Beginners Italian - Lesson 5

This is the fifth lesson in our beginner series on Italian Language. This time A. Antonioni guides us through some of the more useful phrases of Italian, unravels the mystery surrounding "Ciao", explains which greetings goes when, and has a poke at italian humour (of sorts).

To introduce someone formally:

• le presento mia moglie

and more casually:

• questo/a è .....
• questi/e sono.........

To ask what job someone does:

• che lavoro fai/fa?

Saying what you do:

• faccio il pittore
• sono maestro

Describing what you do:

• lavoro per le Poste Italiane
• mi occupo di architettura

How long you have been doing something:

• da quattro anni sono avvocato

Dialogue

Homework

The origin of Ciao

Nowadays in Italy you say hello and goodbye to people you know (especially among friends) using ciao. In the past, mind you, ciao, meant schiavo vostro (your slave) and therefore was not at all a friendly way to relate to friends.

The use of Voi

In spoken Italian, voi is used to speak to any group of people, that is to say voi normally is a collective pronoun. However there are a few cases when it used in a singular sense. Nowadays singular voi has little use, but in 1938 Mussolini tried to make Italians use voi instead of lei. As a matter of fact regarded the use of lei of spanish origin; actually he was wrong, since lei comes from the latin. In any case, this fascist voi was in use only for a while, although today you can still hear some old italians use it in the fascist way.

Buongiorno, Buona sera or Buona notte ?

Buongiorno is used for good morning until lunch time (1 p.m.). Good afternoon is Buona sera which you use until 10 p.m. Don't try and be smart and use Buon Pomeriggio for the early afternoon because people will look at you in surprise. Say buona notte only to friends when you know they are just about to go to bed.

If you find this all too complicated just use Salve all the time !

Italian joke (Something for advanced students)

L'altro giorno sono andato a fare un colloquio in cerca di un nuovo lavoro (interview). L'esaminatore mi ha detto : "Questo é un lavoro di grande responsabilità. Lei pensa di essere la persona giusta?"
Ed io gli ho risposto : "Beh, direi di si. Infatti nel mio ultimo lavoro quando c'era qualcosa che non andava, il padrone mi diceva sempre: Sig. Antonioni lei é responsabile !!! "
Chissà perché non sono stato assunto ?

Lesson by A. Antonioni