How often do you need to check the time every day? Telling the time is part of everyday life, so if you’re making plans for a specific time and date while traveling or studying in Italy, it’s essential that you master this conversation skill as soon as possible.  In this article, I’ll be going over everything from how to say "hour" in Italian to asking for the time and making plans in Italian. Let’s get started.Che ore sono? è ora di iniziare a divertirsi con ItalianPod101.com! ("What time is it? It's time to start having fun with ItalianPod101.com!") Table of Contents How to Ask for the Time in Italian Italian Hours Give Me a Minute... How to Divide Hours into Minutes in Italian General Time References of the Day in... Show more

Are you traveling through Italy? Do you need to get to the Colosseum? Are you taking art classes in Florence? If you’re in Italy and you want to enjoy getting around and exploring new places, get ready to ask for directions in Italian with this quick and easy guide. No need for maps or GPS if you can get a little help from locals and practice your Italian in the process. In this article, I’ll be going over direction phrases in Italian, and will teach you words like "right" in Italian and much more! Table of Contents On the Map: Cardinal Directions in Italian On the Road: Street Directions in Italian Directions in Italian Using Landmarks Italian Phrases for Asking (Politely) for Directions Must-know Italian Phrases for... Show more

When learning a new language, vocabulary is—almost—everything. That’s because when speaking with a foreigner in his or her language, people don’t usually mind if that person doesn’t talk with perfect grammar, and will understand them anyway. But if you don’t know an important word, communicating will be a problem. And nouns are the most important words of all. So, what are the Italian nouns you should learn while studying Italian? Check out our list here on ItalianPod101. But first, some information on Italian nouns’ gender! Table of Contents Italian Nouns: Masculine and Feminine The 100 Most Common Italian Nouns Learn Italian at Your Pace with ItalianPod101 1. Italian Nouns: Masculine and Feminine First... Show more

Why is it important to study the most useful Italian compliments? Nothing makes people feel more important, appreciated, and good about themselves than compliments. By complimenting a girl, a friend, or a chef for their very good food, you set out to a good start in any relationship. Not to mention that the occasional compliment is an indispensable part of polite conversations. First of all, let’s remember that the two most basic Italian compliments are bello/a ("beautiful," "nice" ) and bravo/a ("good," "able" ). We’ll see how they can be used in different ways, and how you can fare bella figura, or "make a good impression," using these common Italian compliments and praise words. Table of Contents Ciao bella! Complimenting... Show more

Why is it important to study Italian gender rules? Unlike in English, gender in Italian is the first characteristic of every noun. In Italian, everything has a gender, and you need to know which gender it is to use a noun with the correct article, adjective, or pronoun. When you search for a word in an Italian dictionary, you’ll always find the gender next to it (m/f). You won’t find a neutral gender for Italian names, but from day one of your Italian class, you’ll start hearing that everything has to "agree." This means that all parts of the phrase have to be in accordance with the word gender (and number). So, here we go with a simple grammar guide about the gender of nouns in Italian. Table of Contents What is Word Gender? ... Show more

Italians are known for expressing their emotions and for being passionate, a little loud, and definitely creative. So, it’s no surprise that when Italians get angry—and they do get angry a lot—they will have a passionate, loud, and creative way to express their feelings. We know that angry people tend to express themselves with profanities and insults, but we’ll avoid parolacce ("curse words" ) and will give you instead a totally acceptable list of common Italian angry phrases and expressions useful for any occasion. Let’s start with learning how to say "angry" in the Italian language. Table of Contents Sono arrabbiato! ("I am angry!" ) Angry Orders Angry Warnings in Italian Angry Questions and Blames in Italian Getting... Show more

Italians celebrate International Labor Day with fervor, flair, and food! In this article, you’ll learn about the history of Labor Day in Italy, what events Italians hold to celebrate, and more. While you read, compare Italian celebrations for Labor Day with those in your country! Let’s get started. 1. What is Labor Day? Labor Day is about honoring workers around the world, celebrating economic and social gains workers have made, and demonstrating for even more rights and privileges. In Italy, Labor Day began near the end of the 1800s, particularly with the protest for an eight-hour workday in 1886 in the United States. However, this holiday was suspended during the years of the fascist regime in the early 1900s, finally... Show more

Italian prepositions are like almost everything else in the Italian language: hard to understand at the beginning, but poetic and lovely to the ear. Well, with this comprehensive guide to prepositions in Italian by ItalianPod101, you’ll learn Italian prepositions in the blink of an eye. We’ll cover the basics of Italian prepositions and when to use them, using charts and examples so that understanding Italian prepositions has never been clearer. It’s Italian prepositions made easy! Table of Contents What is a Preposition? How to Use Italian Prepositions Main Italian Prepositions Main Prepositions + Article Learn Italian with Ease at ItalianPod101 1. What is a Preposition? But first, we must start with the basics: the... Show more

Being part of your family’s, friends’, and colleagues’ life events is important in having a loving and caring relationship with them. That’s why we at ItalianPod101 have listed the most important messages for life events in Italy: In this article, you’ll learn how to say Happy Birthday in Italian, Italian Christmas greetings, messages you can use in case of funerals or marriages, and much more. With our guide to life event messages in Italian culture, you’ll always know what to say. Table of Contents The Best Messages for Life Events in Italy Speak and Behave Like a Real Italian with ItalianPod101 1. The Best Messages for Life Events in Italy 1- How Do You Say Happy Birthday in Italian? Birthdays are very important for... Show more

Bella giornata, vero? (Nice day, isn't it?) How many times have you heard somebody start a conversation this way? Talking about the weather is, in every language, the typical topic that friends, acquaintances, and even perfect strangers often choose as a conversation starter. In Italian, it’s no different. Talking about the weather is the perfect way per rompere il ghiaccio (to break the ice). This is why it’s so important to have all the vocabulary tools for talking about the weather (in Rome, Italy, or elsewhere). In this article, you’ll learn practical Italian weather vocabulary, how to describe weather in Italian, the various weather conditions in Italian provinces, and how to talk about weather in Itallian like a native! Let’s get... Show more