresnow neve

So much the better. Tanto meglio.So much the worse. Tanto peggio.soap saponesoccer calciosocks calzinisoft morbidosoldier soldatoson figliosong canzonesore throat faringitesoup zuppa, minestra, minestronesoup bowl piatto fondosouth sudSpain SpagnaSpanish spagnoloto speak parlarespecial delivery espressospecial offer offerta specialespectators spettatorispeed limit limite di velocitàspike heel tacco a spillospinach spinacispine spina dorsalespoon cucchiaiosport sport

sports sportsprain strappo muscolare

spring primaverastage palcoscenicostain macchiastaircase, stairs scalastamp (noun) francobollostamp (verb) affrancarestamp machine distributore francobollito stand (sit) up straight stare suto stand aside starsene da partestapler spillatricestarch(ed) inamidatostation stazionesteak bisteccasteering wheel volantestepfather patrignostepmother matrignasteward/stewardess assistente di bordostockbroker agente di cambiostocking calzastomach stomacostool sgabellostop stopto stop (oneself) fermarsistore negozio

storm tempestastorm temporalestraight ahead sempre dirittostrand frangettastrawberry fragolastrawberry ice cream gelato alla fragolastudy studiostupid stupidostupid person (Tuscany) bischerostupid person, a jerk scemo/asubway metropolitanasugar zuccherosuit completosummer estatesun soleSunday domenicasunglasses occhiali da solesupermarket supermercatosurgeon chirurgosuspension file raccoglitore delle schedesweater maglioneSwedish svedesesweeper liberosweets dolciswimming nuoto

Swiss svizzeroto switch on accendere

system folder cartella sistema

T

table tavolatablecloth tovagliato take a bath fare il bagnoto take a break fare una pausato take a picture fare una fototo take a short trip fare una gitato take a shower fare la docciato take a trip fare un viaggioto take a walk fare una passeggiatato take off decollareto take off toglieretall altotartar tartarotaxi taxitaxi stand stazione dei taxiteam squadrato tease cotonareteaspoon cucchiainotechnician tecnico

telegram telegrammatelephone telefonotelephone booth cabina telefonicatelephone call telefonatatelephone directory guida telefonicatelephone number numero di telefonotelevision set televisoreteller window cassatemperature chart diagramma della temperaturatemple tempiatemporary filling otturazione provvisoriatennis tennisterminal terminaltest esameThank you. Grazie.Thank you very much. Mille grazie.That's crazy. Roba da matti.That's really good! (ironic) Bell'affare!to the left alla sinistrato the right alla destratheater teatrothermometer termometrothick spessothief al ladrothis afternoon questo pomeriggio

this evening staserathroat tracheathrow-in rimessa lateralethumb polliceThursday giovedìticket bigliettoticket office biglietteriatie cravattatie score pareggiotight(-fitting) strettotip manciatire gomma/pneumaticotired assonnatotitle titoloto atoaster tostapanetobacco shop tabaccaiotoilet toilettetoilet paper carta igienicatomorrow domanitongue linguatonsils tonsilletoo much, too many troppotooth dentetoothache mal di dentitoothbrush spazzola per i denti

toothpaste dentifricio

touch line linea lateraletoward versotowel asciugamanotoy store negozio di giocattolitracks binaritraffic lights semaforotragedy tragediatrain trenotrain station stazionetranquilizer tranquillanteto travel viaggiaretraveler's check travelers check, assegno turisticotrim spuntatinatrombone trombonetruck camiontrumpet trombatrunk bagagliaioto try provareT-shirt magliettaTuesday martedìtulip tulipanoturkey tacchinoto turn girareturn left gira a sinistra

to turn on accendereturn right gira a destratwo beds due lettitwo nights due nottitwo people due persone

U

ugly bruttoulcer ulceraumbrella ombrelloto unbutton sbottonareuncle ziounder sottoto understand capireunderwear biancheria intimaunderwear mutandeto undo sbottonareto undress (oneself) spogliarsiunemployed disoccupatounemployment disoccupazioneUnited States Stati Unitiuniversity universitàunpleasant antipaticounstamped non affrancato

V

vacuum cleaner aspirapolverevalidate timbrarevalue declaration dichiarazione del valorevanilla ice cream gelato alla vanigliato varnish verniciarevase vasovaseline vaselinaVCR videoregistratoreveal vitellovegetable course contornovegetable garden ortovein venavelvet vellutoVery nice! (ironic) Bella roba!victory vittoriaviolin violinovisa vistovisiting hours orario delle visitevolleyball pallavoloto vomit vomitare

W

to wage war fare la guerrawaiter camerierewaitress camerierato wake up svegliarsiwake-up call servizio svegliawall paretewall calendar calendario da paretewallet portafogliowallpaper carta da paretito want avere voglia diwardrobe armadioto wash lavareto wash (oneself), to wash up lavarsiwashing machine lavatricewastepaper basket cestinowatch orologiowatch out attenzionewater acqua (minerale)water jug caraffa per acquawater polo pallanuotowaterskiing sci nauticoweather report bollettino meteorologicowedding ring fedeWednesday mercoledìweed erbaccia

well done ben cotto

west ovestwhat cheWhat a mess. Che macello.What's your name? (formal) Come si chiama Lei?What's your name? (informal) Come ti chiami?What's the matter with you? Che ti passa per la testa?when quandowhere doveWhere are you from? Di dove sei?Where is . . . ?/Where are . . . ? Dov'è . . . ?/Dove sono . . . ?whipped cream panna montatawhite biancowho chiwhy perchéwidowed vedovowife mogliewig parruccato win vincerewindow finestrawindow finestrinowindshield parabrezzawindshield wipers tergicristalliwine vinowine jug brocca per vino

winter invernowisdom tooth dente del giudizio

wisp ciocca di capelliwisteria glicinewith conwith a credit card con la carta di creditowith traveler's checks con i travelers checkwithout senzawool lanato work lavorareworn out consumatowound feritawrist polsowriter scrittore

X,Y

to x–ray fare una radiografiayard giardinoyellow gialloyes sìto yield dare la precedenzayogurt yogurtyoung giovaneYou don't say! A chi lo dici!

You're welcome. Prego. or Non c'è di che.

Z

zinnia zinniazipper cerniera

FIntroduction to French

rench is a Romance language; in contrast,English belongs to the Germanic family. In theory,French and English should be very distinctlanguages, but in reality, there is German influencein French and Latin influence in English, not tomention a fair amount of French in English andvice versa. This means the two languages share anumber of similarities. This chapter is anintroduction to some basic facts about French aswell as important similarities and differencesbetween French and English.

Reading FrenchFrench is based on the same twenty-six-letteralphabet as English, although the importance ofindividual letters varies. For example, the letter Qis significantly more common in French than inEnglish, while K and W are extremely rare in

French, found only in words borrowed from otherlanguages.

Like English, French can be very difficult in termsof pronunciation due to intricacies such as silentletters, multiple sounds for a single letter, andendless exceptions to whatever rules you manageto pin down. Therefore, the pronunciation keyprovided here does not explain how to read everyletter combination in every situation, but ratherattempts to simplify French pronunciation, to makeit easier for you to get started. The key presentsFrench letters and letter combinations, how theyare represented in pronunciation guides used forthat sound throughout this book, and a comparablesound in English, or in a French expression used inEnglish.

PRONUNCIATION KEY

FrenchLetter(s)

EnglishRepresentation

ComparableEnglish Pronunciation

A a "a” in father

AI ay "ai” in painAU o "au” in taupeB b "b” in babyC k "c” in can

s "c” in ceilingÇ s "ç” in façadeCH sh "ch” in champagneD d "d” in dadE, EU eu "e” in de factoÉ ay "é” in fiancéÈ, Ê, EI eh "e” in betEAU o "eau” in eau de toiletteF f "f” in fatG g "g” in gag

zh "g” in mirageH "h” in hour (silent)I, Ï, Î ee "ï” in naïveJ zh "j” in déjà vuK k "k” in kilo (rare in French)L l "l” in littleM m "m” in mom

(n) (nasal vowel)N n "n” in noun

(n) (nasal vowel)O o first “o” in solo

OI wa "oie” in foie grasOU oo "ou” in soupP p "p” in paperPH f "ph” in phoneQ k "q” in piqueR r no equivalentS s "s” in sassySC sk "sc” in scold

s "sc” in scienceT t "t” in tightTH t "t” in teaTI s "s” in sillyU u "oo” in foodUE weh "ue” in suedeUI wee "ui” in cuisineV v "v” in verveW v "v” in verve (rare in French)X ks "x” in express

gz "x” in exampleY y "y” in yogurtZ z "z” in zone

The Letter HH is always silent in French, but it may be silent(H muet) or aspirated (H aspiré). These two types

of the silent H act differently. The H muet acts likea vowel, so a word that begins with H muetcontracts and forms liaisons just like wordsbeginning with vowels do. In contrast, the H aspiréacts like a consonant, so words that begin with Haspiré do not allow contractions or liaisons.

Nasal VowelsVowels followed by M or N at the end of a wordor followed by another consonant are usuallynasal. A nasal vowel is a sound made by expellingair through the mouth and nose, rather than just themouth, which can be very different from the normalpronunciation of the same vowels. Although nasalvowels also exist in English, they are a bitdifferent, as they are only found inside a syllable,not at the end, as is common in French. Forexample, in the word “own,” the sound just beforeyou actually say the N is a nasal vowel: [o(n)n]. Incontrast, the French word “on” is pronounced[o(n)]—the word ends with the nasal vowel; thereis no N sound after it.

The Letter RThe French R is a classic problem for Englishspeakers. It is similar in pronunciation to theSpanish J and the Arabic KH, if that helps you any.If not, here is a quick little exercise to help youpronounce the French R:

1. Open your mouth and close your throat (as if tokeep from swallowing a mouthful of liquid).

2. Say K carefully, several times. Pay attention towhere in your throat the K sound is made;henceforth, think of it as the K place.

3. Begin slowly closing your throat, until you canalmost feel the K place. Your throat should beonly partially constricted.

4. Tense the muscles around the K place.5. Gently push air through your partially

constricted throat. Voilà—the French R!

Practice saying Ra-Ra-Ra (where R = steps 3–5)

Practice saying Ra-Ra-Ra (where R = steps 3–5)every day.

The Letter UThe French U is also very difficult. This sounddoes not exist in English; the closest being the OUin soup, but that sound also exists in French. InFrench, the U is a separate sound and it is essentialto distinguish between it and OU. To pronounce theFrench U, follow these steps:

1. Open your mouth and say O.2. Draw out the O until your lips are where they

would be to make a W sound.3. Purse your lips as tightly as you can.4. Keeping your lips pursed, say E. Voilà—the

French U!

Practice saying the U with the following pairs:

tu toutvu vous

lu loupsu sous

ContractionsContractions—the dropping of one or more lettersand replacing them with an apostrophe—areoptional in English but required in French. Forexample, in English you can say “I am” or “I'm";the latter is somewhat less formal. In contrast, youcannot say “je ai” (I have) in French; you mustmake the contraction j'ai.

There are three main types of French contractions:

1. The words ce, de, je, la, le, me, ne, que, se,and te contract with the word that follows ifit begins with a vowel or H muet.

ce + est c'est it isde + histoire d'histoire of/about historyje + habite j'habite I liveje le + ai je l'ai I have itla + amie l'amie the friend

le + homme l'homme the manil me + adore il m'adore he adores meil ne + est pas il n'est pas it isn'tque + il qu'il that itil se + appelle il s'appelle his name isje te + aime je t'aime I love you

2. The prepositions à (to, at, in) and de (of, from,about) contract with the definite articles leand les, but not with la and l':

à + le auà + les auxà + la à laà + l' à l'

de + le dude + les desde + la de lade + l' de l'

3. Si + il(s) contracts, but si + elle(s)does not:

si + il s'il if he/itsi + ils s'ils if they

si + elle si elle if she/itsi + elles si elles if they

Rhythm and Word FlowRhythm isn't really something that can be taught ina book, but it's good to know about, so that whenyou listen to French, you start hearing it. You'veprobably noticed—or at least heard others say—that the French language is very musical. Thereason for this is that in French, words are notdivided into stressed and unstressed syllables: allsyllables are pronounced at the same intensity(volume). In addition, in French many finalconsonants are liaised or enchaînés onto the nextword. The lack of stress marks, combined withliaisons and enchaînements, is what gives Frenchits rhythm: all of the words flow together likemusic. In contrast, English words each have astressed syllable and each sentence usually has oneor two words that are stressed more than theothers, which makes English sound comparativelychoppy or staccato. At this point, you probably

don't need to worry too much about rhythm andword flow, but you should be aware of it.

Rhythmic GroupsInstead of stressed and unstressed syllables,French sentences are divided into rhythmic groups—syntactically related words in the sentence. Thelast syllable of each rhythmic group is accentuatedin two ways:

1. Intonation: The last syllable of each rhythmicgroup inside the sentence is pronounced at ahigher pitch than the rest of the sentence,while the final rhythmic group's last syllableis pronounced at a lower pitch. The onlyexception to this is questions: in this case, thelast rhythmic group's final syllable is also at ahigh pitch.

2. Tonic accent: The French tonic accent is aslight elongation of the final syllable in eachrhythmic group.

EnchaînementEnchaînement is the phenomenon whereby theconsonant sound at the end of a word is transferedto the beginning of the word that follows it. Takethe phrase il est (he/it is). When you look at thisphrase, you might be tempted to pronounce it (eelay), but in fact the phrase is correctly pronounced(ee lay)—the L sound at the end of il is transferredonto the vowel that follows it. This is kind of likewhat happens when speaking quickly in English. Ifyou ask “Would he come?” quickly, you areactually saying (woo dee kuhm). In French, usingenchaînement is expected.

LiaisonA liaison occurs when a normally silent consonantat the end of a word is pronounced at the beginningof the word that follows it. This is a little bittrickier than enchaînement, because it has to dowith sounds that don't exist when the word is byitself. For example, vous (you) is pronounced

(voo). The S at the end is silent. However, whenvous is followed by a word beginning with avowel, as in the phrase vous avez (you have), the Smust be pronounced as a Z: (voo za vay).

True CognatesOne of the main components of language learningis vocabulary—memorizing the thousands ofwords that you need in order to talk about theworld around you. For English speakers, one of thenice things about learning French is that there aresome shortcuts you can take when learningvocabulary. For example, there are hundreds oftrue cognates, words that look similar in the twolanguages and have the same or similar meanings.These are nearly always nouns or adjectives.

True Cognates

Masculine noun Feminine noun Adjectiveabandon absence absentabdomen accusation braveaccent action central

accident architecture certainagent automobile civilair avenue correctangle calorie dentalanimal cassette exactart cause excellentarticle cigarette finalbudget condition fragileclient description horriblecommerce destination impossiblecousin distance longcrime excuse musicaldanger finance partialdessert fortune publiceffort image simpleescalator machine sixfax nation uniquefilm olive urgentfruit photo vacantgarage prison violetgolf questionguide radioidiot situationmillionpardon

regretrespectservicetaxivisazoo

Spelling EquivalentsThere are certain spelling equivalents that can helpyou to identify French and English cognates. Thatis, certain spelling patterns (usually suffixes) inone language have equivalent spelling patterns inthe other language.

Spelling EquivalentsFrench English French examples English examples

French English French examples English examples^ s forêt, hôpital forest, hospital-ain(e) -an Américain(e) American-ais(e) -ese Japonais(e) Japanese-ance -ence dépendance dependence-ant -ent indépendant independent

-çon -sson leçon lesson-shion façon fashion-son maçon mason

é- s- état, étudier state, study-e -y gloire glory-é(e) -ed épelé spelled-é -y qualité quality-el(le) -al personnel personal

éternel eternal-en(ne) -an Canadien(ne) Canadianen + -ant -ing en mangeant eating

en lisant reading-ence -ence violence violence-ent -ent apparent apparent-er to + verb épeler to spell-eur -or auteur author

-our couleur color/colour-er employeur employer

-eux/euse -ous nerveux nervous-i -y parti party-i(e) -ed, -t fini finished-if/ive -ive positif, motif positive, motive-ique -ic musique music

-ical lyrique lyrical-ir to + verb finir to finish

-isation -ization réalisation realization-isation realisation

-iser -ize idéaliser idealize-ise idealise

-iste -ist optimiste optimist/optimistic-ment -ly rapidement rapidly-oire -ory obligatoire obligatory

mémoire memory-ois(e) -ese Chinois(e) Chinese-re -er mètre meter/metre

-re théâtre theater/theatre-re to + verb répondre to respond-tion -tion nation nation-u(e) -ed répondu responded

Please be aware that these are merely guidelines tospelling equivalents between French and English,not hard and fast rules.

False CognatesAlthough the preceding sections can be veryhelpful, don't let them lull you into a false sense ofsecurity. Not all words that look alike mean thesame thing. There are numerous false cognates in

French and English.

False cognates are words that look alike but havedifferent meanings. There are also a number ofsemi-false cognates—words that have severalmeanings, only some of which are similar in thetwo languages.

False and Semi-False Cognates

assister to attendattendre to wait foravertissement warningblesser to woundcent one hundredchair fleshchance luckcoin cornercollège junior high schoolcommander to ordercrayon pencildéception disappointmentdemander to ask, to requestdéranger to bother

douche showerentrée appetizerformidable greatgentil nice, kindignorer to be ignorant of, to not knowlibrairie bookstoremonnaie changeoccasion opportunitypièce room; coinquitter to leaveraisin graperester to stayréunion meetingsale dirtyzone slum; area

AFrench Grammar Basics

lthough this book provides ready-to-use listsof vocabulary and phrases for every situation, it'sstill a good idea for you to understand the basics ofFrench grammar. This chapter is a greatlysimplified introduction to the most importantaspects of French grammar. Hopefully, these mini-lessons will help you understand how to say thingsin French and why you need to say them that way.

Know Your NounsA noun is a word that represents a thing, whetherthat thing is concrete (e.g., a chair, a dog) orabstract (an idea, happiness). In French, all nounshave a grammatical gender—they are eithermasculine or feminine. The gender of some nounsmakes sense: homme (man) is masculine, femme(woman) is feminine. But for many other nouns, thegender is irrelevant or even counterintuitive:

personne (person) is always feminine, even if theperson is a man!

It is very important to learn a noun's gender alongwith the noun itself because articles, adjectives,and some verbs must agree with nouns; that is, theychange according to the gender of the noun theymodify. The best way to memorize the gender ofnouns is to make your vocabulary lists with thedefinite or indefinite article:

un homme manune femme woman

Some nouns have different meanings depending onwhether they are masculine or feminine, soobviously, if you want to make sure that you'retalking about what you mean, you need to makesure to use the correct gender.

The Art of Articles

An article is a word used in front of a noun to

An article is a word used in front of a noun toindicate whether it is specific or unspecific.French articles must agree in gender and numberwith the nouns they modify. There are three kindsof French articles: definite, indefinite, andpartitive.

Definite ArticlesThe French definite article, which corresponds to“the” in English, has three forms:

le masculine/singular le garçon (the boy)la feminine/singular la fille (the girl)les plural les filles (the girls)

And don't forget that when the noun begins with avowel or the silent H, the definite articles le and laform a contraction:

l'ami the friend (masculine)l'amie the friend (feminine)l'homme the man (masculine)l'histoire the history (feminine)

Indefinite ArticlesThe singular French indefinite articles correspondto “a,” “an,” or “one” in English. The pluralcorresponds to “some.” There are three forms ofthe French indefinite article:

un masculine/singular un garçon (a boy)une feminine/singular une fille (a girl)des plural des filles (some girls)

In French, the indefinite article may be used torefer to just one of something: Il y a un étudiantdans la salle. (There is one student in the room.)When referring to a person's profession with state-of-being verbs like être (to be) and devenir (tobecome), the article is not used in French (althoughit is used in English): Je suis professeur. (I am ateacher.) In a negative construction, the indefinitearticle changes to de, meaning “not any": Je n'aipas de pommes. (I don't have any apples.)

Partitive ArticlesThe partitive articles in French correspond to

The partitive articles in French correspond to“some” or “any” in English. There are three formsof the French partitive article:

du masculine/singular du pain (some bread)de la feminine/singular de la bière (some beer)des plural des haricots (some beans)

In addition, if a singular noun starts with a vowelor a silent H, use the contraction de l':

de l'oignon some onion (masculine)de l'huile some oil (feminine)

The partitive article indicates an unknown orunspecified quantity of something, usually food ordrink. It is often omitted in English. Here are a fewexamples:

Avez-vous bu du thé ?Did you drink (some) tea?

J'ai mangé de la salade hier.I ate (some) salad yesterday.

Nous avons des petits pois.We have (some) peas.

After adverbs of quantity such as beaucoup de (alot), peu de (a little), assez de (enough), plus de(more), and moins de (less), de is used instead ofthe partitive article:

Il y a beaucoup de problèmes.There are a lot of problems.

J'ai moins de glace que Thierry.I have less ice cream than Thierry.

Like the indefinite article, the partitive articlechanges to de, meaning “any,” in a negativeconstruction:

J'ai mangé de la soupe.I ate some soup.

Je n'ai pas mangé de soupe.I didn't eat any soup.

Verbs Mean ActionA verb is the action word in a sentence. It is theword that says what happens (I walk) or describesa state of being (I am happy). All French verbshave to be conjugated or inflected—changedaccording to how they are used. In the Englishpresent tense, we only have a separate conjugationfor the third person singular of a verb: “I want”becomes “he wants.” The verb “to be” is the mostcomplicated English verb, with three conjugations:I am, you are, he is. In other tenses and moods,English has a single form: I sang, he sang, I willgo, he will go.

In stark contrast, each French verb has up to sixdifferent conjugations in each tense and mood. Inmost cases, French verbs are conjugated byremoving the infinitive ending to find the radical orroot, then adding the ending appropriate to thegrammatical person, tense, and mood. Theseendings are different for each tense and mood,which means that each verb has a total of dozens of

different forms. But don't get discouraged! Thereare patterns to the conjugations of most verbs.

There are a total of five elements in conjugation:number, person, voice, mood, and tense.

Number, Person, SubjectPronounsNumber and person go hand-in-hand and togetherindicate the grammatical person: who or what isperforming the action of the verb. Number,logically enough, is divided into singular (one) andplural (more than one). As for person, there is firstperson (the speaker), second person (the listener),and third person (neither the speaker nor thelistener). So there are two numbers and threepersons, making a total of six grammatical persons,each of which has at least one subject pronoun:

Singular Plural1st person je (I) nous (we)2nd person tu (you) vous (you)

3rd person il (he, it) ils (they)elle (she, it) elles (they, fem.)on (one)

Notes

There are two words for “you” in French: tu andvous. These are not interchangeable, so it is veryimportant to understand when and why to use eachof them. Otherwise, you may inadvertantly insultsomeone by using the wrong “you” form.

Tu is the familiar “you” form. Itdemonstrates a certain closeness andinformality; you should use tu whenspeaking to a friend, relative, child, or pet.Vous is the formal and plural “you” form.Use vous when speaking to someone youdon't know well, someone older than you,an authority figure, anyone to whom youwish to show respect, and anytime you aretalking to two or more people.

Since all nouns are either masculine or feminine,

Since all nouns are either masculine or feminine,they use the third person subject pronouns thatcorrespond to their gender. Thus, il can refer to amale (he) or a masculine noun (it) and elle canrefer to a female (she) or a feminine noun (it).

On is the indefinite subject pronoun. Its Englishequivalents can be the passive voice or indefinitesubjects like “people,” “we,” “one,” “they,” or“you":

On ne fait pas ça.That isn't done.

On est fou !People are crazy!

On va sortir ce soir.We're going out tonight.

Ils is used for men, male nouns, and mixed gendergroups. Elles can only be used for a group ofwomen and/or female nouns. In other words, the

masculine pronoun is the default; the femininepronoun can be used only when there is not asingle male in the group.

Note that the pronouns il, elle, and onare all thirdperson singular personal pronouns and thus takethe same verb conjugation. Likewise, ilsandellesboth take the third person plural conjugation.

Find Your VoiceVoice refers to the relationship between thesubject and verb. There are three voices in French:active (the subject performs the action), passive(the action is performed on the subject by anagent), and reflexive (the subject performs theaction on itself). Active voice is the most common,followed by reflexive voice.

Get in the MoodMood refers to the attitude of the speaker towardthe action/state of the verb—how likely or factual

a statement is. The French language has three to sixmoods, depending on your definition. The threemoods that everyone agrees on are indicative,subjunctive, and imperative, while the conditional,infinitive, and participle may or may not beconsidered moods by different grammarians.

Indicative: The “normal” mood thatindicates a fact: J'aime lire. (I like toread.) Nous avons mangé. (We ate.) Theindicative is the most common mood andhas the most tenses.Subjunctive:A mood that expressessubjectivity, such as doubt andunlikelihood: Je veux que tu le fasses. (Iwant you to do it.) Il est rare que Chantalsache la réponse. (It's rare for Chantal toknow the answer.)Imperative: The mood of command. Écrisla lettre. (Write the letter.) Allons-y !(Let's go!)Conditional: Describes a condition or

Conditional: Describes a condition orpossibility. J'aimerais aider. (I would liketo help.) Si tu venais avec nous, tuapprendrais beaucoup. (If you came withus, you would learn a lot.)Infinitive: The name of the verb that canbe used as a noun.Participle: The adjectival form of theverb.

Making Sense of TenseTense refers to the verb's expression of time andcompletion of the verb's action or condition. Themain tenses you will see covered in this book arepresent and past. If you want to talk aboutsomething in the future, you can nearly always getaway with aller + verb (to be going to + verb—see the chapter titled Airports and Hotels).

Adjusting to Adjectives

An adjective is a word that modifies a noun.

An adjective is a word that modifies a noun.Adjectives can describe shape, color, size, andmany other things about a noun. French adjectivesare very different from English adjectives. InEnglish, adjectives are always found in front of thenoun, but the placement of French adjectivesdepends on the meaning of that particularadjective. The acronym BAGS can help you tomemorize the majority of adjectives that are placedbefore the noun:

BeautyAgeGood and badSize

These adjectives are placed before the nounbecause they are considered inherent qualities ofthe noun. In addition, all non-descriptiveadjectives are placed before the noun:

Possessive adjectives: mon, ma, mes (my),ton, ta, tes (your), etc.

Demonstrative adjectives: ce,cet,cette(this); ces(these)Interrogative adjectives: quel, quelle,quels, quelles (which)

All other adjectives should be placed followingthe noun they modify. Furthermore, Frenchadjectives change to agree in gender and numberwith the nouns that they modify. This means thatthere can be up to four forms of each adjective:masculine singular, feminine singular, masculineplural, and feminine plural. The rules for makingthe majority of adjectives feminine and plural arefairly straightforward:

Most adjectives add an E for feminine andan S for plural: vert, verts, verte, vertes.When the adjective ends in E, there is nodifference between the masculine andfeminine forms: rouge, rouges.When the adjective ends in S or X, there is

no difference between the singular andplural masculine forms: gris, grise, grises.

Advantages to AdverbsAn adverb is an invariable word—that is, it doesnot have variant endings. An adverb may modify averb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs canprovide additional information about time, manner,place, frequency, or quantity. They explain when,how, where, how often, or to what degreesomething is done.

The placement of French adverbs can be difficult.Whereas in English their placement is sometimesarbitrary (they may be found in front of or after theverb, or at the beginning or end of the sentence),the placement rules for French adverbs are muchmore strict. Here is a quick overview:

When the adverb is modifying a verb, it isplaced after the verb: Je regarde souventla télé le soir. (I often watch TV in the

evening.)When the adverb is modifying an adjectiveor another adverb, it is placed in front ofthat word: Je suis profondément ému. (Iam deeply moved.)

Preparing for PrepositionsPrepositions are the little words placed in front ofnouns in order to indicate a relationship betweenthat noun and a verb, an adjective, or another noun.Here are some common French prepositions:

à to, at, inaprès afteravant beforeavec withchez at the home/office of, amongdans inde from, of, aboutdepuis since, foren in, on, topendant during, whilepour for

sans withoutsur onvers toward

Progress with PronounsPronouns are words that substitute for nouns. Thereare more than a dozen different kinds of Frenchpronouns, but the most important for you as atraveler are subject, direct object, indirect object,reflexive, and relative pronouns. All but relativepronouns change according to the grammaticalperson that they represent. You already learnedabout subject pronouns—which are required withall verb forms except the imperative—in the verbsection. Now take a look at some other importantkinds of pronouns.

Direct Object PronounsJust as in English, the French language has directobject pronouns, words that replace the directobject. This is so that we don't say things like

“Marie was at the bank today. When I saw Marie, Ismiled.” It's much more natural to say “Marie wasat the bank today. When I saw her, I smiled."

The direct object is the person or thing thatreceives the action of the verb in a sentence. Tofind the direct object in a sentence, ask thequestion “who?” or “what?” For example: I'meating bread. What am I eating? Bread. The Frenchdirect object pronouns are as follows:

me mete youle him, it (masc)la her, it (fem)nous usvous youles them

Note that me, te, and le/la change to m', t', and l' infront of a vowel or silent H.

The most difficult aspect of direct object pronouns

is that they go in front of the verb in French.

Je le mange.I'm eating it.

Il la voit.He sees her.

Je t'aime.I love you.

Tu m'aimes.You love me.

Indirect Object PronounsIndirect objects are the people or things in asentence to/for whom/what the action of the verboccurs. I'm talking to Pierre. To whom am Italking? To Pierre (to him). Indirect objectpronouns are the words that replace the indirectobject. The French indirect object pronouns are:

me me

te yoului him, her, itnous usvous youleur them

Note that me and te change to m' and t' in front of avowel or silent H.

Like direct object pronouns, French indirect objectpronouns are placed in front of the verb:

Je lui parle.I'm talking to him.

Il leur achète des livres.He buys books for them.

Je vous donne le pain.I'm giving the bread to you.

Elle m'a écrit.She wrote to me.

Reflexive PronounsReflexive pronouns are used only with pronominalverbs (reflexive voice). Pronominal verbs indicatethat the subject is performing the action of the verbupon him/her/itself.

Reflexive pronouns agree with the subject of thesentence. Like direct and indirect object pronouns,the reflexive pronoun is placed directly in front ofthe verb in all tenses except the imperative. Thereflexive pronouns are:

subject pronoun reflexive pronounje metu teil, elle, on senous nousvous vousils, elles se

Note that me, te, and se change to m', t', and s' infront of a vowel or silent H.

Sentences that need a reflexive pronoun still need asubject pronoun as well—don't let what appears tobe redundancy throw you off.

Je me lève.I'm getting up.

Il se rase.He is shaving.

Nous nous parlons.We're talking to each other.

Ils ne s'habillent pas.They aren't getting dressed.

Reflexive verbs often have to do with parts of thebody or clothing. You can recognize reflexiveverbs by the se which precedes the infinitive. Hereare some common reflexive verbs:

s'asseoir to sit downse brosser (les cheveux, les

to brush (one's hair, one's teeth)

dents)se casser (la jambe) to break (one's leg)se coiffer to fix one's hairse coucher to go to bedse déshabiller to get undressedse doucher to take a showerse fâcher to get angrys'habiller to get dressedse laver to wash(les mains, la figure) (one's hands, one's face)se lever to get upse maquiller to put on makeupse raser to shavese regarder to look at oneselfse réveiller to wake upse souvenir de to remember

Relative PronounsJust as in English, a French relative pronoun linksa dependent/relative clause (i.e., a clause thatcannot stand alone) to a main clause. Qui and queare the most important French relative pronounsfor your purposes. There are no standardtranslations for these words; depending on context,

the English equivalents are who, whom, that, orwhich. Note that in French, relative pronouns arerequired, whereas in English, they are sometimesoptional.

Qui replaces the subject (person or thing)in the dependent clause:

Je cherche l'artiste. Il étudie à Paris.Je cherche l'artiste qui étudie à Paris.I'm looking for the artist (who is) studying in Paris.

Trouvez le chat. Il habite la cave.Trouvez le chat qui habite la cave.Find the cat that lives in the basement.

Qui also replaces an indirect object(person only) after a preposition:

C'est la femme avec qui je travaille.That's the woman with whom I work.

La fille à qui j'ai parlé est très sympathique.

The girl to whom I spoke is very nice.

L'étudiant à côté de qui je me suis assis . . .The student next to whom I sat . . .

Que replaces the direct object (person orthing):

J'ai acheté le livre. Ma soeur l'a écrit.J'ai acheté le livre que ma soeur a écrit.I bought the book (that) my sister wrote.

Qui est le peintre ? Je l'ai vu aujourd'hui.Qui est le peintre que j'ai vu aujourd'hui ?Who is the painter (that) I saw today?

In the NegativeMaking sentences negative in French is a bitdifferent than in English, due to the two-partnegative adverb. To make a sentence or questionnegative, place ne in front of the conjugated verband pas after it. Ne . . . pas translates roughly as

“not."

Je suis riche. Je ne suis pas riche.I'm rich. I'm not rich.

Il veut skier. Il ne veut pas skier.He wants to ski. He doesn't want to ski.

Vous êtes fatigué ? Vous n'êtes pas fatigué ?Are you tired? Aren't you tired?

More negative adverbs:

ne . . . pas encore not yetne . . . toujours pas still notne . . . pas du tout not at allne . . . plus no more, not anymorene . . . jamais neverne . . . que only

Il n'est pas encore prêt.He isn't ready yet.

Je ne lui parle toujours pas.

I still don't talk to him.

Je n'aime pas du tout les épinards.I don't like spinach at all.

Vous ne travaillez plus ?You don't work anymore?

Nous ne voyageons jamais.We never travel.

Il n'y a que deux chiens.There are only two dogs.

Asking QuestionsThere are three simple ways to ask questions inFrench:

1. Put est-ce que at the beginning of any sentence:

Est-ce que tu danses ?Do you dance?

Est-ce que tu aimes danser ?Do you like to dance?

2. Add the tag n'est-ce pas to the end of thesentence (when you expect the answer to be yes):

Tu danses, n'est-ce pas ?You dance, right?

Tu aimes danser, n'est-ce pas ?You like to dance, right?

3. Raise the pitch of your voice at the end of anysentence (informal):

Tu danses ?You dance?

TEssential French

his chapter contains some of the mostimportant French vocabulary for travelers. Itincludes essential phrases like “Do you speakEnglish?” and “I don't understand” as well aspolite phrases, yes/no, numbers, calendarvocabulary, and instructions for telling time.

Survival FrenchTake a look at the following French phrases—theymight come in handy as you begin communicating:

I speak a little French.Je parle un peu français.zheu parl uh(n) peu fra(n) seh

Do you speak English?Parlez-vous anglais ?par lay voo a(n) gleh

What does . . . mean?Que veut-dire . . . ?keu veu deer

How do you say . . . in French?Comment dit-on . . . en français ?kuh ma(n) dee to(n) . . . a(n) fra(n) seh

Repeat, please.Répétez, s'il vous plaît.ray pay tay seel voo play

More slowly. One more time.Plus lentement. Encore une fois.plu la(n) teu ma(n); a(n) kuhr oon fwa

I don't understand.Je ne comprends pas.zheu neu ko(n) pra(n) pa

I don't know. What?Je ne sais pas. Comment ?zheu neu say pa; kuh ma(n)

Language BasicsThe following vocabulary is about the most basicthere is—yes, no, and, or, and the WH questions.

yes ouiwee

no nonno(n)

okay d'accordda kuhr

and etay

or ouoo

who quikee

what quoikwa

when quandka(n)

where oùoo

why pourquoipoor kwa

how commentkuh ma(n)

Be PoliteBeing polite when traveling is an absolute must. Ifyou don't have time to learn much before youleave, at least know how to say “please” and“thank you."

please s'il vous plaîtseel voo pleh

please veuillez(in front of a verb; very formal)veu yay

thank you mercimehr see

thank you very much merci beaucoupmehr see bo koo

thank you so much mille fois mercimeel fwa mehr see

you're welcome de riendeu ryeh(n)

it was my pleasure je vous en priezheu voo za(n) pree

don't mention it il n'y a pas de quoieel nya pa deu kwa

pardon me pardonpar do(n)

excuse me excusez-moieh sku zay mwa

I'm sorry je suis désolé(e)zheu swee day zuh lay

bless you (after a sneeze) à vos souhaitsa vo sweh

cheers à votre santéa vuh treu sa(n) tay

Titles

Sir, Mr. Monsieurmeu syeu

Ma'am, Mrs. Madamema dam

Miss Mademoisellema deu mwa zel

I'm sorry to disturb you.Excusez-moi de vous déranger. eh sku zay mwadeu voo day ra(n) zhay

Enjoy your meal!Bon appétit ! bo na pay tee

Learning to Count AgainRemember learning how to count as a child? Nowyou get to do it again in French!

1 un uh(n)2 deux deu3 trois trwa4 quatre katr5 cinq seh(n)k6 six sees7 sept seht8 huit weet9 neuf neuf10 dix dees11 onze o(n)z12 douze dooz13 treize trehz14 quatorze ka torz15 quinze keh(n)z16 seize sehz17 dix-sept dee seht

18 dix-huit dee zweet19 dix-neuf deez neuf20 vingt veh(n)21 vingt et un veh(n) tay uh(n)22 vingt-deux veh(n) deu23 vingt-trois veh(n) trwa(etc.)30 trente tra(n)t31 trente et un tra(n) tay uh(n)32 trente-deux tra(n)t deu(etc.)40 quarante ka ra(n)t50 cinquante seh(n) ka(n)t60 soixante swa sa(n)

For 20 through 69, counting is almost just like inEnglish: the tens word (vingt, trente, quarante,etc.) followed by the ones word (un, deux, trois).The only difference is that for 21, 31, etc., theword “et” is introduced between the tens word andone: vingt-et-un, trente-et-un, quarante-et-un,etc.

Then it gets trickier. In French, 70 is literally

“sixty-ten.” 71 is soixante et onze (sixty andeleven), 72 is soixante-douze (sixty-twelve), andso on:

70 soixante-dix swa sa(n)t dees71 soixante et onze swa sa(n) tay o(n)z72 soixante-douze swa sa(n)t dooz73 soixante-treize swa sa(n)t trehz74 soixante-quatorze swa sa(n)t ka tuhrz

80 is literally four-twenties (think four-score), 81is four-twenty-one, and so on, all the way up to 90.90 is four-twenty-ten, 91 is four-twenty-eleven,etc.

80 quatre-vingts ka treu veh(n)81 quatre-vingt-un ka treu veh(n) tuh(n)82 quatre-vingt-deux ka treu veh(n) deu90 quatre-vingt-dix ka treu veh(n) dees91 quatre-vingt-onze ka treu veh(n) to(n)z(etc.)100 cent sa(n)200 deux cents deu sa(n)1,000 mille meel

2,000 deux mille deu meel1,000,000 un million uh(n) mee lyo(n)2,000,000 deux millions deu mee lyo(n)a billion un milliard uh(n) mee lyartrillion un billion uh(n) bee lyo(n)

Note that un billion is a false cognate, asmentioned in Introduction to French.

Telling TimeFrench doesn't have words for “A.M.” and “P.M.”In theory, you can use du matin for A.M., del'après-midi from noon until 6 P.M., and du soirfrom 6 P.M. until midnight, but that is not common.Instead, time is usually expressed on a 24-hourclock. Thus 3 p.m. would be translated as quinzeheures or 15h.

What time is it? It's . . .Quelle heure est-il ? Il est . . .keh leur ay teel; ee lay

one o'clock une heure

u neurtwo o'clock deux heures

deu zeur3:30 trois heurestrente/et demie

trwa zeur tra(n)t/ay deu mee4:15 quatre heures et quart

ka treur ay kar4:45 cinq heures moins le quart

seh(n) keur mwa(n) leu kar5:10 cinq heures dix

seh(n) keur dees6:50 six heures cinquante/sept heures moins dix

see zeur seh(n) ka(n)s/eh teur mwa(n) dees7 A.M. sept heures du matin

seh teur du ma teh(n)3 P.M. trois heures de l'après-midi/quinze heures

trwa zeur deu la preh mee dee/keh(n) zeur6 P.M. six heures du soir/dix-huit heures

see zeur du swar/dee zwee teurnoon midi

mee deemidnight minuit

mee nwee

The CalendarThe French calendar isn't too difficult, but thereare two things to be aware of: the French weekstarts on Monday, and days and months are notcapitalized in French.

Days of the Week

Monday lundi luh(n) deeTuesday mardi mar deeWednesday mercredi mehr kreu deeThursday jeudi zheu deeFriday vendredi va(n) dreu deeSaturday samedi sam deeSunday dimanche dee ma(n)sh

Months of the Year

January janvier zha(n) vyayFebruary février fay vree ayMarch mars marsApril avril a vreelMay mai mayJune juin zhweh(n)

July juillet zhwee yayAugust août ootSeptember septembre sehp ta(n) brOctober octobre uhk tuh brNovember novembre nuh va(n) brDecember décembre day sa(n) br

Seasons

spring printemps preh(n) ta(n)summer été ay tayautumn automne oh tuhnwinter hiver ee vehr

WMeeting People

herever you go, it's a good idea to knowhow to greet people and exchange pleasantries inthe local language. Aside from showing respect forthe language and culture of that country, being ableto chat with the people you meet will make yourtrip more enjoyable and less frustrating, foryourself as well as the locals.

GreetingsWhether going into a store, buying bread, or askingfor directions in France, try to make a point ofsaying hello and good-bye to the employees andother people you talk to. You'll notice that Frenchpeople do the same—it's common courtesy.

Greetings

Hello Bonjour bo(n) zhoorHi Salut sa lu

Good evening Bonsoir bo(n) swar

Leavetakings

Bye Salutsa lu

Good-bye Au revoiro reu vwar

Good night Bonne nuitbuhn nwee

See you soon À bientôt, à tout à l'heurea byeh(n) to; a too ta leur

See you tomorrow À demaina deu meh(n)

Until next time À la prochainea la pruh shen

Farewell Adieua dyeu

There are several different ways of saying “Howare you?"

Ça va ?sa va

Comment ça va ?kuh ma(n) sa va

Comment allez-vous ?kuh ma(n) ta lay voo

Comment vas-tu ?kuh ma(n) va tu

You can also ask the following questions:

How's it going?Ça roule ? Ça bouge ?sa rool; sa boozh

What's up?Quoi de neuf ?kwa deu neuf

Appropriate Responses

Fine Ça va sa vaI'm doing well Ça va bien sa va byeh(n)Not well Ça va mal sa va mal

So-so Comme ci, comme ça kum see kum saI'm fine Je vais bien zheu vay byeh(n)

Not much Pas grand chose pa gra(n) shozNot bad Pas mal pa malNothing new Rien de nouveau ryeh(n) deu noo vo

IntroductionsWhen meeting people for the first time, there arejust a couple of formulas that you need to be awareof.

What's your name? (formal)Comment vous appelez-vous ?kuh ma(n) voo za play voo

What's your name? (informal)Comment tu t'appelles ?kuh ma(n) tu ta pehl

I'd like to introduce . . . (formal)Je vous présente . . .zheu voo pray za(n)t

I'd like to introduce . . . (informal)Je te présente . . .zheu teu pray za(n)t

His name is . . .Il s'appelle . . .eel sa pehl

Her name is . . .Elle s'appelle . . .ehl sa pehl

My name is . . .Je m'appelle . . .zheu ma pel

Pleased to meet you.Enchanté.a(n) sha(n) tay

The Verb Avoir

Avoir means “to have” and is one of the most

Avoir means “to have” and is one of the mostcommon French verbs:

I have a problem.J'ai un problème.zhay uh(n) pruh blehm

He has three brothers.Il a trois frères.ee la trwa frehr

Avoir is used in a number of idiomaticexpressions, many of which are translated by “tobe” in English:

to be . . . years old avoir . . .ans

a vwar . . . a(n)to be afraid of avoir peur de

a vwar peur deuto be ashamed avoir honte

a vwar o(n)tto be cold avoir froid

a vwar frwato be hot avoir chaud

a vwar sho

to be hungry avoir faima vwar feh(n)

to be lucky avoir de la chancea vwar deu la sha(n)s

to be right avoir raisona vwar reh zo(n)

to be sick to one's stomach avoir mal au cœura vwar ma lo keur

to be sleepy avoir sommeila vwar suh may

to be thirsty avoir soifa vwar swaf

to be wrong avoir torta vwar tor

to have a headache avoir mal à la têtea vwar ma la la tet

to have a stomachache avoir mal à l'estomaca vwar ma la leh stuh ma

to intend to avoir l'intention dea vwar leh(n) ta(n) syo(n) deu

to look . . . (adjective) avoir l'air + adjectivea vwar lehr

to look like a . . . (noun) avoir l'air de + nouna vwar lehr deu

to need avoir besoin de

a vwar beu zweh(n) deuto want avoir envie de

a vwar a(n) vee deu

How old are you? I'm thirty (years old).Quel âge avez-vous / as-tu ? J'ai trente ans.keh lazh a vay voo / a tu; zhay tra(n) ta(n)

The verb conjugations for avoir are irregular:

Past Present Futurej' avais [a veh] ai [ay] aurai [o ray]tu avais [a veh] as [a] auras [o ra]il avait [a veh] a [a] aura [o ra]nous avions [a vyo(n)] avons [a vo(n)] aurons [o ro(n)]vous aviez [a vyay] avez [a vay] aurez [o ray]ils avaient [a vay] ont [o(n)] auront [o ro(n)]

Nationalities and LanguagesMeeting people from other countries and withdifferent native languages is pretty much a givenwhen you travel, and talking about where you arefrom is a good way to break the ice as well as an

interesting way to test your knowledge ofgeography. The following list includes nationalityadjectives in the masculine form; see FrenchGrammar Basics for an explanation of how to addfeminine endings.

African africaina free keh(n)

Algerian algérienal zhay ryeh(n)

(East) Asian asiatiquea zee a teek

Australian australieno stra lyeh(n)

Belgian belgebelzh

Brazilian brésilienbray zee lyeh(n)

Canadian canadienka na dyeh(n)

Chinese chinoisshee nwa

Dutch néerlandaisnay eur la(n) deh

Egyptian égyptien

ay zheep syeh(n)English anglais

a(n) glehEuropean européen

eu ruh pay eh(n)French français

fra(n) sehGerman allemand

a leu ma(n)Indian indien

eh(n) dyeh(n)Irish irlandais

eer la(n) dehItalian italien

ee ta lyeh(n)Japanese japonais

zha poh nehMexican mexicain

meh ksee keh(n)Moroccan marocain

ma roh keh(n)Polish polonais

poh loh nehPortuguese portugais

pohr tu geh

Russian russerus

Senegalese sénégalaissay nay ga leh

Spanish espagnoleh spa nyohl

Swiss suisseswees

The Verb ÊtreThe French verb être means “to be":

I am a French teacher.Je suis professeur de français.zheu swee pruh feu seur deu fra(n) seh

Are you ready?Es-tu prêt ?ay tu preh

Être is used with adjectives, nouns, and adverbs todescribe the current or permanent state of someoneor something:

He is handsome.Il est beau.ee lay bo

I'm in Paris.Je suis à Paris.zheu swee za pa ree

We are French.Nous sommes français.noo suhm fra(n) seh

He's over there.Il est là-bas.ee lay la ba

Être is an irregular verb:

Past Present Futureje (j') étais [ay teh] suis [swee] serai [seu ray]tu étais [ay teh] es [ay] seras [seu ra]il était [ay teh] est [ay] sera [seu ra]nous étions [ay tyo(n)] sommes [suhm] serons [seu ro(n)]vous étiez [ay tyay] êtes [eht] serez [seu ray]

ils étaient [ay tay] sont [so(n)] seront [seu ro(n)]

As noted earlier, there are a number of expressionswith “to be” in English which use avoir rather thanêtre.

Family MembersTalking about family is another interesting way toshare information about yourself at the same timethat you get to know other people.

aunt une tanteta(n)t

brother un frèrefrehr

cousin (female) une cousinekoo zeen

cousin (male) un cousinkoo zeh(n)

daughter une fillefeey

father un pèrepehr

granddaughter une petite-fillepeu teet feey

grandfather un grand-pèregra(n) pehr

grandmother une grand-mèregra(n) mehr

grandson un petit-filspeu tee fees

husband un marima ree

mother une mèremehr

nephew un neveuneu veu

niece une niècenyehs

sister une sœurseur

son un filsfees

uncle un oncleo(n)kl

wife une femmefam

NAirports and Hotels

ow that you know the basic formulas formeeting people and being polite, it's time to figureout how to get where you're going and where tostay. This chapter deals with the airport and hotelvocabulary that will help you make reservations,buy your ticket, negotiate the airport, get on theplane, go through customs, and deal with the hotel.

The Verb VouloirThe French verb vouloir means “to want":

I want to dance with you.Je veux danser avec toi.zheu veu da(n) say a vehk twa

Do you want to speak?Voulez-vous parler ?voo lay voo par lay

Vouloir is an irregular French verb, and its mostimportant tenses are the present and past.

Past Presentje voulais [voo leh] veux [veu]tu voulais [voo leh] veux [veu]il voulait [voo leh] veut [veu]nous voulions [voo lyo(n)] voulons [voo lo(n)]vous vouliez [voo lyay] voulez [voo lay]ils voulaient [voo lay] veulent [veul]

The future conjugation of vouloir isn't necessary,as you are unlikely to need to say “I will want.”However, there are two additional conjugations ofvouloir that you will find helpful when makingrequests: voudrais (would like) and veuillez, thevous form of the imperative, used to express a verypolite request:

I'd like a ticket.Je voudrais un billet.zheu voo dreh uh(n) bee yay

I'd like to leave tomorrow.Je voudrais partir demain.zheu voo dreh par teer deu meh(n)

Please (be so kind as to) excuse me.Veuillez m'excuser.veu yay mehk sku zay

Please sit down.Veuillez vous asseoir.veu yay voo za swar

The Verb AllerAnother essential verb for travelers is aller, whichmeans “to go” and is used just like its Englishequivalent:

I'm going to Paris.Je vais à Paris.zheu veh a pa ree

He's going with us.

Il va avec nous.eel va a vek noo

Past Present Futureje (j')suis allé [swee za lay] vais [vay] irai [ee ray]

tues allé [ayz a lay] vas [va] iras [ee ra]

ilest allé [ay ta lay] va [va] ira [ee ra]

noussommes allés [suhm za lay] allons [a lo(n)] irons [ee ro(n)]

vousêtes allé(s) [ehtz a lay] allez [a lay] irez [ee ray]

ilssont allés [so(n) ta lay] vont [vo(n)] iront [ee ro(n)]

As in English, the verb aller can be used toexpress the near future, usually translated as “goingto.” It is formed by conjugating aller and followingit with the infinitive of the action that is about tooccur:

I'm going to study.

Je vais étudier.zheu vayz eh too dee eh

They are going to eat in five minutes.Ils vont manger dans cinq minutes.eel voh(n) mahn zheh da(n) sank meen oot

Airport and Flight VocabularyArmed with verb conjugations for making requestsand talking about what you're going to do, you'renow ready to make your reservation, buy yourticket, and get on the plane. Here are the Frenchphrases you'll need.

People, Places, and Things

airplane un aviona vyo(n)

airport un aéroporta ay ruh por

baggage les bagagesba gazh

boarding pass la carte d'embarquement

kart da(n) bar keu ma(n)carry-on luggage les bagages à main

ba gazh a meh(n)cart un chariot

sha ryochecked luggage les bagages enregistrés

ba gazh a(n) reu zhee straycheck-in desk l'enregistrement

a(n) reu zhee streu ma(n)departures les départs

day parduty-free shop une boutique hors taxes

boo teek ohr taksearly en avance

a(n) na vanslate en retard

a(n) reu tarpassenger un passager

pa sa zhaypassport un passeport

pas porpilot le pilote

pee lohtsecurity check le contrôle de sécurité

ko(n) trol deu say ku ree tay

shuttle une navettena veht

steward un stewardsteu art

stewardess une hôtesse de l'airo tehs deu lehr

visa un visavee za

Ticket Information

airline une compagnie aérienneko(n) pa nyee a ay ryehn

economy (coach) class la classe touristeklas too reest

first class la première classepreu myehr klas

flight un volvohl

gate une portepohrt

one-way ticket un billet allerbee yay a lay

plane ticket un billet d'avionbee yay da vyo(n)

round-trip ticket un billet aller-retour

bee yay a lay reu toorstopover une escale

eh skalterminal une aérogare

a ay roh gar

Travel Verbs

to board embarquera(n) bar kay

to buy a ticket acheter un billeta sheu tay uh(n) bee yay

to check bags enregistrer (les bagages)a(n) reu zhee stray

to make a reservation faire une réservationfehr oon ray zehr va syo(n)

to sit down s'asseoirsa swar

to take off décollerday koh lay

Baggage Claim, Immigration,and CustomsOnce you've arrived at your destination, you need

Once you've arrived at your destination, you needto collect your luggage and go through immigrationand customs. Here is the vocabulary you may need.

Arrivals and Baggage

to land atterrira tay reer

arrivals les arrivéesa ree vay

baggage claim la réception des bagagesray sehp syo(n) day ba gazh

My luggage is missing.Mes bagages sont égarés.may ba gazh so(n) tay ga ray

Immigration and Customs

immigration l'immigrationee mee gra syo(n)

immigration form le formulaire d'immigrationfohr moo lehr dee mee gra syo(n)

last name le nom de familleno(n) deu fa meey

first name le prénompray no(n)

customs la douanedwan

nothing to declare rien à déclarerryeh na day kla ray

customs declaration formle formulaire de douanefuhr moo lehr deu dwan

Here's my passport.Voici mon passeport.vwa see mo(n) pas pohr

I have a visa.J'ai un visa.zhay uh(n) vee za.

I don't have a visa.Je n'ai pas de visa.zheu nay pa deu vee za

I would like to declare . . .

Je voudrais déclarer . . .zheu voo dreh day kla ray

Get a Room!You made it! After your flight and airportnegotiations, you're probably ready to take a napbefore going out to explore the town. Here aresome words and phrases for getting theaccommodations you want.

I would like a room for/with . . .Je voudrais une chambre pour/avec . . .zheu voo dreh oon sha(n)br poor/a vehk

one night une nuitoon nwee

two nights deux nuitsdeu nwee

one person une personneoon pehr sohn

two people deux personnesdeu pehr sohn

two beds deux lits

deu leea double bed un grand lit

u(n) gra(n) leea shower in the room une douche dans la chambre

oon doosh da(n) la sha(n)bra bathtub une baignoire

oon beh nwara toilet des toilettes

day twa lehta television une télévision

oon tay lay vee zyo(n)a telephone un téléphone

u(n) tay lay fuhnair conditioning la climatisation

la klee ma tee zah syo(n)

Do you have . . . ? Is there . . . ?Avez-vous . . . ? Est-ce qu'il y a . . . ?a vay voo; es keel ee a

elevator un ascenseuru na sa(n) seur

laundry service un service de lessiveu(n) sehr vees deu lay seev

hairdresser/barber un coiffeur

u(n) kwa feurparking lot/garage un parking

u(n) par keengrestaurant un restaurant

u(n) reh sto ra(n)pool une piscine

oon pee seen

At the HotelYou're almost there—you just need to know thevocabulary to get around the hotel, pay the bill, andrequest a wake-up call.

hotel l'hôtelo tehl

accommodations le logementluhzh ma(n)

no vacancy completco(n) pleh

1st floor (US), ground floor (UK) le rez-de-chausséeray deu sho say

2nd floor (US), 1st floor (UK) le premier étagepreu myay ay tazh

hallway le couloir

koo lwarroom la chambre

sha(n)brdoor la porte

portwindow la fenêtre

feu nehtrbed le lit

leepillow l'oreiller

o ray aysofa le canapé

ka na paydresser la commode

kuh muhdlamp la lampe

la(n)pbathroom la salle de bains

sal deu beh(n)lavatory les toilettes, les W.-C.

twa leht; leh vay saytowel la serviette

sehr vyehtelevator l'ascenseur

sa(n) seur

laundry service le service de blanchisserieseur vees deu bla(n) shees er ee

hairdresser/barber le coiffeurkwa feur

parking lot/garage le parkingpar keeng

restaurant le restaurantreh sto ra(n)

pool la piscinepee seen

I would like a wake-up call at 8 A.M.Je voudrais être réveillé à huit heures.zheu voo dreh eht ray vay ay a weet eur

What is the check-out time?Il faut libérer la chambre à quelle heure ?eel fo lee bay ray la sha(n)br a kel leur

Paying Your WayHow much is it?C'est combien ?say co(n) bye(n)

I would like to pay my bill.Je voudrais régler mon compte.zheu voo dreh ray glay mo(n) co(n)t

The bill is incorrect.L'addition n'est pas correcte.la dee syo(n) nay pa kuh rehkt

I would like to pay . . .Je voudrais payer . . .zheu voo dreh pay ay

in cash en espècesa(n) eh spehs

with traveler's checks avec des chèques de voyagea vehk day shehk deu vwa yazh

with a credit card avec une carte de credita veh koon kart deu kray dee

W

Getting AroundTown

hether you're renting your own car orplanning to use public transportation, you'll needsome special vocabulary. This chapter includes theFrench terms for various types of transportation aswell as helpful phrases related to asking fordirections and renting a car.

Asking for DirectionsSometimes it's fun just to wander aimlessly anddiscover all kinds of hidden treasures. If you're ina hurry, though, there's no shame in asking fordirections.

Where is . . . ? It's . . .Où se trouve . . . ? C'est . . .oo seu troov; say

left à gauchea gosh

right à droitea drwat

straight (ahead) tout droittoo drwa

next to à côté dea ko tay deu

in front of devantdeu va(n)

in back of derrièredeh ree air

up en hauta(n) ho

down en basa(n) ba

near (to) près (de)preh deu

far (from) loin (de)lwa(n) deu

north nordnohr

south sudsood

east est

ehstwest ouest

oo west

Places to GoHow can you ask for directions if you don't knowhow to say the name of the place you're lookingfor? Here's some vocabulary to help you out.

bank la banqueba(n)k

church l'égliseay gleez

currency exchange le bureau de changeboo ro deu sha(n)zh

hospital l'hôpitalo pee tal

hotel l'hôtelo tehl

movie theater le cinémasee nay ma

museum le muséemoo zay

park le parcpark

police station le commissariatko mee sa rya

post office la postepohst


school l'écoleay kohl

theater le théâtretay ahtr

Other places you might like to go, including storesand other businesses, are covered in Shopping andServices.

Types of TransportationThe method of transportation you plan on usingwill determine which vocabulary is most useful toyou, so figure that out first.

transportation le transporttra(n) spohr

car la voiture

vwa toortaxi le taxi

ta kseetaxi stand la station de taxi

sta syo(n) deu ta kseetrain le train

tra(n)train platform le quai

kaytrain station la gare

garbus l'autobus

o to boosbus stop l'arrêt du bus

a reh doo boosbus station la gare routière

gar roo tyairsubway le métro

may trosubway station la gare de métro

gar deu may trobike un vélo

vay lomoped une mobylette

mo bee leht

boat un bateauba to

Renting a CarIf you're staying in a large city like Paris or goingfrom one city to another, public transportation andtrains are perfect. On the other hand, if you plan tovisit numerous cities and/or the countryside,renting a car can be just the thing.

I'd like to rent a car.Je voudrais louer une voiture.zheu voo dreh loo ay oon vwa toor

automatic avec transmission automatiquea vehk tra(n) smee syo(n) o to ma teek

economy car économieay kuh noh mee

compact car compacteko(n) pakt

mid-size car intermédiairee(n) tehr may dyehr

luxury car de luxedeu looks

convertible décapotableday ka poh tabl

4x4 un quatre-quatrekat katr

truck un camionka myo(n)

How much will it cost?C'est combien ?say ko(n) bye(n)

Do I have to pay by the kilometer?Dois-je payer au kilomètre ?dwa zheu pay ay o kee luh metr

Is insurance included?L'assurance est-elle comprise ?la su ra(s) ay tehl ko(n) preez

I'd like to pay by credit card.Je voudrais payer par carte de crédit.zheu voo dreh pay ay par kart deu cray dee

Where can I pick up the car?Où puis-je prendre la voiture ?oo pwee zheu pra(n)dr la vwa toor

When do I have to return it?Quand dois-je la rendre ?ka(n) dwa zheu la ra(n)dr

Can I return it to Lyon/Nice?Puis-je la rendre à Lyon/Nice ?pwee zheu la ra(n)dr a lyo(n)/nees

Car and DriverThere's some vocabulary that will come in handywhile you're driving, but you should probably askyour co-pilot to read it to you when you're actuallyon the road.

brake lights les feux de stopfeu deu stuhp

brakes les freinsfreh(n)

broken-down en panne

a(n) pandriver un conducteur

ko(n) dook teurgas, petrol de l'essence (f)

deu leh sa(n)sgas pedal l'accélérateur

a ksay lay ra teurgas station une station-service

sta syo(n) sehr veesheadlights les phares

farhigh beams les feux de route

feu deu roothighway une autoroute

o to roothitchhiking l'auto-stop (m)

o to stohpon the way en route

a(n) rootregular gas essence ordinaire

eh sa(n)s ohr dee nehrright-of-way priorité

pree o ree taysteering wheel le volant

voh la(n)

stop light le feu rougefeu roozh

street la rueroo

toll un péagepay azh

traffic jam un embouteillagea(n) boo tay yazh

trip une excursioneh ksoor zyo(n)

turn signal le clignotantklee nyoh ta(n)

windshield un pare-brisepar breez

windshield wipers les essuie-glaceseh swee glas

Useful Driving VerbsTo round out this chapter on transportation, hereare some essential verbs related to driving.

to cross traversertra vehr say

to drive conduire

ko(n) dweerto fill up faire le plein

fehr leu pleh(n)to go, move circuler

seer koo layto park stationner

sta syo nayto pass doubler

doo blayto turn tourner

toor nay

ETime for Dinner

ating out can be either a wonderful experienceor a terrible one. This chapter includes essentialphrases to help you figure out what's on the menuand order it correctly.

Eating OutFirst, here are some general words and phrasesrelated to eating out.

Meals and Courses

meal le repasreu pa

breakfast le petit-déjeunerpeu tee day zheu nay

lunch le déjeunerday zheu nay

dinner le dînerdee nay

snack le goûter

goo tayappetizers les hors-d'oeuvre

ohr deuvrstarter l'entrée

a(n) traysoup la soupe, le potage

soop; poh tazhmain course le plat principal

pla preh(n) see palsalad la salade

sa laddessert le dessert

deh sehr

At the Restaurant


café un caféka fay

kitchen la cuisinekwee zeen

dining room la salle à mangersa la ma(n) zhay

waiter le serveur

sehr veurwaitress la serveuse

sehr veuzcook le chef

shehf

The word garçon means “boy” and should neverbe used to get your waiter's attention. It is nolonger an acceptable term—use Monsieur instead.

Food OptionsBefore getting into the nitty gritty of ordering yourmeal, you need to know what your choices are,right? Take a look at the following lists of differentkinds of food.

Fruit (les fruits)

apple une pommepohm

apricot un abricota bree ko

banana une bananeba nan

blackberry une mûremoor

blueberry une myrtillemeer teey

cherry une ceriseseu reez

grape un raisinreh zeh(n)

grapefruit un pamplemoussepa(n) pleu moos

lemon un citronsee tro(n)

lime un citron vertsee tro(n) vehr

orange une orangeoh ra(n)zh

peach une pêchepehsh

pear une poirepwar

plum une pruneproon

raspberry une framboisefra(n) bwaz

strawberry une fraise

frehz

Vegetables (les légumes)

artichoke un artichautar tee sho

asparagus les asperges (f)a spehrzh

bean un haricota ree ko

carrot la carotteka roht

cauliflower le chou-fleurshoo fleur

celery le célerisay lree

corn le maïsma ees

cucumber le concombreko(n) ko(n)br

eggplant une aubergineo behr zheen

lettuce la laituelay too

mushroom le champignon

sha(n) pee nyo(n)onion un oignon

uh nyo(n)peas les petits pois (m)

peu tee pwapotato la pomme de terre

puhm deu tehrradish le radis

ra deespinach les épinards

ay pee nartomato la tomate

toh mat

Meat, Fish, Poultry (la viande, le poisson,la volaille)

anchovies les anchoisa(n) shwa

chicken le pouletpoo leh

fish le poissonpwa so(n)

ham le jambonzha(n) bo(n)

lamb l'agneau (m)a nyo

pork le porcpohr

rabbit le lapinla peh(n)

roast beef le rosbifrohs beef

sausage le saucissonso see so(n)

snails les escargots (m)eh skar go

steak le bifteckbeef tehk

turkey la dindedeh(n)d

veal le veauvo

Meat Prep

rare bleubleu

medium-rare saignantseh nya(n)

medium well-done à pointa pweh(n)

well done bien cuitbyeh(n) kwee

Dairy (les produits laitiers)

buttermilk le babeurreba beur

butter le beurrebeur

cream la crèmekrehm

sour cream la crème fraîchekrehm frehsh

cheese le fromagefroh mazh

cream cheese le fromage blancfroh mazh bla(n)

ice cream la glaceglas

milk le laitleh

yogurt le yaourtya oort

Dessert(le dessert)

cake le gâteauga to

candy les bonbonsbo(n) bo(n)

cheese le fromagefroh mazh

chocolate le chocolatshoh koh la

chocolate mousse la mousse au chocolatmoo so shoh koh la

cookie le biscuitbee skwee

custard la crème brûléekrehm broo lay

flan la crème caramel, flankrehm ka ra mehl, fla(n)

fruit les fruits (m)frwee

ice cream la glaceglas

pie la tartetart

vanilla la vanille

va neey

Et cetera

almond l'amandea ma(n)d

bread le painpeh(n)

croissant le croissantkrwa sa(n)

egg l'œuf (m)euf

eggs les œufslay zeu

fries les fritesfreet

jam la confitureko(n) fee toor

mayonnaise la mayonnaisema yoh nehz

mustard la moutardemoo tard

pasta les pâtespaht

peanut l'arachide, la cacahuète

a ra sheed, ka ka wehtpepper le poivre

pwavrrice le riz

reesalt le sel

sehlsugar le sucre

sukrtoast le pain grillé

peh(n) gree yaywheat le blé

blay

BeveragesTo go along with your food, here are some drinkchoices.

beverage la boissonbwa so(n)

beer la bièrebyehr

after-dinner drink le digestifdee zheh steef

cocktail un apéritifa pay ree teef

coffee le caféka fay

espresso un expressek sprehs

hot chocolate le chocolat chaudshoh koh la sho

juice le jusjoo

lemonade le citron pressésee tro(n) preh say

milk le laitleh

tea le thétay

water l'eauo

wine le vinveh(n)

Dishes and SilverwareIf you need to ask for another fork or napkin, here'sthe vocabulary you'll need.

bowl un bolbohl

cup (tea/coffee type) une tassetas

fork une fourchettefoor sheht

glass un verrevehr

knife un couteaukoo to

napkin une serviettesehr vyeht

plate une assiettea syeht

saucer une soucoupesoo koop

spoon une cuillerkwee yehr

wine glass un verre à vinveh ra veh(n)

bottle une bouteilleboo tay

can, box, tin une boîtebwat

jar, cup un pot

po

Order Your MealNow that you know the food vocabulary, you'reready to talk about and order your meal.

to be hungry avoir faima vwar feh(n)

to be thirsty avoir soifa vwar swaf

to order commanderkuh ma(n) day

to drink boirebwar

to eat mangerma(n) zhay

check/bill l'addition (f)a dee syo(n)

menu la cartekart

side order à la carte(not part of le menu) a la kartfixed-price meal le menu

meu noo

tip le pourboirepoor bwar

tip included service comprissehr vees ko(n) pree

tip not included service non comprissehr vees no(n) ko(n) pree

What would you like? I would like . . .Que voudriez-vous ? Je voudrais . . .keu voo dryay voo; zheu voo dreh

What are you having?Que prenez-vous ?keu preu nay voo

I'm going to have . . .Je vais prendre . . .zheu vay pra(n)dr

How much does . . . cost?Combien coûte . . . ?ko(n) byeh(n) koot

Enjoy your meal!

Bon appétit !bo na pay tee

No smoking!Défense de fumer !day fa(n)s deu foo may

No pets allowed.Les animaux sont interdits.lay za nee mo so(n) teh(n) tehr dee

Dietary RestrictionsTraveling doesn't have to mean being forced to eatthings you normally shouldn't. Use these Frenchphrases to explain your dietary restrictions. Beginwith “I am” (je suis, pronounced “zheu swee"):

allergic to allergique àa lehr zheek a

diabetic diabétiquedya bay teek

on a diet au régimeo ray zheem

vegetarian végétarien/végétariennevay zhay ta ryeh(n)/vay zhay ta ryeh(n)(n)

I can't eat . . .Je ne peux pas manger . . .zheu neu peu pa ma(n) zhay

Y

Shoppingand Services

ou may be on vacation, but life goes on asusual—your clothes are getting dirty, your hair isgrowing, and you might not want to eat in arestaurant three times a day. This chapter includesphrases related to stores and services.

Stores and BusinessesTake a look at this list of stores and businesses youmight want to visit.

bakery une boulangerieboo la(n) zhree

bank une banquebahnk

butcher shop une boucherieboo shree

candy store une confiserieko(n) fee zree

clothing store un magasin de confectionma ga zeh(n) deu ko(n) feh ksyo(n)

dairy une laiterieleh tree

department store un grand magasingra(n) ma ga zeh(n)

drugstore une drogueriedruh gree

dry cleaner une teinturerieta(n) toor er ree

fish market une poissonneriepwa so nree

grocery store une épicerieay pee sree

laundromat une blanchisseriebla(n) shee sree

newsstand un kiosqueki ohsk

outdoor market un marchémar shay

pastry shop une pâtisseriepah tee sree

pharmacy une pharmaciefar ma see

pork butcher une charcuterie

shar koo treestore un magasin

ma ga zeh(n)supermarket un supermarché

soo pehr mar shaytobacco shop un tabac

ta bah

Laundromat and Dry CleanerIf you're traveling for a week or more, you'llprobably need to get your clothes cleaned at somepoint. This vocabulary can help.

to wash laverla vay

to dry séchersay shay

to dry clean nettoyer à secnay twa yay

bleach la javelzha vehl

change de la monnaiedeu la moh neh

dryer le séchoir automatiquesay shwar o to ma teek

fabric softener l'assouplissanta soo plee sa(n)

laundry le lingeleh(n)zh

soap le savonsa vo(n)

starch l'amidona mee do(n)

token un jetonzheu to(n)

washing machine le lave-lingelav leh(n)zh

Hair Salon or BarbershopPlanning to get your hair done? Be sure you knowhow to tell the stylist what you want.

to brush brosserbroh say

to blow dry faire le brushingfehr leu bruh shing

to color teindreteh(n)dr

to curl boucler

boo klayto cut couper

koo payto perm faire une permanente

fehr oon pehr ma na(n)tto shave raser

ra zayto wash laver

la vaylong long

lo(n)short court

coortoo cold trop froide

tro frwadtoo hot trop chaude

tro shodhair stylist le coiffeur, la coiffeuse

kwa feur; kwa feuz

Clothing and JewelryWhether shopping or doing laundry, this clothingvocabulary will come in handy.

bathing suit un maillot (de bain)ma yo deu beh(n)

boots des bottesboht

coat un manteauma(n) to

jacket un blousonbloo zo(n)

jeans un jeanjeen

pajamas un pyjamapee zha ma

pants un pantalonpa(n) ta lo(n)

raincoat un imperméableeh(n) pehr may abl

sandals des sandalessa(n) dal

shoes des chaussuressho soor

shorts un shortshort

sneakers des tennistay nees

socks des chaussettes

sho sehtski jacket un anorak

a noh raksweater un pull

poolT-shirt un tee-shirt

tee sheurt

Women's Clothing (Vêtements de femme)

bikini un bikinibee kee nee

blouse un chemisiersheu mee zee yay

bra un soutien-gorgesoo tyeh(n) gohrzh

dress une roberohb

half slip un juponzhoo po(n)

high-heeled shoes des chaussures à hauts talonssho soor a o ta lo(n)

miniskirt une minijupemee nee zhoop

nightgown une chemise de nuitsheu meez deu nwee

panties un slipsleep

pantyhose, tights un collantkoh la(n)

skirt une jupezhoop

slip une combinaisonko(n) bee nay zo(n)

suit un tailleurta yeur

stockings des basba

Men's Clothing (Vêtements d'hommes)

bow tie un nœud papillonneu pa pee yo(n)

boxer shorts un caleçonkal so(n)

cummerbund une ceintureseh(n) toor

shirt une chemisesheu meez

sport jacket une veste de sportvehst deu spohr

suit un costumekoh stoom

tie une cravatekra vat

tuxedo un smokingsmoh keeng

undershirt un maillot de corpsma yo deu kuhr

underwear des sous-vêtementssoo veht ma(n)

Jewelry (Bijoux)

barrette une barretteba reht

bracelet un braceletbra sleh

brooch une brochebrohsh

charm bracelet un bracelet à breloquesbra sleh a breu luhk

cufflink un bouton de manchetteboo to(n) deu ma(n) sheht

earring une boucle d'oreillebookl doh ray

engagement ring une bague de fiançaillesbag deu fya(n) sahy

necklace un collierkoh lyay

pendant un pendentifpa(n) da(n) teef

pin une épingleay peh(n)gl

ring une baguebag

tie pin une épingle de cravatefeeks kra vat

watch une montremo(n)tr

wedding ring une alliancea lya(n)s

Accessories (Accessoires)

backpack un sac à dossa ka do

belt une ceintureseh(n) toor

briefcase un porte-documentspohrt do koo ma(n)

eyeglasses des lunettesloo neht

gloves des gantsga(n)

handkerchief un mouchoirmoo shwar

hat un chapeausha po

mittens des mouflesmoofl

muffler un cache-nezkash nay

purse un sac à mainsa ka meh(n)

ribbon un rubanroo ba(n)

scarf un foulardfoo lar

shawl un châleshahl

sunglasses des lunettes de soleilloo neht deu soh lay

umbrella un parapluiepa ra plwee

wallet un portefeuille

puhrt feuy

Colors and SizesColors, like all French adjectives, have to agreewith the nouns they modify.

Colors (Couleurs)

purple violet(te)vyuh leh/leht

blue bleubleu

green vert(e)vehr/vehrt

yellow jaunezhon

orange orangeuh ra(n)zh

red rougeroozh

black noirnwar

white blanc(he)bla(n)/bla(n)sh

gray gris(e)

gree/greezbrown marron

ma ro(n)pink rose

rozlight blue bleu clair

bleu klehrdark blue bleu foncé

bleu fo(n) say

Sizes (Tailles)

clothing size la tailletahy

shoe size la pointurepweh(n) toor

What size do you wear? I wear a size . . .Quelle taille faites-vous ? Je fais du . . .kel tahy feht voo; zheu feh doo

French clothing and shoe sizes are numberedaccording to a different system than American andBritish, so you'll need to find a chart of

equivalents. If you don't know the numerical sizeor if you've tried something on and need a differentsize, you can use the following vocabulary:

large grandgra(n)

larger plus grandploo gra(n)

medium moyenmwa yeh(n)

small petitpeu tee

smaller plus petitploo peu tee

SOut on the Town

o you went shopping, bought some newclothes, got a haircut—now it's time to have somefun. There's a lot you can do: play games, watchsports, take in a movie or play—whatever interestsyou. In order to talk about all this, you'll need tostart by learning some verbs for active and passiveparticipation.

Active VerbsActive verbs are the ones you'll use to describesomething that you are actually participating in, asopposed to being a spectator. The active verbs thatwill come in most useful when talking aboutentertainment are faire (to do, make) and jouer (toplay).

The Verb Faire

Past Present

j'/je ai fait [ay fay] fais [fay]

tu as fait [a fay] fais [fay]

il a fait [a fay] fait [fay]

nous avons fait [a vo(n) fay] faisons [feu zo(n)]

vous avez fait [a vay fay] faites [feht]

ils ont fait [o(n) fay] font [fo(n)]

What are you doing?Que fais-tu ?keu fay too

I'm making my bed.Je fais mon lit.zheu fay mo(n) lee

In French, idiomatic expressions made up of a verb+ noun are often used where a simple verb existsin English. One French verb used in this way isfaire, which is commonly followed by a noun toindicate someone performing the action of thatnoun:

He likes to sail.

Il aime faire de la voile.ee lehm fehr deu la vwal

Don't pout.Ne fais pas la moue.neu fay pa la moo

The Verb Jouer

Past Presentj'/je ai joué [ay zhoo ay] joue [zhoo]

tu as joué [a zhoo ay] joues [zhoo]

il a joué [a zhoo ay] joue [zhoo]

nous avons joué [a vo(n) zhoo ay] jouons [zhoo o(n)]

vous avez joué [a vay zhoo ay] jouez [zhoo ay]

ils ont joué [o(n) zhoo ay] jouent [zhoo]

The verb jouer is used more or less like itsEnglish equivalent—with sports, games, andmusical instruments. The only tricky part is that thepreposition that follows jouer depends on what isbeing played. With sports and games, use thepreposition à. With musical instruments, use de.

Do you play tennis?Joues-tu au tennis ?zhoo too o tay nees

I play the piano.Je joue du piano.zheu zhoo doo pya no

Passive VerbsWhen you like to sit back and watch others dosomething, the passive verbs regarder (to watch)and voir (to see) will be useful.

The Verb RegarderRegarder is used to talk about watching television,movies, sports, etc.

He watched a movie.Il a regardé un film.ee la reu gar day uh(n) feelm.

I like watching tennis.

J'aime regarder le tennis.zhehm reu gar day leu tay nees

Past Presentj'/je ai regardé [ay re gar day] regarde [reu gard]

tu as regardé [a re gar d ay] regardes [reu gard]

il a regardé [a re gar d ay] regarde [reu gard]

nous avons regardé [a vo(n) re gar d ay] regardons [reu gar do(n)]vous avez regardé [a vay re gar d ay] regardez [reu gar day]

ils ont regardé [o(n) re gar day] regardent [reu gard]

The Verb VoirVoir is used with movies, sports, and theater.

I saw the tennis game.J'ai vu le match de tennis.zhay voo leu match deu tay nees

He's going to see a play.Il va voir une pièce.eel va vwar oon pyehs

Past Presentj'/je ai vu [ay voo] vois [vwa]

tu as vu [a voo] vois [vwa]

il a vu [a voo] voit [vwa]

nous avons vu [a vo(n) voo] voyons [vwa yo(n)]

vous avez vu [a vay voo] voyez [vwa yay]

ils ont vu [o(n) voo] voient [vwa]

Sports and GamesTo talk about playing a sport or game in French,use jouer à + the name of the sport or game.

baseball le base-ballbehz bol

basketball le basketbas keht

cards les cartescart

chess les échecsay shehk

football le football américainfoot bol a may ree keh(n)

golf le golfgulf

hockey le hockeyuh keh

soccer le footballfoot bol

tennis le tennistay nees

volleyball le volley(ball)voh lay (bol)

Faire de is used in front of the names of many non-game sports, where in English you would just use averb. For example, “I skate” or “I am skating”would be translated as Je fais du patinage. “Ibox” or “I am boxing” would be translated as Jefais de la boxe. The following chart lists otheractivity nouns that are used with faire de. The fewspecific French verbs that exist are listed inparentheses.

biking le cyclisme, le vélo

see kleezm; vay loboxing la boxe

bukshiking la randonnée

ra(n) duh nayjogging le jogging

juh geengrollerskating le patin à roulettes

pa teh(n) a roo lehtsailing la voile

vwalskating le patinage

pa tee nazhskiing le ski (skier)

skeecross-country skiing le ski de randonnée/fond

skee deu ra(n) duh nay/fo(n)downhill skiing le ski de descente/piste

skee deu deh sa(n)t/peestwater skiing le ski nautique

skee no teekswimming la natation (nager)

na ta syo(n)wrestling la lutte (lutter)

loot

Other HobbiesIf you have hobbies other than sports and games,the following vocabulary will be useful to you.Note that many of these use the verb faire as well.

cooking la cuisinekwee zeen

to cook cuisinerkwee zee nay

dancing la danseda(n)s

to dance danserda(n) say

fishing la pêchepehsh

to fish pêcherpeh shay

to go fishing aller à la pêchea lay a la pehsh

gardening le jardinagezhar dee nazh

to garden jardinerzhar dee nay

hunting la chasse

shasto hunt chasser

sha saymusic la musique

moo zeekto listen to music écouter de la musique

ay koo tay deu la moo zeekto play music jouer de la musique

zhoo ay deu la moo zeekflute la flûte

flootguitar la guitare

gee tarpiano le piano

pya nosaxophone le saxophone

sa kso fuhntrumpet la trompette

tro(n) pehtviolin le violon

vyo lo(n)reading la lecture

lehk toorto read lire

leer

Movies and TelevisionIf you enjoy passive activities, you'll want to take aleisurely look at this vocabulary related to moviesand television.

movie le filmfeelm

to watch a movie regarder un filmreu gar day uh(n) feelm

movie theater le cinémasee nay ma

time/showing la séancesay a(n)s

seat la placeplas

television la télévisiontay lay vee zyo(n)

TV la télétay lay

to watch TV regarder la téléreu gar day la tay lay

dubbed doublédoo blay

subtitled sous-titré

soo tee tray

Live PerformancesOr maybe you like to watch live performances? Inthat case, you'll be glad to know the followingvocabulary.

theater le théâtretay atr

opera l'opérauh pay ra

symphony la symphonieseh(n) fuh nee

dance la danseda(n)s

show/performance le spectaclespehk takl

balcony le balconbal ko(n)

orchestra l'orchestreohr kehstr

NIn the Community

ow that you've learned all the French phrasesfor things such as shopping and entertainment,you're probably ready to think about your everydaytasks. This chapter deals with phrases related toshopping for food, going to the post office, buyingnewspapers, and other sorts of around-townsituations.

At the MarketThere are basically two ways that you can shop forfood in France. The traditional way is to go to allof the different specialized markets (le boucher formeat, le marché de légumes for vegetables) everyday, which is fun but time-consuming. The otherway is to buy everything at the supermarket.Whichever you decide to do, the following phraseswill be useful.

grocery store une épicerieay pee seu ree

outdoor market le marchémar shay

supermarket un supermarchésoo pehr mar shay

this one celui-ciseu lwee see

that one celui-làseu lwee la

these (ones) ceux-ciseu see

those (ones) ceux-làseu la

expensive chershehr

cheap pas cherpa shehr

Quantities, Weights, MeasuresAnother useful set of French phrases has to do withquantities, so that you can purchase the amount youwant.

How much does it weigh? It weighs . . . kilograms.Ça pèse combien ? Ça pèse . . . kilos.sa pehz ko(n) byeh(n); sa pehz . . . kee lo

bit, piece un morceaumuhr so

box, can une boîtebwat

bottle une bouteilleboo tay

jar un potpo

gram un grammegrahm

kilogram un kilo(gramme)kee lo (grahm)

liter un litreleetr

milliliter un millilitremee lee leetr

tin un bidonbee doh(n)

enough assez (de)a say

a lot, many beaucoup (de)

bo koohow many, much combien (de)

ko(n) byeh(n)more encore (de)

a(n) kuhrless, fewer moins (de)

mwe(n)a little un peu (de)

uh(n) peumore plus (de)

plootoo much, too many trop (de)

tro

At the BakeryEven if you find it convenient to do most of yourshopping at the supermarket, one place whereyou'll be happy to go every day is the bakery.Every French bakery is different and there arehundreds of different kinds of bread in all. Hereare some common terms you'll need.

baker le boulanger/la boulangèreboo la(n) zhay/boo la(n) zhehr

bakery la boulangerieboo la(n) zheu ree

bread le painpeh(n)

brown bread le pain bispeh(n) bee

chocolate croissant le pain au chocolatpeh(n) o shoh koh la

country bread le pain de campagnepeh(n) deu ka(n) pa nyeu

croissant le croissantkrwa sa(n)

French bread la baguetteba geht

French bread (thin) la flûtefloot

leavened bread le pain au levain(sourdough) peh(n) no leu veh(n)rye bread le pain de seigle

peh(n) deu sehglunleavened bread le pain azyme

peh(n) a zeemwholegrain bread le pain complet

peh(n) ko(n) pleh

Bread is different in France, so some of theEnglish terms are approximations rather than exacttranslations.

At the Post OfficeLa Poste offers more than you might expect of apost office. In addition to normal post officeservices, the French postal system also offerspostal checking accounts.

post office la postepuhst

counter, window le guichetgee sheh

mail le courrierkoo ryay

mailbox une boîte aux lettresbwat o lehtr

other destinations autres destinationso treu deh stee na syo(n)

stamp un timbreteh(n)br

book of stamps un carnet de timbres

kar neh deu teh(n)brbulk stamps des timbres en gros

teh(n)br a(n) groair mail par avion

pa ra vyo(n)change of address le changement d'adresse

sha(n)zh ma(n) da drehsExpress mail Chronopost

kro no puhstforwarding la réexpédition

ray ehk spay dee syo(n)general delivery la poste restante

puhst reh sta(n)tinsured assuré

a soo rayreceipt le reçu

reu sooregistered recommandé

reu ko ma(n) dayreturn receipt l'avis de réception

a vee de ray sehp syo(n)special delivery en express

ehk sprehsaddress une adresse

a drehs

envelope une enveloppea(n) veu luhp

letter une lettrelehtr

package un paquet, un colispa keh, kuh lee

post card une carte postalekart puh stal

recipient le destinatairedeh stee na tehr

sender l'expéditeurehk spay dee teur

size la dimensiondee ma(n) syo(n)

weight le poidspwa

money order un mandatma(n) dat

postal checking un compte chèque postal (CCP)account ko(n)t shehk puh stal

Computers and CybercafésIf you don't have your own computer, going to acybercafé is your best bet for checking e-mail,

printing documents, and surfing the Net. Here issome vocabulary to help you find your way.

computer un ordinateuruhr dee na teur

cybercafé un cybercafésee behr ka fay

CD-ROM drive un lecteur de CD-ROMlehk teur de say day ruhm

e-mail le courrielkoo ryehl

e-mail address une adresse électroniquea drehs ay lehk truh neek

file un fichierfee shyay

floppy disk une disquettedee skeht

hard drive un disque durdeesk door

Internet l'Interneteh(n) tehr neht

keyboard un clavierkla vyay

laptop un portablepuhr tabl

monitor un moniteurmuh nee teur

mouse une sourissoo ree

per hour (de) l'heure(deu) leur

printer une imprimanteeh(n) pree ma(n)t

scanner un scannerska nair

software un logicielluh zhee syehl

website un site webseet wehb

download téléchargertay lay shar zhay

receive recevoirreu seu vwar

send envoyera(n) vwa yay

NMiscellaneous French

o matter how many different ways you try toorganize something, it seems that there are alwaysa few odds and ends that don't fit neatly intocategories, and French phrases are no exception.This chapter combines all the topical phrases thatdon't fit anywhere else: weather, physicaldescriptions, personality, mood, possession, andlove language.

Weather WordsWhen all else fails, you can always fall back ontalking about the weather.

How's the weather? It is . . .Quel temps fait-il ? Il fait . . .kehl ta(n) feh teel; il feh

hot chaudsho

cold froidfrwa

cool fraisfreh

nice out beaubo

bad weather mauvaismo veh

humid humideoo meed

heavy lourdloor

sunny soleilsuh lay

cloudy nuageuxnwa zheu

stormy orageuxuh ra zheu

The following words may be used with “it's"—il(eel):

raining pleutpleu

pouring pleut à verse

pleu a vehrssnowing neige

nehzhfreezing gèle

zhehlwindy il y a du vent

eel ee ah doo va(n)foggy il y a du brouillard

eel ee ah doo brwee yar

Descriptive DataBeing able to describe a person's physicalattributes can come in handy in numeroussituations, from telling the police about a pick-pocket to talking to your friends about a potentialnew boyfriend or girlfriend.

man un hommeuhm

woman une femmefahm

boy un garçongar so(n)

girl une fille

feeytall grand/grande

gra(n)/gra(n)dshort petit/petite

peu tee/peu teetfat gros/grosse

gro/grosthin mince

meh(n)shandsome beau

bougly moche

muhshtan bronzé/bronzée

bro(n) zaypretty jolie

zhuh leebeautiful belle

behleyes les yeux

zyeuhair les cheveux

sheu veufreckles des taches de rousseur

tash deu roo seur

dimples des fossettesfuh seht

Personality PointsIf you're describing a pick-pocket, this vocabularywon't help much, but if you're talking about aboyfriend or girlfriend, personality vocabulary iseven more important than physical descriptions(well, maybe).

athletic sportifspuhr teef

boring ennuyeuxa(n) nwee yeu

brave courageuxkoo ra zheu

cowardly lâchelash

friendly aimableay mabl

funny drôledrol

hard-working travailleurtra va yeur

impatient impatienteh(n) pa sya(n)

interesting intéressanteh(n) tay ray sa(n)

kind gentilzha(n) tee

lazy paresseuxpa ray seu

mean méchantmay sha(n)

naive naïfna eef

nice sympathique, sympaseh(n) pa teek

open-minded sans préjugéssa(n) pray zhu zhay

outgoing ouvertoo vehr

patient patientpa tya(n)

patriotic patriotiquepa tryuh teek

playful taquinta keh(n)

serious sérieux

say ryeushy timide

tee meedsmart intelligent

eh(n) tay lee zha(n)snobbish snob

snuhbsophisticated raffiné

ra fee naystrong fort

fuhrstudious studieux

stoo dyeustupid stupide

stoo peedunfriendly froid

frwaweak faible

fehbl

Mood ManagementDescribe your mood or someone else's with thisFrench mood vocabulary.

angry fâchéfa shay

ashamed avoir hontea vwar o(n) teu

bored, annoyed ennuyéa(n) nwee yay

calm tranquilletra(n) keel

confident assuréa soo ray

confused désorientéday zuh rya(n) tay

delighted ravira vee

distressed, sorry navréna vray

embarassed confusko(n) foo

exhausted épuiséay pwee zay

happy heureuxeu reu

hyper(active) excitéehk see tay

lonely solitaire

suh lee tehrnervous nerveux

nehr veurushed, in a hurry pressé

preh saysad triste

treestscared effrayé

ay fray yaytired fatigué

fa tee gayworried inquiet

eh(n) kyeh

Love LanguageWhat would a book of French phrases be worth ifit didn't include love language in the language oflove?

I love you (too). I adore you.Je t'aime (aussi). Je t'adore.zheu tehm (o see); zheu ta durh

Will you marry me?

Veux-tu m'épouser ?veu too may poo zay

to date sortir avecsuhr teer a vehk

to get engaged se fiancer àseu fya(n) say a

to get married se marier avecseu ma ryay a vehk

engagement les fiançaillesfya(n) sahy

marriage la vie maritalevee ma ree tal

wedding les nocesnuhs

wedding anniversary l'anniversaire de mariagea nee vehr sehr deu ma ryazh

honeymoon la lune de mielloon deu myehl

present un cadeauka do

flowers des fleursfleur

candy des bonbonsbo(n) bo(n)

perfume le parfumpar fuh(n)

jewelry des bijouxbee zhoo

engagement ring une bague de fiançaillesbahg deu fya(n) sahy

wedding ring une alliancea lya(n)s

husband un marima ree

spouse un épouxay poo

fiance un fiancéfya(n) say

lover un amanta ma(n)

boyfriend un copainkuh peh(n)

friend un amia mee

wife une femmefahm

spouse une épouseay pooz

fiancee une fiancée

fya(n) say

lover une amantea ma(n)t

girlfriend une copineku peen

friend une amiea mee

T

CommonFrench Expressions

hroughout this book, you've been presentedwith lists of French vocabulary and phrasesorganized by topic or situation. This final chapteris different in that it provides lists of commonFrench expressions organized by verb. Some ofthese expressions can be more or less literallytranslated into English; those that cannot beliterally translated are known as idiomaticexpressions and are understandably more difficultto learn and remember.

Expressions with AllerThe French verb aller means “to go” and is anirregular verb (see the chapter titled Airports andHotels for conjugations).

to be going to aller + infinitive

to go fishing aller à la pêcheto go meet someone aller rencontrer quelqu'unto go on foot aller à piedto be becoming, to suit aller à quelqu'unto go meet someone aller au-devant de quelqu'unto get to the bottom of things aller au fond des chosesto match something aller avec quelque choseto get, to fetch aller chercherto go hand in hand with aller de pair avecto ride in a car aller en voitureGo ahead! Allez-y !Come on then. Allons donc !Let's go! Allons-y !How are you? Ça va ?That goes without saying Ça va sans direHow are you? Comment allez-vous ?How are you? Comment vas-tu ?Shall we go? On y va ?to go away s'en aller

Expressions with DonnerThe verb donner means “to give."

to guess that someone is . . . years old

donner . . . ans à quelqu'un

to be on full-blast (e.g., radio, TV)donner à fond, à plein

to make someone think thatdonner à quelqu'un à penser que

to face north/southdonner au nord/sud

to give someone an appetitedonner de l'appétit à quelqu'un

to make someone feel hungry/colddonner faim/froid à quelqu'un

to make someone seasickdonner le mal de mer à quelqu'un

to make someone feel dizzydonner le vertige à quelqu'un

to tell someone the timedonner l'heure à quelqu'un

to order someone to + verbdonner l'ordre à quelqu'un de + infinitive

to take something in to be repaireddonner quelque chose à (+ a business)

to give someone something to dodonner quelque chose à faire à quelqu'un

to trade, swapdonner quelque chose contre quelque chose

to give up one's seatdonner sa place

to offer one's friendship to someonedonner son amitié à quelqu'un

to give one's heart to someonedonner son cœur à quelqu'un

to give someone a kissdonner un baiser à quelqu'un

to give someone a calldonner un coup de fil à quelqu'un

to help someone outdonner un coup de main à quelqu'un (informal)

to sweep/dust quicklydonner un coup de balai/chiffon

Expressions with FaireIn addition to the uses of faire (to do, make) withweather, sports, and musical instruments discussedelsewhere in this book, the verb faire is used inmany common French expressions:

to pay attention to, watch out for faire attention àto welcome faire bon accueilto hitchhike faire de l'autostopto save up faire des économiesto do one's best faire de son mieux

to make progress faire des progrèsto make plans faire des projetsto do odd jobs, putter around faire du bricolageto oppose, face up to faire face àto be daylight, nightime faire jour, nuitto meet (for the first time) faire la connaissance deto cook faire la cuisineto do the laundry faire la lessive, le lingeto pout, sulk faire la moueto stand in line, to line up faire la queueto sulk faire la têteto do dishes faire la vaisselleto make the bed faire le litto do the shopping faire les achatsto do housework faire le ménageto pack faire les bagages, valisesto do the windows faire les vitresto run errands / to go shopping faire les coursesto go / walk around faire le tour deto be a part of faire partie deto get up and get dressed, to wash up faire sa toilette

to pretend to faire semblant deto say good-bye faire ses adieuxto do homework faire ses devoirs

to make one's bed faire son litto do one's best faire son possibleto wink at faire un clin d'œil àto make a blunder; do something stupid faire une bêtise

to make a strange / funny face faire une drôle de têteto blunder, make a mistake faire une gaffeto take a walk (a ride) faire une promenade

(en voiture)to make a complaint faire une réclamationto pay a visit faire une visiteto take a trip faire un voyage

Faire followed by a verb means “to makesomething happen” or “to have something done":

Le froid fait geler l'eau.Cold makes water freeze.

Je fais laver la voiture.I'm having the car washed.

Expressions with Mettre

Mettre literally means “to put” and is an irregular

Mettre literally means “to put” and is an irregularverb: je mets, tu mets, il met, nous mettons, vousmettez, ils mettent.

to take five hours to do (something) mettre cinq heures à faireto put money into mettre de l'argent dansto spend money on mettre de l'argent surto turn on the radio, mettre la radio, the news les informationsto bring out, enhance mettre en reliefto set the alarm mettre le réveilto set the table mettre la table/le couvertto bolt the door mettre le verrouto lay something down flat mettre quelque chose à platto stand something up mettre quelque chose deboutto set something straight mettre quelque chose droitto bring someone in line mettre quelqu'un au pas

Expressions with RendreRendre means “to give something back” or “toreturn something.” With an adjective, it means “tomake something” + that adjective, such as rendreheureux (to make happy).

to breathe one's last rendre l'âmeto worship rendre un culte àto glorify rendre gloire àto repay unfairly gotten gains rendre gorgeto give thanks to rendre grâce àto pay hommage to rendre hommage àto pay tribute to rendre honneur àto pay the last tributes to rendre les derniers

honneurs àto give someone a head start rendre des pointsto give a reason for something rendre raison

de quelque chose àto be a great help, to be handy rendre serviceto do someone a service rendre service à quelqu'unto breathe one's last rendre le dernier soupirto visit someone rendre visite à quelqu'un

Impersonal ExpressionsImpersonal expressions are those that do not havea specific subject. In French, the impersonalsubject is expressed with either il or ce. Theexpressions listed here can be followed by eitherde + infinitive or que + subject + conjugated verb:

It's important to study.Il est important d'étudier.

David is probably studying.Il est probable que David étudie.

It's amazing Il est étonnantIt's certain Il est certainIt's doubtful Il est douteuxIt's good Il est bonIt's important Il est importantIt's impossible Il est impossibleIt's improbable Il est improbableIt's necessary Il est nécessaireIt's normal Il est normalIt's not likely Il est peu probableIt's obvious Il est évidentIt's possible Il est possibleIt's probable Il est probableIt's rare Il est rareIt's regrettable Il est regrettableIt's shameful Il est honteuxIt's sure/certain Il est sûr/certainIt's time Il est tempsIt's too bad Il est dommage

It's true Il est vraiIt's useful Il est utileIt's useless Il est inutile

French to English Dictionary

A

à bientôt see you soonà côté de next toà demain see you tomorrowà deux lits with two bedsà droite rightà gauche leftà la carte side order (not part of “le menu")à la prochaine until next timeà point medium-rareà tout à l'heure see you soonà vos / tes souhaits bless you (after a sneeze)à votre / ta santé cheersun abcès abscessun abricot apricotun accélérateur gas pedalun accident accidentacheter to buyun acteur actorune actrice actress

l'addition check, billadieu farewellune adresse addressune aérogare terminalun aéroport airportune affiche posterafricain(e) Africanl'agneau lambune agrafe stapleune agrafeuse stapleralgérien(ne) Algerianallemand(e) Germanaller to goaller + infinitive to be going toaller à la pêche to go fishingaller à pied to go on footaller à quelqu'un to be becoming, to suitaller au fond des choses to get to the bottom of thingsaller avec quelque chose to match somethingaller chercher to get, to fetchaller de pair avec to go hand in hand withaller en voiture to ride in a caraller sans dire to go without sayings'en aller to go awayallergique à allergic to

Allez-y ! Go ahead!une alliance wedding ringAllô ? Hello?Allons donc ! Come on then.Allons-y ! Let's go!l'amande almondun(e) amante loverune ambulance ambulanceaimable friendlyun(e) ami(e) friendles anchois anchoviesune anesthésie locale local anesthesiaanglais(e) Englishles animaux sont interdits no pets allowedl'anniversaire de mariage wedding anniversaryun annuaire phone bookun anorak ski jacketaoût Augustun apéritif cocktailun appel en P.C.V. collect callappeler to callarabe Arabicl'arachide peanutl'argent moneyune armoire closetarracher to pull out, remove

l'arrêt du bus bus stop

l'arthrite arthritisles arrivées Arrivalsun artichaut artichokeun(e) artiste artistun ascenseur elevatorasiatique Asianles asperges asparagusl'aspirine aspirinune assiette platel'assistance helpassuré confident, insuredasthmatique asthmaAttention ! Watch out!atterrir to landAu feu ! Fire!Au revoir Good-byeAu secours ! Help!Au voleur ! Thief!une aubergine eggplantaustralien(ne) Australianune auto carl'autobus busautomne autumnune autoroute highway

l'auto-stop hitchhikingautres destinations other destinationsavec withAvez-vous un(e) . . . Do you have a(n) . . .un avion airplanel'avis de réception return receiptun(e) avocat(e) lawyer, barristeravoir to haveavoir . . . ans to be . . . years oldavoir besoin de to needavoir besoin de sucre to need sugar nowimmédiatementavoir besoin d'un to need an inhalerinhalateuravoir chaud to be hotavoir de la chance to be luckyavoir envie de to wantavoir faim to be hungryavoir froid to be coldavoir honte to be ashamedavoir l'air + adjective to look . . .avoir l'air de + noun to look like a . . .avoir l'intention de to intend toavoir mal à la tête to have a headacheavoir mal à l'estomac to have a stomach ache

avoir mal aux yeux to have an eyeacheavoir mal au coeur to be sick to one's stomach

avoir mal partout to ache all overavoir peur de to be afraid ofavoir raison to be rightavoir soif to be thirstyavoir sommeil to be sleepyavoir tort to be wrongavoir une attaque to have a strokeavoir une crise cardiaque to have a heart attackavril April

B

le babeurre buttermilkles bagages baggageles bagages à main carry-on luggageles bagages enregistrés checked luggageune bague ringune bague de fiançailles engagement ringune baguette French breadla baignoire bathtuble bain bathle bain moussant bubble bathle balcon balcony

une banane bananaune banque bankune barrette barrettedes bas stockingsle base-ball baseballla base (de maquillage) foundationle basket(-ball) basketballun bateau boatle baume démêlant hair conditionerbeau nice weather, handsomebelge Belgianbelle beautifulle beurre butterune bicyclette bicyclebien cuit well done (meat)la bière beerle bifteck steakdes bijoux jewelryun bikini bikiniun billet paper money, note, bill, ticketun billet aller-retour round trip ticketle billet d'avion plane ticketun billet aller one-way ticketle biscuit cookieblanc white

la blanchisserie laundromatle blé wheatbleu blue, rare (meat)bleu clair light bluebleu foncé dark blueblond(e) blondun blouson jacketboire to drinkune boîte can, box, tinune boîte aux lettres mailboxun bol bowlbon appétit ! enjoy your mealdes bonbons candyBonjour HelloBonne nuit Good nightBonsoir Good eveningdes bottes bootsla bouche mouthun boucher butcherla boucherie butcher shopbouclé curlyune boucle d'oreille earringun boulanger baker(une boulangère)la boulangerie bakeryune bouteille bottle

une boutique hors taxes duty-free shop

un bouton de manchette cufflinkla boxe boxingun bracelet braceletun bracelet à breloques charm braceletle bras armbrésilien(ne) Brazilianune broche broochbronzé tannedla brosse à cheveux hairbrushla brosse à dents toothbrushse brosser les cheveux to brush one's hairse brosser les dents to brush one's teethle brouillard fogdes brûlures d'estomac heartburnbrun brown (hair)un bureau desk, office, studyun bureau de change currency exchange

C

Ça bouge ? How's it going?Ça roule ? How's it going?ça va fineÇa va ? How are you?

ça va bien I'm doing wellça va mal not wellça va sans dire that goes without sayingune cabine téléphonique phone boothla cacahuète peanutun cache-nez mufflerun cadeau presentle café coffeeun café caféun cahier notebookun caissier (une caissière) cashierune calculatrice calculatorun caleçon boxer shortsun camion truckcanadien(ne) Canadianle canapé sofa, couchla canine canine toothune carie cavityun carnet de chèques checkbookun carnet de timbres book of stampsla carotte carrotla carte menu, mapune carte bancaire ATM/bank cardune carte de crédit credit cardla carte d'embarquement boarding pass

une carte postale post cardse casser le bras, la jambe to break one's arm, legune casserole baking dishune ceinture belt, cummerbundle céleri celerycent one hundredune cerise cherryC'est . . . à l'appareil. . . . is calling.C'est combien ? How much is it?C'est . . . It's . . .une chaîne stéréo stereoune chaise chairun châle shawlla chambre bedroom, hotel roomle champignon mushroomle changement d'adresse change of addresschanger de l'argent to change moneyun chapeau hatla charcuterie pork butcher, deliun chariot cartun charpentier carpenterla chasse huntingchasser to huntchaud hotdes chaussettes socks

des chaussures shoesun chef boss, managerun(e) chef cookune chemise file folder; men's shirt, blouseune chemise de nuit nightgownun chèque check, chequeun chèque certifié certified checkun chèque de voyage traveler's checkles cheveux hairla cheville anklechez le dentiste at the dentist's officechez moi at my housechinois(e) Chinesele chocolat chocolatele chocolat chaud hot chocolatele chou-fleur cauliflowerChronopost Express maille cinéma movie theatercinq fivecinquante fiftycirculer to go, moveun citron lemonle citron pressé lemonadeun citron vert limela classe touriste coach, economy classun classeur binder, filing cabinet

le clignotant turn signal

le coiffeur barber, hairdresserun colis packageun collant pantyhose, tightsun collège junior high schoolun collier necklaceune collision crashune combinaison slipCombien coûte . . . ? How much does . . . cost?commander to ordercomme ci, comme ça so-socomment howComment ? What?le commissariat police stationune commode dresserune compagnie aérienne airlineune copine girlfriendcomplet no vacancycomposer un numéro to dial a numberun compte chèque postal postal checking account(CCP)un compte d'épargne savings accountun compte-chèques checking accountcompter to countle concombre cucumber

un conducteur driverconduire to drivela confiserie candy storela confiture jamconfus embarassedun congélateur freezerconstipé constipatedun contrat contractle contrôle de sécurité security checkun copain boyfriendun costume suit (man's)le cou neckle coude elbowle couloir hallun coup de feu gunshotun coup de soleil sunburncourageux bravela couronne crownle courriel emaille courrier (postal) maille courrier arrivé inboxle courrier départ outboxun cours coursecourt short (length)un(e) cousin(e) cousin

un couteau knifeune craie chalk

une cravate tieun crayon pencilla crème creamla crème à raser shaving creamla crème brûlée custardla crème caramel flanla crème fraîche very thick creamla crème hydratante moisturizerun croissant croissantune cuiller à mesurer measuring spoonune cuiller spoonune cuillère à soupe tablespoonune cuillère à thé teaspoonla cuisine cooking, kitchencuisiner to cookune cuisinière stoveune culotte pantiesle cyclisme biking

D

d'accord okayla danse dance, dancing

danser to dancede rien you're welcomedécembre Decemberdéclarer to declaredécoller to take offdécrocher to pick up (the phone)défense de fumer no smokingdéfinitif/ve permanentle déjeuner lunchle démaquillant make-up removerla dent toothune dent cassée broken toothle dentifrice toothpasteun(e) dentiste dentistle déodorant deodorantles départs Departuresdépenser to spenddéposer to depositdésolé(e) sorrydésorienté confusedle dessert dessertle destinataire recipientle détartrage teeth cleaningdeux twola dévitalisation root canal

des devoirs homeworkdiabétique diabeticla diarrhée diarrheaun dictionnaire dictionaryle digestif after-dinner drinkdimanche Sundayla dimension size (of a package)la dinde turkeyle dîner dinnerle directeur général CEOle dissolvant nail polish removerdix tendix-huit eighteendix-neuf nineteendix-sept seventeenle doigt fingerle dos backla douane customsdoublé dubbeddoubler to passla douche showerdouze twelvela droguerie drugstoredrôle funny

E

l'eau waterl'eau dentifrice mouthwashles échecs chessune école schoolécouter (de) la musique to listen to musicun écrivain writereffrayé scaredl'église churchun égouttoir dishrackégyptien(ne) Egyptianun électricien electricianelle sheembarquer to boardembaucher to hireun embouteillage traffic jamun(e) employé(e) employeeun emprunt loanen arrière de in back ofen avance earlyen avant de in front ofen bas downen classe touriste in economy classen haut up

en panne broken-downen première classe in first classen retard lateen route on the wayenceinte pregnantenchanté pleased to meet youencore une fois one more timedes engelures frostbiteennuyé annoyed, boredennuyeux boringl'enregistrement check-inenregistrer (les bagages) to check bagsenrhumé cold (illness)une enveloppe envelopeune épaule shoulderl'épicerie grocery storeles épinards spinachune épingle pinune épingle de cravate tie pinune éponge spongeune épouse wifeun époux husbandépuisé exhaustedune escale stopoverun escalier stairway

les escargots snailsespagnol(e) Spanishdes espèces cashl'essence gas, petrolessence ordinaire regular gasles essuie-glaces windshield wipersest eastun estomac stomachet andune étagère bookshelfété summeréternuer to sneezeêtre to beun(e) étudiant(e) studenteuropéen(ne) Europeans'évanouir to faintun évier sink (kitchen)un examen testexcité hyper(active)une excursion tripexcusez-moi excuse mel'expéditeur senderune explosion explosionun expresso espresso

F

fâché angryfaible weakfaire to do, makele fard à joues blusherle fard à paupières eyeshadowfatigué tiredfatigué dû au jet laggeddécalage horaireune femme woman, wifeune femme de chambre maidune fenêtre windowun feu firele feu rouge stop lightles feux de route high beamsles feux de stop brake lightsune feuille de papier sheet of paperfévrier Februaryles fiançailles engagementun(e) fiancé(e) fiance(e)se fiancer to get engagedla fièvre feverle fil dentaire dental flossune fille girl, daughterle film movieun fils son

flamand Flemishune fleur flowerla flûte flute; thin French breadun(e) fonctionnaire civil servantle foot(ball) soccerle football américain football (US)fort strongdes fossettes dimplesun foulard scarfun four ovenun four à micro-ondes microwaveune fourchette forkfrais coolles frais feesune fraise strawberryune framboise raspberryfrançais(e) Frenchles freins brakesun frère brotherles frites friesfroid cold (temperature)le fromage cheesele fromage blanc cream cheeseles fruits fruit

G

gagner to earndes gants glovesun gant de cuisine oven mittun garçon boyla gare train stationla gare de métro subway stationgarer (la voiture) to parkla gare routière bus stationle gâteau cakegeler freezela gencive gumle genou kneegentil kindun gérant managerla glace ice creamle golf golfune gomme eraserle goûter snackgrand tallle grand magasin department storeune grand-mère grandmotherun grand-père grandfatherle grenier attic

un grille-pain toasterla grippe flugris graygros fatle guichet counter, windowun guichet automatique ATM machinebancaire (GAB)la guitare guitar

H

un haricot beandes hémorroïdes hemorrhoidsheureux happyhindou Hinduhiver winterle hockey hockeyun homme manhonteux ashamedl'hôpital hospitall'hôtel hotelune hôtesse de l'air stewardesshuit eighthumide humid

I

il he, itil y a there is, there arel'immigration immigrationimpatient impatientun imperméable raincoatune imprimante printerl'imprimé formindien(ne) Indianinfecté infectedun infirmier nurse(une infirmière)un ingénieur engineerune inondation floodinquiet worriedinsomniaque insomniacintelligent smartintéressant interestingl'iode iodineirlandais(e) Irishitalien(ne) Italian

J

la jambe legle jambon hamjanvier Januaryjaponais(e) Japanesele jardin garden, yardjardiner to gardenjaune yellowun jean jeansjeudi Thursdayle jogging joggingjoli good-lookingjolie prettyla joue cheekjouer à to play (game, sport)jouer de to play (music)un journal newspaperjuillet Julyjuin Juneune jupe skirtun jupon half sliple jus juice

K

un kilogramme (un kilo) kilogram

un kiosque newsstand

L

lâche cowardlylaid uglylaisser un message to leave a messagele lait milkla laitue lettuceune lampe lample lapin rabbitle lavabo sink (bathroom)se laver to wash (oneself)un lave-vaisselle dishwasherla lecture readingune lettre letterla lèvre liplicencier to lay offla lime à ongles nail filelire to readun lit bedun litre literun livre bookune livre poundle logement accommodations

loin (de) far (from)long longlourd heavylundi Mondayla lune de miel honeymoondes lunettes eyeglassesdes lunettes de soleil sunglassesla lutte wrestlinglutter to wrestle, to fightun lycée high school

M

la mâchoire jawMadame Ma'am, Mrs.Mademoiselle Missmai Mayla main handla maison houseun magasin storele magasin de confection clothing storeun magazine magazineun maillot (de bain) bathing suitun maillot de corps undershirtle maïs corn

le mal de mer seasicknessmalade sickle mandat money ordermanger to eatun manteau coatle maquillage make-upse maquiller to put on make-uple marché outdoor marketmardi Tuesdayun mari husbandle mariage weddingse marier avec to get marriedune marmite potmarocain(e) Moroccanmarron brownmars Marchle mascara mascaramauvais bad (weather)la mayonnaise mayonnaiseun mécanicien mechanicméchant meanun médecin doctorle menu fixed-price mealmerci (bien/beaucoup) thank you (very much)mercredi Wednesday

une mère motherle métro subwaymexicain(e) Mexicanmille one thousandmille fois merci bless you! (thank you so much)un mille mileun milliard billionun million one millionmince thinune minijupe miniskirtun miroir mirrorun mobile cell phoneune mobylette mopedmoche uglyla molaire molarla monnaie changeMonsieur Mr., Sirle montant amount, total, sumune montre watchune moquette carpetune moto motorcycleun mouchoir handkerchiefdes moufles mittensla mousse au chocolat chocolate moussela moutarde mustardun mur wall

une mûre blackberry

le musée museumla musique musicune myrtille blueberry

N

nager to swimnaïf naivela natation swimmingune navette shuttlenavré sorry, distressedne . . . pas notnéerlandais(e) Dutchneige snowneiger snow (verb)nerveux nervousneuf nine, newun neveu nephewle nez noseune nièce nieceles noces weddingnoir blacknoisette hazelnutnon no

nord northun noeud papillon bow tienovembre Novemberla Novocaïne Novocainse noyer to be drowningnuageux cloudyun numéro de téléphone phone number

O

octobre Octoberun oeil (des yeux) eye(s)l'oeuf eggun oignon onionun oncle uncleondulé wavyun ongle fingernailonze elevenl'opéra operaorageux stormyorange orange (color)une orange orangel'orchestre orchestraun ordinateur computerune oreille ear

un oreiller pillowun orteil toeou oroù whereOù est . . . ? Where is . . . ?ouest westoui yesouvert outgoing, openouvrez la bouche open your mouth

P

le pain breadle pain complet wholegrain breadle pain de seigle rye breadun pamplemousse grapefruitun pantalon pantsle papier paperun paquet packagepar avion air mailpar express special deliveryun parapluie umbrellale parc parkpardon pardon meun pare-brise windshield

paresseux lazyle parfum perfumele parking parking lot/garageun passager passengerun passeport passportles pâtes pastapatient patientle patin à roulettes rollerskatingle patinage skatingle patio patiola pâtisserie pastry shoppatriotique patrioticpayer to payun péage tollune pêche peachla pêche fishingpêcher to fishle peigne combune peinture paintingun pendentif pendantla pénicilline penicillinperdre to loseun père fatherpetit short (height)le petit-déjeuner breakfast

une petite annonce classified adune petit-fille granddaughterun petit-fils grandsonles petits pois peasla pharmacie pharmacyun(e) pharmacien(ne) pharmacistles phares headlightsle piano pianola pièce roomune pièce (de monnaie) coinun pied footle pilote pilotla pince à ongles nail clippersla pince à épiler tweezersune piqûre injectionla piscine poolun placard closetla place seatle plafond ceilingune planche à découper cutting boardle plat principal main courseun plombage fillingun plombier plumberla plongée divingplus more, veryune poêle frying pan

le poids weight

le poignet wristune poire pearle poisson fishla poissonnerie fish storela poitrine chestle poivre pepperun policier police officerpolonais(e) Polishune pomme applela pomme de terre potatoun pompier firemanle porc porkle porche porchune porte door, gateun porte-documents briefcaseun portefeuille walletportugais(e) Portuguesela poste post officela poste restante general delivery, hold mailun pot cup, jarle potage souple pouce thumb, inchle poulet chickenpour for

le pourboire tippourquoi whyla première classe first classle premier étage second floor (US)près (de) near (to)pressé rushed, in a hurryprintemps springle prix priceles produits laitiers dairy productsun professeur teacherprovisoire temporaryune prune plumles P.T.T. post officeun pull sweaterun pupitre student deskun pyjama pajamas

Q

le quai platformquand whenquarante fortyquatorze fourteenquatre fourqui who

quinze fifteenquoi what

R

raccrocher to hang uple radis radishraffiné sophisticatedraide straight (hair)un raisin grapela randonnée hikingrappeler to call backle rasage shavingse raser to shavele rasoir razorle rasoir électrique shaverravi delightedla réception des bagages baggage claimun(e) réceptionniste receptionistune recette reciperecommandé registeredun reçu receiptla réexpédition forwardingun réfrigérateur refrigeratorregarder la télé to watch TV

regarder un film to watch a movierégler le compte to pay the billun relevé de compte bank statementremplacer to replacele rendement yieldrenvoyer to firele repas mealun répondeur téléphonique answering machineun responsable managerle restaurant restaurantretirer to withdrawun réveil alarm clockle rez-de-chaussée first floor (US)un rhume des foins hay feverun rideau curtainrien nothingrincer to rinsele riz riceune robe dressle rosbif roast beefrose pinkune rose roserouge redle rouge à lèvres lipstickun rouleau à pâtisserie rolling pin

rouler to driveroux red (hair)un ruban ribbonla rue streetrusse Russian

S

un sac à dos backpackun sac à main pursesaigner to bleedles saisons seasonsla salade saladla salle roomla salle à manger dining roomla salle de bains bathroomune salle de classe classroomla salle de séjour denle salon living roomsalut hi, byesamedi Saturdaydes sandales sandalssans préjugés open-mindedle saucisson sausagele savon soaple saxophone saxophone

la séance showing, timeun(e) secrétaire secretaryseize sixteenle sel saltsénégalais(e) Senegalesesept sevenseptembre Septembersérieux seriousun serveur waiterune serveuse waitressservice compris tip includedle service de lessive laundry serviceservice non compris tip not includedune serviette napkin, towelle shampooing shampooun short shortssi yes (in response to a question

posed in the negative)signer to signs'il vous/te plaît pleasela sinusite sinusitissix sixle skate skateboardingle ski skiingun smoking tuxedo

snob snobbishune soeur sistersoixante sixtysoixante-dix seventyle sol floorle solde balancedu soleil sunnysolitaire lonelysonner to ringsortir avec to dateune soucoupe saucerla soupe souple sous-sol basementun soutien-gorge brasous-titré subtitledsous-vêtements underwearun spectacle show, performancesportif athleticla station de métro subway stationla station de taxi taxi standstationner to parkune station-service gas stationun steward stewardstudieux studiousstupide stupid

un stylo penle sucre sugarsud southsuisse Swissun surligneur highlightersympathique (sympa) nicela symphonie symphony

T

un tabac tobacco storeune table tableun tableau chalkboarddes taches de rousseur frecklesun tailleur suit (woman's)une tante auntun tapis rugtaquin playfulla tarte pieune tasse cuple taux de change exchange ratele taux d'intérêt interest rateun taxi taxiun tee-shirt T-shirtla teinturerie dry cleanerla télé TV

un télécopieur fax machineun téléphone telephonetéléphoner à to call (phone)la télévision televisionle tennis tennisdes tennis sneakersla tension artérielle blood pressurela tête headle thé teale théâtre theaterun timbre stamptimbres en gros bulk stampstimide shyle tir à l'arc archeryla toilette toiletles toilettes restroomla tomate tomatola tonalité dial toneun torchon dish toweltoucher un chèque to cash a checktourner to turntousser to coughtout droit straight aheadle train traintranquille calm

une transmission automatique automatic transmissionle transport transportationtravailler to worktravailleur hard-workingtraverser to crosstreize thirteentrente thirtytriste sadtrois threeune trombone paper clipla trompette trumpet

U

un one, a, anune université college, universityUrgence ! Emergency!

V

la vanille vanillale veau vealvégétarien(ne) vegetarianun vélo bikevendre to sell

vendredi Fridaydu vent windyle vernis à ongles nail polishun verre glassun verre gradué measuring cupvert greenle vertige dizzyun veston de sport sport jacketdes vêtements clothesveuillez (in front of a verb) pleasele vin winevingt twentyle violon violinun visa visale visage facela voile sailingviolet purplevoici this isune voiture carun vol flight, theftle volant steering wheelle volley(ball) volleyballvomir to throw upvouloir to want

Y

le yaourt yogurtles yeux (un oeil) eyes (eye)

English to French Dictionary

A

abscess un abcèsaccident un accidentaccommodations le logementto ache all over avoir mal partoutactor un acteuractress une actriceadding machine une machine à calculeraddress une adresseAfrican africain(e)after-dinner drink le digestifair conditioner un climatiseurair mail par avionairline une compagnie aérienneairplane un avionairport un aéroportalarm clock un réveilAlgerian algérien(ne)allergic to allergique àalmond l'amande

amazing étonnantamount, total, sum le montantambulance une ambulanceanchovies les anchoisand etangry fâchéankle la chevilleanniversary l'anniversaireannoyed ennuyéanswering machine un répondeur téléphoniqueappetizers les hors-d'oeuvreapple une pommeapricot un abricotApril avrilArabic arabearchery le tir à l'arcarm le brasarrivals les arrivéesarthritis de l'arthriteartichoke un artichautartist un(e) artisteashamed honteuxAsian asiatiqueasparagus les aspergesaspirin une aspirine

asthmatic asthmatiqueathletic sportifATM card une carte bancaireATM machine un guichet automatique

bancaire (GAB)attic le grenierAugust aoûtaunt une tanteAustralian australien(ne)automatic transmission une transmission automatiqueautumn automne

B

baby tooth la dent de laitback le dosbackpack un sac à dosbad mal, mauvaisbad weather mauvais tempsbaggage les bagagesbaggage claim la réception des bagagesbaker un boulanger (une boulangère)bakery la boulangeriebaking dish une casserolebalance le soldebalcony le balcon

banana une bananebank une banquebank card une carte bancairebank statement un relevé de comptebarber le coiffeurbarrette une barrettebarrister, lawyer un(e) avocat(e)baseball le base-ballbasement le sous-solbasketball le basket(-ball)bathing suit un maillot (de bain)bathroom la salle de bainsbathtub une baignoireto be êtrebean un haricotbed un litbedroom la chambrebeer la bièreBelgian belgebelt une ceinturebicycle une bicyclettebike un vélobiking le cyclismebikini un bikinibill l'addition

billion un milliardbinder un classeurblack noirblackberry une mûreto bleed saignerbless you (after a sneeze) à vos/tes souhaitsblond blond(e)blood pressure la tension artérielleblouse une chemiseblue bleublueberry une myrtilleto blunder faire une gaffeblusher le fard à jouesto board embarquerboarding pass la carte d'embarquementboat un bateauto bolt the door mettre le verroubook un livrebookshelf une étagèreboots des bottesbored ennuyéboring ennuyeuxboss le chefbottle une bouteillebow tie un noeud papillon

bowl un bolboxer shorts un caleçonboxing la boxeboy un garçonboyfriend un copainbra un soutien-gorgebracelet un braceletbrake lights les feux de stopbrakes les freinsbrave courageuxBrazilian brésilien(ne)bread le painto break (arm, leg) se casser (le bras, la jambe)breakfast le petit-déjeunerbriefcase un porte-documentsto bring out mettre en reliefbroken tooth une dent casséebroken-down en pannebrooch une brochebrother un frèrebrown marronbrown (hair) brunbrown bread le pain bisto brush one's hair se brosser les cheveuxto brush one's teeth se brosser les dentsbubble bath le bain moussant

bulk stamps timbres en gros

bus l'autobusbus station la gare routièrebus stop l'arrêt du busbusy occupé(e)butcher un boucherbutcher shop la boucheriebutter le beurrebuttermilk le babeurreto buy acheterbye salut

C

cake le gâteaucalculator une calculatriceto call appeler, téléphoner àto call back rappelercalm tranquillecan, box, tin une boîteCanadian canadien(ne)candy des bonbonscandy store la confiseriecar une auto, une voiturecarpenter un charpentier

carpet une moquettecarrot la carottecarry-on luggage les bagages à maincart un chariotcash des espècesto cash a check encaisser, toucher un chèquecash dispenser un guichet automatique bancaire (GAB)cashier un caissier (une caissière)cauliflower le chou-fleurcavity une carieceiling le plafondcelery le célericell phone un mobileCEO le directeur généralcertified check un chèque certifiéchair une chaisechalk une craiechalkboard un tableauchange la monnaieto change money changer de l'argent (en Euros)(into Euros)charm bracelet un bracelet à breloquescheck, bill l'additionto check bags enregistrer (les bagages)checkbook un carnet de chèques

checked luggage les bagages enregistréscheck-in l'enregistrementchecking account un compte-chèquescheek la jouecheers à votre/ta santécheese le fromagecherry une cerisechess les échecschest la poitrinechicken le pouletChinese chinois(e)chocolate le chocolatchurch l'églisecivil servant un(e) fonctionnaireclassified ad une petite annonceclassroom une salle de classecloset une armoire, un placardclothes des vêtementsclothing store le magasin de confectioncloudy nuageuxcoach class la classe touristecoat un manteaucocktail un apéritifcoffee le cafécoin une pièce (de monnaie)

cold (illness) un rhumecold (temperature) froidcollect call un appel en P.C.V.college une universitécomb le peignecompact car une voiture compacteto compel mettre dans l'obligation decomputer un ordinateurconditioner le baume démêlantconfident assuréconfused désorientéconstipated constipécontract un contratconvertible une voiture décapotablecook le/la chefto cook cuisiner, faire la cuisinecookbook un livre de cuisinecookie le biscuitcooking la cuisinecool fraiscopy machine une photocopieusecorn le maïscouch un canapéto cough tousserto count comptercounter, window le guichet

country bread le pain de campagne

course un courscousin un(e) cousin(e)cowardly lâchecrash une collisioncream la crèmecream cheese le fromage blanccredit card une carte de créditcroissant un croissantto cross traversercross-country skiing le ski de randonnée, de fondcrown la couronnecucumber le concombrecufflink un bouton de manchettecummerbund une ceinturecup une tassecurly bouclécurrency exchange un bureau de changecurtain un rideaucustard la crème brûléecustoms la douanecutting board une planche à découper

D

dairy products les produits laitiersdance, dancing la danseto dance danserdark blue bleu foncéto date sortir avecdaughter/a girl une filleDecember décembreto declare déclarerdelighted raviden la salle de séjourdental floss le fil dentairedentist un(e) dentistedeodorant le déodorantdepartment store le grand magasindepartures les départsto deposit (into an account) déposer (sur un compte)desk un bureau, un pupitredessert le dessertdiabetic diabétiqueto dial a number composer un numérodial tone la tonalitédiarrhea la diarrhéedictionary un dictionnairedimples des fossettesdining room la salle à manger

dinner le dînerdish towel un torchondishrack un égouttoirdishwasher un lave-vaisselledistressed, sorry navrédiving la plongéedizzy le vertigeto do, make fairedoctor un médecindon't mention it il n'y a pas de quoidoor une portedouble bed un grand litdoubtful douteuxdown en basdownhill skiing le ski de descente, de pistedress une robedresser une commodeto drink boireto drive conduire, roulerdriver un conducteurdrugstore la drogueriedry cleaner la teintureriedubbed doubléDutch néerlandais(e)duty-free une boutique hors taxes

E

ear une oreilleearache mal à l'oreilleearly en avanceto earn gagnerearring une boucle d'oreilleeast estto eat mangereconomy car une voiture économieeconomy class la classe touristeegg l'oeufeggplant une aubergineEgyptian égyptien(ne)eight huiteighteen dix-huiteighty quatre-vingtselbow le coudeelectrician un électricienelevator un ascenseureleven onzee-mail le courrielembarassed confusEmergency! Urgence !employee un(e) employé(e)

engagement les fiançaillesengineer un ingénieurEnglish anglais(e)to enhance mettre en reliefenjoy your meal bon appétit !envelope une enveloppeeraser une gommeespresso un expressEuropean européen(ne)exchange rate le taux de changeexcuse me excusez-moiexhausted épuiséexplosion une explosionExpress mail Chronoposteye(s) un oeil (des yeux)eyeglasses des lunetteseyeshadow le fard à paupières

F

face le visageto face up to faire face àto faint s'évanouirfar (from) loin (de)farewell adieu

fat grosfather un pèrefax machine un télécopieurFebruary févrierfees les fraisto fetch, get aller chercherfever la fièvrefiancé(e) un(e) fiancé(e)fifteen quinzefifty cinquantefile folder une chemisefiling cabinet un classeurto fill up faire le pleinfilling un plombagefine ça vafinger le doigtfingernail un onglefire un feuFire! Au feu !to fire (someone) renvoyer (quelqu'un)fireman un pompierfirst class la première classefirst floor (US), le rez-de-chausséeground floorfish le poisson

to fish pêcherfish store la poissonneriefishing la pêchefive cinqfixed-price meal le menuflan la crème caramelFlemmish flamandflight un volflight attendant un steward, une hôtesse de l'airflood une inondationfloor le solflowers des fleursflu la grippeflute la flûtefoggy du brouillardfoot un piedfootball le football américainfor pourfork une fourchetteform l'impriméforty quaranteforwarding la réexpéditionfoundation la base (de maquillage)four quatrefourteen quatorzefreckles des taches de rousseur

freezer un congélateur

freeze gelerFrench français(e)Friday vendredifriend un(e) ami(e)friendly amicalfries les fritesfront tooth l'incisivefrostbite des engeluresfruit les fruitsfrying pan une poêlefunny drôle

G

garden, yard le jardinto garden jardiner, faire du jardinagegas, petrol de l'essencegas pedal un accélérateurgas station une station-servicegate une porte (aéroport)general delivery la poste restanteGerman allemand(e)to get, fetch aller chercherto get engaged se fiancer à

to get married se marier avecgirl une fillegirlfriend une copineto give donnerto give a reason rendre raisonto give up donner sa langue au chatto give thanks to rendre grâce àglass un verreglasses des lunettesto glorify rendre gloire àgloves des gantsto go allerGo ahead! Allez-y !to go, move circulerto go, walk around faire le tour deto go away s'en allerto go on foot aller à piedto go shopping faire les coursesgolf le golfgood bon(ne)Good evening BonsoirGood night Bonne nuitGood-bye Au revoirgranddaughter une petit-fillegrandfather un grand-père

grandmother une grand-mèregrandson un petit-filsgrape un raisingrapefruit un pamplemoussegray grisgreen vertgrocery store l'épicerieguitar la guitaregums la gencivegunshot un coup de feu

H

hair les cheveuxhairbrush la brosse à cheveuxhairdresser le coiffeurhalf slip un juponhall le couloirhallway le couloirham le jambonhand la mainhandkerchief un mouchoirhandsome beauto hang up raccrocherhappy heureux

hard-working travailleurhat un chapeauto have avoirhay fever un rhume des foinshazel noisettehead la têteheadache mal à la têteheadlights les pharesheartburn des brûlures d'estomacheavy lourdHello BonjourHello? (on the phone) Allô ?help de l'assistanceHelp! Au secours !hemorrhoids des hémorroïdesHi Saluthigh beams les feux de routehigh school un lycéehigh-heeled shoes des chaussures à hauts talonshighlighter un surligneurhighway une autorouteto hike faire de la randonnéehiking la randonnéeHindu hindouto hire embaucher

to hitchhike faire de l'auto-stophitchhiking l'auto-stophockey le hockeyhold mail la poste restantehomework des devoirshoneymoon la lune de mielhospital l'hôpitalhot chaudhotel un hôtelhotel room une chambrehouse la maisonhow commentHow are you? Ça va ?How much is it? C'est combien ?humid humidehundred centto hunt (aller) chasserto hunt for faire la chasse àhunting la chasseto hurt avoir mal, faire mal àhusband un mari, un épouxhyper(active) excité

I

ice cream la glace

immigration l'immigrationimpatient impatientin a hurry presséin back of en arrière dein economy class en classe touristein first class en première classein front of en avant deinbox le courrier arrivéinch un pouceIndian indien(ne)infected infectéinjection une piqûreinsomnia insomniaqueinsured assuréto intend to avoir l'intention deinterest rate le taux d'intérêtinteresting intéressantiodine l'iodeIrish irlandais(e)Italian italien(ne)

J

jacket un blousonjam la confiture

January janvierJapanese japonais(e)jar, cup un potjaw la mâchoirejeans un jeanjet lagged fatigué dû au décalage horairejewelry des bijouxjogging le joggingjuice le jusJuly juilletJune juin

K

to kick donner un coup de piedkilogram un kilogramme dekind gentilkitchen la cuisineknee le genouknife un couteau

L

lamb l'agneauto land atterrir

lamp une lampelate en retardlaundromat la blanchisserielaundry service le service de blanchisserielawyer, barrister un(e) avocat(e)to lay off licencierto lay down flat mettre à platlazy paresseuxto leave a message laisser un messageleft (à) gaucheleg la jambelemon un citronlemonade le citron presséLet's go! Allons-y !letter une lettrelettuce la laituelight blue bleu clairlime un citron vertlip la lèvrelipstick le rouge à lèvresto listen to music écouter (de) la musiqueliter un litreliving room le salonloan un empruntlocal anesthesia une anesthésie locale

lonely solitairelong longto lose perdrelover un(e) amant(e)lunch le déjeunerluxury car une voiture luxe

M

Ma'am, Mrs. Madamemagazine un magazinemaid une femme de chambremail le courriermailbox une boîte aux lettresmain course le plat principalto make, do faireto make the bed faire le litmake-up le maquillagemake-up remover le démaquillantman un hommemanager un gérant, un responsablemap une carteMarch marsmarriage le mariageto marry s'épousermascara le mascara

May (month) maimayonnaise la mayonnaisemeal le repasmean méchantmeasuring cup un verre graduémeasuring spoon une cuiller à mesurermechanic un mécanicienmedium-rare à pointto meet faire la connaissance de(for the first time)menu la carteMexican mexicain(e)microwave un four à micro-ondesmidnight minuitmid-size car une voiture intermédiairemile (1.6 km) un millemilk le laitmillion un millionminiskirt une minijupemirror un miroirMiss Mademoisellemistake une erreurmittens des mouflesmoisturizer la crème hydratanteMonday lundi

money de l'argentmoney exchange le bureau de changemoney order le mandatmoped une mobylettemore, very plusMoroccan marocain(e)mother une mèremotion sickness le mal des transportsmotorbike une motomouth la bouchemouthwash l'eau dentifricemovie le filmmovie theater le cinémaMr. MonsieurMrs., Ma'am Madamemuffler un cache-nezmuseum le muséemushroom le champignonmusic la musiquemustard la moutarde

N

nail clippers la pince à onglesnail file la lime à ongles

nail polish le vernis à onglesnail polish remover le dissolvantnaive naïfnapkin une serviettenear (to) près (de)necessary nécessaireneck le counecklace un collierto need avoir besoin denephew un neveunervous nerveuxnewspaper un journalnewsstand un kiosquenext to à côté denice sympathique (or sympa)nice (weather) beauniece une niècenightgown une chemise de nuitnine neufnineteen dix-neufninety quatre-vingt-dixno nonnoon midinorth nordnose le nez

note, bill, paper money un billetnotebook un cahiernothing rienNovember novembreNovocain la Novocaïnenurse un infirmier (une infirmière)

O

obvious évidentOctober octobreoffice un bureauokay d'accordon the way en routeone unone hundred centone million un millionone more time encore une foisone thousand milleone-way ticket un billet alleronion un oignonto open ouvriropen-minded sans préjugésopera l'opérato oppose faire face àor ou

orange une orangeorange (color) orangeorchestra l'orchestreto order commanderother autreoutbox le courrier départoutdoor market le marchéoutgoing ouvertoven un fouroven mitt un gant de cuisine

P

to pack faire les bagages, valisespackage un colis, un paquetpainting une peinturepajamas un pyjamapanties une culottepants un pantalonpantyhose un collantpaper le papierpaper clip un trombonepaper money, note, bill un billetpardon me pardonpark le parc

to park stationnerparking lot/garage le parkingto pass doublerpassenger un passagerpassport un passeportpasta les pâtespastry shop la pâtisseriepatient patient(e)patio le patiopatriotic patriotiqueto pay payerto pay a visit faire une visite, rendre visite àto pay attention to faire attention àto pay for mettre de l'argent pourto pay the bill régler le comptepeach une pêchepeanut l'arachide, la cacahuètepear une poirepeas petits poispets les animauxpharmacist un(e) pharmacien(ne)pharmacy la pharmaciephone book un annuairephone booth une cabine téléphoniquephone number un numéro de téléphone

piano le pianoto pick up (the phone) décrocherpie la tartepillow un oreillerpilot le pilotepin une épinglepink roseplane ticket le billet d'avionplans des projetsplate une assietteplatform le quaito play music jouer de la musiqueplayful taquinplease s'il vous / te plaîtPlease hold Ne quittez pasplum une pruneplumber un plombierpolice officer un policierpolice station le commissariatPolish polonais(e)pool la piscineporch le porchepork le porcpork butcher la charcuteriePortuguese portugais(e)post card une carte postale

post office la poste, les P.T.T

postal checking account un compte chèque postal (CCP)poster une affichepot une marmitepotato la pomme de terrepound une livre deto pout faire la mouepregnant enceintepresent un cadeauto pretend to faire semblant depretty belle, jolieprice le prixprinter une imprimanteproblem problèmeto pull out, remove arracherpurple violetpurse un sac à mainto put money into mettre de l'argent dansto put on make-up se maquiller

Q

quarter le quart

R

rabbit le lapinradish le radisraincoat un imperméablerare (meat) bleuraspberry une framboiserazor le rasoirto read lirereading la lecturereceipt un reçureceptionist un(e) réceptionnisterecipe une recetterecipient le destinatairered rougered (hair) rouxrefrigerator un réfrigérateurregistered recommandéregular gas essence ordinaireto repeat répéterto replace remplacerreservation une réservationrestaurant le restaurantreturn receipt l'avis de réceptionribbon un rubanrice le rizto ride in a car aller en voiture

right (à) droit(e)ring une bagueto ring sonnerto rinse rincerroast beef le rosbifrollerskating le patin à roulettes, le rollerrolling pin un rouleau à pâtisserieroom la pièce, la salleroot canal la dévitalisationround trip ticket un billet aller-retourrug un tapisto run errands faire les coursesrunny nose le nez qui coulerushed presséRussian russerye bread le pain de seigle

S

sad tristesailing la voilesalad la saladesalt le selsandals des sandalesSaturday samedi

saucer une soucoupesausage le saucissonto save money, save up faire des économiessavings account un compte d'épargneto say good-bye faire ses adieuxsaxophone le saxophonescared effrayéscarf un foulardschool une écoleseasickness le mal de merseasons les saisonsseat la placesecond floor (US) le premier étagesecretary un(e) secrétairesecurity check le contrôle de sécuritésee you soon à bientôtsee you tomorrow à demainto sell vendresender l'expéditeurSenegalese sénégalais(e)September septembreserious sérieuxto set the alarm mettre le réveilto set the table mettre la tableseven sept

seventeen dix-septseventy soixante-dixShall we go? On y va ?shameful honteuxshampoo le shampooingto shave se rasershaver le rasoir électriqueshaving le rasageshaving cream la crème à rasershawl un châleshe ellesheet of paper une feuille de papiershelf une étagèreshirt une chemiseshoes des chaussuresshort (height) petitshort (length) courtshorts un shortshoulder une épauleshow, performance un spectacleshower la doucheshowing, time la séanceshuttle une navetteshy timidesick maladeto sign signer

sink (bathroom) le lavabo

sink (kitchen) un éviersinusitis de la sinusiteSir Monsieursister une soeursix sixsixteen seizesixty soixantesize la dimension, la tailleskating le patinageto ski skier, faire du skiskiing le skiskirt une jupeto sleep in/late faire la grasse matinéeslip une combinaisonslowly lentementsmart intelligentsmoke fumersnack le goûtersnails les escargotssneakers des tennisto sneeze éternuersnobbish snobto snow neigersoap le savon

soccer le football, le footsocks des chaussettessofa le canapéson un filssophisticated raffinésorry, distressed navréso-so comme ci, comme çasoup la soupe, le potagesourdough bread le pain au levainsouth sudSpanish espagnol(e)special delivery par expressto spend dépenserto spend money dépenserspinach les épinardssponge une épongespoon une cuillersport jacket une veste de sportspring printempsstairway un escalierstamp un timbrestaple une agrafestapler une agrafeusesteak le biftecksteering wheel le volant

stereo une chaîne stéréostockings des bas

stomach un estomacstomachache mal à l'estomacstop light le feu rougestopover une escalestores les magasinsstormy orageuxstove une cuisinièrestraight (hair) raidestraight ahead tout droitstrawberry une fraisestreet la ruestrong fortstudent un(e) étudiant(e)studious studieuxstudy un bureaustupid stupidesubtitled sous-titrésubway le métrosubway station la gare/station de métrosugar le sucresuit (man's) un costumesuit (woman's) un tailleurto suit, to be becoming aller à quelqu'un

to sulk faire la têtesum, amount, total le montantsummer étésunburn coup de soleilSunday dimanchesunglasses des lunettes de soleilsunny du soleilsure sûrsweater un pullto swim nagerswimming la natationSwiss suissesymphony la symphonie

T

table une tabletablespoon une cuillère à soupetall grandto take a trip faire un voyageto take off décollertanned bronzétaxi un taxitaxi stand la station de taxitea le théteacher un professeur, un(e) enseignant(e)

teaspoon une cuillère à théteeth cleaning le détartragetelephone un téléphonetelevision la télévisiontemporary provisoireten dixten to seven sept heures moins dixtennis le tennisterminal une aérogaretest un examenthank you (very much) merci (bien/beaucoup)theater le théâtretheft le volThief! Au voleur !thin mincething choseto think penserthirteen treizethirty trentethis is voicithousand millethree troisto throw a party donner une fêteto throw up vomirthumb le pouce

Thursday jeuditie une cravatetie pin une épingle de cravatetights un collanttime le tempstip le pourboiretip included service compristired fatiguétoast le pain grillétoaster un grille-paintobacco store un tabactoe un orteiltoilet la toilette, les W.-C., les toilettestoll un péagetomato la tomatetooth la denttoothache mal aux dentstoothbrush la brosse à dentstoothpaste le dentifricetotal, amount, sum le montanttowel la serviettetraffic jam un embouteillagetrain le traintrain station la garetransportation le transport

traveler's check un chèque de voyagetrip une excursiontruck un camiontrue vraitrumpet la trompetteT-shirt un tee-shirttub la baignoire, le bainTuesday marditurkey la dindeto turn tournerto turn on the radio, the news mettre la radio, les informationsturn signal le clignotanttuxedo un smokingTV la télétweezers la pince à épilertwelve douzetwenty vingttwo deuxtypewriter une machine à écrire

U

ugly moche, laidumbrella un parapluieuncle un oncleundershirt un maillot de corps

underwear un sous-vêtementunfriendly froidunleavened bread le pain azymeunlikely peu probableuntil next time à la prochaineup en hautupper tooth la dent du hautuseful utileuseless inutile

V

vanilla la vanilleveal le veauvegetarian végétarien(ne)violin le violonvisa un visato visit someone rendre visite à quelqu'unvolleyball le volley(-ball)

W

waiter un serveurwaitress une serveusewalk promenade

wall un murwallet un portefeuilleto want avoir envie de, vouloirto wash se laverto wash the dishes faire la vaissellewatch une montreto watch a movie regarder un filmto watch out for faire attention àWatch out! Attention !water l'eauwater skiing le ski nautiquewavy onduléweak faiblewedding les noces, le mariagewedding ring une allianceWednesday mercrediweight le poidsto welcome faire bon accueilwell done (meat) bien cuitwest ouestwhat quoiWhat? Comment ?wheat le bléwhen quandWhere où

Where is? Où est?

white blancwho quiwholegrain bread le pain completwhy pourquoiwife une femme, une épousewindow une fenêtrewindshield un pare-brisewindshield wipers les essuie-glaceswindy du ventwine le vinto wink at faire un clin d'oeil àwinter hiverwisdom tooth la dent de sagesseto withdraw retirerwoman une femmeto work travaillerworried inquietto worship rendre un culte àto wrestle lutterwrestling la luttewrist le poignetto write écrirewriter un écrivain

Y

yard, garden le jardinyellow jauneyes ouiyes (in reponse to a negative) siyield le rendementyogurt le yaourtyou're welcome de rien

GIntroduction to German

erman is one of the Germanic languages ofEurope and a close relative to English. Germanand English are brother and sister languages thatwere separated by time and geography during themigrations of the Anglo-Saxons. This means youcan find many similarities of vocabulary andstructure in the two languages. That's important: Itmakes learning German just a little bit easier.Some important facts about German will beintroduced here, which will give you a basis forunderstanding the nature of the German languageand what it will entail to learn to use it effectively.

Reading GermanJust like English, German uses the twenty-six-letteralphabet designed by the Romans. Although mostof the letters are the same visually, some have adistinctly unique pronunciation in German.

Learning the German sounds of the alphabet is nota difficult task and will allow you to read wordswith ease.

Once you are familiar with the characteristics ofGerman pronunciation, you will find that you canpronounce nearly all words upon seeing them forthe first time, because German is, for the most part,a phonetic language. Any variances from standardpronunciation will be pointed out and explained. Inthe Pronunciation Key you will find examples ofhow to pronounce individual letters, lettercombinations, and special letters. The comparableEnglish pronunciation of the letters and lettercombinations is only a guide. To be absolutelyprecise about pronunciation, ask a German-speaking friend to say the sounds for you.However, the key will provide you with a closefacsimile of German that will be understood by anyGerman speaker.

PRONOUNCIATION KEY

GermanEnglishRepresentationLetter(s)

Comparable EnglishPronunciation

A a "a” in fatherÄ ay "ai” in pain

AA a "a” in father

AI i "i” in like

AH a "a” in father

AU ow "ow” in how

ÄU oy "oy” in boy

B b "b” in baby

C ts "ts” in its

CH h "ch” in Scottish loch

CK k "ck” in sick

D d "d” in dad

DT t "t” in tot

E ay "ai” in pain

EH ay "ai” in pain

EI i "i” in like

EU oy "oy” in boy

F f "f” in fife

G g "g” in go

H h "h” in how

I ee "ee” in sleep

IE ee "ee” in sleep

J y "y” in yolk

K k "k” in kick

L l "l” in lull

M m "m” in momN n "n” in nun

O o "o” in open

OH o "o” in open

OO o "o” in open

Ö er "e” in her

P p "p” in pup

PF pf "pf” in carp food

PH f "ph” in photo

QU kv "kv” in sick vet

R r "r” in red (guttural)

ER er "er” in father (British)

S z "z” in zoo

S s (final) “s” in kissSS s "ss” in kiss

ß s "ss” in kiss

SCH sh "sh” in shush

T t "t” in tot

TSCH ch "ch” in church

TZ ts "ts” in its

U oo "oo” in moon

UH oo "oo” in moon

Ü (ue) (“oo” while saying “ee")

V f "f” in fife

v "v” in very

W v "v” in very

X x "x” six

Y (ue) (“oo” while saying “ee")Z ts "ts” in its

VowelsPronouncing German vowels typically does notcome easy to people who are used to speakingEnglish. A few simple rules and some practicewill make it easier.

Umlaut VowelsOnly three vowels can add an umlaut: a, o, and u.The umlaut is a signal that the sound of the vowelhas been altered. In the case of a (“a” in father),the vowel ä is pronounced similar to the Germanletter e (“ai” in pain). When o adds an umlaut, itsignals a new sound that does not exist entirely inEnglish. The vowel ö is much like the e in theEnglish word her. In making this sound, omit the h

and the r and retain the sound of the vowel e. Whenyou add an umlaut to u, you have a sound that doesnot occur in English. The vowel sound ü can beproduced by pursing the lips to say the Englishs o und oo (as in moon) but simultaneouslypronouncing the English sound ee (as in seen).

Practice saying the following pairs of words.

Bar Bärschon schönfuhr für

Note: Because there is no English equivalent of thesounds ö and ü, they will be represented in thechapters that follow by “er” and “ue” when thephonetic pronunciation is shown. In addition, thestressed syllable in a word will appear in capitalletters: Vater (FAH tuh).

Short and Long VowelsThe vowels can be pronounced as either “short”

vowels or “long” vowels. Short vowels tend toprecede a double consonant, and long vowels tendto precede a single consonant. Look at thefollowing examples and their pronunciation.

Short Vowels Long VowelsGasse (“a” in what) Gas (“a” in father)fällen (“e” in get) Käse (“ai” in pain)Kette (“e” in get) geben (“ai” in pain)Ross (“o” in toss) los (“o” in open)können (“er” short e in her) schön (“er” long e in her)Butter (“oo” in look) tun (“oo” in moon)müssen (“eu” short oo with e-sound)spülen (“eu” long oo with e-sound)

ConsonantsGerman uses pronunciations and consonantcombinations that are unfamiliar to native Englishspeakers.

The Consonant Combination ChThis consonant combination is often imitated byEnglish speakers by the sounds k or sh. But it is

really neither of those. To form the German ch,pronounce the sound k but open the throat slightlyto permit a raspy rush of air to be exhaled. Thisrequires considerable practice for Englishspeakers—except for the Scottish, who have asimilar sound in Scottish words such as loch,which means lake.

Practice saying the following words.

ichachhochsuch

The Letter RThe German letter r is pronounced in two differentways, depending upon the geographical region.The German language is used not only in Germany,but also in Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.In some areas, particularly in the south, the sound ris a rolled r as heard in Italian or Russian. This

sound is made by “flapping” a d on the palate ofthe mouth with the tongue.

The second r is often more difficult for Englishspeakers. This sound is made at the back of thethroat where the German ch sound is made.Pronounce the ch sound and hold the finalaspiration (a raspy rush of exhaled air). The pointwhere that sound is made is where the German r ismade. Without moving the jaw, change the soundch to r by saying “ra.” This can be done by slowlysaying “ach ra.” To become proficient using thissound will require regular practice, but in time youwill find that you are using both the ch and theGerman r comfortably.

Many German words end in er. This combinationof letters is similar to the final er in an Englishword as it is pronounced in Britain, for example,“father” is pronounced more like fath-uh. ThisBritish er is similar to the German final er.


rot Ringdort KarlMutter Bruder

The Letter ZEnglish has the sound of the German z at the end ofwords or syllables, but in English it is most oftenwritten as ts or tz. In German the final z ispronounced in the same way. The German wordfor “felt” is Filz and is pronounced “filts.” Thissound can also occur in the middle of a word, forexampl e : heizen, pronounced “hytsen,"whichmeans “to heat.” Unlike English, German also usesthis sound to begin words. For example, Zelt ispronounced “tselt” and means “tent.” Thecombination tz also exists in German, but it isfound only at the end of words or betweensyllables, for example: Fritz, a name, and blitzen,“to flash lightning."


Zeit ZooHarz Hitze

The Letters Sp and StThe letter combinations sp and st have a uniquepronunciation, especially when they begin a wordor syllable. They are pronounced as if they beginw i t h sh. Therefore, Sport is pronounced as“shport.” Stein is pronounced as “shtine."


Spende sprichStil Stadt

German DialectsJust like English, German has regional differencesnot only of pronunciation but also of vocabulary. InEnglish, for example, whether you will say “cornon the cob” or “roasting ears” depends upon where

you live. The same occurs in German vocabularyas well as in pronunciation. In the north ofGermany near Hamburg, for example, it is commonto hear the letter combinations sp and stpronounced differently from the rest of Germany:T h e sh sound is not used, therefore, Sport ispronounced “sport” and Stein is pronounced“stine."

ContractionsGerman contractions occur when combining apreposition and a definite article. However, anapostrophe is not used in contractions, forexample, in das (in the) becomes ins, zu der (tothe) becomes zur, and von dem (from the) becomesvom.

COMMON CONTRACTIONS

an das ans at the, or to thean dem am at theauf das aufs on thein dem im in the

zu dem zum to thebei dem beim by thefür das fürs for theum das ums around the

Apostrophes are used in German to show that aletter has been left out of a word. A commonexpression that illustrates this is wie geht's, whichasks “how are you?” In this expression the letter ehas been dropped from the word es and replacedby an apostrophe.

CapitalizationGerman and English differ somewhat in how theycapitalize nouns and adjectives. In German, allnouns are capitalized whether they are proper orcommon. The adjectives of proper nouns are notcapitalized unless they are in an official name ortitle. Let's look at some examples:

Common Noun English

Land country

Schwester sisterHaus houseProper Noun Adjective English

Amerika amerikanisch America/AmericanDeutschland deutsch Germany/GermanEngland englisch England/English

CognatesCognates are words that are identical in bothGerman and English (and often in other languages).Sometimes they are identical except for a letterchange that is characteristic of the language. Forexample, korrekt is the German version of correctand uses the letter k where in English a c is used. Ifthe German used c, the word would be pronouncedradically differently. Look at the following list ofcognates and take note of the German words thathave a change of a letter to conform to Germanpronunciation.

Noun AdjectiveAutomobil abstraktAkzent aktiv

Artist blindBaby effektivChance fairDiplomat innovativElefant historischHardware kommunistischKapitalist kritischKonferenz lyrischManager mechanischName nationalOptimist negativParty offensivPessimist politischPilot positivPräsident relativProblem rhythmischProfessor romantischRestaurant solidService sozialistischStatistik striktSystem total

Can you guess the English meaning of thefollowing words?

Familie GitarreNatur perfektattraktiv nervösKaffee populär

Patterns of CognatesCertain cognates occur in groups that conform topatterns. Two large groups of such English wordsare nouns that end in –ion and –y. Another largecategory is a group of English adjectives that endi n –ic or –ical. In German, the endings for thesecognates are –ion, –ie, and –isch.

Nouns Endingin –ion

Nouns Endingin –ie

Adjectives Endingin –isch

Position Philosophie philosophischSituation Psychologie psychologischSpekulation Therapie therapeutischTradition Melodie melodischAversion Astronomie astronomischDekoration Harmonie harmonischFormation Anatomie anatomischInformation Psychiatrie psychiatrischInspektion Kolonie bibliographisch

Koalition Fotografie fotografischKonstitution Epidemie epidemischReservation Biologie biologischRevolution Geographie geographischVentilation Geologie geologischVibration Archäologie archäologisch

Words Common to German andEnglishSince German and English are languages in thesame Germanic group, they have many words incommon. Some are almost identical and have anidentical meaning in both languages. Others have aslight spelling difference, and still others are usedfor completely different meanings in the twolanguages and often are similar only in the smallestof degrees. Let's look at some examples.

PEOPLE

German Comparable English Modern EnglishBruder brother brotherGärtner gardener gardener

Knabe knave boy, ladMann man man, husbandMutter mother motherOnkel uncle uncleSchwester sister sisterSohn son sonTochter daughter daughterVater father father

ANIMALS

German ComparableEnglish

ModernEnglish

Affe ape ape, monkeyFrosch frog frogKalb calf calfKuh cow cowLamm lamb lambMaus mouse mouseSchaf sheep sheepSchwein swine swine, pigSpinne spinner spiderRatte rat ratTier deer animal

COLORS

German Modern Englishblau bluebraun browngrau graygrün greenrot redweiß white

MISCELLANEOUS

German Modern Englishalt oldArm armbeginn beginbei byBrot breadFeld fieldfett fatFinger fingerfrisch freshFuß footGrab gravegut good

halt holdhart hardHaus houseist isjung youngkalt coldkomm comemach makeMilch milkMond moonsing singSonne sunwann whenwarm warmWetter weatherWolle wool

TGerman Grammar Basics

his book provides ready-to-use lists ofvocabulary and phrases for every situation. Butstill it's important to know why you're sayingsomething in a specific way, so you can reuse aphrase in a new form that conforms to a newsituation. This chapter is an introduction to thebasics of German grammar. Grammaticalstructures will be explained and examplesprovided to illustrate how those structuresfunction. When you finish these mini-lessons, youwill have the basic skills for saying things inGerman with accuracy.

Names and NounsJust like English names, German names tend torefer to either males or females. As time goes by,some names are used less and less frequentlybecause they are considered old-fashioned. At

other times, new names become popular becausethey are the latest fad. But all in all, there arecertain German names that are traditional andretain their popularity for long periods of time.Let's look at some traditional male German names.

Friedrich HelmutHermann JohannKarl ReinhardtWolfgang

Here are some traditional names for females.

Charlotte GretchenHelga IngridKlara Luise

Marianne

Some names for men and women come fromforeign sources and are often in fashion for just ashort time. For example:

Boris JensSabine Sonja

SurnamesWhen using a person's surname, you shouldprecede it by the title Herr (Mr.) for a man andFrau (Mrs., Ms.) for a woman.

Herr Schneider Herr BraunFrau Benz Frau Keller

Professional titles are used much the same inGerman as in English. They do not usually identifythe gender of the person addressed.

Professor Schmidt Doktor Brenner

When speaking to a professional, the titles Herrand Frau are used when the last name is omittedand the gender of the person is identified.

Herr Professor Frau ProfessorFrau Doktor Herr Lehrer (teacher)

Nouns and GenderNouns are words that represent a person, an

Nouns are words that represent a person, anobject, or even an idea or concept. Boy, pencil,and education are examples of nouns. In English,the gender of a noun is masculine if it refers tomales, feminine if it refers to females, and neuter ifit refers to inanimate objects. German is somewhatdifferent. Many nouns that refer to males andfemales are masculine and feminine respectively.But many other nouns that refer to inanimateobjects are masculine or feminine, and still othernouns that refer to living people are neuter. Forexample, Mann (man) and Stuhl (chair) aremasculine. Frau (woman) and Lampe (lamp) arefeminine. Kind (child) and Haus (house) areneuter.

It is important to know the gender of nouns. Genderdetermines how articles and adjectives are usedwith those nouns. It is wise to try to memorize thegender of a noun as you learn it. However, if youmake a mistake and use the wrong gender, Germanspeakers will still understand you and it won't beconsidered a major blunder.

It is often the form of a noun that determines itsgender. Certain endings tend to signal a specificgender. For example, nouns that end in –el, –en,and –er tend to be masculine.

Onkel uncleMantel overcoatWagen carBrunnen well, fountainLehrer teacherKeller basement, cellar

Nouns that end in –ung, –heit, –keit, –in, and –ieare feminine.

Zeitung newspaperGesundheit healthEinsamkeit lonelinessLehrerin (female) teacherIndustrie industry

Many that end in –e are also feminine.

Lampe lamp

Kreide chalkKüche kitchenTante aunt

Nouns that end in –chen and –lein are diminutivesand are neuter.

Mädchen girlVöglein little bird

Sometimes a noun can have two genders. In suchcases, the noun usually has two different meanings.For example, the masculine form of See means“lake.” When it's feminine it means “sea."

The Art of ArticlesThere are two kinds of articles in German: definitearticles and indefinite articles. Definite articlesidentify a specific noun or group of nouns (the boy,the cars). Indefinite articles identify a noun orgroup of nouns in general (a boy, cars). Germanarticles must agree with the noun in gender andnumber.

Definite ArticlesThe German definite article has three basic formsin the singular and one basic form in the plural, allhaving the meaning “the":

der masculine/singular der Mann (the man)die feminine/singular die Frau (the woman)das neuter/singular das Kind (the child)die plural die Kinder (the children)

Indefinite ArticlesThe German indefinite articles correspond to theEnglish articles “a” and “an” and are also used forthe number “one.” There are two forms of theGerman indefinite article, and, like English, theindefinite form of the plural is a plural nounstanding alone without any article.

ein masculine/singular ein Mann (a man)die feminine/singular. die Frau (the woman)

das neuter/singular ein Kind (a child)eine feminine/singular eine Frau (a woman)N/A plural Kinder (children)

The indefinite article is also used to enumerate oneof something: Ich habe ein Buch und zwei Hefte.(I have one book and two notebooks.) Whenreferring to someone's profession with verbs likesein (to be) and werden (to become), unlikeEnglish, no article is required: Ich bin Professor.(I am a professor.)

DeclensionsWhen nouns are used as the subject of a sentence,they are said to be in the nominative case. Thenominative definite and indefinite articles arethose illustrated in the previous section. However,the articles sometimes change depending upon howa noun is used in a sentence. For example, if amasculine noun is used as a direct object in asentence, it is in the accusative case and requires achange of the article: Ich kenne den Mann. (Iknow the man.) As direct objects, feminine, neuter,and plural articles require no changes.

Certain prepositions and other functions causeother changes. These changes are described as thedative case and the genitive case. These changes ofthe articles are called declensions. Let's look at thedeclension of the definite articles.

Masculine Femininenominative der Garten die Lampeaccusative den Garten die Lampedative dem Garten der Lampegenitive des Gartens der Lampe

Neuter Pluralnominative das Haus die Lampenaccusative das Haus die Lampendative dem Haus den Lampengenitive des Hauses der Lampen

The indefinite articles follow a similar pattern.

Masculine Femininenominative ein Garten eine Lampeaccusative einen Garten eine Lampedative einem Garten einer Lampe

genitive eines Gartens einer Lampe

Neuter Pluralnominative ein Haus Lampenaccusative ein Haus Lampendative einem Haus Lampengenitive eines Hauses Lampen

Accusative CaseArticles change to their accusative case form whenthe noun is a direct object. Ask “whom” or “what”of the verb in a sentence to identify the directobject. For example: “They kiss the girl.” Ask,“Whom do they kiss?” The answer is “the girl"—the direct object. In German, the noun that is thedirect object must appear in the accusative case:

Masculine: Sie küssen den Mann. (They kiss theman.)Feminine: Sie küssen die Frau. (They kiss thewoman.)Neuter: Sie küssen das Mädchen. (They kiss thegirl.)

Plural: Sie küssen die Frauen. (They kiss thewomen.)

Some prepositions signal that the noun followingthem must be in the accusative case. These includedurch (through), für (for), gegen (against), ohne(without), and um (around).

Masculine: Er arbeitet für den Mann. (He worksfor the man.)

Feminine: Er arbeitet für die Lehrerin. (He worksfor the teacher.)

Neuter: Er arbeitet für das Mädchen. (He worksfor the girl.)

Plural: Er arbeitet für die Schwestern. (He worksfor the sisters.)

Dative CaseThe dative case is used to identify the indirect

object in a sentence. The indirect object isidentified by asking “to whom” or “for whom” ofthe verb in the sentence. For example: “I give thegirl red roses.” Ask, “To whom do I give redroses?” The answer is “the girl"—the indirectobject. In German, the indirect object must be inthe dative case:

Masculine: Ich gebe dem Mann rote Rosen. (Igive the man red roses.)

Feminine: Ich gebe der Lehrerin rote Rosen. (Igive the teacher red roses.)

Neuter: Ich gebe dem Mädchen rote Rosen. (Igive the girl red roses.)

Plural: Ich gebe den Mädchen rote Rosen. (I givethe girls red roses.)

Some prepositions are signals that the noun thatfollows them must be in the dative case. Some ofthese are aus (out [of]), bei (by, at), mit (with),

nach (after), seit (since), von (from, of), and zu(to).

Masculine: Ich spreche mit dem Lehrer. (I speakwith the teacher.)

Feminine: Ich spreche mit der Mutter. (I speakwith the mother.)

Neuter: Ich spreche mit dem Kind. (I speak withthe child.)

Plural: Ich spreche mit den Lehrerinnen. (I speakwith the teachers.)

Genitive CaseThe genitive case is used to show possession. InEnglish, this is achieved by an apostrophe plus theletter “s” or with the preposition “of” (the man'sbook/the roar of the lion). In German, the genitivecase replaces both forms of English possession.

Masculine: Wo ist das Buch des Mannes? (Whereis the man's book?)

Feminine: Wo ist das Buch der Lehrerin? (Whereis the teacher's book?)

Neuter: Wo ist das Buch des Kindes? (Where isthe child's book?)

Plural: Wo ist das Buch der Kinder? (Where isthe children's book?)

Some prepositions are signals that the nouns thatfollow them must be in the genitive case. Two ofthese are während (during) and wegen (becauseof). In a sentence, they are used like this:

Masculine: Wo warst du während des Winters?(Where were you during the winter?)

Feminine: Wo warst du während der Woche?(Where were you during the week?)

Neuter: Wegen des Gewitters bleibe ich zuHause. (Because of the storm I stay home.)

Plural: Wegen der Probleme bleibe ich zu Hause.(Because of the problems I stay home.)

The indefinite articles function in the four cases inthe same way as the definite articles. For example:

Sie küssen einen Mann. (They kiss a man.)Wir arbeiten für eine Lehrerin. (We work for ateacher.)

Sie sprechen mit einem Kind. (They speak with achild.)Das ist das Auto eines Lehrers. (That's a teacher'scar.)

Although the use of German articles is quitedifferent from English, you will discover with timeand practice that these declensions will fall intoplace for you. Be patient. There is no need toabsorb all these endings immediately, don't be

afraid to experiment with them. And if you use thewrong case, German speakers will still understandyou.

Verbs Perform the Action forYouA verb is the word that describes the action in asentence. It can describe something that happens (Ieat/we learn), movement to a place (he runs/sheflies), or a state of being (they are sick/I becometired). German verbs have to be conjugated,meaning they require specific endings dependingupon what subject is using them. This occurs inEnglish, too, primarily in the present tense. Forexample, you say “I see” but “he sees.” The thirdperson singular in English requires an –s ending onmost verbs. The verb “to be” has an even morecomplicated conjugation: I am, you are, he is, weare, they are. In the other tenses, English verbs tendnot to have conjugational endings. In the past tense,all the persons have the same form: I had/he had,

we spoke/he spoke. But the verb “to be” is anexception: I was, you were, he was, we were, theywere.

German also has conjugational endings, but unlikeEnglish, these endings are required for all personsand in all tenses. The basic form of a verb is theinfinitive. English infinitives begin with particleword “to,” for example: to come, to sing, to have,to bring. In German, many infinitives end in –en,for example: kommen, singen, haben, bringen.Some infinitives end in –n: sein (to be), tun (todo).

In order to conjugate a German verb, you have todrop the infinitive ending (-n or –en) and add theappropriate endings. Those endings are determinedby the number, person, voice, mood, and tense ofthe verb in a sentence. At first glance, you may feelthat German conjugations are quite complicated,but you will discover that the conjugations followvery consistent patterns.

Number, Person, SubjectPronounsIn order to conjugate verbs, you need to beacquainted with the subject pronouns. Numberrefers to singular or plural. Person is defined asfirst person, second person, and third person.Therefore, subject pronouns are described as firstperson singular (I) and plural (we), second personsingular and plural (you), and third person singular(he, she, it) and plural (they). The German subjectpronouns are:

Singular Plural

1st person ich (I) wir (we)

2nd person du (you) ihr (you) / Sie (you)

3rd person er (he, it) sie (they)sie (she, it)es (it)

The verbs duzen and siezen are used whendescribing the kind of relationship you have withanother person. Wir duzen einander. (Informal

relationship: We say du to one another.) Wirsiezen einander. (Formal relationship: We say Sieto one another.)

Replacing Nouns with PronounsWhen you replace a noun with a subject pronoun,the pronoun must be of the same gender andnumber as the noun it replaces. But remember thateven inanimate nouns can be masculine orfeminine, and some animates can be neuter,especially when they are diminutives (dasMädchen, das Vöglein). Choose the pronoun thatreplaces a noun carefully; inanimate nouns arereplaced by “it” in English, but not necessarily inGerman.

Noun PronounReplacement English Translation

der Onkel (uncle) er hedas Land (country) es itdie Kinder(children) sie they

die Häuser (houses) sie they

der Stuhl (chair) er itdie Tante (aunt) sie shedie Kreide (chalk) sie itdas Kind (child) es he / she

All plural nouns, whether animate or inanimate,are replaced by sie (they).

Wo ist der Stuhl? Wo ist er?(Where is the chair? Where is it?)

Wo ist Tante Luise? Wo ist sie?(Where is Aunt Luise? Where is she?)

Wo ist das Buch? Wo ist es?(Where is the book? Where is it?)

Many English sentences begin with the word “it”when “it” is not the replacement of a specific noun.In that kind of usage, “it” is called an impersonalpronoun. The German pronoun es functions in thesame way.

Es ist kalt. (It's cold.)Es wird spät. (It's getting late.)

Endings Make the DifferenceThe conjugation of German verbs is a bit morecomplicated than the conjugation of English verbs.You'll notice that similar endings are used in allthe conjugations. That's helpful; it means you canapply the same endings to new verbs as they comealong. Let's look at the present tense of somefrequently used verbs: kommen, singen, sein, andhaben.

kommen (to come)ich komme (I come) wir kommen (we come)du kommst (you come) ihr kommt (you come)er kommt (he comes) Sie kommen (you come)sie kommt (she comes) sie kommen (they come)es kommt (it comes)

singen (to sing)ich singe (I sing) wir singen (we sing)du singst (you sing) ihr singt (you sing)er singt (he sings) Sie singen (you sing)

sie singt (she sings) sie singen (they sing)es singt (it sings)

sein (to be)ich bin (I am) wir sind (we are)du bist (you are) ihr seid (you are)er ist (he is) Sie sind (you are)sie ist (she is) sie sind (they are)es ist (it is)

haben (to have)ich habe (I have) wir haben (we have)du hast (you have) ihr habt (you have)er hat (he has) Sie haben (you have)sie hat (she has) sie haben (they have)es hat (it has)

There are three pronouns that are spelled alike.One is the third person singular pronoun sie thatmeans “she” or “it.” Since it is singular, the verbthat accompanies it will have a third personsingular ending: Sie ist. Sie singt. (She is. Shesings.) Another sie is the third person pluralpronoun that means “they.” Since it is plural, theverb that accompanies it will have a third person

plural ending: Sie sind. Sie singen. (They are.They sing.) The third Sie means formal “you” andis also used with a plural verb ending. It isdistinguished from sie (they) by context. Forexample: Herr Braun, sind Sie krank? (Mr. Braun,are you sick?) Wo sind die Mädchen? Sind siekrank? (Where are the girls? Are they sick?)Another difference is that Sie (you) is alwayscapitalized.

In Good VoiceVoice in German refers to the active voice and thepassive voice. The active voice describes anaction that is performed by the subject of thesentence, often on a direct object: John kissesMary. The passive voice places the subject in apassive position in the sentence and makes thedirect object the subject: Mary is kissed by John.Although some argue that using the passive voicein English is poor style, it is a high-frequencystructure in German.

Getting in the MoodMood in German refers to the indicative mood, theimperative, and the subjunctive mood.

The indicative mood is the most common way ofmaking a statement. Herr Braun ist krank. (Mr.Braun is sick.)

The imperative is a command. Sprechen SieDeutsch! (Speak German.)

The subjunctive mood describes a conditional ideaor one that shows a cause and an effect. Wenn ernur hier wäre. (If only he were here.) Wenn erhier wäre, würde ich mit ihm tanzen . (If hewere here, I'd dance with him.)

TensesThe main tenses covered in this book are thepresent, past, and future tenses. They are formedmuch like English tenses. You have previouslyencountered some present tense examples withkommen, singen, sein, and haben.

The regular past tense in English ends in –ed. TheGerman regular past tense ends in –te. Forexample: Ich fragte ihn. (I asked him.)

The German future tense is formed by theconjugation of werden plus an infinitive. Forexample: Die Kinder werden ihn fragen. (Thechildren will ask him.)

AdjectivesAn adjective is a word that modifies a noun or apronoun. Just like English, German has two waysof using an adjective. Many adjectives follow alinking verb like “to be” or “to become” and arecalled predicate adjectives. Frau Benz ist krank.(Mrs. Benz is sick.) Es wird kalt. (It's gettingcold.) Other adjectives can be placed before thenoun. Wo ist der kranke Mann? (Where is the sickman?) Adjectives that are not predicate adjectivesrequire endings. Adjectives of this type are:

Possessive adjectives: mein, meine(my), dein,

deine(singular informal your), sein, seine(his,its), ihr, ihre(her), unser, unsere(our), euer,eure(plural informal your), Ihr, Ihre(formalyour), and ihr, ihre(their)

Demonstrative adjectives: dieser, diese(this,these) and jener, jene(that, those)Interrogative adjectives: welcher, welche(which)

Der-wordsThis category of adjectives is named der-wordsbecause the adjective functions like the definitearticle, meaning that the gender of the noun isidentified in the der-word. Some of the der-wordsare dieser (this), jener (that), and jeder (each).Note that jeder is only used in the singular. Whenthese adjectives modify a noun, they show thegender or plural number of the noun by theirending.

Masculine: der Mann, dieser Mann, jener Mann,jeder Mann (the, this, that, each man)

Feminine: die Frau, diese Frau, jene Frau, jedeFrau (the, this, that, each woman)

Neuter: das Haus, dieses Haus, jenes Haus, jedesHaus (the, this, that, each house)

Plural: die Kinder, diese Kinder, jene Kinder (the,these, those children)

Ein-wordsThis category of adjectives is named ein-wordsbecause the adjective functions like the indefinitearticle, meaning that an ending is required only forthe feminine and the plural. The ein-words are thepossessive adjectives and kein (no, not any).

Masculine: ein Mann, dein Mann, ihr Mann, keinMann (a, your, her, no husband)

Feminine: eine Frau, seine Frau, Ihre Frau, keineFrau (a, his, your, no wife)

Neuter: ein Kind, mein Kind, unser Kind, keinKind(a, my, our, no child)

Plural: deine Kinder, eure Kinder, ihre Kinder,keine Kinder (your, your, her, no children)

AdverbsAdverbs are used more simply than adjectivesbecause there are no endings to consider. Anadverb that describes time precedes an adverb thatdescribes manner (by car, by bus, on foot). Anadverb that describes manner precedes an adverbthat describes place. Adverbs modify verbs,adjectives, and other adverbs.

Modified verb: Sie laufen schnell. (They run fast.)

Modified adjective: Mein Vater ist sehr krank.(My father is very sick.)

Modified adverb: Sie sprechen zu schnell. (You

speak too fast.)

Know Your PronounsYou have encountered other pronouons besidessubject pronouns in the nominative case. There arealso accusative pronouns, dative pronouns,reflexive pronouns, and relative pronouns. The listmay seem long, but all pronouns follow a simpleand logical pattern.

Accusative PronounsThe accusative case is required when a noun is adirect object or when it follows an accusativepreposition (durch, für, gegen, ohne, um ). Thesame is true of pronouns: They can be used asdirect objects or can follow an accusativepreposition. The German accusative case pronounsare:

mich (me)dich (you [singular, informal])

ihn (him, it)sie (her, it)es (it)uns (us)euch (you [plural, informal])Sie (you [singular/plural, formal])sie (them)

In a sentence, the direct object pronoun follows theverb.

Sie findet es. (She finds it.)Er liebt uns. (He loves us.)Ich kenne dich. (I know you.)

With prepositions, the pronouns appear like this:

Er arbeitet für euch. (He works for you.)Sie kommt ohne ihn. (She comes without him.)

Dative Pronouns

The dative case is required for indirect objects and

The dative case is required for indirect objects andfollowing a dative preposition (aus, bei, mit,nach, seit, von, zu). In a sentence, the indirectobject pronoun follows the verb. The Germandative case pronouns are:

mir (me) dir (you [singular, informal])ihm (him, it) ihr (her, it)ihm (it) uns (us)euch (you [plural, informal])Ihnen (you [singular/plural, formal]) ihnen (them)

In a sentence, indirect object pronouns precede thedirect object if it is a noun. Indirect objectpronouns follow the direct object if it is a pronoun.

Ich gebe dir das Geld. (I give you the money.)Ich gebe es dir. (I give it to you.)

With prepositions, the pronouns appear like this:

Helga spricht mit ihnen. (Helga speaks withthem.)Sie wohnen bei ihm. (They live with him [at his

house].)

Reflexive PronounsGerman reflexive pronouns can be in either theaccusative case or the dative case and resemblethe accusative and dative pronouns closely. Onlytheir function is different.

Accusative Dative Englishmich mir myselfdich dir yourself

(singular, informal)sich sich himself, itselfsich sich herself, itselfsich sich itselfuns uns ourselveseuch euch yourselves

(plural, informal)sich sich yourself, yourselves

(singular/plural, formal)sich sich themselves

The reflexive pronouns are used when the subject

and the object in a sentence are the same person orthing.

Sie kauft ihm eine Jacke. (She buys him a jacket.)Sie kauft sich eine Jacke. (She buys herself ajacket.)

Verbs that usually require a reflexive pronoun arecalled reflexive verbs. Some of the most commonones are:

sich anziehen to dresssich ausziehen to undresssich duschen to showersich freuen to be gladsich hinlegen to lie downsich rasieren to shave oneselfsich setzen to sit downsich waschen to wash oneself

When a reflexive verb is conjugated, theappropriate reflexive pronoun must be used.

ich setze mich I sit down (I seat myself)du setzt dich you sit down (you seat yourself)

er setzt sich he sits down (he seats himself)wir setzen uns we sit down (we seat ourselves)Sie setzen sich you sit down (you seat yourself/yourselves)ihr setzt sich you sit down (you seat yourselves)sie setzen sich they sit down(they seat themselves)

Relative PronounsThe German relative pronouns are der-words—thedefinite articles or welcher. Just like Englishrelative pronouns, German relative pronouns link arelative clause to a main clause. This occurs whenthe same noun is in both clauses. Two sentencessuch as “He knows the man. The man bought mycar.” become one sentence: “He knows the manwho bought my car.” The English relativepronouns (who, whom, whose, that, which) can bereplaced by either a definite article or welcher,which closely follow the der-word declensionalpattern.

Masculine Femininenominative der/welcher die/welcheaccusative den/welchen die/welche

dative dem/welchem der/welchergenitive dessen deren

Neuter Pluralnominative das/welches die/welcheaccusative das/welches die/welchedative dem/welchem denen/welchengenitive dessen deren

The relative pronoun that replaces a noun must bethe same number, gender, and case as the noun. Forexample:

Wo ist der Mann, der Deutsch spricht?(Where is the man who speaks German?)

Wo ist die Frau, die Deutsch spricht?(Where is the woman who speaks German?)

Wo ist das Mädchen, das Deutsch spricht?(Where is the girl who speaks German?)

Wo sind die Kinder, die Deutsch sprechen?(Where are the children who speak German?)

If the relative pronoun in the relative clause is usedas the subject, it will be in the nominative case. Asa direct object or after an accusative preposition, itwill be in the accusative case. As an indirectobject or after a dative preposition, it will be inthe dative case. The genitive case is used to showpossession, where in English the relative pronouncan be “whose” or “of which."

Being NegativeNegation in German is very much like English. Itcan be done in two ways: by inserting the negativeadverb nicht (not) or by using the ein-word kein asa modifier. For example:

Sie wohnt nicht in Berlin. (She doesn't live inBerlin.)Er kommt nicht heute. (He's not coming today.)Es gibt keine Milch. (There is no milk.)Ich habe kein Geld. (I don't have any money.)

Asking QuestionsJust like English, German has more than one wayto ask a question. Sometimes just intoning yourvoice while you make a statement is a question.Other questions require a yes or no answer. Stillothers begin with an interrogative word.

Yes or No QuestionsWhen asking a question that can be answered byeither ja (yes) or nein (no), invert the subject andthe verb to make a question.

Statement: Er kommt um acht Uhr.(He's coming at 8 o'clock.)

Question: Kommt er um acht Uhr?(Is he coming at 8 o'clock?)

Statement: Deine Schwester singt gut.(Your sister sings well.)

Question: Singt deine Schwester gut?

(Does your sister sing well?)

Using Interrogative WordsInterrogative words ask questions about specificelements in a sentence: how, when, where, why,who, what.

COMMON INTERROGATIVE WORDS

wer whowas whatwann whenwo wherewie howwarum why

A question that begins with an interrogative wordrequires the inversion of the subject and verb, justlike in a yes-no question.

Statement: Du hast kein Geld.(You don't have any money.)

Question: Warum hast du kein Geld?(Why don't you have any money?)

Statement: Er findet eine Zeitung.(He finds a newspaper.)

Question: Was findet er?(What does he find?)

Statement: Sie kommen um acht Uhr.(They're coming at 8 o'clock.)

Question: Wann kommen sie?(When are they coming?)

TEssential German

his chapter provides you with some of themost essential German vocabulary for travelers. Itincludes practical phrases like “Do you speakEnglish?” and “I don't understand” as well aspolite phrases, yes and no, numbers, calendarvocabulary, and instructions for telling time.

Survival GermanThe following German phrases just might come inhandy as you make your way into the German-speaking world. Refer to the chapter titledIntroduction to German and the Pronunciation Key.In the phonetics, the capitalized syllable is thestressed syllable.

I speak a little GermanIch spreche ein bisschen Deutsch.eech SHPRECH eh ine BISS chen doitch

Do you speak English?Sprechen Sie Englisch?SHPRECH en zee ENG lish

What does that mean?Was bedeutet das?vuss beh DOITet duss

How do you say . . . in German?Wie sagt man . . . auf Deutsch?vee zahkt munn . . . owf doitch

Repeat, please.Wiederholen Sie, bitte!vee duh HOLE en zee BIT teh

More slowly. One more time.Langsamer. Noch einmal.LUNG zah muh noch ine MUHL

I don't understand.Ich verstehe nicht.eech fair SHTAY eh nicht

I don't know. What?Ich weiß nicht. Wie bitte?eech VICE nicht VEE bit teh

Language BasicsThe following vocabulary is quite basic but veryuseful.

LANGUAGE BASICS

yes ja yahno nein nineOkay Okay Okayand und oontor oder OH duhbut aber AH buhwho wer varewhat was vusswhen wann vunnwhere wo voewhere (to) wohin voe HINwhy warum vah ROOMhow wie vee

Being PoliteIt's just common sense to be polite when you're aguest in a country. Saying “please” and “thank you”are the essentials for being a good guest.

POLITE VOCABULARY

please bitteBIT teh

thanks dankeDUNN keh

thank you danke schönDUNK eh shern

thank you so much vielen DankFEEL en dunk

thank you very much danke sehrDUNN keh zare

you're welcome bitte schönBIT teh shern

it was my pleasure gern geschehengairn gheh SHAY en

don't mention it keine UrsacheKINE eh OOR zuch eh

pardon me Verzeihen Sie

fare TSY en zeeexcuse me Entschuldigung

ent SHOOL dee goongI'm sorry es tut mir Leid

ess TOOT meer LITEbless you (after a sneeze) Gesundheit

gheh ZOONT hitecheers Prost

prohst

TITLES

Mr. Herr hareMrs., Ms. Frau frow

Please don't let me disturb you.Bitte lassen Sie sich nicht stören.BIT teh LUSS en zee zeech nicht SHTER en

Enjoy your meal!Guten Appetit!GOOT en ah peh TEET

It's Time to CountDo you remember the line from a children's rhyme

Do you remember the line from a children's rhymethat says “four and twenty blackbirds baked in apie?” That will come in handy as you learn to usethe German numbers between twenty and ahundred.

NUMBERS

one eins incetwo zwei tsvythree drei dryfour vier fearfive fünf fuenfsix sechs zexseven sieben ZEE beneight acht ahchtnine neun nointen zehn tsayneleven elf elftwelve zwölf tsverlfthirteen dreizehn DRY tsaynfourteen vierzehn FEAR tsaynfifteen fünfzehn FUENF tsaynsixteen sechzehn ZEX tsaynseventeen siebzehn ZEEP tsayn

eighteen achtzehn AHCHT tsaynnineteen neunzehn NOIN tsayntwenty zwanzig TSVUNN tsiktwenty-one einundzwanzig ine oont TSVUNN tsiktwenty-two zweiundzwanzig tsvy oont TSVUNN tsiktwenty-three dreiundzwanzig dry oont TSVUNN tsik

From twenty to a hundred, the number in thesecond position is said before the number in thefirst position (24): “four and twenty blackbirds”vierundzwanzig Amseln. The first number to dothis is twenty-one; the last is ninety-nine.

NUMBERS 30 AND UP

thirty dreißig DRY tsikforty vierzig FEAR tsikfifty fünfzig FUENF tsiksixty sechzig ZEX tsikseventy siebzig ZEEP tsikeighty achtzig AHCHT tsikninety neunzig NOIN tsik100 hundert HOON dairt200 zweihundert TSVY hoon dairt1,000 tausend TOW zent

3,000 dreitausend DRY tow zent1,000,000 eine Million ine eh MEEL ee own2,000,000 zwei Millionen tsvy MEEL ee own ena billion eine Milliarde ine eh MEEL ee ahr deha trillion eine Billion ine eh BEEL ee own

Take care not to confuse the German Billion(trillion) with the English billion.

What Time is It?German does not use A.M. or P.M. to designatetime between midnight and noon and between noonand midnight. Instead, the 24-hour or military clockis used. That means that 2 A.M. is said as zwei Uhr,but 2 P.M. is said as vierzehn Uhr.

What time is it? It's . . .Wie viel Uhr ist es? Es ist . . .vee feel OOR ist ess; ess ist

one o'clock ein Uhrine OOR

two o'clock zwei Uhr

tsvy OOR3:30 halb vier

hulp FEAR4:15 Viertel nach vier

vier Uhr fünfzehnFEAR tel nahch fear/fear OOR FUENF tsayn

4:45 Viertel vor fünf/vier Uhr fünfundvierzigFEAR tel for FUENF/fear OOR fuenf oont FEAR tsik

5:10 zehn (Minuten) nach fünftsayn [mee NOO ten] nahch FUENF

6:50 zehn (Minuten) vor sechstsayn [mee NOO ten] for ZEX

7 A.M. sieben Uhrzee ben OOR

3 P.M. fünfzehn Uhrfuenf tsayn OOR

6 P.M. achtzehn Uhrahcht tsayn OOR

noon MittagMIT tahk

midnight MitternachtMIT air nahcht

The CalendarThe German calendar starts on Monday and isotherwise set up like the calendar that Englishspeakers use.

Days of the week

Monday Montag MONE tahkTuesday Dienstag DEENS tahkWednesday Mittwoch MIT vawchThursday Donnerstag DAWN airs tahkFriday Freitag FRY tahkSaturday Samstag/ ZAWN ah bent

Sonnabend ZAHMS tahkSunday Sonntag ZAWN tahk

Months of the Year

January Januar YAH noo arFebruary Februar FAY broo arMarch März MAIRTSApril April ah PRILLMay Mai myJune Juni YOO nee

July Juli YOO leeAugust August ow GOOSTSeptember September zep TEM buhOctober Oktober awk TOE buhNovember November no VEM buhDecember Dezember day TSEM buh

AMeeting People

s you travel through the German-speakingworld, it will be important to know how to greetpeople and exchange pleasantries in the locallanguage. Not only will this make your travels a loteasier, but it will also give you a greater insightinto how people in other countries interact. Thetraveler who knows nothing about the locallanguage misses out on so much. So, say hello andhave a friendly chat with your hosts. It will makeyour journey that much more enjoyable.

GreetingsIt is common courtesy in Germany to say hello tothe clerk when you enter a shop or store. Whenyou're finished browsing or shopping, it'scustomary to say goodbye.

Saying Hello

hello, hi hallohAH low

good morning guten MorgengOO ten MORE gen

good day, hello guten TaggOO ten tahk

good evening guten AbendgOO ten AH bent

Leave-takings

bye, so long tschüsschuess

goodbye auf Wiedersehenowf VEE duh zane

good night gute NachtGOO teh nahcht

see you later bis späterbiss SHPAY tuh

see you in a while bis gleichbiss glych

see you tomorrow bis morgenbiss MORE gen

goodbye (on the telephone) auf Wiederhörenowf VEE duh hern

When you ask “How are you?” you must take intoconsideration what kind of relationship you havewith the person you are speaking to, formal orinformal. In general, you can say:

Wie geht's? vee gates

Another informal version that you would use withpeople to whom you say du is:

Wie geht es dir? vee gate ess deer

The plural informal (ihr) question is:

Wie geht es euch? vee gate ess oich

And the formal singular or plural (Sie) is:

Wie geht es Ihnen? vee gate ess EE nen

Appropriate Responses

fine, well gutgoot

I'm doing well. Es geht mir gut.ess gate meer goot

not well nicht gutnihcht goot

not bad nicht schlechtnihcht shlecht

rather well ziemlich gutTSEEM lich goot

very well sehr gutZARE goot

I'm not doing well. Es geht mir nicht gut.ess gate meer nihcht goot

IntroductionsWhen meeting people for the first time, you muststill be aware of the formal or informalrelationship involved. This will determine theform of your questions and answers. When askingfor or giving a name, there are two basicapproaches for both the formal and informal.

What's your name? (formal)Wie heißen Sie?

vee HY sen zee

What's your name? (informal)Wie heißt du?vee hysst doo

What is your last name? (formal)Wie heißen Sie mit Nachnamen?vee HY sen zee mit NAHCH nah men

What is your last name? (informal)Wie heißt du mit Nachnamen?vee hysst doo mit NAHCH nah men

Her name is . . .Sie heißt . . .zee hysstIhr Name ist . . .ear NAH meh ist

His name is . . .Er heißt . . .air hysst

Sein Name ist . . .zine NAH meh ist

My name is . . .Ich heiße . . .eech HY sehMein Name ist . . .mine NAH meh ist

Pleased to meet you. (formal)Es freut mich Sie kennen zu lernen.ess froit meech zee KEN en tsoo LARE nen

I'd like to introduce . . .Ich möchte . . . vorstellen.eech MERCH teh FOR shtell len

The Verb HabenHaben means “to have.” It is a very useful, high-frequency verb. Besides being able to stand alonein a sentence, haben also acts as the auxiliary ofother verbs. Let's look at some sentences with this

important verb.

I have a problem.Ich habe ein Problem.eech HAH beh ine pro BLAME

He has three brothers.Er hat drei Brüder.air haht dry BRUE duh

Do you have a sister? (informal)Hast du eine Schwester?hahst doo ine eh SHVES tuh

Do you have your passport? (formal)Haben Sie Ihren Pass?HAH ben zee EAR en puss

The verb haben is often used in specialexpressions and idioms, in which the translation isnot always “to have."

I'm hungry.

Ich habe Hunger.eech HAH beh HOONG uh

I'm thirsty.Ich habe Durst.eech HAH beh doorst

She's homesick.Sie hat Heimweh.zee haht HIME vay

Is something the matter?Hast du was?hahst doo vuss

He's busy.Er hat zu tun.air haht tsoo toon

He's fed up with that.Er hat das satt.air haht duss sutt

Haben in Other Tenses

The verb haben is just as useful in the past andfuture tenses as in the present tense. Let's look atits conjugation.

Present/Past/Futureich habe [HAH be]

hatte [HAH teh]werde haben [VARE deh HAH ben]

du hast [hahst]hattest [HAH test]wirst haben [virst HAH ben]

er/sie/es hat [haht]hatte [HAH teh]wird haben [virt HAH ben]

wir haben [HAH ben]hatten [HAH ten]werden haben [VARE den HAH ben]

ihr habt [hahbt]hattet [HAH tet]werdet haben [VARE det HAH ben]

Sie haben [HAH ben]hatten [HAH ten]werden haben [VARE den HAH ben]

sie haben [HAH ben]hatten [HAH ten]werden haben [VARE den HAH ben]

Nationalities and LanguagesAs you travel, you encounter many people frommany different lands. It is only natural that you talkabout where you come from or that you ask aboutsomeone else's country. The following list containsthe nouns that describe nationality. The masculineform is given first and is followed by –in toindicate the feminine form (der Amerikaner/dieAmerikanerin). Where the feminine is formeddifferently, the noun is written out completely.

Masculine FeminineAfrican Afrikaner -in

ah free KAHN uh inAmerican Amerikaner -in

ah mare ee KAH nuh inAustrian Österreicher -in

ER stuh ryech uh inAsian Asiat -in

AH zee aht inBelgian Belgier -in

BELL ghee uh inBrazilian Brasilianer -in

brah zee lee AH nuh inCanadian Kanadier -in

kah nah DEE uh inChinese Chinese Chinesin

chee NAY zeh chee NAY zinDutchman Niederländer -in

NEE duh lend uh inEgyptian Ägypter -in

ay GUEP tuh inEnglishman Engländer -in

ENG lend uh inEuropean Europäer -in

oy roe PAY uh inFrenchman Franzose Französin

frahn TSOE zeh frahn TSER zinGerman Deutsche Deutsche

DOITCH eh DOITCH eh(East) Indian Inder -in

IN duh inItalian Italiener -in

ee tah lee AY nuh in

Japanese Japaner -inyah PAH nuh in

Mexican Mexikaner -inmex ee KAHN uh in

Pole Pole PolinPOE leh POE lin

Russian Russe RussinROOS eh ROOS in

Spaniard Spanier -inSHPAH nee uh in

Swede Schwede SchwedinSHVAY deh SHVAY din

Swiss Schweizer -inSHVITSE uh in

The Verb SeinThe verb sein (to be) is another important high-frequency verb that can stand alone in a sentenceor be used as the auxiliary of other verbs. It is usedwith nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and a variety ofadverbial expressions.

I am a German teacher.Ich bin Lehrer für Deutsch.

eech bin LAY ruh fuer doitch

Are you sick?Bist du krank?bist doo krahnk

She is very pretty.Sie ist sehr schön.zee ist zare shern

Where are they?Wo sind sie?voe zint zee

They're at home.Sie sind zu Hause.zee zint tsoo HOW zeh

She's in Munich.Sie ist in München.zee ist in MUEN chen

He's over there.

Er ist dort drüben.air ist dort DRUE ben

Sein in Other TensesThe verb sein is just as useful in the past and futuretenses as in the present tense. Let's look at itsconjugation.

Present/Past/Futureich bin [bin]

war [vahr]werde sein [VARE deh zine]

du bist [bist]warst [wahrst]wirst sein [virst zine]

er/sie/es ist [ist]war [vahr]wird sein [virt zine]

wir sind [zint]waren [VAHR en]werden sein [VARE den zine]

ihr seid [zitewart [vahrt]werdet sein [VARE det zine]

Sie sind [zint]waren [VAHR en]werden sein [VARE den zine]

sie sind [zint]waren [VAHR en]werden sein [VARE den zine]

The verb sein is used in many practicalexpressions. For example:

What is your occupation?Was sind Sie von Beruf?vuss zint zee fone beh ROOF

How is the weather?Wie ist das Wetter?vee ist duss VETT uh

It's cold.Es ist kalt.ess ist kullt

She comes from Hamburg.Sie ist aus Hamburg.

zee ist ows HAHM boork

Is that really necessary?Muss das sein?moos duss zine

What can I get you? (in a store)Was darf es sein?vuss darf ess zine

Family MembersTalking about family is another interesting way toshare information about yourself while getting toknow other people.

FAMILY VOCABULARY

aunt eine Tanteine eh TAHN tuh

brother ein Bruderine BROO duh

cousin (male) ein Cousinine koo ZAN

cousin (female) eine Cousineine eh koo ZEE neh

daughter eine Tochterine eh TAWCH tuh

father ein Vaterine FAH tuh

granddaughter eine Enkelinine eh ENK ell in

grandfather ein Großvaterine GROSS fah tuh

grandmother eine Großmutterine eh GROSS moo tuh

grandson ein Enkeline ENK ell

husband ein Mannine munn

mother eine Mutterine eh MOO tuh

nephew ein Neffeine NEFF eh

niece eine Nichteine eh NICH teh

siblings Geschwistergheh SHVISS tuh

sister eine Schwester

ine eh SHVES tuhson ein Sohn

ine zoneuncle ein Onkel

ine AWN kellwife eine Frau

INE eh frow

N

Airports andHotels

ow that you know how to greet people andchat about the basics, it's time to board a plane andhead for your destination. This chapter deals withthe situations you might encounter at an airport orwhen checking into a hotel. The vocabulary willguide you in making reservations, buying tickets,boarding the plane, going through customs, andgetting to your hotel.

Using Ich MöchteGermans prefer to use a special verb form in placeof “want.” Ich möchte means “I would like” and isconsidered the polite way of requesting something.

What would you like?Was möchten Sie?vuss MERCH ten zee

I would like to buy an airline ticket.Ich möchte ein Flugticket kaufen.eech MERCH teh ine FLOOK ticket KOW fen

Many useful phrases can follow Ich möchte . . .

. . . to cash these travelers' checks.

. . . diese Reiseschecks einlösen.DEE zeh RYE zeh shecks INE ler zen

. . . to change this into euros.

. . . dies in Euro wechseln.Dees in OY roe VEX eln

. . . a train schedule.

. . . einen Zugfahrplan.INE en TSOOK far plahn

. . . a room.

. . . ein Zimmer.ine TSIMM uh

The conjugation of this verb in the present tense,

all persons is:

ich möchte [MERCH teh]du möchtest [MERCH test]er, sie, es möchte [MERCH teh]wir möchten [MERCH ten]ihr möchtet [MERCH tet]Sie möchten [MERCH ten]sie möchten [MERCH ten]

The verb wollen (to want) is an acceptablealternative but is not as polite. In the present andpast tenses, it is conjugated like this:

Present/Pastich will [vill]

wollte [VAWL teh]du willst [villst]

wolltest [VAWL test]er, sie, es will [vill]

wollte [VAWL teh]wir wollen [VAW len]

wollten [VAWL ten]ihr wollt [vawlt]

wolltet [VAWL tet]Sie wollen [VAW len]

wollten [VAWL ten]sie wollen [VAW len]

wollten [VAWL ten]

Verbs That Move YouSome verbs are called “verbs of motion” becausethey are used to describe getting from one place toanother.

The Verb GehenThe verb gehen means “to go” especially on foot.It is used when you are going short distances thatcan be reached by walking. Its present and pastconjugations are:

Present/Pastich gehe [GAY eh]

ging [ging]du gehst [gayst]

gingst [gingst]er, sie, es geht [gayt]

ging [ging]wir gehen [GAY en]

gingen [GING en]ihr geht [gayt]

gingt [gingt]Sie gehen [GAY en]

gingen [GING en]sie gehen [GAY en]

gingen [GING en]

Where are you going?Wohin gehen Sie?voe HIN GAY en zee

I'm going home.Ich gehe nach Hause.eech GAH eh nahch HOW zeh

We're going to the hotel.Wir gehen zum Hotel.veer GAH en tsoom HOE tel

The Verb FahrenThe verb fahren means “to go” or “to drive” and is

The verb fahren means “to go” or “to drive” and isused to describe getting someplace by vehicle. Itspresent and past conjugations are:

Present/Pastich fahre [FAHR eh]

fuhr [foor]du fährst [fairst]

fuhrst [foorst]er, sie, es fährt [fairt]

fuhr [foor]wir fahren [FAHR en]

fuhren [FOOR en]ihr fahrt [fahrt]

fuhrt [foort]Sie fahren [FAHR en]

fuhren [FOOR en]sie fahren [FAHR en]

fuhren [FOOR en]

Where are they going?Wohin fahren sie?voe HIN FAHR en zee

They're going to the city.

Sie fahren in die Stadt.zee FAHR en in dee SHTUTT

Are you going by bus or by train?Fahren Sie mit dem Bus oder mit dem Zug?FAHR en zee mitt dame boos OH duh mitt dametsook

My husband drives very well.Mein Mann fährt sehr gut.mine munn fairt zare goot

The Verb FliegenThe verb fliegen means “to fly.” Its present andpast tense conjugations are:

Present/Pastich fliege [FLEEG eh]

flog [flohk]du fliegst [fleegst]

flogst [flohkst]er, sie, es fliegt [fleekt]

flog [flohk]

wir fliegen[FLEEG en]flogen [FLOHG en]

ihr fliegt [fleekt]flogt[flohkt]

Sie fliegen [FLEEG en]flogen [FLOHG en]

sie fliegen [FLEEG en]flogen [FLOHG en]

Are you flying to Rome?Fliegt ihr nach Rom?fleekt eer nahch rome

No, we're flying to Munich.Nein, wir fliegen nach München.nine veer FLEEG en nahch MUEN chen

A lot of birds are flying over the lake.Viele Vögel fliegen über dem See.FEE leh FER ghell FLEEG en UE buh dame zay

Airport and Flight VocabularyNow that you're equipped with some essential

Now that you're equipped with some essentialverbs, you're ready to take a trip to Germany. Youcan make reservations, buy your ticket, and get ona plane. Here are some German phrases that willcome in handy.

PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS

arrivals AnkünfteAHN kuenf teh

airplane das Flugzeugduss FLOOK tsoik

airport der Flughafendair FLOOK hah fen

baggage das Gepäckduss gheh PECK

boarding pass die Bortkarte, Einsteigekartedee BOHRT kahr teh,die AYN schteeg kahr teh

carry-on luggage das Handgepäckduss HAHNTgheh peck

checked luggage das abgefertigte Gepäckduss AHP gheh fair tick tehgheh PECK

check-in desk der Abfertigungsschalterdair AHP fair tee goongs shull tuh

departures AbflügeAHP flue gheh

duty-free shop der Duty-free-Shopdair doo tee FREE shawp

early frühfrueh

identification der Ausweisdair OWS vice

late spätshpate

passenger der Fluggast, Passagierdair FLOOK gust, pah sah ZHEER

passport der Passdair puss

pilot der Pilotdair pee LOTE

security check die Sicherheitskontrolledee ZICH uh hites kawn traw leh

shuttle der Pendelbusdair PENN dell boos

steward(ess) der Steward, die Stewardessdair STOO art, dee STOO ahr dess

visa das Visum

duss VEE zoom

TICKET INFORMATION

airline die Fluggesellschaftdee FLOOK gheh zell shuft

economy (coach) class die zweite Klassedee TSVY teh KLUSS eh

first class die erste Klassedee AIR steh KLUSS eh

flight der Flugdair flook

gate der Flugsteigdair FLOOK shtike

one-way ticket das einfache Flugticketduss INE fahch ehFLOOK ticket

plane ticket das Flugticketduss FLOOK ticket

round-trip ticket die Hin-und-Rückflugkartedie hin oont RUEK flook-kahr teh

stopover die Zwischenlandungdee TSVISH en lun doong

terminal der Terminaldair tare mee NAHL

TRAVEL VERBS

to board an Bord des Flugzeugs gehen,ins Flugzeug einsteigenahn bohrt dess FLOOK tsoiksGAH en, ins FLOOK tsoykINE shty ghen

to buy a ticket ein Flugticket kaufenine FLOOK ticket KOW fen

to check bags das Gepäck aufgebenduss gheh PECK OWF gay ben

to make a reservation eine Reservierung machenine eh ray zare VEER oongMACH en

to sit down sich hinsetzenzeech HIN zetz en

to take off startenSHTAHR ten

Baggage Claim, Immigration,and CustomsWhen you arrive at your destination, you will needto get your luggage and go through immigration and

customs. You'll find this vocabulary helpful.

ARRIVALS AND BAGGAGE

to land landenLUN den

arrivals AnkünfteAHN kuenf teh

baggage claim die Gepäckausgabedee gheh PECK ows gah beh

My luggage is missing Mein Gepäck ist verloren gegangen.mine gheh PECK ist fare LORE engheh GAHNG en

IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS

immigration die Passkontrolledee PUSS kawn trawl eh

immigration form…. das Passkontrollformularduss PUSS kawn trawl fore moo LAHR

last name der Nachname, Familiennamedair NAHCH nah meh,fah MEE lee en nah meh

first name der Vornamedair FORE nah meh

customs der Zoll, die Zollkontrolledair tsawl, dee tsawl kawn TRAWL eh

nothing to declare nichts zu erklärennichts tsoo air KLARE en

customs declaration form die Zollerklärungdee TSAWL air klare oong

Here's my passport. Hier ist mein Pass.heer ist mine puss

I have a visa. Ich habe ein Visum.eech HAH beh ine VEE zoom

I don't have a visa. Ich habe kein Visum.eech HAH beh kine VEE zoom

I would like to declare . . . Ich möchte . . . verzollen.eech MERCH teh fare TSAWL en

At the HotelYou've arrived! Now you need a place to clean up,rest, and unpack your things. The following wordsand phrases will be helpful for getting theaccommodations you want.

Helpful Phrases and VocabularyI would like a room for . . .

Ich möchte ein Zimmer für . . .eech MERCH teh ine TSIMM uh fuer

ICH MÖCHTE EIN ZIMMER FÜR . . .

one night eine NachtINE eh nahcht

two nights zwei Nächtetsvy NEHCH teh

one person eine PersonINE eh pair ZONE

two people zwei Personentsvy pair ZONE en

I would like a room with . . .Ich möchte ein Zimmer mit . . .eech MERCH teh ine TSIMM uh mit

ICH MÖCHTE EIN ZIMMER MIT . . .

two beds zwei Bettentsvy BET en

a double bed einem DoppelbettINE em DAW pell bet

a shower einer Dusche

INE ehrDOO sheha bathtub einer Badewanne

INE ehrBAH deh vunn eha toilet einer Toilette

INE ehrtoy LET eha television einem Fernsehen

INE em fairn zay ena telephone einem Telefon

INE emtale ay FONEair conditioning einer Klimaanlage

INE ehrKLEE mah ahn lah gheh

Do you have . . . ? Is there . . . ?Haben Sie . . . ? Gibt es . . . ?HAH ben zee, geept ess

HABEN SIE . . ./GIBT ES . . .

an elevator einen FahrstuhlINE en FAHR shtool

laundry service einen WäschedienstINE en VESH eh deenst

a hairdresser/barber einen Damenfriseur/HerrenfriseurINE en DAHM en free zeur,HARE en free zeur

a parking lot/garage einen Parkplatz/eine GarageINE en PARK plutzINE eh gah RAH zheh

a restaurant ein Restaurantine ress taw RAWNG

a pool ein Schwimmbadine SHVIMM baht

Naturally the word Hotel on a sign tells you whereyou are. But other words identify places forlodging as well:

motel das Motel (duss moe TELL)hotel room with breakfast das Hotel garni (duss hoe TELL

GAHR nee)inn der Gasthof (dare GAHST hofe)boarding house die Pension (dee pahng zee OWN)bed and breakfast Zimmer frei (TSIMM uh fry)

About Your StayNow that you found lodging, you need somevocabulary for getting around the hotel, payingyour bill, and requesting a wake-up call.

HOTEL VOCABULARY

hotel das Hotelduss HOE tell

accommodations die Unterkunftdee OON tuh koonft

no vacancy belegtbay LAYKT

first floor (US), ground floor (UK) das Erdgeschossduss AIRT gheh shawss

second floor (US), first floor (UK) die erste Etagedee AIR steh eh TAH zheh

hallway der Korridor, Flurdare koe ree DORE, floor

room das Zimmerduss TSIMM uh

door die Türdee tuer

window das Fensterduss FEN stuh

bed das Bettduss bett

pillow das Kissenduss KISS en

sofa das Sofa

duss ZOE fuhwardrobe der Kleiderschrank

dare KLY duh shrunklamp die Lampe

dee LUMP ehbathroom das Badezimmer

duss BAH deh tsimm uhlavatory die Toilette

dee toy LET ehtowel das Handtuch

duss HAHNT tooch

Where is . . . ?Wo ist . . . ?voe ist

WO IST . . .

the elevator der Fahrstuhldare FAHR shtool

the laundry service der Wäschedienstdare VESH eh deenst

the hairdresser/barber der Damenfriseur/Herrenfriseurdare DAHM en free zeur,HARE en free zeur

the parking lot/garage der Parkplatz/eine Garagedare PARK plutz, INE eh gah RAH zheh

the restaurant das Restaurantduss ress taw RAWNG

the pool das Schwimmbadduss SHVIMM baht

the reception desk die Rezeptiondee ray TSEP tsee own

I would like a wake-up call at 8 A.M.Ich möchte um acht Uhr einen Weckanruf.eech MERCH teh oom ahcht oor INE en VECK ahnroof

What is checkout time?Um wie viel Uhr muss man abreisen?oom vee feel oor moos mahn AHP rize en

How much is it?Wie viel kostet es?vee feel KAWS tet ess

I would like to pay my bill.Ich möchte gerne bezahlen.

eech MERCH teh GARE neh beh TSAH len

The bill is incorrect.Die Rechnung stimmt nicht.dee REHCH noong shtimmt nicht

I would like to pay . . .Ich möchte . . . bezahlen.eech MERCH teh bay TSAH len

ICH MÖCHTE . . . BEZAHLEN.

in cash barbahr

with traveler's checks mit Reiseschecksmit RYZE eh shecks

with a credit card mit Kreditkartemit kray DEET kahr teh

W

Getting AroundTown

hether you plan to drive a rental car or usethe local subway or streetcars, you need somevocabulary for transportation. In this chapter,you'll find the German terms for various types oftransportation and useful phrases for getting thatrental car and asking for directions.

Asking for DirectionsSometimes it's fun to wander the streets of a townor village and discover all kinds of interestingplaces. But if you're in a hurry, you probably oughtto ask for directions.

Where is . . . ? It's . . .Wo ist . . . ? Es ist . . .voe ist, ess ist

USEFUL VOCABULARY

left linkslinks

right rechtsrehchts

straight (ahead) geradeausgheh RAH deh ows

next to nebenNAY ben

in front of vorfore

in back of hinterHIN tuh

above obenOH ben

below untenOON ten

near nahnah

far weitvite

in the north im Nordenim NOHR den

in the south im Süden

im ZUE denin the east im Osten

im AWS tenin the west im Westen

im VESS ten

Places to GoHere's some vocabulary that will help you ask fordirections to some important places.

DESTINATIONS

bank die Bankdee BUNK

church die Kirchedee KIRCH eh

city hall das Rathausduss RAHT hows

currency exchange der Geldwechseldair GHELT veck sel

hospital das Krankenhausduss KRAHNK en hows

movie theater das Kinoduss KEE noe

museum das Museumduss moo ZAY oom

park der Parkdair park

pastry shop die Konditoreidee kawn dee tore EYE

police station die Polizeistationdee poh lee TSY shtah tsee OWN

post office das Postamtduss PAWST uhmt

school die Schuledee SHOO leh

theater das Theaterduss tay AH tuh

Other places you might like to go, including storesand businesses, are covered in Shopping andServices.

Types of TransportationHere are some useful words and phrases that dealwith the various types of transportation.

TRANSPORTATION VOCABULARY

transportation der Transportdare TRAHNS port

car der Wagen/das Autodare VAH gen/duss OW toe

taxi das Taxiduss TAHK see

taxi stand der Taxistanddare TAHK see shtunt

train der Zugdare tsook

train platform der Bahnsteigdare BAHN shtike

train station der Bahnhofdare BAHN hofe

bus der Busdare boos

bus stop die Bushaltestelledee BOOS hult eh shtell eh

bus station der Busbahnhofdare BOOS bahn hofe

subway die U-Bahndee OO bahn

subway station die U-Bahn-Stationdee OO bahn shtah tsee own

city and suburban train die S-Bahndee ESS bahn

city and suburban train station die S-Bahn-Stationdee ESS bahn shtah tsee own

bike das Fahrradduss FAHR raht

moped das Mopedduss MOE pet

boat das Bootduss bote

Renting a CarPublic transportation is a convenient way to getaround in a large city. But if you plan on travelingbetween cities or visiting sites out in the country,renting a car just might be the right thing for you.

I'd like to rent a car.Ich möchte ein Auto mieten.eech MERCH teh ine OW toe MEE ten

VEHICLE VOCABULARY

automatic transmission das Automatik-Getriebe

duss ow toe MAH teekgeh TREE buh

economy car der Economywagendare ay koe noe MEE vah gen

compact car der Kompaktwagendare KOME pahkt vah gen

mid-size car der Mittelgroßwagendare MIT ell grohs vah gen

luxury car der Luxuswagendare LOOKS oos vah gen

convertible das Kabrioduss KAH bree oh

4x4 mit Vierradantriebmitt feer raht AHN treep

truck der Lastwagendare LAHST vah ghen

How much does it cost?Wie viel kostet es?vee feel KAWS tet ess

Do I have to pay by the kilometer?Muss man pro Kilometer bezahlen?moos mahn pro kee loe MAY tuh bay TSAH len

Is insurance included?Ist die Versicherung eingeschlossen?ist dee fare ZICH air oong INE gheh shlaw sen

I'd like to pay by credit card.Ich möchte mit Kreditkarte bezahlen.eech MERCH teh mit kray DEET kahr teh behTSAH len

Where can I pick up the car?Wo kann ich den Wagen abholen?voe kahn eech dane VAH ghen AHP hoe len

When do I have to return it?Wann muss ich ihn zurückbringen?wunn moos eech een tsoo RUECK bring en

Can I return it to Berlin/Munich?Kann ich ihn in Berlin/München abgeben?kahn eech een in bare LEEN/MUENCH en AHPgay ben

Car and DriverHere's some vocabulary that every driver needswhen out on the road, filling up, and finding aparking spot.

DRIVING VOCABULARY

brake light das Bremslichtduss BREMZ lihcht

brake die Bremsedee BREMZ eh

driver der Fahrerdare FAHR uh

flat tire/breakdown … die Pannedee PUHN eh

gas, petrol das Benzinduss ben TSEEN

gas pedal das Gaspedalduss gahss pay DAHL

gas station die Tankstelledee TAHNK shtell eh

headlight der Scheinwerferdare SHINE vare fuh

high beam das Fernlicht

duss FAIRN lihchthighway die öffentliche Straße

dee ER fent leech eh SHTRAH sehsuper highway die Autobahn, Landstraße

dee OW toe bahn, LUNT shtrah sehhitchhiking das Trampen

duss TRAHM penon the way unterwegs

OON tuh vakesone-way street die Einbahnstraße

dee INE bahn shtrah sehparking lot der Parkplatz

dare PARK plutzregular gas das Normalbenzin

duss nore MAHL ben tseenspeed limit die Geschwindigkeitsbeschränkung

dee gheh SHVIN dih kitesbeh SHRENK oong

steering wheel das Lenkradduss LENK raht

street die Straßedee SHTRAH seh

toll die Gebührdee gheh BUER

traffic jam der Verkehrsstau/der Stau

dare fare KARES shtau/der shtautraffic light die Verkehrsampel

dee fare KARES ahm pelltrip die Fahrt

dee fahrtturn signal der Blinker

dare BLINK uhwindshield die Windschutzscheibe

dee VINT shoots shy behwindshield wiper der Scheibenwischer

dare SHY ben vish uh

Useful Driving VerbsHere are some verbs essential for driving inGermany.

DRIVING VERBS

to accelerate beschleunigenbeh SHLOY nih ghen

to cross überquerenue buh KVARE en

to drive fahrenFAHR en

to fill up (gas) tanken

TAHNK ento park parken

PAHR kento pass überholen

UEH buh hoe lento slow down verlangsamen, abbremsen

fare LAHNG zah men, AHP brem zento turn einbiegen

INE bee ghen

GTime for Dinner

oing out for dinner can be a great experienceand is an important part of enjoying a foreignculture. This chapter will present you with themost essential words and phrases forunderstanding a German menu and orderingcorrectly. Guten Appetit!

Eating OutHere are some basic words and phrases that you'llfind helpful when eating out.

AT THE RESTAURANT

restaurant das Restaurantduss ress toh RAHNG

snackbar der Schnellimbissdare SHNELL im biss

kitchen die Küchedee KUECH eh

dining room das Esszimmerduss ESS tsimm uh

waiter der Kellnerdare KELL nuh

waitress die Kellnerindee KELL nuh rin

cook der Koch/die Köchindare kawch/dee KERCH in

MEALS AND COURSES

meal die Mahlzeitdee MAHL tsite

breakfast das Frühstückduss FRUE shtueck

lunch das Mittagessenduss MIT tuck ess en

dinner das Abendessen/Abendbrotduss AH bent ess en/AH bent brote

snack der Snackdare snack

appetizer, starter die Vorspeisedee FORE shpy zeh

soup die Suppedee ZOO peh

main course das Hauptgerichtduss HOWPT gheh rihcht

salad der Salatdare zah LAHT

dessert der Nachtischdare NAHCH tish

What's on the Menu?In order to choose correctly from a menu, you haveto know what food items are available. Take alook at the following lists of different kinds offood.

FRUIT (DAS OBST)

apple der Apfeldare AHP fell

apricot die Aprikosedee ahp ree KOE zeh

banana die Bananedee bah NAH neh

blackberry die Brombeeredee BROME bare eh

blueberry die Heidelbeere/Blaubeere

dee HYE dell bare eh/BLOW bare ehcherry die Kirsche

dee KEER shehgrape die Weintraube

dee VINE trow behgrapefruit die Pampelmuse

dee PAHM pell moo zehlemon die Zitrone

dee tsee TRONE ehlime die Limone

dee lee MONE ehorange die Apfelsine/Orange

dee ahp fell ZEE neh/oh RAHN zhehpeach der Pfirsich

dare PFEER zichpear die Birne

dee BEER nehplum die Pflaume

dee PFLOW mehraspberry die Himbeere

dee HIM bare ehstrawberry die Erdbeere

dee AIRT bare eh

VEGETABLES (DAS GEMüSE)

artichoke die Artischokedee are tee SHOKE eh

asparagus der Spargeldare SHPAR ghel

bean die Bohnedee BOE neh

carrot die Möhre/Karottedee MER reh/kah ROTE eh

cauliflower der Blumenkohldare BLOOM en kole

celery der Stangenselleriedare SHTUNG en zell air ee

corn der Maisdare mise

cucumber die Gurkedee GOOR keh

lettuce der Kopfsalatdare KAWPF zah laht

mushroom der Pilzdare piltz

onion die Zwiebeldee TSVEE bel

parsley die Petersiliedee pay tare ZEE lee eh

peas die Erbsen

dee AIRP senpotato die Kartoffel

dee kahr TAWF elspinach der Spinat

dare shpee NAHTtomato die Tomate

dee toe MAH teh

MEAT, FISH, POULTRY (DAS FLEISCH,DER FISCH, DAS GEFLüGEL)

chicken das Huhn/Hähnchenduss hoon/HANE chen

fish der Fischdare fish

ham der Schinkendare SHINK en

herring der Heringdare HARE ing

lamb das Lammduss lumm

lobster der Hummerdare HOOM uh

mussels die Muschelndee MOO sheln

pork das Schweinefleischduss SHVINE eh flysh

roast beef der Rinderbraten/das Roastbeefdare RIN duh brah ten/dussroast beef

sausage die Wurstdee voorst

steak das Steakduss steak

turkey der Truthahndare TRUEHT hahn

veal das Kalbfleischduss KULP flysh

venison das Rehfleischduss RAY flysh

MEAT PREPARATION

rare englisch gebratenENG lish gheh BRAH ten

medium-rare/well halb durchgebratenhulp DOORCH gheh brah ten

well done durchgebratenDOORCH gheh brah ten

DAIRY (DIE MILCHPRODUKTE)

buttermilk die Buttermilchdee BOOT uh milch

butter die Butterdie BOOT uh

cream die Sahnedee ZAH neh

sour cream der Sauerrahmdare ZOW uh rahm

cheese der Käsedare KAY zeh

cream cheese der Frischkäsedare FRISH kay zeh

curd cheese der Quarkdare kvahrk

ice cream das Eisduss ice

milk die Milchdee milch

yogurt der Joghurtdare YOGE hoort

DESSERT (DER NACHTISCH)

cake der Kuchendare KOOCH en

candy die Süßigkeitendee ZUESS ich kite en

chocolate die Schokoladedee SHOE koe lah deh

cookie das Plätzchenduss PLETZ chen

fruit das Obstduss ohpst

ice cream das Eisduss ice

pie der Obstkuchendare OHPST kooch en

pudding der Puddingdare POO ding

AND SO ON (UND SO WEITER)

almond die Mandeldee MUN dell

bread das Brotduss brote

roll das Brötchenduss BRERT chen

egg das Eiduss eye

eggs die Eierdee EYE uh

French fries die Pommes fritesdee pawm freet

jam die Marmeladedee mahr meh LAH deh

ketchup der Ketschupdare KETCH up

mayonnaise die Mayonnaisedee mah yoe NAZE eh

mustard der Senfdare zenf

pasta, noodles die Nudelndee NOO deln

peanut die Erdnussdee AIRT noos

pepper der Pfefferdare PFEFF uh

rice der Reisdare rice

salt das Salzduss zahltz

sugar der Zucker

dare TSOOK uhtoast der Toast

dare tostevanilla die Vanille

dee vah NILL eh

BeveragesPick out some drinks to go along with your food.

BEVERAGES (DIE GETRäNKE)

beer das Bierduss beer

cocktail der Cocktaildare KAWK tail

coffee der Kaffeedare kuh FAY

cocoa der Kakaodare kah KAH oh

espresso der Espressodare ess PRESS oh

liqueur der Likördare lee KER

juice der Saftdare zuft

lemonade die Limonadedee lee moe NAH deh

milk die Milchdee milch

mineral water das Mineralwasserduss minn uh RAHL vuss uh

sparkling water das Selterswasserduss ZELL tuss vuss uh

tea der Teedare tay

water das Wasserduss VUSS uh

wine der Weindare vine

sparkling wine, German champagne der Sektdare zehkt

Dishes and SilverwareIf you need to ask for another fork or a napkin,here's the vocabulary you'll need.

DISHES AND SILVERWARE

bowl die Schale

dee SHAH lehcup die Tasse

dee TUSS ehfork die Gabel

dee GAH bellglass das Glas

duss glahsshighchair der Hochstuhl

dare HOECH shtoolknife das Messer

duss MESS uhnapkin die Serviette

dee zare vee ETT ehplate der Teller

dare TELL uhsaucer die Untertasse

dee OON tuh tuss ehspoon der Löffel

dare LERF elltray das Tablett

duss tah BLETTwine glass das Weinglas

duss VINE glahssbottle die Flasche

dee FLUSH eh

can, box die Dosedee DOZE eh

jar der Topf/das Glasdare tawpf/duss glahss

Ordering a MealWith your new food and beverage vocabulary,you're ready to talk with the waiter and order yourmeal.

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

to be hungry Hunger habenHOONG uh HAH ben

to be thirsty Durst habendoorst HAH ben

to order bestellenbeh SHTELL en

to drink trinkenTRINK en

to eat essenESS en

check/bill die Rechnungdee REHCH noong

menu die Speisekarte

dee SHPY zeh kahr tehside order, a la carte a la carte

ah lah kartfixed-price menu die Gedeck-Karte

dee gheh DECK kahr tehtip das Trinkgeld

duss TRINK ghehlttip is included die Bedienung ist inbegriffen

dee beh DEEN oong istin beh GRIFF en

tip is not included die Bedienung ist nicht inbegriffendee beh DEEN oong ist nihchtin beh GRIFF en

What would you like? I would like . . .Was möchten Sie? Ich möchte . . .vuss MERCH ten zee, eech MERCH teh

What are you ordering?Was bestellen Sie?vuss beh SHTELL en zee

I'm ordering . . .Ich bestelle . . .

eech beh SHTELL eh

How much does . . . cost?Wie viel kostet . . . ?vee feel KAW stet

Enjoy your meal!Guten Appetit!GOO ten AHP eh teet

No smoking!Nicht rauchen! Rauchen verboten!nihcht ROWCH en, ROWCH en fare BOE ten

No pets allowed.Kein Zugang für Haustiere!KINE TSOO gung fuer HOUSE teer eh

Dietary RestrictionsWhile you are traveling, you can still avoid thefoods that you normally would not eat at home. Usethese German phrases to explain your dietary

restrictions.

I am . . .Ich bin . . .eech bin

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

allergic to allergisch gegenah LARE gish GAY ghen

diabetic Diabetiker(in)dee ah BET ick uh (rin)

vegetarian Vegetarier(in)veg eh TAHR ee uh (rin)

I'm on a diet.Ich mache eine Diät.eech MAHCH eh INE eh dee ATE

I can't eat . . .Ich kann kein . . . essen.eech kahn kine . . . ESS en

V

Shopping andServices

acations are fun and keep you on the go. Butcertain things still have to be done: You have tokeep your clothes clean and your hair trimmed.And you just might be getting tired of eating in arestaurant three times a day. So this chapter willintroduce you to some phrases that are related tothe stores and services you might need.

Stores and BusinessesHere's a list of stores and business that might comein handy.

DESTINATIONS (ZIELE)

bakery die Bäckereidee beck eh RYE

bank die Bankdee bahnk

butcher shop die Fleischerei/Metzgereidee flysh eh RYE/metz gheh RYE

candy shop das Süßwarengeschäftduss ZUESS vahr en gheh sheft

clothing store das Bekleidungsgeschäftduss beh KLY doongs gheh sheft

dairy der Milchladendare MILCH lah den

department store das Kaufhausduss KOWF house

drugstore die Drogeriedee droe gare EE

dry cleaner die chemische Reinigungdee KAME ish eh RINE ee goong

fish market das Fischgeschäftduss FISH gheh sheft

grocery store das Lebensmittelgeschäftduss LAY bens mit tell gheh sheft

laundromat die Wäschereidee vesh eh RYE

shopping center das Einkaufszentrumduss INE kowfs tsen troom

newsstand der Zeitungskioskdare TSY toongs kee awsk

outdoor market der Markt

dare mahrktpastry shop die Konditorei

dee kawn dee taw RYEpharmacy/drugstore die Apotheke

dee ah poe TAY kehshop der Laden

dare LAH denstore das Geschäft

duss gheh SHEFTsupermarket der Supermarkt

dare SOOP uh mahrkttobacconist der Tabakwarenhändler

dare tah BAHK vahr en hend luh

Laundromat and Dry CleanerAfter traveling around for a few days, you're goingto need to get your clothes cleaned. Here is somevaluable vocabulary for solving this problem.

LAUNDRY VOCABULARY

to wash waschenVUSH en

to dry trocknen

TRAWK nento dry clean chemisch reinigen

KAME ish RINE ih ghenbleach das Bleichmittel

duss BLYCH mit telldetergent das Waschmittel

duss VUSH mit telldryer der Trockner

dare TRAWK nuhfabric softener das Weichspülmittel

duss VYCH shpuel mit tellrinse durchspülen

DOORCH shpuel ensoap die Seife

dee ZIFE ehstarch die Stärke

dee SHTARE kehwashing machine die Waschmaschine

dee VUSH mah shee neh

Hair Salon or BarbershopYou need to know how to tell the stylist or barberhow you want your hair done. Familiarize yourselfwith the following vocabulary. It'll come in handy.

GROOMING VOCABULARY

to brush bürstenBUER sten

to blow dry fönenFER nen

to color färbenFARE ben

to curl lockenLAW ken

to cut schneidenSHNY den

to perm eine Dauerwelle machenINE eh DOW uh vell eh MAHCH en

to shave rasierenRAH zee ren

to wash waschenVUSH en

long langlung

short kurzkoortz

too cold zu kalttsoo kult

too hot zu heiß

tsoo hicehair style die Frisur

dee free ZOORhair stylist der Friseur/die Friseuse

dare free ZER/dee free ZER zeh

Clothing and JewelryWhether you are shopping for new clothes or justfolding up the laundry, the following clothingvocabulary will come in handy.

CLOTHING (DIE KLEIDUNG)

bathing suit der Badeanzugdare BAH deh ahn tsook

boot der Stiefeldare SHTEE fell

coat der Manteldare MUHN tell

jacket die Jackedee JUCK eh

jeans die Jeansdee jeans

pajamas der Schlafanzug

dare SHLAHF ahn tsookpants die Hose

dee HOE zehraincoat der Regenmantel

dare RAY ghen muhn tellsandals die Sandalen

dee ZAHN dah lenshoes die Schuhe

dee SHOO ehshorts die kurze Hose/Shorts

dee KOORTS eh HOE zeh/shortssneakers die Turnschuhe

dee TOORN shoo ehsocks die Socken

dee ZAWK enski jacket die Skijacke

dee SHEE yuck ehsweater der Pullover

dare pool OH vuhT-shirt das T-Shirt

duss TEE shirt

WOMEN'S CLOTHING(FRAUENKLEIDUNG)

bikini der Bikinidare bee KEE nee

blouse die Blusedee BLOO zeh

brassiere der Büstenhalterdare BUE sten hult uh

dress das Kleidduss klite

(half) slip der Unterrockdare OON tuh rawk

high-heeledshoes die hochhackigen Schuhe

dee HOECH huck ee ghen SHOO eh miniskirtderMinirockdare MINN ee rawk

nightgown das Nachthemdduss NAHCHT hemt

panties der Schlüpferdare SHLUEP fuh

pantyhose,tights die Strumpfhose

dee SHTROOMPF hoe zehskirt der Rock

dare rawksuit das Kostüm

duss kawss TUEM

stockings die Strümpfe

dee SHTRUEM pfeh

MEN'S CLOTHING (MÄNNERKLEIDUNG)

bow tie die Fliegedee FLEE gheh

boxer shorts die Boxershortsdee BAWX uh shorts

cummerbund der Kummerbunddare KOOM uh boont

shirt das Hemdduss hemt

sport jacket der Sakkodare ZUK oh

suit der Anzugdare AHN tsook

tie der Schlipsdare shlips

tuxedo der Smokingdare SMOKE ing

undershirt das Unterhemdduss OON tuh hemt

underwear die Unterwäschedee OON tuh vesh eh

JEWELRY (DER SCHMUCK)

barrette die Haarspangedee HAHR shpung eh

bracelet das Armbandduss AHRM bunt

brooch die Broschedee BRAWSH eh

charm bracelet das Armband mit Anhängernduss AHRM bunt mit AHN heng uhn

cufflink der Manschettenknopfdare mahn SHETT en knawpf

earring der Ohrringdare ORE ring

engagement ring der Verlobungsringdare fare LOE boongs ring

necklace die Halskettedee HULSS keh teh

pendant der Anhängerdare AHN heng uh

pin die Anstecknadeldee AHN shteck nah dell

ring der Ringdare ring

tie clasp der Krawattenhalter

dare krah WAH ten hult uhwedding ring der Ehering

dare AY eh ring

ACCESSORIES (DAS ACCESSOIRE)

backpack der Rucksackdare ROOK zuck

belt der Gürteldare GUER tell

briefcase die Aktentaschedee AHK ten tush eh

eyeglasses die Brilledee BRILL eh

gloves die Handschuhedee HUNT shoo eh

handkerchief das Taschentuchduss TUSH en tooch

hat der Hutdare hoot

mittens die Fausthandschuhedee FOWST hunt shoo eh

muffler, scarf der Schaldare shahl

purse die Handtasche

dee HUNT tush ehribbon das Band

duss buntneckscarf das Halstuch

duss HULLS toochshawl das Schultertuch

duss SHOOL tuh toochsunglasses die Sonnenbrille

dee ZAWN en brill ehumbrella der Regenschirm

dare RAY ghen shirmwallet die Brieftasche

dee BREEF tush eh

Colors and SizesSince colors are adjectives, refer to GermanGrammar Basics for a review of how adjectiveendings work in German.

COLORS (FARBEN)

purple lila/violettLEE lah/vee oh LET

blue blau

blow (rhymes with “wow")green grün

gruenyellow gelb

ghelporange orange

oh RAWN zhered rot

roteblack schwarz

shvahrtzwhite weiß

vicegray grau

growbrown braun

brownpink rosa

ROH zahlight blue hellblau

HELL blowdark blue dunkelblau

DOONK ell blow

SIZES (DIE GRößEN)

clothing size die Kleidergröße

dee KLY duh grer sehshoe size die Schuhgröße

dee SHOO grer seh

What size do you wear? I wear size . . .Welche Größe tragen Sie? Ich trage Größe . . .VELL cheh GRER seh TRAH ghen zee;eech TRAH gheh grer seh . . .

Since German clothing and shoe sizes arenumbered according to a different system than theBritish and American system, you'll need to find achart of equivalents. If you try something on thatdoesn't fit, the following vocabulary will come inhandy.

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

large großgroess

larger größerGRERE suh

medium mittelgroß

MIT ell groesssmall klein

klinesmaller kleiner

KLINE uh

YActivities and Entertainment

ou've done a little shopping, found some newthings to buy, and even got a haircut. Now you'reready to go out on the town and do some exploringor have some fun. You can take in a movie or aplay, or perhaps go hear a concert. But in order todo these things, you'll need some vocabulary to seeyou through.

Verbs When You're a ParticipantIf you're involved in an activity, you're one of theparticipants. Let's look at the verbs machen (todo/make) and spielen (to play), which will behelpful when you're involved in an activity.

The Verb MachenPresent/Past

ich mache [MAHCH eh]machte [MAHCH teh]

du machst [mahchst]machtest [MAHCH test]

er, sie, es macht [mahcht]machte [MAHCH teh]

wir machen [MAHCH en]machten [MAHCH ten]

ihr macht [mahcht]machtet [MAHCH tet]

Sie machen [MAHCH en]machten [MAHCH ten]

sie machen [MAHCH en]machten [MAHCH ten]

What are you doing?Was machen Sie?vuss MAHCH en zee

I'm making the bed.Ich mache das Bett.eech MAHCH eh duss bet

The verb machen is used in many idiomaticexpressions that cannot be translated word forword into English. Such expressions must simply

be learned and used when appropriate. Let's lookat a few useful examples.

Make yourself comfortable/at home.Mach es dir gemütlich!mahch ess deer gheh MUET lich

Hurry up.Mach schnell!mahch shnell

Never mind. It doesn't matter.Macht nichts!mahcht nihchtz

The Verb SpielenPresent/Past

ich spiele [SHPEEL eh]spielte [SHPEEL teh]

du spielst [shpeelst]spieltest [SHPEEL test]

er, sie, es spielt [shpeelt]spielte [SHPEEL teh]

wir spielen [SHPEEL en]spielten [SHPEEL ten]

ihr spielt [shpeelt]spieltet [SHPEEL tet]

Sie spielen [SHPEEL en]spielten [SHPEEL ten]

sie spielen [SHPEEL en]spielten [SHPEEL ten]

The verb spielen is used very much like its Englishequivalent “to play:” You play sports, games, andmusical instruments. And just like English, Germandoesn't need any prepositions following this verb.The sports, games, and instruments are all directobjects.

Do you play tennis?Spielen Sie Tennis?SHPEEL en zee TEN iss

We're playing chess.Wir spielen Schach.veer SHPEEL en shuch

My daughter plays piano.Meine Tochter spielt Klavier.MINE eh TAWCH tuh shpeel KLUH vee uh

Verbs When You're a SpectatorWhen you're just sitting back and taking in whatothers are doing, you're a spectator and not aparticipant. Two important verbs that allow you tobe a spectator are sehen (to see) and hören (tohear).

The Verb SehenPresent/Past

ich sehe [ZAY eh]sah [zah]

du siehst [zeest]sahst [zahst]

er, sie, es sieht [zeet]sah[zah]

wir sehen [ZAY en]sahen [ZAH en]

ihr seht [zate]

saht [zaht]Sie sehen [ZAY en]sahen [ZAH en]

sie sehen [ZAY en]sahen [ZAH en]

I saw the children playing in the yard.Ich sah die Kinder im Garten spielen.eech zah dee KINN duh im GAHR ten SHPEEL en

She sees a pretty bird.Sie sieht einen schönen Vogel.zee zeet INE en SHERN en FOE ghel

The Verb HörenPresent/Past

ich höre [HER eh]hörte [HER teh]

du hörst [herst]hörtest [HER test]

er, sie, es hört [hert]hörte [HER teh]

wir hören [HER en]hörten [HER ten]

ihr hört [hert]hörtet [HER tet]Sie hören [HER en]

hörten [HER ten]sie hören [HER en]

hörten [HER ten]

We hear the children singing.Wir hören die Kinder singen.veer HER en dee KINN duh ZING en

Do you hear the beautiful music?Hören Sie die schöne Musik?HER en zee dee SHERN eh moo ZEEK

Sports and GamesYou can use the verb spielen when talking aboutthe following sports and games.

SPORTS AND GAMES VOCABULARY

baseball der Baseballdare BASE bul

basketball der Basketball/Korbball

dare BASS ket bul/KAWRP bulcards Karten

KAHR tenchess der Schach

dare shuchgolf der Golf

dare gawlfhockey der Hockey

dare HAWK eesoccer der Fußball

dare FOOSS bultennis der Tennis

dare TEN issvolleyball der Volleyball

dare VAWL ee bul

The verb gehen (to go) is used when participatingin a variety of other sports and activities.

Present Pastich gehe [GAY eh] ging [ghing]du gehst [gayst] gingst [ghingst]er, sie, es geht [GATE] ging [ghing]wir gehen [GAY en] gingen [GHING en]ihr geht [gate] gingt [ghingt]

Sie gehen [GAY en] gingen [GHING en]sie gehen [GAY en] gingen [GHING en]

Are you going biking?Gehst du radfahren?gayst doo RAHT fahr en

No, I'm going for a walk.Nein, ich gehe spazieren.nine eech GAY eh SHPUH tseer en

USEFUL VERBS

to go for a stroll bummelnBOOM eln

to hike wandernVUN dairn

to jog joggenJAW ghen

to rollerskate Rollschuh laufenRAWL shoo low fen

to row rudernROO dairn

to sail segelnZAY gheln

to ski Ski laufenshee LOW fen

to surf surfenZOOR fen

to swim schwimmenSHVIM en

to water ski Wasserski laufenVUSS uh shee low fen

HobbiesBesides sports and games, there are other hobbiesyou might be involved in. The followingvocabulary will be helpful when you speak abouthobbies with someone.

HOBBY VOCABULARY

cooking/to cook das Kochen/kochenduss KAWCH en

dancing/to dance das Tanzen/tanzenduss TAHNTS en

fishing/to fish das Angeln/angelnduss AHNG eln

to go fishing fischen gehen/angeln gehen

FISH en GAY en/AHNG eln GAY engardening die Gartenarbeit

dee GAHR ten ahr biteto garden im Garten arbeiten

im GAHR ten AHR bite enhunting/to hunt die Jagd/jagen

dee YAHKT/ YAH ghenmusic die Musik

dee moo ZEEKto listen to music Musik hören

moo ZEEK HER ento play music Musik spielen

moo ZEEK SHPEEL enflute die Flöte

dee FLER tehguitar die Gitarre

dee GHEE tahr ehorgan die Orgel

dee AWR ghelpiano das Klavier

duss KLAH veertrumpet die Trompete

dee TROME pay tehviolin die Geige

dee GYE gheh

reading/to read das Lesen/lesenduss LAY zen

Movies and TelevisionOther ways of enjoying a variety of entertainmenttypes are at the movies or watching television.Here's some useful vocabulary for these venues.

MOVIE AND TELEVISION VOCABULARY

movie der Filmdare film

feature film der Spielfilmdare SHPEEL film

to watch a movie sich einen Film ansehenzeech INE en film AHN zay en

movie theater das Kinoduss KEE noe

showing die Vorstellung/Vorführungdee FORE shtell oong/FORE fuer oong

seat der Platzdare plutz

television das Fernsehen

duss FAIRN zay ento watch television… fernsehen

FAIRN zay entelevision show die Fernsehsendung

dee FAIRN zay zen doongdubbed synchronisiert

zuen kroe nee ZEERTsubtitled mit Untertiteln

mit OON tuh tee teln

Going to the TheaterThere are many fine theaters throughout theGerman-speaking world. Use the followingvocabulary for live performances.

THEATER VOCABULARY

theater das Theaterduss TAY ah tuh

opera die Operdee OH puh

symphony die Sinfoniedee zeen foe NEE

concert das Konzert

duss KONE tsairtballet das Ballett

duss buh LET show/performance die Aufführung/Vorstellung

dee OW fuer oong/FORE shtell oongbalcony der Balkon

dare buhl KONEbox die Loge

dee LOE zhehorchestra das Orchester

duss ore KESS tuh

I

In theCommunity

n the previous chapters, you encounteredGerman phrases that are helpful when traveling,dining out, and going shopping. This chapter willintroduce you to vocabulary that deals witheveryday tasks, such as grocery shopping, going tothe post office, buying a newspaper, and a varietyof other around-town activities.

At the MarketYou can do your grocery shopping in Germany bygoing to the various specialty shops: a bakery, abutcher shop, a dairy store, and so on. Or you canmake things more convenient for yourself by doingall your shopping in one place: the supermarket.Whichever you decide to do, the following phraseswill come in handy.

USEFUL GROCERY SHOPPING TERMS

grocery store das Lebensmittelgeschäftduss LAY bens mit tell gheh sheft

outdoor market der Marktdare mahrkt

supermarket der Supermarktdare ZOO puh mahrkt

this one diesesDEE zess

that one jenesYAY ness

these (ones) dieseDEE zeh

those (ones) jeneYAY neh

expensive teuerTOY uh

cheap billigBILL ik

Quantities, Weights, andMeasuresIt's important to be familiar with the German

It's important to be familiar with the Germanvocabulary that deals with quantities, in order tomake purchases in the amount you want.

How much does it weigh? It weighs . . . kilograms.Wie viel wiegt es? Es wiegt . . . Kilo.vee feel veekt es / es veekt . . . KEE loe

MEASUREMENT VOCABULARY

piece ein Stückine shtueck

box eine SchachtelINE eh SHUCH tell

can eine DoseINE eh DOE zeh

bottle eine FlascheINE eh FLUSH eh

jar ein Glasine glahss

gram ein Grammine grahm

kilogram ein Kilogrammine KEE loe grahm

pound ein Pfund

ine pfoontliter ein Liter

ine LEE tuhmilliliter ein Milliliter

ine MILL ih lee tuhtin eine Büchse

INE eh BUEX eh

USEFUL MEASUREMENT PHRASES

enough genuggheh NOOK

a lot, many vielfeel

how many, how much wie viele/wie vielvee FEE leh/vee feel

more mehrmare

less, fewer wenigerVAY nee guh

a little ein bisschenine BISS chen

too much, too many zu viel/zu vieletsoo feel/tsoo FEE leh

no more bread kein Brot mehr

kine brote mare

At the BakeryWhen you see a sign with the word Bäkerei on it,you've found a store that primarily sells bread androlls. A Konditorei, on the other hand, is a storethat offers cookies, tarts, cakes, and fancy pastries.It often provides a little seating area where you cansnack on a pastry and drink a cup of coffee or glassof wine. The following German vocabulary will beuseful when you visit one of these stores.

BäKEREI AND KONDITOREIVOCABULARY

baker der Bäcker/die Bäckerindare BECK uh/dee BECK uh rin

bakery die Bäkereidee BECK uh rye

pastry shop die Konditoreidee kawn dee toe RYE

bread das Brotduss brote

rye bread das Roggenbrotduss RAW ghen brote

whole wheat bread… das Vollkornbrotduss FAWL kohrn brote

a loaf of black bread.. ein Laib Schwarzbrotine lipe SHVAHRTS brote

doughnut der Berlinerdare BARE lee nuh

cake der Kuchendare KOOCH en

cookie das Plätzchenduss PLETZ chen

roll das Brötchenduss BRERT chen

At the Post OfficeThe words die Post and das Postamt tell you thatyou are at the post office.

POSTAL VOCABULARY

post office die Post/das Postamtdee pawst/duss PAWST ahmt

mail die Post

dee pawstmailbox der Briefkasten

dare BREEF kuss tenpostage das Porto

duss PORE toestamp die Briefmarke

dee BREEF mahr kehbook of stamps das Briefmarkenheft

duss BREEF mahr ken heftair mail die Luftpost

dee LOOFT pawstzip code die Postleitzahl

dee PAWST lite tsahlchange of address die Adressenänderung

dee ah DRESS en end uh roongexpress mail der Eilbrief

dare ILE breefgeneral delivery postlagernd

PAWST lah gairntinsured versichert

fare ZICH airtreceipt die Quittung

dee KVIT oongregistered eingeschrieben

INE gheh shree ben

postcard die Postkartedee PAWST kahr teh

special delivery die Eilzustellungdee ILE tsoo shtell oong

address die Adresse/Anschriftdee ah DRESS eh/AHN shrift

envelope der Briefumschlagdare BREEF oom shlahk

letter der Briefdare breef

package das Paketduss pah KATE

recipient der Empfänger/die Empfängerindare emp FENG uh/dee emp FENG uh rin

sender der Absender/die Absenderindare AHP zen duh/dee AHP zen duh rin

size die Größedee GRER seh

weight das Gewichtduss gheh VICHT

money order die Postanweisungdee PAWST ahn vye zoong

postage due die Nachgebührdee NAHCH gheh buer

Computers and CybercafésIf you don't have your computer along on your trip,a good place to check e-mails, print documents, orjust surf the Net is the cybercafé.

TECHNOLOGY VOCABULARY

computer der Computerdare kawm PYOO tuh

cybercafé das Cybercaféduss SYE buh kah fay

CD-ROM drive das CD-ROM-Laufwerkduss tsay day rome LOWF vairk

e-mail die E-Maildee EE mail

e-mail address die E-Mail-Adressedee ee mail ah DRESS eh

file die Dateidee dah TYE

hard drive das Festplattenlaufwerkduss FEST plutt en lowf vairk

Internet das Internetduss IN tuh net

keyboard die Tastatur

dee tahs tah TOORlaptop der Laptop

dare LEP tawpmonitor der Monitor, Bildschirm

dare MAWN ee toh, BILT sheermmouse die Maus

dee mouseper hour pro Stunde

proe SHTOON dehprinter der Drucker

dare DROOK uhsoftware die Software

dee SAWFT warehardware die Hardware

dee HARD warewebsite die Website

dee WEB siteto download herunterladen

hare OON tuh lah denreceive empfangen

emp FAHNG ensend senden

ZEN dento click on anklicken

AHN klick en

to delete löschenLER shen

T

MiscellaneousGerman

he categories of vocabulary in this chapter arenot interconnected, but they play an important rolein the German language. It will be helpful to befamiliar with them. You'll encounter words andphrases that deal with weather, physicaldescriptions, personality, moods, and a littleromance.

Weather WordsThe weather is always a topic of conversationwhether in English or German, so you'll find thefollowing vocabulary useful.

How's the weather? It is . . .Wie ist das Wetter? Es ist . . .vee ist duss VET tuh ess ist

WEATHER VOCABULARY

hot heißhice

cold kaltkult

cool kühlkuehl

warm warmvahrm

nice schönshern

bad schlechtshlehcht

humid feuchtfoycht

rainy regnerischRAYG nuh rish

sunny sonnigZAWN ik

cloudy bewölktbeh VERLKT

stormy stürmischSHTUER mish

windy windig

VIN dikfoggy neblig

NAY blik

The names of the seasons are nouns, so they arealways capitalized in German.

SEASONS OF THE YEAR (DIEJAHRESZEITEN)

spring Frühling/FrühjahrFRUEH ling/FRUEH yahr

summer SommerZAW muh

autumn Herbsthairpst

winter WinterVINN tuh

Descriptive DataIf you want to describe the new person you'redating or tell the police about a pickpocket yousaw, you'll need some descriptive vocabulary.

DESCRIPTIVE VOCABULARY

man der Manndare munn

woman die Fraudee frow

boy der Jungedare YOONG eh

girl das Mädchenduss MATE chen

tall großgrohss

short kurzkoortz

fat dickdick

thin dünnduenn

handsome/beautiful... hübschhuebsh

ugly hässlichHESS lich

tan sonnengebräuntZAWN en gheh broynt

pretty schön

sherneyes die Augen

dee OW ghenhair das Haar

duss hahrfreckles die Sommersprossen

dee ZAWM uh shpraws endimples die Grübchen

dee GRUEP chenwrinkles die Falten

dee FUL ten

Personality TraitsIf you want to describe someone's personalitytraits rather than physical traits, you need adifferent kind of vocabulary. Here are somehelpful words.

USEFUL DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES

athletic atlethisch/sportlichaht LAY tish/SHPAWRT lich

boring langweiligLUNG vye lik

brave tapferTAHPF uh

conceited eingebildetINE gheh bill det

cowardly feigeFYE gheh

forgetful vergesslichfare GHESS lich

friendly freundlichFROYNT lich

funny komischKOE mish

generous großzügigGROHS tsueg ik

hardworking fleißigFLY sik

impatient ungeduldigOON gheh dool dik

interesting interessantin tare eh SAHNT

kind nettnet

likeable sympathischzuem PAH tish

lazy faul

fowl

mean gemeingheh MINE

naïve naivnah EEF

open-minded aufgeschlossenOWF gheh shlaws en

outgoing kontaktfreudigkawn TAHKT froy dik

patient geduldiggheh DOOL dik

patriotic patriotischpah tree OH tish

playful scherzhaftSHAIRTZ huft

reserved zurückhaltendtsoo RUEK hult ent

serious ernstairnst

shy schüchternSHUECH tuhn

smart klugklook

sophisticated kultiviertkool tee VEERT

strong starkshtahrk

studious lerneifrigLAIRN ife rik

stupid dummdoom

weak schwachshvuhch

Mood ManagementUse the following German vocabulary to describesomeone's mood.

angry böseBER zeh

annoying ärgerlichAIR guh lich

ashamed beschämtbeh SHAYMT

calm ruhigROO ik

confident zuversichtlichTSOO fare zihcht lich

confused verwirrt

fare VEERTdisappointed enttäuscht

ent TOYSHTembarrassed verlegen

fare LAY ghenexcited aufgeregt

OWF gheh rayktexhausted erschöpft

air SHERPFThappy froh

froehyper(active) aufgedreht

OWF gheh draytlonely einsam

INE zumnervous nervös

nare VERSEsad traurig

TROW riksloppy schlampig

SHLUMP iktired müde

MUE dehworried besorgt

beh ZAWRGT

The Language of RomanceGerman is not one of the Romance languages, butstill it has a wealth of expressions that have to dowith dating, love, and marriage.

I love you, too.Ich liebe dich auch.eech LEE beh deech owch

Do you want to marry me?Willst du mich heiraten?villst doo meech HYE rah ten

ROMANTIC VOCABULARY

to date (mit jemandem) ausgehenmitt YAY mahn dem OWS gay en

to get engaged sich (mit jemandem) verlobenzeech mitt YAY mahn demfare LOE ben

to get married heiratenHYE rah ten

engagement die Verlobung

dee fare LOE boongwedding die Hochzeit

dee HOECH tsitewedding anniversary der Hochzeitstag

dare HOECH tsites tuckhoneymoon die Flitterwochen

dee FLIT uh vawch enpresent das Geschenk

duss gheh SHENKflowers die Blumen

dee BLOO mencandy die Süßigkeiten

dee ZUESS ik kite enperfume das Parfüm

duss pahr FUEMjewelry der Schmuck

dare shmookengagement ring der Verlobungsring

dare fare LOE boogs ringwedding ring der Ehering

dare AYE eh ringbride die Braut

dee browtgroom der Bräutigam

dare BROY tee gahm

husband, spouse der Mann/Gattedare munn/GUT teh

fiancé, fiancée der/die Verlobtedare/dee fare LOEP teh

lover der/die Geliebtedare/dee gheh LEEP teh

boyfriend der Freunddare froynt

wife, spouse die Frau/Gattindee frow/GUT tin

girlfriend die Freundindee FROYN din

friend, acquaintance der/die Bekanntedare/dee beh KAHN teh

ICommon German Expressions

n the previous chapters of this book, youencountered vocabulary that was organized bytopic or situation. This final chapter is a littledifferent. A series of commonly used Germanexpressions will be presented for their specialusage of certain verbs. Some of the expressions arehighly idiomatic and can't always be translatedliterally into English, but in all cases their use willbe fully explained.

Espressions with Es GibtThe phrase es gibt is used where in English yousay “there is” or “there are.” Es gibt comes fromthe verb geben (to give). However, other specialexpressions that contain the verb geben exist thatalso don't conform to the general meaning “give."

THE VERB GEBEN

Present Pastich gebe [GAY beh] gab [gahp]du gibst [geepst] gabst [gahpst]er, sie, es gibt [geept] gab [gahp]wir geben [GAY ben] gaben [GAH ben]ihr gebt [gaybt] gabt [gahpt]Sie geben [GAY ben] gaben [GAH ben]sie geben [GAY ben] gaben [GAH ben]

I don't believe it. (There's no such thing.)Das gibt es ja gar nicht.duss geept ess yah gahr nihcht

It happens all the time.Das gibt es wohl häufiger.duss geept ess vole HOY fee guh

It wasn't like that back in my day.Zu meiner Zeit gab es das nicht.tsoo MINE uh tsite gahp ess duss nihcht

Is there anything else?Gibt es noch etwas?geept ess nohch EHT wuss

There'll be rain tomorrow.Morgen gibt es Regen.MORE ghen geept ess RAY ghen

There's nothing to eat.Es gibt nichts zu essen.ess geebt nihchtz tsoo ESS en

What is there to drink?Was gibt es zu trinken?vuss geept ess tsoo TRINK en

What's new?Was gibt es Neues?vuss geept ess NOY ess

There's a new movie at the movie theater today.Im Kino gibt es heute einen neuen Film.im KEE noe geept ess HOY teh INE en NOY enfilm

EXPRESSIONS WITH GEBEN

to send off to be printed zum Druck gebentsoom drook GAY ben

to send out for repairs zur Reparatur gebentsoor ray pah rah TOORGAY ben

to mail zur Post gebentsoor pawst GAY ben

to kick einen Tritt gebenINE en tritt GAY ben

to talk nonsense Unsinn von sich gebenOON zin fawn zeech GAY ben

Expressions with MachenThere are a variety of useful expressions that areformed from the verb machen (to make). TheEnglish translation of some of these specialexpressions does not make sense if you translate itliterally.

Present Pastich mache [MAHCH eh] machte [MAHCH teh]du machst [mahchst] machtest [MAHCH test]er, sie, es macht [mahcht] machte [MAHCH teh]wir machen [MAHCH en] machten [MAHCH ten]

ihr macht [mahcht] machtet [MAHCH tet]Sie machen [MAHCH en] machten [MAHCH ten]sie machen [MAHCH en] machten [MAHCH ten]

This makes you thirsty.Das macht Durst.duss mahcht doorst

This makes you hungry.Das macht Hunger.duss mahcht HOONG uh

I take a picture.Ich mache ein Foto.eech MAHCH eh ine FOE toe

Make yourself comfortable.Mach es dir gemütlich!mahch ess deer gheh MUET lich

What should I do?Was soll ich nur machen?vuss zawl eech noor MAHCH en

EXPRESSIONS WITH MACHEN

to do one's hair sich die Haare machenzeech dee HAH reh MAHCH en

to do one's fingernails sich die Fingernägel machenzeech dee FING uhr nay ghellMAHCH en

to give a party ein Fest machenine fest MAHCH en

to take a course einen Kurs machenINE en koors MAHCH en

to make enemies sich Feinde machenzeech FINE deh MAHCH en

to get to work sich an die Arbeit machenzeech ahn dee AHR bite MAHCH en

Expressions with GehenThe verb gehen is used to mean “to go” on foot.But it occurs in other expressions where themeaning is sometimes varied.

THE VERB GEHEN

Present Past

ich gehe [GAY eh] ging [ging]du gehst [gayst] gingst [gingst]er, sie, es geht [gate] ging [ging]wir gehen [GAY en] gingen [GING en]ihr geht [gate] gingt [gingt]Sie gehen [GAY en] gingen [GING en]sie gehen [GAY en] gingen [GING en]

Yes, that will work.Ja, das geht.yah duss gate

This clock is wrong.Diese Uhr geht falsch.DEE zeh oor gate fulsh

That will be difficult.Das wird schwer gehen.duss vihrd shvare GAY en

How are you (formal)?Wie geht es Ihnen?vee gate ess EE nen

I'm fine, thanks.Es geht mir gut, danke.ess gate meer goot dunk eh

He only thinks of money.Ihm geht es nur um Geld.eem gate ess noor oom ghelt

EXPRESSIONS WITH GEHEN

to face the street nach der Straße gehennahch dare SHTRAH sehGAY en

to face north nach Norden gehennahch NORE den GAY en

to make a detour einen Umweg gehenINE en OOM vake GAY en

to go into the movies ins Kino gehenins KEY no GAY en

to go to bed schlafen gehenSHLAH fen GAY en

to go shopping einkaufen gehenINE kow fen GAY en

Expressions with LassenThe basic meaning of lassen is “let” or “allow.”However, it is frequently used to express thatsomeone “gets” or “has” something done. Inaddition, there are some useful idiomaticexpressions to know.

THE VERB LASSEN

Present Pastich lasse [LUSS eh] ließ [lees]du lässt [lest] ließt [leest]er, sie, es lässt [lest] ließ [lees]wir lassen [LUSS en] ließen [LEES en]ihr lasst [lusst] ließt [leest]Sie lassen [LUSS en] ließen [LEES en]sie lassen [LUSS en] ließen [LEES en]

Let the boys enjoy themselves.Lass den Jungen den Spaß!luss dane YOONG en dane shpahs

I didn't let the stranger come into my apartment.

Ich ließ den Fremden nicht in meine Wohnung.eech lees dane FREM den nihcht in MINE eh VOEnoong

She gets the car repaired.Sie lässt den Wagen reparieren.zee lest dane VAH ghen ray pah REE ren

I got my suit dry-cleaned.Ich ließ mir den Anzug reinigen.eech lees meer dane AHN tsook RINE ih gen

EXPRESSIONS WITH LASSEN

to run water in the bathtub Wasser in die Wanne laufen lassenVUSS uh in dee VUNN ehLOW fen LUSS en

to send one's regards grüßen lassenGRUE sen LUSS en

to let know wissen lassenVISS en LUSS en

to leave in peace in Frieden lassenin FREE den LUSS en

to leave alone allein lassen

ah LINE LUSS en

Lassen is often used in an impersonal expressionthat means “it can be . . . .” In the present and pasttenses, it is stated as es lässt sich and es ließ sich.

The door can't be opened.Die Tür lässt sich nicht öffnen.dee tuer lest zeech nihcht ERF nen

That can be done.Das lässt sich machen.duss lest zeech MAHCH en

It couldn't be denied.Es ließ sich nicht verleugnen.ess lees zeech nihcht fare LOYG nen

That couldn't be proved.Das ließ sich nicht beweisen.duss lees zeech nihcht beh VIZE en

Expressions with Tun

The verb tun means “to do” and has a variety ofuses with that meaning. However, it appears inspecial expressions where that meaning is oftenchanged.

THE VERB TUN

Present Pastich tue [TOO eh] tat [taht]du tust [toost] tatst [tahtst]er, sie, es tut [toot] tat [taht]wir tun [toon] taten [TAHT en]ihr tut [toot] tatet [TAHT et]Sie tun [toon] taten [TAHT en]sie tun [toon] taten [TAHT en]

What are you doing here?Was tun Sie hier?vuss toon zee heer

What should I do?Was soll ich tun?vuss zawl eech toon

There's nothing you can do about it.Dagegen kannst du nichts tun.dah GAY ghen kahnst doo nihchst toon

Go on!Tu's doch!toose dawch

I'm busy.Ich habe zu tun.eech HAH beh tsoo toon

Don't do this to me.Tu mir das nicht an!too meer duss nihcht ahn

She's got a heart problem.Sie hat es mit dem Herzen zu tun.zee haht ess mitt dame HARE tsen tsoo toon

EXPRESSIONS WITH TUN

to have its effect seine Wirkung tun

ZINE eh VIRK oong toonto do a favor einen Gefallen tun

INE en gheh FULL en toonto put water in the pot Wasser in den Topf tun

VUSS uh in dane tawpf toonto act as if . . . tun, als ob . . .

toon ahls awp

The Modal AuxiliariesThe modal auxiliaries have an important functionin the German language. They describe a person'sattitude or obligation regarding an activity. Themodals are: dürfen (may, be allowed), können(can, to be able to), müssen (must, to have to),sollen (should, ought to), and wollen (to want to).

Their present and past tense conjugations are:

THE VERB DÜRFEN

Present Pastich darf [dahrf] durfte [DOORF teh]du darfst [dahrfst] durftest [DOORF test]er, sie, es darf [dahrf] durfte [DOORF teh]

wir dürfen [DUERF en] durften [DOORF ten]ihr dürft [duerft] durftet [DOORF tet]Sie dürfen [DUERF en] durften [DOORF ten]sie dürfen [DUERF en] durften [DOORF ten]

THE VERB KÜNNEN

Present Pastich kann [kahn] konnte [KAWN teh]du kannst [kahnst] konntest [KAWN test]er, sie, es kann [kahn] konnte [KAWN teh]wir können [KERN en] konnten [KAWN ten]ihr könnt [kernt] konntet [KAWN tet]Sie können [KERN en] konnten [KAWN ten]sie können [KERN en] konnten [KAWN ten]

THE VERB MÜSSEN

Present Pastich muss [moos] musste [MOOS teh]du musst [moosst] musstest [MOOS test]er, sie, es muss [moos] musste [MOOS teh]wir müssen [MUESS en] mussten [MOOS ten]ihr müsst [muesst] musstet [MOOS tet]Sie müssen [MUESS en] mussten [MOOS ten]

sie müssen [MUESS en] mussten [MOOS ten]

THE VERB SOLLEN

Present Pastich soll [zawl] sollte [ZAWL teh]du sollst [zawlst] solltest [ZAWL test]er, sie, es soll [zawl] sollte [ZAWL teh]wir sollen [ZAWL en] sollten [ZAWL ten]ihr sollt [zawlt] solltet [ZAWL tet]Sie sollen [ZAWL en] sollten [ZAWL ten]sie sollen [ZAWL en] sollten [ZAWL ten]

THE VERB WOLLEN

Present Pastich will [vill] wollte [VAWL teh]du willst [villst] wolltest [VAWL test]er, sie, es will [vill] wollte [VAWL teh]wir wollen [VAWL en] wollten [VAWL ten]ihr wollt [vawlt] wolltet [VAWL tet]Sie wollen [VAWL en] wollten [VAWL ten]sie wollen [VAWL en] wollten [VAWL ten]

Using Modal Auxiliaries

The modal auxiliaries are used together withanother verb—an infinitive, for examplemitkommen.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS

May I come along? Darf ich mitkommen?dahrf eech MIT kaw men

Can they come along? Können sie mitkommen?KERN en zee MIT kaw men

Do I have to come along? Muss ich mitkommen?moos eech MIT kaw men

Should he come along? Soll er mitkommen?zawl air MIT kaw men

Do you want to come along? Wollen Sie mikommen?

VAWL en zee MIT kaw men

We have to . . .Wir müssen . . .veer MUESS en

WIR MÜSSEN . . .

. . . drive to the city . . . in die Stadt fahrenin dee shtuht FAH ren

. . . go shopping . . . einkaufen gehenINE kow fen GAY en

. . . find the money . . . das Geld findenduss ghelt FIN den

. . . buy two airline tickets . . . zwei Flugtickets kaufentsvy FLOOK tick ets KOW fen

Do you want . . .Willst du . . .villst doo

WILLST DU . . .

. . . to go to the movies? . . . ins Kino gehen?ins KEE noe GAY en

. . . to go out for Mexican thisevening?

. . . heute abend mexikanischessen?HOY teh AH bent mex ee KAHnish ESS en

I can't . . .Ich kann nicht . . .eech kahn nihcht

Ich kann nicht . . .

. . . understand . . . verstehenfare SHTAY en

. . . sleep . . . schlafenSHLAH fen

. . . go to the theater . . . ins Theater gehenins tay AH tuh GAY en

The Special Case of HabenA very important phrase is formed with thesubjunctive of haben (to have). Its conjugationalforms are ich hätte, du hättest, er/sie/es hätte, wirhätten, ihr hättet, Sie hätten, and sie hätten. It isused together with sollen to express regret atsomeone's actions:Das hättest du nicht tun sollen.(You shouldn't have done that.)

You shouldn't have . . .Das hätten Sie nicht . . . sollenduss HETT en zee nihcht . . . zawlen

DAS HäTTEN SIE NICHT . . .

. . . said that . . . sagen sollen

ZAH ghen ZAWL en. . . bought that . . . kaufen sollen

KOW fen ZAWL en. . . written that . . . schreiben sollen

SHRY ben ZAWL en. . . ordered that . . . bestellen sollen

beh SHTELL en ZAWL en. . . asked that . . . fragen sollen

FRAH ghen ZAWL en. . . broken that . . . kaputt machen sollen

kah POOT MAHCH en ZAWL en. . . lost that . . . verlieren sollen

fare LEER en ZAWL en

Special Phrases and Word OrderIn general, there are not many complications withGerman word order. One exception is theplacement of an infinitive at the end of sentencethat has a modal auxiliary. Many conjunctions alsosignal a word order change.

Using Dass and ObThe conjunctions dass (that) and ob (whether/if)

The conjunctions dass (that) and ob (whether/if)require the conjugated verb in the clause thatfollows them to be the last element. Theseconjunctions are used frequently with an importantverb: wissen (to know). Here are this verb'spresent and past tense conjugations.

THE VERB WISSEN

Present Pastich weiß [vice] wusste [VOOS teh]du weißt [vysst] wusstest [VOOS test]er, sie, es weiß [vice] wusste [VOOS teh]wir wissen [VISS en] wussten [VOOS ten]ihr wisst [visst] wusstet [VOOS tet]Sie wissen [VISS en] wussten [VOOS ten]sie wissen [VISS en] wussten [VOOS ten]

I know.Ich weiß.eech vice

I don't know.Ich weiß (es) nicht.

ecch vice ess nihcht

As far as I know.Soviel ich weiß.zoe feel eech vice

You always know better.Sie wissen immer alles besser.zee VISS en IM muh ULL ess BESS uh

How should a person know that?Woher soll man das wissen?VOE hare zawl munn duss VISS en

You never know!Man kann nie wissen.munn kahn nee VISS en

I don't know anything about it.Ich weiß von nichts.eech vice fawn nihchts

WISSEN

to know about wissen vonVISS en fawn

to know how to behave sich zu benehmen wissenzeech tsoo beh NAME en VISS en

When wissen is used with the conjunctions dassand ob, the conjugated verb appears at the end ofthe sentence.

I know that . . .Ich weiß, dass . . .eech vice duss

ICH WEIß, DASS . . .

. . . the hotel isn't far from here

. . . das Hotel nicht weit von hier entfernt istduss HOE tell nihcht vite fawn heer ent FAIRNTist

. . . his brother is well again

. . . sein Bruder wieder gesund istzine BROO duh VEE duh gheh ZOONT ist

. . . I need more money . . . ich mehr Geld brauche

eech mare ghelt BROW cheh

. . . she bought a blouse

. . . sie eine Bluse kauftezee INE eh BLOOZE eh KOWF the

Do you know whether (if) . . .Wissen Sie, ob . . .VISS en zee awp

WISSEN SIE, OB . . .

. . . the inn is still open?

. . . der Gasthof noch offen ist?dare GAHST hofe nawch AW fen ist

. . . this street goes to city hall?

. . . diese Straße zum Rathaus führt?DEEZ eh SHTRAH seh tsoom RAHT house fuert. . . they have my luggage?. . . sie mein Gepäck haben?zee mine gheh PECK HAH ben

. . . service is included?

. . . die Bedienung inbegriffen ist?dee beh DEEN oong in beh GRIFF en ist

You can even use interrogative words like wann,wo, and wie as conjunctions that require the sameword order.

Do you know when the next train will arrive?Weißt du, wann der nächste Zug kommt?vysst doo vunn dare NAYX teh tsook kawmt

I don't know where Mr. Keller lives.Ich weiß nicht, wo Herr Keller wohnt.ecch vice nihcht voe hare KELL uh voent

Do you know how you get to the airport?Wissen Sie, wie man zum Flughafen kommt?VISS en zee vee munn tsoom FLOOK hah fenkawmt

ImperativesBecause there are three forms of “you” in German,

Because there are three forms of “you” in German,there are three forms of the commands: one for du,one for ihr, and one for Sie.

Commands with DuMost second person singular commands (du) areformed by dropping the –en ending from aninfinitive. This is the imperative that is used withfamily members, friends, or children.

Infinitive Imperative Englishkommen Komm! comesingen Sing! singfahren Fahr schneller! drive fastermachen Mach schnell! hurry upspielen Spiel im Garten! play in the garden

Commands with IhrThe pronoun ihr is the informal plural of du. Itsimperative form is usually identical to its presenttense conjugation.

Infinitive Imperative English

lachen Lacht nicht! Don't laugh!singen Singt! Sing!sprechen Sprecht Deutsch! Speak German!bleiben Bleibt zu Hause! Stay at home!besuchen Besucht Onkel Hans! Visit Uncle Hans!

Commands with SieThe Sie form of the imperative is the formal form.In most cases, use the infinitive and place thepronoun Sie after it, and you will have thecommand form.

Infinitive Imperative Englishsich setzen Setzen Sie sich! Sit down!helfen Helfen Sie mir! Help me!verkaufen Verkaufen Sie den Wagen! Sell the car!aufhören Hören Sie auf! Stop that!sein Seien Sie nicht böse! Don't be angry!

TGerman to English Dictionary

he gender and number of the nouns listed hereis indicated by m. for masculine, f. for feminine, n.for neuter, sing. for singular, and pl. for plural.Both German and English verbs are provided asinfinitives.

A

abend m. eveningabendbrot n. supper, dinnerabendessen n. supper, dinneraber butabfertigen to check inabfertigungsschalter m. check-in windowabflug m. departure (plane)abführmittel n. laxativeabgeben to hand inabheben to withdraw (money)abitur n. prep school diplomaabnehmen to take off, take from

abreise f. departureabschalten to turn offabsender m. senderabstrakt abstractabszess m. abscessacht eightachtzehn eighteenachtzig eightyadresse f. addressaffe m. ape, monkeyafrikaner/-in m./f. African personägypter/-in m./f. Egyptian personaktenschrank m. file cabinetaktentasche f. briefcaseaktiv activeakzent m. accentalle all, everyoneallein aloneallergie f. allergyallergisch allergicalles everythingals ob as ifalt oldamerika Americaamerikaner/-in m./f. American person

anderung f. changeangeln to fish

angestellte m./f. employeeangriff m. attackangst haben to be afraidanhänger m. pendantanklicken to click onankunft f. arrivalanrufbeantworter m. answering machineanrufen to call, phoneanschalten turn onanschrift f. mailing addressansehen (sich) to look atansichtskarte f. picture postcardanstecknadel f. decorative pinantibiotikum n. antibioticanziehen (sich) to dress, put onanzug m. suitapfel m. appleapfelsine f. orangeapotheke f. pharmacy, drugstoreapotheker/-in m./f. pharmacistapparat m. apparatus, applianceappetit m. appetiteaprikose f. apricot

april m. Aprilarbeit f. work, jobarbeitslos unemployedärgerlich annoyedarm m. armarmband n. braceletarthritis f. arthritisartischocke f. artichokeartist/-in m./f. artistarzt/Ärztin m./f. doctor, physicianaspirin n. aspirinasthmatiker/-in m./f. asthmatic (person)asthmatisch asthmaticathletisch athleticattraktiv attractiveauch also, tooauf onauf Wiederhören goodbye (on phone)auf Wiedersehen goodbyeaufführung f. performanceaufgeben to give up, check inaufgedreht hyperactiveaufgeregt excitedaufgeschlossen open-mindedaufhängen to hang up (phone)aufhören to stop, cease

aufmachen to openauge n. eye

augenzahn m. eyetoothaugust m. Augustaus out, fromausgeben to spend (money)ausspülen to rinse outausweis m. identificationausziehen (sich) to undressauto n. automobile, carautobahn f. highwayautomatik-getriebe n. automatic transmission

B

baby n. babybacke f. cheekbackenzahn m. molarbäcker/-in m./f. bakerbäckerei f. bakerybadeanzug m. swimsuitbadewanne f. bathtubbahnhof m. train stationbahnsteig m. train platformbalkon m. balcony

ballett n. balletbanane f. bananaband n. ribbonbank f. bankbar in cashbär m. bearbargeld n. cashbaseball m. baseballbasketball m. basketballbeamte/beamtin m./f. civil servantbedeuten to meanbedienung f. service; call to a waiterbei by, atbein n. legbekannte m./f. acquaintancebekleidungsgeschäft n. clothing storebelegt no vacancybenehmen (sich) to behavebenzin n. gasolineberliner m. doughnutberuf m. occupationbeschämt ashamedbeschleunigen to acceleratebesetzt occupiedbesorgt worried

bestätigt certifiedbestellen to orderbesuchen to visitbetäubung f. anesthesiabetrag m. total amountbett n. bedbeweisen to provebewerben (sich) to apply forbezahlen to pay, pay forBH m. brabier n. beerbikini m. bikinibildschirm m. screen, monitorbillig cheap, inexpensivebillion f. trillionbirne f. pearbis untilbisschen little bitbitte pleaseblau blueblaubeere f. blueberrybleiben to stay, remainbleichmittel n. bleachbleistift m. pencilblind blindblinker m. turn signal

blitzen to flash lightning

blume f. flowerblumenkohl m. cauliflowerbluse f. blouseblutdruck m. blood pressurebluten to bleedbhne f. beanboot n. boatbortkarte f. boarding cardböse angry, madboxershorts pl. boxer shortsbrasilianer/-in m./f. Brazilianbrauchen to needbraun brownbraut f. bridebräutigam m. groombrechen to breakbremse f. brakebremslicht n. brakelightbrief m. letterbriefkasten m. mailboxbriefmarke f. stampbriefmarkenheft n. book of stampsbrieftasche f. walletbriefumschlag m. envelope

brille f. eyeglassesbrombeere f. blackberrybrosche f. broachbrot n. breadbrötchen n. rollbruder m. brotherbrunnen m. fountain, wellbrust f. chestbuch n. bookbüchse f. tinbüroklammer f. paper clipbürsten to brushbüstenhalter m. brassierebummeln to strollbus m. busbusbahnhof m. bus stationbushaltestelle f. bus stopbutter f. butterbuttermilch f. buttermilk

C

CD-ROM-laufwerk n. CD-ROM drivechance f. chancechef/-in m./f. boss

chemische reinigung f. dry cleanercocktail m. cocktailcomputer m. computercousin m., cousine f. cousincybercafé n. cybercafé

D

da theredagegen against itdanken to thankdarlehen n. loandas the (neuter), thatdass (conjunction) thatdatei f. filedauerwelle f. permanent wavedaumen m. thumbdein your (du)

demokratisch democraticdenn becauseder the (masculine)deutsch Germandeutsche m./f. German (person)deutschland Germanydezember m. December

diabetiker/-in m./f. diabetic (person)diabetisch diabeticdiät f. dietdick fat, thickdie the (feminine and plural)dieb m. thiefdiebstahl m. theftdienstag m. Tuesdaydienstmädchen n. servant (girl)dieser, diese, dieses thisdiplomat m. diplomatdoch but, stilldoktorgrad m. doctoratedonnern to thunderdonnerstag m. Thursdaydoppelbett n. double beddort theredort drüben over theredose f. candrei threedreißig thirtydreizehn thirteendrogerie f. drugstoredruck m. print, printingdrucker m. printer

du you (singular, informal)dünn thindürfen may, to be alloweddumm stupiddunkelblau dark bluedurch throughdurchfall m. diarrheadurchgebraten well done (meat)durchspülen to rinsedurst m. thirstdusche f. showerduschen (sich) to take a showerduzen to say du

E

eckzahn m. canine tootheconomywagen m. economy careffektiv effectiveehering m. wedding ringei n. eggeilbrief m. express lettereilzustellung f. express deliveryein, eine a, aneinander one another, each othereinbahnstraße f. one-way street

einbiegen to turneinbruch m. burglary, break-ineingebildet conceitedeingeschrieben registeredeinkaufen to shopeinkaufszentrum n. shopping centereinlösen to cash (in)einmal onceeins oneeinsam lonelyeinsamkeit f. lonelinesseinsteigekarte boarding cardeinstellen to employeinzahlen to deposit (money)eis n. ice; ice creamelefant m. elephantelektriker m. electricianelf elevenellbogen m. elbowe-mail f. e-maile-mail-adresse f. e-mail addressempfangen to receiveempfänger/-in m./f. receiver, addresseeempfangschef m. receptionist (hotel)empfangsdame f. receptionist (hotel)

england Englandengländer/-in m./f. English personenglisch gebraten rare (meat)englisch Englishenkel m. grandsonenkelin f. granddaughterentfernt away, remoteentlassen to release, fireentschuldigung f. excuseenttäuscht disappointeder he, it (masculine)erbrechen (sich) to throw uperbsen pl. peaserdbeere f. strawberryerdgeschoss n. ground floorerdnuss f. peanuterfrierungen pl. frostbiteerkälten (sich) to catch a colderkältung f. cold (illness)erklären to declare; explainernst seriouserschöpft exhaustedersetzen to replaceertrag m. gain (financial)ertrinken to drown

es ites gibt there is/areessen to eatesszimmer n. dining roometwas somethingeuer your (ihr)

europäer/-in m./f. European personexamen n. examinationexplosion f. explosionextrahieren to extract

F

fach n. subjectfahren, fahren mit to drive, to travel byfahrer m. driverfahrrad n. bicyclefahrstuhl m. elevatorfahrt f. trip, drivefair fairfakultät f. department (academic)fallen to fallfalsch false, wrongfalten pl. wrinklesfamilie f. familyfamilienname m. surname

farbe f. colorfärben to color, dyefaul lazyfausthandschuhe pl. mittensfaxgerät n. fax machinefebruar m. Februaryfeige cowardlyfeind m. enemyfeld n. fieldfenster n. windowferngespräch n. long-distance callfernlicht n. high beamsfernsehapparat m. television setfernsehen to watch televisionfernsehsendung f. television programfest n. celebrationfestplattenlaufwerk n. hard drivefett n. fatfeucht humidfeuer n. firefeuerwehrmann m. firefighterfeuerwehrfrau f. firefighterfieber n. feverfilm m. film, moviefilz m. felt

finden to findfinger m. fingerfingernagel m. fingernailfirma f. companyfisch m. fishfischen to fishfischgeschäft n. fish marketflasche f. bottlefleisch n. meatfleischer/-in m./f. butcherfleischerei f. butcher shopfleißig diligentfliege f. bow tie; flyfliegen to flyflitterwochen pl. honeymoonflöte f. fluteflug m. flightfluggast m. airline passengerfluggesellschaft f. airlineflughafen m. airportflugsteig m. gate (airport)flugticket n. airline ticketflugzeug n. airplaneflur m. hallwayfönen to blow dry

foto n. photofragen to askfranzose/franzosin m./f. French personfrau f. woman, wifefrauenkleidung f. women's clothingfreitag m. Fridayfremde m./f. strangerfreuen (sich) to be glad, happyfreund m. friend, boyfriendfreundin f. friend, girlfriendfreundlich kindfreundlich friendlyfrieden m. peacefrisch freshfrischkäse m. cream cheesefriseur/-in m./f. barber, hair stylistfrisur f. hairdofroh happyfrosch m. frogfrüh earlyfrühling m. springfrühstück n. breakfastführen to leadfüller m. fountain penfünf fivefünfzehn fifteen

fünfzig fifty

für forfuß m. footfußball m. soccerfußgelenk n. ankle

G

gabel f. forkgarage f. garagegarten m. gardengartenarbeit f. gardeninggärtner/-in m./f. gardenergas n. gasgaspedal n. gas pedalgasse f. lanegasthof m. inngatte m. spousegattin f. spousegeben to givegebühr f. feegedeck-karte f. fixed menugeduldig patientgefallen m. favorgeflügel n. poultry

gegen againstgehen to go (on foot)geige f. violingelb yellowgeld n. moneygeldautomat m. ATMgeldschein m. bill, paper moneygeldwechsel m. currency exchangegeliebte m./f. lovergemein mean, nastygemütlich cozy, comfotablegeneraldirektor m. CEOgenug enoughgepäck n. baggagegepäckausgabe f. baggage claimgeradeaus straight aheadgern gladlygern haben to likegeschäft n. storegeschäftskarte f. business cardgeschehen to happengeschenk n. present, giftgeschwindikeitsbeschränkung f. speed limitgesicht n. facegesund healthy

gesundheit f. healthgetränk n. beveragegewicht n. weightgewitter n. stormgießen to pourgirokonto n. checking accountgitarre f. guitarglas n. glass, jargleich equal, samegolf m. golfgrab n. gravegramm n. gramgrau graygrippe f. flugroß big, tallgröße f. sizegroßmutter f. grandmothergroßvater m. grandfathergroßzügig generousgrübchen n. dimplegrün greengrundschule f. elementary schoolgrüßen to greetgürtel m. beltgurke f. cucumber

gut good, wellgymnasium n. prep school

H

haar n. hairhaarspange f. barrettehaben to havehähnchen n. chickenhalb halfhalb durchgebraten medium rare/ well done (meat)hallo hihals m. neckhalskette f. necklacehalstuch n. scarf, neckscarfhämorrhoiden pl. hemorrhoidshand f. handhandgelenk n. wristhandgepäck n. hand luggagehandschuhe pl. gloveshandtasche f. handbaghandtuch n. towelhandy n. cell phonehardware f. hardware (computer)hart hardhässlich ugly

häufig frequent, frequentlyhauptfach n. major subjecthauptgericht n. main coursehaus n. househausaufgaben f. homeworkhaustier n. petheft n. notebookhefter m. staplerheftklammer f. stapleheidelbeere f. blueberryheilmittel n. remedyheimweh n. homesicknessheiraten to marryheiß hotheißen to be calledheizen to heathelfen to helphellblau light bluehemd n. shirtherbst m. autumnhering m. herringherr m. Mr., sirherunterladen to downloadherz n. heartheuschnupfen m. hay fever

heute todayhilfe f. help, aidhimbeere f. raspberryhinken to limphinlegen (sich) to lie downhinsetzen (sich) to sit downhinter behindhinterlassen to leave behindhin-und-rückflugkarte f. round-trip airline tickethistorisch historichitze f. heathoch highhochhackige schuhe pl. high-heel shoeshochschule f. higher school (as in university)hochstuhl m. highchairhochzeit f. weddinghochzeitstag m. anniversaryhockey m. hockyholen to get, fetchhören to hearhörer m. receiver (phone)hose f. pantshotel n. hotelhübsch beautiful, handsomehuhn n. chicken

hummer m. lobsterhundert hundredhunger m. hungerhustenbonbon n. cough drophustensaft m. cough syruphut m. hat

I

ich Iihr you (plural, informal)ihr her, theirihr your (Sie)immatrikulieren to matriculateimmer alwaysinbegriffen includedinder/-in m./f. (East) Indian personindustrie f. industryinfiziert infectedingenieur/-in m./f. engineerinhalationsapparat m. inhalerinjektion f. injection, shotinnovativ innovativeinteressant interestinginternet n. Internetitaliener/-in m./f. Italian person

italienisch Italian

J

ja yesjacke f. jacketjagd f. huntjagen to huntjanuar m. Januaryjapaner/-in m./f. Japanese personjeans pl. jeansjeder, jede, jedes eachjemand someonejener, jene, jenes thatjob m. jobjod n. iodinejoggen to jogjoghurt m. yogurtjuli m. Julyjunge m. boyjuni m. June

K

kabrio n. convertible

kaffee m. coffeekakao m. cocoakalb n. calfkalbfleisch n. vealkalt coldkanadier/-in m./f. Canadian personkapitalist/-in m./f. capitalistkaputt brokenkarotte f. carrotkarten pl. cardskartoffel f. potatokäse m. cheesekaufen to buykaufhaus n. department storekein no, not onekeine ursache don't mention itkeller m. basementkellner/-in m./f. waiterkennen to know, be acquaintedkennen lernen to meetkette f. chainkiefer m. jawkilo n. kilogramkilogramm n. kilogramkilometer m. kilometer

kind n. childkindergarten m. kindergartenkino n. movie theaterkirche f. churchkirsche f. cherrykissen n. pillowklampner/-in m./f. plumberklasse f. class, gradeklassenzimmer n. classroomklavier n. pianokleid n. dresskleidergröße f. dress sizekleiderschrank m. wardrobeklein small, littlekleingeld n. changeklimaanlage f. air conditioningklingeln to ringklug smart, cleverknabe m. ladknecht m. farmhandknie n. kneekoch/köchin m./f. cook, chefkochen to cookkomisch funnykommen to comekommunistisch communist

kompaktwagen m. compact car

konditorei f. pastry shopkonferenz f. conferencekönnen can, to be able tokontaktfreudig outgoingkontoauszug m. bank statementkontostand m. bank balancekonzert n. concertkopf m. headkopfsalat m. lettucekopfschmerzen pl. headachekopiergerät n. copy machinekorbball m. basketballkorrekt correctkorridor m. corridorkosten to costkrank sickkrankenhaus n. hospitalkrankenschwester f. nursekrankenwagen m. ambulancekrawattenhalter m. tie claspkreditkarte f. credit cardkreide f. chalkkritisch criticalküche f. kitchen

kuh f. cowkühl coolkünstler/-in m./f. artistkultiviert sophisticatedkummerbund m. cummerbundkursus m. courseküssen to kisskurz short

L

lachen to laughladen m. shoplaib m. loaflamm n. lamblanden to landlandkarte f. maplandstraße f. highwaylang longlangsam slowlangweilig boringlaptop m. laptoplassen to let, allowlastwagen m. trucklaufen to run

laufende nase runny noselebenslauf m. résumélebensmittelgeschäft n. grocery storelehrer/-in m./f. teacherleicht easy, lightleid n. sorrowleiden to sufferleid tun (sich) to be sorrylenkrad n. steering wheellerneifrig studiouslesen to readlieben to lovelikör m. liqueurlimonade f. lemonadelimone f. limelinks leftlippe f. lipliter n. literloch n. cavity, holelocken drehen to curllöffel m. spoonloge f. box (theater)lohn m. salarylohnerhöhung f. raise in salarylos loose, slack

löschen to delete (computer file)luftpost f. airmail

luxuswagen m. luxury carlyrisch lyrical

M

machen to make, domädchen n. girlmagen m. stomachmagenschmerzen pl. stomachachemahlzeit f. mealmai m. Maymais m. cornman one, someonemanager m. managermandel f. almondmann m. man, husbandmännerkleidung f. men's clothingmanschettenknopf m. cufflinkmantel m. coatmappe f. briefcase, foldermarkt m. marketmarmelade f. jam, marmelademärz m. March

maus f. mousemechaniker/-in m./f. mechanicmechanisch mechanicalmedikament n. medicationmehr moremein mymesser n. knifemetzgerei f. butcher shopmexikaner/-in m./f. Mexican personmexikanisch Mexicanmilch f. milkmilchladen m. dairy storemilchzahn m. baby toothmild mildmilliarde f. billionmilliliter n. millilitermillion f. millionmindestlohn m. minimum wagemineralwasser n. mineral waterminirock m. miniskirtminute f. minutemit withmittag m. noonmittagessen n. lunchmittelgroß medium (size)

mitternacht f. midnightmittwoch m. Wednesday

mobiltelefon n. cell phonemögen like, to want tomöhre f. carrotmonitor m. monitormontag m. Mondaymoped n. mopedmorgen tomorrowmorgen m. morningmüde tiredmünze f. coinmüssen must, to have tomund m. mouthmuscheln pl. musselsmuseum n. museummusik f. musicmutter f. mother

N

nach after; tonach Hause home (ward)nachgebühr f. postage duenachname m. last name

nachricht f. messagenachschicken to forwardnächste nextnacht f. nightnachtisch m. dessertnah nearnaiv naivename m. namenase f. nosenational nationalnatur f. natureneben next toneblig foggyneffe m. nephewnegativ negativenein nonervös nervousneu newneun nineneunzehn nineteenneunzig ninetynicht notnichte f. niecenichts nothingnie never

niederländer/-in m./f. Dutch personniedrig low

niemals neverniemand no oneniesen to sneezenoch stillnorden m. northnormalbenzin n. regular gasnote f. grade; notenotfall m. emergencynovember m. Novembernudeln pl. noodlesnummer f. numbernur only

O

ob whether, ifoben aboveobst n. fruitobstkuchen m. pieoder oroffen openoffensiv offensiveöffentlich public

öffnen to openohne withoutohnmacht f. faintohr n. earohrenschmerzen pl. earacheohrring m. earringoktober m. Octoberonkel m. uncleoper f. operaoptimist/-in m./f. optimistorange f. orangeorchester n. orchestraorgel f. organ (musical instrument)örtlich localörtliche betäubung f. local anesthesiaortsgespräch n. local callosten m. east

P

paket n. packagepampelmuse f. grapefruitpanne f. flat tire, breakdownpapier n. paperparfüm n. perfume

park m. parkparken to parkparkplatz m. parking lotparty f. partypass m. passportpassagier/-in m./f. passengerpasskontrolle f. passport checkpatriotisch patrioticpendelbus m. shuttle buspenizillin n. penicillinpension f. boarding houseperfekt perfectperson f. personpessimist/-in m./f. pessimistpetersilie f. parsleypfeffer m. pepperpfirsich m. peachpflaume f. plumpförtner m. doormanpfund n. pound, 500 gramspille f. pillpilot m. pilotpilz m. mushroomplatz m. seatplätzchen n. cookie

pole/polin m./f. Polish personpolitisch politicalpolizei f. policepolizeistation f. police stationpolizist/-in m./f. police officerpomme frites pl. French friespopulär popularporto n. postagepositiv positivepost f. mail, post officepostamt n. post officepostanweisung f. postal money orderposteingang m. inboxpostkarte f. postcardpostlagernd general deliverypostleitzahl f. zip codepräsident/-in m./f. presidentpro perproblem n. problemprofessor/-in m./f. professorpromovieren to earn a doctorateprost cheerspudding m. puddingpullover m. sweaterputzen to clean

Q

quark m. curd cheese, quarkquittung f. receipt

R

radfahren to cycle, ride a bikeradiergummi m. eraserrasieren (sich) to shaverathaus n. city hallratte f. ratrauchen to smokereagieren to reactrechner m. calculatorrechnung f. billrechts rightrechtsanwalt/-in m./f. lawyerregen m. rainregenmantel m. raincoatregenschirm m. umbrellaregnen to rainregnerisch rainyreinigen to cleanreis m. rice

reisescheck m. traveler's checkrelativ relative, relativelyreparatur f. repairreparieren to repairrepublik f. republicreservierung f. reservationrestaurant n. restaurantrezept n. prescriptionrezeption f. reception (desk)r-gespräch n. collect callrhythmisch rhythmicrinderbraten m. roast beefring m. ringringmappe f. binderrock m. skirtroggenbrot n. rye breadrollschuh laufen to rollerskateromantisch romanticrosa pinkrose f. roseross n. horse, steedrot redrucksack m. backpackrudern to rowrücken m. back

ruhig calm, quiet

russe/russin m./f. Russian person

S

saft m. juicesagen to saysahne f. creamsakko m. sport jacketsalat m. saladsalz n. saltsamstag m. Saturdaysandalen pl. sandalssatt full, satiatedsauerrahm m. sour creams-bahn f. city and suburban trainscanner m. scannerschach n. chessschachtel f. boxschaf n. sheepschaffen to create, get doneschal m. scarf, mufflerschale f. bowlschalter m. counter, windowschauspieler m. actor

schauspeilerin f. actressscheck m. checkscheckbuch n. checkbookscheibenwischer m. windshield wiperscheinwerfer m. headlightscherzhaft joking, playfulschinken m. hamschlafanzug m. pajamasschlafen to sleepschlaflosigkeit f. insomniaschlägerei f. fist fightschlampig sloppyschlecht badschlips m. tieschlüpfer m. pantiesschmuck m. jewelryschneiden to cutschneien to snowschnell fastschnellimbiss m. snackbarschokolade f. chocolateschon alreadyschön pretty, niceschreiben to writeschreibmaschine f. typewriter

schreibtisch m. desk

schriftsteller/-in m./f. writerschüchtern shyschuhe pl. shoesschuhgröße f. shoe sizeschularbeit f. homeworkschulabschluss m. homeworkschule f. schoolschüler/-in m./f. pupilschulter f. shoulderschultertuch n. shawlschuss m. shotschwach weakschwanger pregnantschwarz blackschwarzbrot n. black breadschwede/schwedin m./f. Swede personschwein n. pigschweinefleisch n. porkschweizer/-in m./f. Swiss personschwer hard, heavyschwester f. sisterschwimmbad n. swimming poolschwimmen to swimschwindlig dizzy

sechs sixsechzehn sixteen

sechzig sixtysee f. seasee m. lakeseekrank seasickseekrankheit f. seasicknesssegeln to sailsehen to seesehr veryseife f. soapsein his, itssein to besekretär/-in m./f. secretarysekt m. sparkling wine, champagneselterswasser n. sparkling watersenden to sendsenf m. mustardseptember m. Septemberservice m. serviceserviette f. napkinsetzen (sich) to seat oneselfsicherheitskontrolle f. security checksie you (formal)sie pl. they

sie sing. she, it (feminine)sieben seven

siebzehn seventeensiebzig seventysiezen say Sie

sinfonie f. symphonysingen to singsinusitis f. sinusitisskijacke f. ski jacketski laufen skismoking m. tuxedosnack m. snacksocke f. socksodbrennen n. heartburnsofa n. sofasofort immediatelysoftware f. softwaresohn m. sonsolid solidsollen shouldsommer m. summersommersprossen pl. frecklessonnabend m. Saturdaysonnenbrand m. sunburnsonnenbrille f. sunglasses

sonnengebräunt tansonnig sunnysonntag m. Sunday

soviel as muchsozialistisch socialisticspanier/-in m./f. Spanish personsparen to savespargel m. asparagussparkasse f. savings banksparkonto n. savings accountspaß m. funspät latespazieren to go for a walkspeisekarte f. menuspende f. donationspielen to playspielfilm m. feature filmspinat m. spinachspinne f. spidersportlich athleticsprechen to speakspritze f. injection, shotsprudelwasser n. carbonated waterspülen to washstadt f. city

stangenselerie m. celerystark strongstärke f. starchstarten to take off (aircraft)statistik f. statisticstau m. traffic jamsteak n. steakstein m. rock, stonestiefel m. bootstil m. stylestimmen to be correctstören to disturbstraße f. streetstraßenraub m. muggingstrikt strictstrom m. electricitystrumpf m. stockingstrumpfhose f. pantyhosestudent/-in m./f. studentstück n. piecestürmisch stormystuhl m. chairstunde f. hoursuchen to look for, seeksüden m. southsüßigkeiten pl. candy

süßwarengeschäft n. candy storesumme f. sum, totalsupermarkt m. supermarket

suppe f. soupsympathisch likeablesynchronisiert dubbedsystem n. system

T

tabakwarenhändler m. tobacco shoptablett n. traytablette f. tablet, pilltag m. daytanken to fill up (gas)tankstelle f. gas stationtante f. aunttanzen to dancetapfer bravetaschentuch n. handkerchieftasse f. cuptastatur f. keyboardtausend thousandtaxi n. taxitaxistand m. taxi stand

tee m. teatelefon n. telephonetelefonbuch n. telephone booktelefonieren to telephone, callteller m. platetennis m. tennisteuer expensivetextmarker m. highlightertheater n. theatertier n. animaltisch m. tabletischerler/-in m./f. carpentertochter f. daughtertoilette f. toilet, restroomtomate f. tomatotopf m. pottotal totaltragbar portabletragen to carry, weartrampen to hitchhiketransport m. transportationtraurig sadtreffen n. meetingtrinken to drinktrinkgeld n. tip, gratuity

tritt m. kick

trocknen to drytrockner m. dryertrompete f. trumpettruthahn m. turkeytschüss so long, byet-shirt n. T-shirttür f. doortun to doturnschuhe pl. gym shoes, sneakers

U

u-bahn f. subwayüberholen to passüberqueren to crossüberschwemmung f. flooduhr f. clockum aroundumweg m. detourumziehen (sich) to change clothesund andunfall m. accidentungeduldig impatientunglück n. crash, accidentuniversität f. universityunser ourunsinn m. nonsenseunten belowunter underunterbrochen interruptedunterhemd n. undershirtunterkunft f. accomodationunterrock m. slipunterschreiben to signuntertasse f. saucer

untertitel m. subtitleunterwäsche f. underwearunterwegs on the wayursache f. cause

V

vanille f. vanillavase f. vasevater m. fathervegetarier/-in m./f. vegetarianverbinden to connectverdienen to earnvergesslich forgetfulvergewaltigung f. rapeverkaufen to sellverkehrsampel f. traffic lightverkehrsstau m. traffic jamverlangsamen to slow downverlegen embarrassedverletzen to injureverleugnen to denyverlieren to loseverloben (sich) to get engagedverlobte m./f. fiancé, financée

verlobungsring m. engagement ringversichern to insureversicherung f. insuranceverstehen to understandverstopfung f. constipationvertrag m. contractverwirrt confusedverwunden to woundverzeihen to forgiveverzeihung f. forgiveness; excuse meverzollen declareviel muchviele manyvier fourvierradantrieb m. four-wheel driveviertel n. quartervierzehn fourteenvierzig fortyvisum n. visavogel m. birdvöglein n. little birdvolleyball m. volleyballvollkornbrot n. whole wheat breadvon from, ofvor before, in front of

vorbeifahren to drive pastvorder frontvorführung f. performance, showingvorname m. first namevorsicht f. cautionvorspeise f. appetizervorstellen to introducevorstellung f. presentation, introductionvorstellungsgespräch n. interviewvorübergehend temporaryvorwahl f. area code

W

wagen m. carwählen to dial, choosewählton m. dial tonewährend duringwandern to hikewandtafel f. blackboardwange f. cheekwann whenwarm warmwarum whywas whatwäschedienst m. laundry service

wäschereif f. laundromatwaschen (sich) to wash oneselfwaschmaschine f. washing machinewaschmittel n. detergentwasser n. waterwasserski laufen to water skiwebsite f. websitewechselkurs m. exchange ratewechseln to exchangewechselstube f. currency exchangeweckanruf m. wake-up callwegen because ofweh tun to hurtwehen bekommen to go into laborweichspülmittel n. fabric softenerwein m. wineweinglas n. wineglassweintraube f. grapeweisheitszahn m. wisdom toothweiß whiteweit farwelcher, welche, welches whichwenig little (amount)weniger less, fewerwenn whenever, if

wer whowerden to become, get; shall, willwesten m. westwetter n. weatherwie howwieder againwiederholen to repeatwiegen to weighwindig windywindschutzscheibe f. windschieldwinter m. winterwir wewirkung f. effectwissen to knowwo wherewoche f. weekwohin where (to)wohnung f. apartmentwollen to wantwörterbuch n. dictionarywurst f. sausagewurzelbehandlung f. root canal

Z

zahlen to payzählen to countzahn m. toothzahnarzt m. dentist (male)zahnärtztin f. dentist (female)zahnbürste f. toothbrushzahnfleisch n. gumszahnfüllung f. fillingzahnkrone f. (dental) crownzahnprothese f. dentureszahnreinigung f. teeth cleaningzahnseide f. dental flosszahnweh n. toothachezeh m. toezehn tenzeigen to showzeit f. timezeitumstellung f. jetlagzeitung f. newspaperzeitungskiosk m. newspaper standzelt n. tentzimmer frei bed and breakfastzimmer n. roomzinssatz m. interest ratezitrone f. lemon

zoll m. customszoo m. zoozu tozu hause at homezucker m. sugarzug m. trainzugang m. admittancezugfahrplan m. train schedulezurückbleiben to stand backzurückbringen to bring backzurückhaltend reserved, guardedzusammenstoß m. crashzuversichtlich confidentzwanzig twentyzwei twozwiebel f. onionzwischenlandung f. stopoverzwölf twelve

TEnglish to German Dictionary

he gender and number of the nouns listed hereis indicated by m. for masculine, f. for feminine, n.for neuter, sing. for singular, and pl. for plural.Both German and English verbs are provided asinfinitives.

A

a, an ein, eineabove obenabscess abszess m.abstract abstraktto accelerate beschleunigenaccent akzent m.accident unfall m., unglück n.accommodation unterkunft f.acquaintance bekannte m./f.active aktivactor schauspieler m.actress schauspielerin f.

address adresse f., anschrift f.admittance zugang m.African person afrikaner/–in m./f.after nachagain wiederagainst gegenagainst it dagegenair conditioning klimaanlage f.airline company fluggesellschaft f.airline passenger fluggast m.airline ticket flugticket n.airmail luftpost f.airplane flugzeug n.airport flughafen m.all, everyone alleallergic allergischallergy allergie f.almond mandel f.alone alleinalready schonalso, too auchalways immerambulance krankenwagen m.America amerikaAmerican person amerikaner/-in m./f.

amount betragand und

anesthesia betäubung f.angry böseanimal tier n.ankle fußgelenk n.annoyed ärgerlichanswering machine anrufbeantworter m.antibiotic antibiotikum n.apartment wohnung f.ape, monkey affe m.apparatus, appliance apparat m.appetite appetit m.appetizer vorspeise f.apple apfel m.to apply for bewerben (sich)apricot aprikose f.April april m.area code vorwahl f.arm arm m.around umarrival ankunft f.arthritis arthritis f.artichoke artischocke f.artist artist m., künstler/–in m./f.

as if als obas much sovielashamed beschämtto ask fragenasparagus spargel m.aspirin aspirin n.asthmatic person asthmatiker/-in m./f.asthmatic asthmatischat, by beiat home zu Hauseathletic athletisch, sportlichATM geldautomat m.attack angriff m.attractive attraktivAugust august m.aunt tante f.automobile auto n., wagen m.automatic transmission automatik

getriebe f.autumn herbst m.away, remote entfern f.

B

baby baby n.baby tooth milchzahn m.

back rücken m.backpack rucksack m.bad schlechtbaggage gepäck n.baggage abfertigungsschalter m.check-in counterbaggage claim gepäckausgabe f.baker bäcker/-in m./f.balcony balkon m.ballet ballett n.banana banane f.bank bank f.bank balance kontostand m.bank statement kontoauszug m.barber, hair stylist friseur/-in m./f.barrette haarspange f.baseball baseball m.basement keller m.basketball basketball m., korbball m.bathtub badewanne f.Brazilian person brasilianer/-in m./f.to be seinto be afraid angst habento be called heißento be correct stimmento be glad, happy freuen (sich)to be sorry leid tunbean bohne f.bear bär m.

beautiful, handsome hübsch

because of wegenbecause dennto be acquainted, know kennento become, get; shall, will werdenbed bett n.bed and breakfast zimmer freibeer bier n.before, in front of vorto behave benehmen (sich)behind hinterbelow untenbelt gürtel m.beverage getränk n.bicycle fahrrad n.big, tall großbikini bikini m.bill rechnung f.bill, paper money geldschein m.billion milliarde f.binder ringmappe f.bird vogel m.black bread schwarzbrot n.black schwarzblackberry brombeere f.blackboard wandtafel f.bleach bleichmittel n.to bleed bluten

blind blindblood pressure blutdruck m.blouse bluse f.to blow dry fönenblue blaublueberry blaubeere f., heidelbeere f.boarding card bortkarte,

einsteigekarte f.boarding house pension f.boat boot n.book buch n.book of stamps briefmarkenheft n.boot stiefel m.boring langweiligboss chef/-in m./f.bottle flasche f.bow tie; fly fliege f.bo schale f.box (theater) loge f.box schachtel f.boxer shorts boxershorts pl.boy junge m.bra BH m.bracelet armband n.brakelight bremslicht n.brake bremse f.brassiere büstenhalter m.brave tapfer

bread brot n.break brechen

breakfast frühstück n.bride braut f.briefcase aktentasche f.briefcase, folder mappe f.to bring back zurückbringenbroach brosche f.broken kaputtbrother bruder m.brown braunto brush bürstenburglary, break-in einbruch m.bus bus m.bus station busbahnhof m.bus stop bushaltestelle f.business card geschäftskarte f.but aberbut, still dochbutcher shop fleischerei f.,

metzgerei f.butcher fleischer/-in m./f.butter butter f.buttermilk buttermilch f.to buy kaufenby, at bei

C

cake kuchen m.calculator rechner m.calf kalb n.to call, phone anrufen, telefonierencalm, quiet ruhigcan dose f.can, to be able to könnenCanadian kanadier/-in m./f.candy store süßwarengeschäft n.candy süßigkeiten pl.canine tooth eckzahn m.capitalist kapitalist/-in m./f.car auto n., wagen m.

carbonated water sprudelwasser n.cards karten pl.carpenter tischerler/-in m./f.carrot karotte f., möhre f.to carry tragento cash (in) einlösencash bar, bargeld n.to catch a cold erkälten (sich)cauliflower blumenkohl m.cause ursache f.

caution vorsicht f.cavity, hole loch n.CD-ROM drive CD-ROM-laufwerk n.celebration fest n.celery stangenselerie m.cell phone handy n., mobiltelefonCEO generaldirektor m.certified bestätigtchain kette f.chair stuhl m.chalk kreide f.chance chance f.change änderung f.change (money) kleingeld n.to change clothes umziehen (sich)cheap billigto check in (luggage) abfertigen, abgebencheck scheck m.checkbook scheckbuch n.check-in desk abfertigungsschalter m.checking account girokonto n.cheek backe f., wange f.cheer prostcheese käse m.cherry kirsche f.

chess schach n.chest brust f.chicken hähnchen n., huhn n.child kind n.chocolate schokolade f.to choose wählenchurch kirche f.city stadt f.city and suburban train s-bahn f.city hall rathaus n.civil servant beamter m./beamtin f.class, grade klasse f.classroom klassenzimmer n.to clean reinigento clean, polish putzento click on anklickenclock uhr f.clothing store bekleidungsgeschäft n.coat mantel m.cocktail cocktail m.cocoa kakao m.coffee kaffee m.coin münze f.cold (illness) erkältung f.cold (temperature) kaltcollect call r-gespräch n.

color farbe f.

to color, dye färbento come kommencommunist kommunistischcompact car kompaktwagen m.company firma f.computer computer m.conceited eingebildetconcert konzert n.conference konferenz f.confident zuversichtlichconfused verwirrtto connect verbindenconstipation verstopfung f.contract vertrag m.convertible kabrio n.cook, chef koch/köchin m./f.to cook kochencookie plätzchen n.cool kühlcopy machine kopiergerät n.corn mais m.correct korrektcorridor korridor m.to cost kosten

cough drop hustenbonbon n.cough syrup hustensaft m.to count zählencounter, window schalter m.course kursus m.cousin cousin m., cousine f.cow kuh f.cowardly feigecozy, comfortable gemütlichcrash, accident unfall m., unglück n.,

zusammenstoß m.cream sahne f.cream cheese frischkäse m.to create, get done schaffencredit card kreditkarte f.critical kritischto cross überquerencrown (dental) zahnkrone f.cucumber gurke f.cufflink manschettenknopf m.cummerbund kummerbund m.cup tasse f.curd cheese quark m.to curl locken drehencurrency exchange geldwechsel m., wechselstube f.

customs zoll m.to cut schneiden

cybercafé cybercafé n.to cycle, ride a bike radfahren

D

dairy store milchladen m.to dance tanzendark blue dunkelblaudaughter tochter f.day tag m.December dezember m.to declare verzollen, erklärendecorative pin anstecknadel f.to delete (computer file) löschendemocratic demokratischdental floss zahnseide f.dentist zahnarzt m.,

zahnärtztin f.dentures zahnprothese f.to deny verleugnendepartment academic fakultät f.department store kaufhaus n.departure (plane) abflug m.

departure abreise f.to deposit (money) einzahlendesk schreibtisch m.dessert nachtisch m.detergent waschmittel n.detour umweg m.diabetic (person) diabetiker/-in m./f.diabetic diabetischdial tone wählton m.to dial wählendiarrhea durchfall m.dictionary wörterbuch n.diet diät f.diligent, hard-working fleißigdimple grübchen n.dining room esszimmer n.dinner abendbrot n., abendessen m.diplomat diplomat m.disappointed enttäuschatto disturb störendizzy schwindligto do gardening im garten arbeitento do tundoctor, physician doktorgrad m.doctorate doktorgrad m.

don't mention it keine ursachedonation spende f.

door tür f.doorman pförtner m.double bed doppelbett n.doughnut berliner m.to download herunterladendress kleid n.dress size kleidergröße f.to dress, put on clothes anziehen (sich)to drink trinkenkto drive past vorbeifahrento drive, travel by fahrenedrive, trip fahrt f.driver fahrer m.to drown ertrinkendrugstore drogerie f.dry cleaner chemische reinigung f.to dry trocknendryer trockner m.to dye, color färbendubbed synchronisiertduring währendDutch person niederländer/-in m./f.

E

each jeder, jede, jedesear ohr n.earache ohrenschmerzen pl.early frühto earn verdienento earn a doctorate promovierenearring ohrring m.east osten m.easy leichtto eat esseneconomy car economywagen m.effect wirkung f.effective effektivegg ei n.Egyptian person ägypter/-in m./f.eight achteighteeen achtzehneighty achtzigelectrician elektriker m.electricity strom m.elementary school grundschuleelephant elefant m.elevator fahrstuhl m.

eleven elfelbow ellbogen m.e-mail e-mail f.e-mail address e-mail-adresse f.embarrassed verlegenemergency notfall m.to employ einstellenemployee angestellte m./f.enemy feind m.engagement ring verlobungsring m.engineer ingenieur/-in m./f.England englandEnglish englischEnglishman, -woman engländer/-in m./f.enough genugenvelope briefumschlag m.equal, same gleicheraser radiergummi m.European person europäer/-in m./f.evening abend m.everyone, everything alle, allesexamination examen n.exchange rate wechselkurs m.to exchange wechselnexcited aufgeregt

excuse entschuldigung f.excuse me verzeihung f.exhausted erschöpftexpensive teuerto explain, declare erklärenexplosion explosion f.express delivery eilzustellung f.express letter eilbrief m.to extract extrahiereneyeglasses brille f.eyetooth augenzahn m.eye auge n.

F

fabric softener weichspülmittel n.face gesicht n.faint ohnmacht f.fair fairto fall fallenfalse, wrong falschfamily familie f.far weitfarmhand knecht m.fast schnellfat fett n.

fat, thick dickfather vater m.favor gefallen m.fax machine faxgerät n.feature film spielfilm m.February februar m.fee gebühr f.felt filz m.fever fieber n.fewer, less wenigerfiancé, fiancée verlobte m./f.field feld n.fifteen fünfzehnfifty fünfzigfile cabinet aktenschrank m.file datei f.to fill up (gas tank) tankenfilling zahnfüllung f.film, movie film m.final prep school exam abitur n.to find findenfinger finger m.fingernail fingernagel m.fire feuer n.to fire, release entlassen

firefighter feuerwehrfrau f.,feuerwehrmann m.

first name vorname m.fish market fischgeschäft n.fish fisch m.to fish fischen, angelnfist fight schlägerei f.five fünffixed menu gedeck-karte f.to flash lightning blitzenflat tire, breakdown panne f.flight flug m.flood überschwemmung f.flower blume f.flu grippe f.flute flöte f.fly fliege f.to fly fliegenfoggy nebligfoot fuß m.for fürforgetful vergesslichto forgive verzeihenforgiveness; excuse me verzeihung f.fork gabel f.

forty vierzigto forward nachschickenfountain brunnen m.fountain pen füller m.four vierfourteen vierzehnfour-wheel drive vierradantrieb m.freckles sommersprossen pl.French fries pomme frites pl.French person franzose/franzosin m./f.frequent, frequently häufigfresh frischFriday freitag m.friend, boyfriend freund m.friend, girlfriend freundin f.friendly freundlichfrog frosch m.from, of aus, vonfront vorderfrostbite erfrierungen pl.fruit obst n.full, satiated sattfun spaß m.funny komisch

G

gain (financial) ertrag m.garage garage f.garden garten m.gardening gartenarbeit f.gardener gärtner/-in m./f.gas gas n.gas pedal gaspedal n.gas station tankstelle f.gasoline benzin n.gate (airport) flugsteig m.general delivery postlagerndgenerous großzügigGerman person deutsche m./f.German deutschGermany deutschlandto get engaged verloben (sich)to get, fetch holengirl mädchen n.to give up; check in (luggage) aufgebento give gebengladly gernglass, jar glas n.gloves handschuhe pl.to go (on foot) gehento go for a walk spazieren

to go into labor wehen bekommengolf golf m.good, well gutgoodbye (on phone) auf wiederhörengoodbye auf wiedersehengrade (in school) klasse f.grade, note note n.gram gramm n.granddaughter enkelin f.grandfather großvater m.grandmother großmutter f.grandson enkel m.grape weintraube f.grapefruit pampelmuse f.gratuity, tip trinkgeld n.grave grab n.gray graugreen grünto greet grüßengrocery store lebensmittelgeschäft n.groom bräutigam m.ground floor erdgeschoss n.guitar gitarre f.gums zahnfleisch n.gym shoes turnschuhe pl.

H

hair haar n.hairdo frisur f.hair stylist friseur/-in m./f.half halbhallway flur, korridor m.ham schinken m.hand hand f.to hand in abgebenhand luggage handgepäck n.handbag handtasche f.handkerchief taschentuch n.to hang up (phone) aufhängento happen geschehenhappy frohhard drive testplattenlaufwerk n.hard hart, schwerhardware (computer) hardware f.hat hut m.to have habenhayfever heuschnupfen m.he, it (masculine) erhead kopf m.headache kopfschmerzen pl.

headlight scheinwerfer m.health gesundheit f.healthy gesundto hear hörenheart herz n.heartburn sodbrennen n.to heat heizenheat hitze f.heavy, hard schwerto help helfenhelp, aid hilfe f.hemorrhoids hämorrhoiden pl.her ihrherring hering m.hi hallohigh beams fernlicht n.high hochhighchair hochstuhl m.higher school hochschule f.high-heel shoes hochhackige schuhe pl.highlighter textmarker m.highway autobahn, landstraße f.to hike wandernhis seinhistoric historisch

to hitchhike trampenhockey hockey m.hole, cavity loch n.home(ward) nach hausehomework schularbeit f.hausaufgaben f. , schulabschluss m.honeymoon flitterwochen pl.horse, steed ross n.hospital krankenhaus n.hot heißhotel hotel n.hour stunde f.house haus n.how wiehumid feuchthundred hunderthunger hunger m.hunt jagd f.to hunt jagento hurt weh tunhusband, man mann m.hyperactive aufgedreht

I

ich I

ice; ice cream eis n.identification ausweis m.if ob, wennimmediately sofortimpatient ungeduldigincluded inbegriffenin-box, incoming mail posteingang m.Indian (East) inder m.industry industrie f.inexpensive billiginfected infiziertinhaler inhalationsapparat m.injection, shot injektion f., spritze f.to injure verletzeninn gasthof m.innovative innovativinsomnia schlaflosigkeit f.insurance versicherung f.to insure versicherninterest rate zinssatz m.interesting interessantInternet internet n.interrupted unterbrocheninterview vorstellungsgespräch n.to introduce vorstellen

introduction; presentation vorstellung f.iodine jod n.it er (m.), sie (f.), es (n.)its seinItalian person italiener/-in m./f.Italian italienisch

J

jacket jacke f.jam marmelade f.January januar m.Japanese person japaner/-in m./f.Japanese japanischjaw kiefer m.jeans jeans pl.jetlag zeitumstellung f.jewelry schmuck m.job job m.to jog joggenjoking, playful scherzhaftjuice saft m.July juli m.June juni m.

K

keyboard tastatur f.kick tritt m.kilogram kilo n., kilogramm n.kilometer kilometer m.kind freundlichkindergarten kindergarten m.to kiss küssenkitchen küche f.knee knie n.knife messer n.to know wissento know, be acquainted kennen

L

lad knabe m.lake see m.lamb lamm n.to land landenlane gasse f.laptop laptop m.last name nachname m.late spät

to laugh lachenlaundry service wäschedienst m.laundromat wäscherei f.lawyer rechtsanwalt/-in m./f.laxative abführmittel n.lazy faulto lead führento leave behind hinterlassenleft linksleg bein n.lemon zitrone f.lemonade limonade f.less, fewer wenigerto let, allow lassenletter brief m.lettuce kopfsalat m.to lie down hinlegen (sich)light blue hellblaulight, easy leichtto like gern habento like, want to mögenlikeable sympatischlime limone f.to limp hinkenlip lippe f.

liqueur likör m.

liter liter n.little (amount) weniglittle bird vöglein n.little bit bisschenloaf laib m.loan darlehen n.lobster hummer m.local örtlichlocal anesthesia örtliche betäubung f.local call ortsgespräch n.loneliness einsamkeit f.lonely einsamlong langlong-distance call ferngespräch n.to look at ansehen (sich)to look for, seek suchenloose, slack losto lose verlierento love liebenlover geliebte m./f.low niedriglunch mittagessen n.luxury car luxuswagen m.lyrical lyrisch

M

mail; post office post f.mailbox briefkasten m.main course hauptgericht n.major subject hauptfach n.to make, do machenman, husband mann m.manager manager m.many vielemap landkarte f.March märz m.market markt m.marmelade, jam marmelade f.to marry heiratento matriculate immatrikulierenMay mai m.may, to be allowed dürfenmeal mahlzeit f.to mean bedeutenmean, nasty gemeinmeat fleisch n.mechanic mechaniker/-in m./f.mechanical mechanischmedication medikament n.

medium (size) mittelgroßmedium well/rare halb durchgebratento meet kennen lernenmeeting treffen n.men's clothing männerkleidung f.menu speisekarte f.message nachricht f.Mexican person mexikaner/-in m./f.Mexican mexikanischmidnight mitternacht f.mild mildmilk milch f.milliliter milliliter n.million million f.mineral water mineralwasser n.minimum wage mindestlohn m.miniskirt minirock m.minute minute f.mittens fausthandschuhe pl.molar backenzahn m.Monday montag m.money geld n.monitor monitor, bildschirm m.moped moped n.more mehr

morning morgen m.mother mutter f.mouse maus f.mouth mund m.movie theater kino n.Mr., sir herr m.much vielmugging straßenraub m.museum museum n.mushroom pilz m.music musik f.mussels muscheln pl.must, to have to müssenmustard senf m.my mein

N

naive naivname name m.napkin serviette f.national nationalnature natur f.near nahneck hals m.neckscarf halstuch n.

necklace halskette f.to need brauchennegative negativnephew neffe m.nervous nervösNetherlander niederländer/-in m./f.new neunever nie, niemalsnewspaper stand zeitungskiosk m.newspaper zeitung f.next to nebennext nächsteniece nichte f.night nacht f.nine neunnineteen neunzehnninety neunzigno neinno, not one keinno one niemandno vacancy belegtnonsense unsinn m.noodles nudeln pl.noon mittag m.north norden m.

nose nase f.not nichtnote; grade note f.notebook heft n.nothing nichtsNovember november m.number nummer f.nurse krankenschwester f.

O

occupation beruf m.occupied besetztOctober oktober m.of vonoffensive offensivold alton the way unterwegson aufonce einmalone another, each other einanderone einsone, someone manone-way street einbahnstraße f.onion zwiebel f.

only nuropen (adjective) offento open öffnen, aufmachenopen-minded aufgeschlossenopera oper f.optimist optimist/-in m./f.or oderorange (fruit) apfelsine f.orange (color or fruit) orange f.orchestra orchester n.to order bestellenorgan (musical instrument) orgel f.our unserout, from ausoutgoing kontaktfreudigover there dort drüben

P

package paket n.pajamas schlafanzug m.panties schlüpfer m.pants hose f.pantyhose strumpfhose f.paper papier n.

paper clip büroklammer f.to park parkenpark park m.parking lot parkplatz m.parsley petersilie f.party party f.to pass überholenpassenger passagier m.passport check passkontrolle f.passport pass m.pastry shop konditorei f.patient geduldigpatriotic patriotischto pay, pay for bezahlen, zahlenpeace frieden m.peach pfirsich m.peanut erdnuss f.pear birne f.peas erbsen pl.pen (fountain) füller m.pencil bleistift m.pendant anhänger m.penicillin penizillin n.pepper pfeffer m.per pro

perfect perfektperformance, showing aufführung f.

vorstellung f.perfume parfüm n.permanent wave dauerwelle f.person person f.pessimist pessimist/-in m./f.pet haustier n.pharmacist apotheker/-in m./f.pharmacy, drugstore apotheke f.photo foto n.physician, doctor arzt/ärztin m./f.piano klavier n.picture postcard ansichtskarte f.pie obstkuchen m.piece stück n.pig schwein n.pill pille f.pillow kissen n.pilot pilot m.pink rosaplate teller m.to play spielenplease bitteplum pflaume f.plumber klampner/-in m./f.

Polish person pole/polin m./f.

police officer polizist/-in m./f.police station polizeistation f.police polizei f.political politischpopular populärpork schweinefleisch n.portable tragbarpositive positivpost office post f., postamt n.postage porto n.postage due nachgebühr f.postal money order postanweisung f.postcard postkarte f.pot topf m.potato kartoffel f.poultry geflügel n.pound pfund n.to pour gießenpregnant schwangerprep school gymnasium n.prep school diploma arbitur n.prescription rezept n.present, gift geschenk n.presentation vorführung, vorstellung f.

president präsident m.pretty, nice schönprint, printing druck m.printer drucker m.problem problem n.professor professor/-in m./f.to prove beweisenpublic öffentlichpudding pudding m.pupil schüler/-in m./f.

Q

quark, curd cheese quark m.quarter viertel n.quiet, calm ruhig

R

to rain regnenrain regen m.raincoat regenmantel m.rainy regnerischraise in salary lohnerhöhung f.rape vergewaltigung f.

rare (meat) englisch gebratenraspberry himbeere f.rat ratte f.to react reagierento read lesenreceipt quittung f.to receive empfangenreceiver (telephone) hörer m.receiver, addressee empfänger/-in m./f.reception (desk) rezeption f.receptionist (hotel) empfangschef m., empfangsdame f.red rotregistered eingeschriebenregular gas normalbenzin n.relative, relatively relativto release, fire entlassenremedy heilmittel n.remote, away entferntto repair reparierenrepair reparatur f.to repeat wiederholento replace ersetzenrepublic republik f.reservation reservierung f.reserved, guarded zurückhaltend

restaurant restaurant n.résumé lebenslauf m.rhythmic rhythmischribbon Band n.rice Reis m.to ride a bike radfahrenright rechtsto ring klingelnring Ring m.to rinse durchspülenrinse out ausspülenroast beef rinderbraten m.roll brötchen n.rollerskate rollschuh laufenromantic romantischroom zimmer n.root canal wurzelbehandlung f.rose rose f.round-trip airline ticket hin-und-rückflugkarte f.to row rudernto run laufenrunny nose laufende NaseRussian person russe/russin m./f.rye bread roggenbrot n.

S

sad traurigto sail segelnsalad salat m.salary lohn m.salt salz n.same, equal gleichSaturday samstag, sonnabend m.saucer untertasse f.sausage wurst f.to save sparensavings account sparkonto n.savings bank sparkasse f.to say du duzento say Sie siezento say sagenscanner scanner m.scarf, muffler schal m.school schule f.screen, monitor bildschirm m.sea see f.seasick seekrankseasickness seekrankheit f.to seat oneself setzen (sich)seat platz m.secretary sekretär/-in m./f.

security check sicherheitskontrolle f.to see sehento sell verkaufento send sendensender absender m.September september m.serious ernstservant (girl) dienstmädchen n.service; call to the waiter bedienung f.service service m.seven siebenseventeen siebzehnseventy siebzigto shave rasieren (sich)shawl schultertuch n.she, it (feminine) sie sing.sheep schaf n.shirt hemd n.shoe size schuhgröße f.shoes schuhe pl.to shop einkaufenshop laden m.shopping center einkaufszentrum n.short kurzshot schuss m.

shot, injection spritze f.should sollenshoulder schulter f.to show zeigenshower dusche f.shuttle bus pendelbus m.shy schüchternsick krankto sign unterschreibento sing singensinusitis sinusitis f.sister schwester f.to sit down hinsetzen (sich)six sechssixteen sechzehnsixty sechzigsize größe f.to ski ski laufenski jacket skijacke f.skirt rock m.to sleep schlafenslip unterrock m.sloppy schlampigto slow down verlangsamenslow langsamsmall, little klein

smart, clever klug

to smoke rauchensnack snack m.snackbar schnellimbiss m.sneakers turnschutie pl.to snow schneienso long, bye tschüsssoap Seife f.soccer fußball m.socialistic sozialistischsock socke f.sofa sofa n.software software f.solid solidsomeone jemandsomething etwasson sohn m.sophisticated kultiviertsorrow leid n.soup suppe f.sour cream sauerrahm m.south süden m.Spanish person spanier/-in m./f.sparkling water selterswasser n.sparkling wine, champagne sekt m.

to speak sprechenspeed limit geschwindikeits-

beschränkung f.to spend (money) ausgebenspider spinne f.spinach spinat m.spoon löffel m.sport jacket sakko m.spouse gatte m., gattin f.spring frühling m.stamp briefmarke f.to stand back zurückbleibenstaple heftklammer f.stapler hefter m.starch stärke f.statistic statistik f.to stay, remain bleibensteak steak n.steering wheel lenkrad n.still nochstill, but dochstocking strumpf m.stomach magen m.stomachache magenschmerzen pl.stone, rock stein m.

to stop, cease aufhörenstopover zwischenlandung f.

store geschäft n.storm gewitter n.stormy stürmischstraight ahead geradeausstranger fremde m./f.strawberry erdbeere f.street straße f.strict striktto stroll bummelnstrong starkstudent student/-in m./f.studious lerneifrigstupid dummstyle stil m.subject fach n.subtitle untertitel m.subway u-bahn f.to suffer leidensugar zucker m.suit anzug m.sum, total summe f.summer sommer m.sunburn sonnenbrand m.

Sunday sonntag m.sunglasses sonnenbrille f.sunny sonnigsuper highway autobahn f.supermarket supermarkt m.supper abendbrot n., abendessen n.surname familienname m.sweater pullover m.Swedish person schwede/schwedin m./f.to swim schwimmenswimming pool schwimmbad n.swimsuit badeanzug m.Swiss person schweizer/-in m./f.symphony sinfonie f.system system n.

T

table tisch m.tablet, pill tablette f.to take a shower duschen (sich)to take off (aircraft) startento take off, take from abnehmentall, big großtan sonnengebräunttaxi taxi n.

taxi stand taxistand m.tea tee m.teacher lehrer m.teeth cleaning zahnreinigung f.telephone telefon n.telephone book telefonbuch n.television program fernsehsendung f.television set fernsehapparat m.temporary vorübergehendten zehntennis tennis m.tent zelt n.to thank dankenthat (conjunction) dassthat jener, jene, jenesthe (feminine) diethe (masculine) derthe (neuter), that dastheater theater n.theft diebstahl m.their ihrthere is/are es gibtthere da, dortthey sie pl.thief dieb m.

thin dünnthirst durst m.thirteen dreizehnthirty dreißigthis dieser, diese, diesesthousand tausendthree dreithrough durchto throw up erbrechen (sich)thumb daumen m.to thunder donnernThursday donnerstag m.tie clasp krawattenhalter m.tie schlips m.time zeit f.tin büchse f.tip, gratuity trinkgeld n.tired müdeto nach, zutobacco shop tabakwarenhändler m.today heutetoe zeh m.toilet, restroom toilette f.tomato tomate f.tomorrow morgen

tooth zahn m.toothache zahnweh n.toothbrush zahnbürste f.total amount betrag m.total totaltowel handtuch n.traffic jam verkehrsstau m., stautraffic light verkehrsampel f.train zug m.train platform bahnsteig m.train schedule zugfahrplan m.train station bahnhof m.transportation transport m.traveler's check reisescheck m.tray tablett n.trillion billion f.trip, drive fahrt f.truck lastwagen m.trumpet trompete f.T-shirt t-shirt n.Tuesday dienstag m.turkey truthahn m.to turn einbiegento turn off abschaltento turn on anschaltenturn signal blinker m.

tuxedo smoking m.

twelve zwölftwenty zwanzigtwo zweitypewriter schreibmaschine f.

U

ugly hässlichumbrella regenschirm m.uncle onkel m.under unterundershirt unterhemd n.to understand verstehenunderwear unterwäsche f.to undress, take off clothes ausziehen (sich)unemployed arbeitslosuniversity universität f.until bis

V

vanilla vanille f.vase vase f.veal kalbfleisch n.vegetarian vegetarier/-in m./f.very sehrviolin geige f.visa visum n.to visit besuchenvolleyball volleyball m.

W

waiter, server kellner/-in m./f.wake-up call weckanruf m.wallet brieftasche f.to want wollenwardrobe kleiderschrank m.warm warmto wash oneself waschen (sich)to wash spülenwashing machine waschmaschine f.to watch televeision fernsehento water ski wasserski laufenwater wasser n.we wirweak schwachto wear tragenweather wetter n.website website f.wedding anniversary hochzeitstag m.wedding ring ehering m.wedding hochzeit f.Wednesday mittwoch m.week woche f.to weigh wiegen

weight gewicht n.well, fountain brunnen m.well gutwell-done (meat) durchgebratenwest westen m.what waswhen wannwhenever, if wennwhere (to) wohinwhere wowhether, if obwhich welcher, welche, welcheswhite weißwho werwhole wheat bread vollkornbrot n.why warumwife, woman Frau f.window fenster n.windshield wiper scheibenwischer m.windshield windschutzscheibe f.windy windigwine wein m.wine glass weinglas n.winter winter m.wisdom tooth weisheitszahn m.

with mitwithdraw money abhebenwithout ohnewoman frau f.women's clothing frauenkleidung f.work, job arbeit f.worried besorgtto wound verwundenwrinkles falten pl.wrist handgelenk n.to write schreibenwriter schriftsteller/-in m./f.wrong, false falsch

Y

yellow gelbyes jayogurt joghurt m.you (formal) sieyou (plural, informal) ihryou (singular, informal) duyour (du) deinyour (ihr) eueryour (Sie) Ihr

Z

zip code postleitzahl f.zoo zoo m.

European Travel Phrase Book | Language Advisor

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