In this latest episode of Coffee Break French, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss Matthieu’s latest email reply to Gabrielle. As usual there are a number of interesting language points to be discussed including further examples of the subjunctive with triggers we have seen before, and a brand new situation when the subjunctive is used after a superlative.
Month: May 2015
Episode 8 – Season 4 – Coffee Break Spanish
In this episode we listen to María’s latest diary entry in which she recounts a conversation she has had with her father in which she learns more about the history of her family. As usual the episode is rich in idiomatic expressions and complex grammatical points.
Essential Italian hotel phrases for checking in and out
If you’re planning a trip to Italy, learning a few key Italian hotel phrases can significantly enhance your experience. Whether you’re checking in at a bustling Roman hotel, booking a boutique stay in Florence or requesting room service at a coastal retreat in Amalfi, knowing how to communicate effectively will ensure your journey is stress-free and enjoyable.
In this blog post, we’ll explore essential phrases for every stage of your hotel stay, from checking in to checking out!
Italian hotel phrases – checking in
You get to your Italian-speaking destination after travelling for a couple of hours and we are sure you just want to check in at your hotel with no headaches. To start things off with the right foot, be sure to use an Italian greeting like buongiorno good morning or buonasera good evening.
After that, it is time for you to describe your reservation. Here are a few crucial phrases to help you begin the process:
- Ho una prenotazione. I have a reservation.
- Ho una prenotazione per due notti. I have a reservation for 2 nights.
- Ho una prenotazione per una settimana. I have a reservation for a week.
- Ho una prenotazione a nome Fraser. have a reservation in the name of Fraser.
The person at the reception might than ask you:
- Posso vedere il suo passaporto? Can I see your passport?
- Mi può dare la sua carta di credito? Can you give me your credit card?
If you’re asked for details about your stay, these phrases might come in handy:
- Vorrei una camera singola. I would like a single room.
- Vorrei una camera matrimoniale. I would like a double room.
- Vorrei una camera doppia. I would like a twin room.
Additionally, if you don’t have a reservation and would like to ask if you could stay, then you can say: Non ho una prenotazione. Avete camere libere? I don’t have a reservation. Do you have any available rooms?.
Extending your stay or making changes
You might need to modify your reservation if your plans change during your trip. Here’s how to handle those conversations with some other Italian hotel phrases:
- Posso estendere il mio soggiorno? Can I extend my stay?
- Posso cambiare camera? Can I change room?
- Avete una camera con vista? Do you have a room with a view?
Useful Italian hotel phrases for checking out
When your stay comes to an end, these phrases will help you navigate the check-out process:
- Vorrei fare il check-out. I would like to check out.
- C’è una tassa di soggiorno? Is there a tourist tax?
- Grazie mille per l’ospitalità! Thank you very much for the hospitality!
Many hotels in Italy have check-out times at 10 AM. If you are leaving the city later on in the day, you can ask: Posso lasciare i bagagli? Can I leave my luggage?. See, travelling in Italy can be a delightful adventure, and knowing some key Italian hotel phrases will not only make your stay more enjoyable but also help you connect with the locals.
Even though you don’t want it to happen, some problems or confusion might arise during your hotel stay. To know how to get around them, check out the article we have prepared to help you navigate common issues at the hotel.
Season 4 – Episode 35 – Coffee Break French
In this episode of Coffee Break French, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss the latest email from Gabrielle to Matthieu and look in particular at a number of interesting language points contained in the lesson. Expressions in this episode include the expressions ce n’est pas ton fort, prendre peur and rendre des comptes à quelqu’un.
Episode 7 – Season 4 – Coffee Break Spanish
In the latest episode of our advanced Spanish course we eavesdrop on a conversation between María and Rory about their plans for a weekend away, visiting the town of Valldemossa. As usual the episode is rich in idiomatic expressions and complex grammatical points.
In the preview episode available here on the Radio Lingua site, on iTunes and on Soundcloud, you’ll be able to listen to Carmen and Mark’s introduction, to the core text of this episode, and to the summary in English of what happens in the text. For a full analysis of the text and in-depth discussion of the words and phrases contained in the episode, you can subscribe to our premium version. For further information, please see below.
Accessing the Premium Version
The premium version of Coffee Break Spanish Season 4 provides additional materials which will help you move forward more effectively with your advanced studies of Spanish. The premium version includes the following elements:
- full-length audio episode: in each episode Mark and Carmen discuss the language covered in each text in depth, providing further examples and testing you on your understanding;
- transcript: a full transcript of the entire episode including notes on complex language and grammar points;
- bonus audio episode: test yourself on the key constructions included in the audio episode with this bonus audio translation exercise.
Learn more about Coffee Break Spanish Season 4
The members’ version can be accessed through our membership system. You can purchase a membership using the links below.
- Season 4: Lessons 1-40
£89.00 GBP inc VAT / approx $109 USD ex VAT for non EU customers)
Subscribe links
Subscribe in iTunes | RSS Feed | Purchase members’ audio and transcripts | Members’ login
8 essential Italian restaurant phrases for learners
Exploring Italy’s culinary delights is an integral part of any visit to this beautiful country. Whether you’re savouring a classic pizza in Naples or indulging in handmade pasta in Rome, knowing a few essential Italian restaurant phrases can make your dining experience even better.
In this article, you will get familiar with some useful vocabulary and learn how to say your likes and dislikes in the language. Don’t forget to press play to listen to the episode of Coffee Break Italian to master the pronunciation.
Siamo pronti?
1. Ho fame!
The first essential phrase we will explore is restaurant-related in a way. After all, if you are hungry, you might want to look for a place to eat.
2. Vorrei un tavolo per due, per favore.
This one is a very handy sentence in the list of essential Italian restaurant phrases, as it helps you get a table for yourself and the people who are accompanying you. In this case, you are asking for un tavolo per due a table for two, but you can easily adapt that using your knowledge of numbers in Italian.
Be sure to always add per favore for politeness.
3. Posso avere…?
You can use this phrase to begin ordering by adding the item you’d like from the menu. For example:
- Posso avere una pizza margherita, per favore? Can I have a margherita pizza please?
You can also use the verb volere, which was mentioned in the previous topic:
- Vorrei una cotoletta alla milanese, per favore I would like a cutlet of veal, please.
4. Che vino mi consiglia?
Suppose you want to enjoy a nice wine, but you are not really sure which one on the menu you would prefer. In that case, you should add this sentence to your essential Italian restaurant phrases:
- Che vino mi consiglia? Which wine do you recommend?
It’s perfect for seeking recommendations from the waiter!
5. Buon appetito!
When dining in Italy, you’ll often hear the phrase ‘Buon appetito’ ,which translates to ‘Enjoy your meal!’. It’s a common and friendly way to wish others a pleasant meal.
You can use it when your food arrives or when others start eating.
6. È delizioso/a!
To express your enjoyment of the meal, this is a useful sentence in our list of Italian restaurant phrases: ‘È delizioso!’. You can definitely guess what this one translates to, right?
If your guess was ‘It’s delicious!’ y,ou got it right. Complimenting the food not only shows your appreciation but also makes the dining experience more engaging and pleasant for everyone involved.
You could say:
- Questa pizza è deliziosa! This pizza is delicious!
7. Mi può portare…?
If you need to ask the waiter for something else, this is one of the Italian restaurant phrases that is very useful as it means ‘Can you bring me…?’. It is followed by the item you need. For example:
- Mi può portare un’altra bottiglia di acqua, per favore? Can you bring me another bottle of water, please?
8. Il conto, per favore.
When you’re ready to pay and leave, you can say ‘Il conto, per favore’ which means ‘The bill, please’’. It’s a straightforward and polite way to ask for the check, signalling that you’re finished with your meal and ready to settle the bill.
Bonus sentence – ‘mi piace…’
Finally, in our list of essential Italian restaurant phrases is ‘mi piace’, which translates to ‘I like’ in English. You can use this sentence to express your likes of food as well when talking about your hobbies, for example. However, this structure only works with singular nouns.
Using this structure is straightforward. For singular objects or actions ,you can say:
- Mi piace la pizza I like pizza.
- Mi piace mangiare I like to eat.
You can also say:
- Mi piace mangiare una pizza I like to eat pizza.
- Mi piace mangiare un gelato I like to eat gelato.
Mastering these Italian restaurant phrases will not only make your dining experiences in Italy more enjoyable but also help you connect with locals and appreciate the rich culinary culture. So, the next time you find yourself in a cosy trattoria or a bustling pizzeria, use these phrases to enhance your experience and savour every moment of your Italian gastronomic adventure.
If you want to keep improving your Italian skills, check out our blog post that will reveal essential hotel vocabulary in Italian!
How to order food in Italian: key vocabulary for beginners
Are you wondering how to order food in Italian in a café? Well, that is a fantastic way to practise the language and feel like a local, whether at a café in Rome or a cosy trattoria in Florence. To help you with that, in this blog, we’ll cover some essential Italian phrases and vocabulary to navigate a menu.
Don’t forget to listen to the podcast in order to discover how to pronounce these newly found words.
Asking for the menu and food
The first step to knowing how to order food in Italian in a café asking for the menu. Here’s how:
- Avete un menù? Do you have a menu?
- Avete un menù in inglese? Do you have a menu in English?
- Avete un menù per bambini? Do you have a children’s menu?
These phrases are essential, just remember, using per favore please at the end of your question will show politeness. Now let’s get to the fun part: ordering food! Italian menus feature a variety of delicious items, so let’s go over some of the basics you might encounter:
- Un panino al… a sandwich
- Un panino al prosciutto a ham sandwich
- Un panino al formaggio a cheese sandwich
- Un panino con pomodoro e mozzarella a sandwich with tomato and mozzarella
If you’re in the mood for pizza, here are some classic choices:
- Una pizza a pizza
- Una pizza con prosciutto cotto A pizza with cooked ham
- Una pizza con funghi A pizza with mushrooms
- Una pizza con gli zucchini / le zucchine A pizza with zucchini
- Una pizza con funghi e olive A pizza with mushrooms and olives
To make your order even more complete, you can use a set phrase to say I would like in Italian using vorrei. For example: Vorrei una pizza con prosciutto crudo, funghi, olive e melanzane. I would like a pizza with cured ham, mushrooms, olives, and aubergines.
Read also: 8 essential Italian restaurant phrases for learners
Helpful phrases for ordering food in Italian
If you would like a recommendation from the waiter or manager of the café, a good set phrase to have under your belt is:
- Cosa consiglia? What do you recommend?
The person you are talking to will probably suggest a snack from the menu, so if you miss something you can always ask him or her to point it out to you. And if you need something specific, here are a few more handy phrases:
- mi può dare una forchetta, per favore? can you give me a fork, please?
- mi può dare un coltello, per favore? can you give me a knife, please?
- mi può dare un cucchiaio, per favore? can you give me a spoon, please?
Before digging into your meal, people will probably say buon appetito. And there you have it! Now you know how to order food in Italian. With these essential phrases and vocabulary, you’re equipped to handle your Italian dining experience with ease.
Read the blog post we prepared on eating out in an Italian restaurant to keep learning important vocabulary on asking for food in Italian!
Episode 7 – Season 4 – Coffee Break Spanish
In the latest episode of our advanced Spanish course we eavesdrop on a conversation between María and Rory about their plans for a weekend away, visiting the town of Valldemossa. As usual the episode is rich in idiomatic expressions and complex grammatical points.
Season 4 – Episode 34 – Coffee Break French
Mark and Pierre-Benoît are back with another episode of our advanced French course. In this episode we’re focusing on the latest email from Sylvie in which she updates her mother on her date with Matthieu. As usual the episode is rich in interesting grammar points and idiomatic expressions and our two hosts are on hand to discuss the language used and to help listeners understand the content. Expressions in this episode include il devait y avoir, être désolé de + infinitive and the placement of adjectives in phrases such as il a de grands yeux bleus vraiment magnifiques.
