A free, self-paced textbook in 8 chapters. Read a chapter, then drill it with the 120 companion flashcards using spaced repetition.
The Italian pantry rests on a foundation of simple, high-quality staples. The two most iconic foods are la pizza and la pasta, both of which are feminine nouns. A basket of il pane...
When Italians order a main course, they're typically choosing among cured meats, land animals, or fish. The most famous cured meat is il prosciutto, a dry-cured ham that appears in...
Vegetables are a cornerstone of Italian cooking. The general term is le verdure (vegetables, plural), while a fresh l'insalata (salad) might be served as a side, a starter, or even...
Italy's café culture is famous worldwide, and ordering coffee correctly is a small social skill. The general word for coffee is il caffè, which by default refers to a shot of espre...
Italy takes its desserts seriously. The general word for dessert or sweets is il dolce, which you'll also see used to mean something sweet in contrast to salato (savory). On most r...
The first steps into any Italian restaurant begin with courtesy. Greet staff with Buongiorno (good morning / hello, formal) during the day or Buonasera (good evening) after about 5...
If you have dietary restrictions, it's polite and necessary to communicate them clearly. To let staff know you don't eat meat, say Sono vegetariano (I am vegetarian, masculine) or...
A small set of verbs and expressions opens up nearly every conversation in an Italian restaurant. Vorrei (I would like) and prendo (I take / I'll order) are the polite ways to orde...