Live & Learn Italian
Audio Lessons Did you know? Many words in English have their roots in this language, for example: opera, bandit, ghetto, studio, concert, alarm, and scenario. Useful phrases Do you speak English? Parla inglese? (formal) Thank you: Grazie! Hello: Ciao! (informal) / Salve! (general) Goodybye: Arrivederci (formal) /Ciao! (informal) Language SynopsisThis beautiful and enchanting language is spoken as a mother tongue by upwards of 70 million people, mostly within Italy, however it also spills over into Switzerland and San Marino and Monico and has put roots also in Malta and Somalia, to name a few. This is not to mention the pockets of speakers than can be found in USA and Canada for example. Below you see a world map representing this... in green are the large Italian-speaking communities; in light blue are the former colonies, where it was taught and spoken until their independence, and where it is still understood to some extent these days.
Of all the romance languages (Spanish, French, Romanian, Portugese for example) this one is said to be the closest to Latin. Thankfully for many learners, it also is written using the Latin alphabet - that is, the alphabet that English speakers are used to. One less thing to learn! For this reason Italian could be called one of the easiest languages to learn - or at least, an easy-to-learn language, for speakers of English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Romanian. They are all in the same family and therefore are quite related and find alot in common. Here you will find our recommendations when it comes to resources for the Italian language. Learn online with our links to free and useful internet tools and resources.
Culture CornerCuisine Quite possibly the first thing anyone thinks of when thinking of Italian culture is the food, aaaah, the food, and indeed the wine and the desserts (my favorite is Tiramisu). Below you will see what we've found to be the best resources for going Italian in the kitchen! Mangia Bene: Traditional Recipes of Italy Now all you need to go with that is Wine Trails of Italy - The Complete Series (4 Disc Set) Art Who hasn't seen or doesn't love Michelangelo's famous Creation of Adam  Music Here is a small taste of the many styles of music that Italy has to offer - and as a fountain of true talent, it's quite interesting that they decline to participate in the annual Eurovision song contest!
Sense of Humor
And don't forget to check out the Official Italian Joke Book
Help Others Live & LearnHave you lived and learned Italian? Did you go to Italy or where you able to master it in your own country and social circle? Please share your tips and secrets of success with other language learners so that the road to fluency may be paved that much smoother - please use the form below to share your experiences.
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lays out classic and creatively new regional dishes from the north to south of the country, generously detailed with tales and photos of the author's travels throughout the countryside. 
Illustrated with over sixty colour photographs, this is a guide to healthy, delicious and elegant appetizers, first courses, second courses, salads and side dishes, breads and pizzas and desserts.
a DVD extravaganza on the very best of wines.
in the Sistine Chapel? If it doesn't already grace your walls then here it is to tempt you...
of Tony Palmeri, Barber and Joy-Giver gives us a delightful glimpse on this earlier-immigrant culture in America and a good taste of this Italian-American's sense of humor!
and the 
for some great jokes!
