Customer Reviews

Italian: Lonely Planet Phrasebook

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I went to Italy two summers ago with no previous Italian. From reading over the phrasebook I learned a great deal of Italian and was able to communicate with people in everyday situations (buying subway tickets, ordering food, directions, etc.). This book contains way more than just your basic "touristy" phrases and was really helpful, especially the index of Italian foods. I would recommend this to anyone going to Italy or anyone who just wants to learn a few phrases. There are some parts of the book that you won't use but I still think that its a really good deal and contains a lot of good information.

We used this book for our trip to Italy and I found it to be a very big help. Also the small size made it easy to stick in my pocket and carry all over without looking like tourists.
Now we tried to learn as much Italian as we could before we went over so we didn't need it for very basic words but it was great when we didn't understand some words while eating or in museums.
It is split into different topics so its easy and quick to find things about shopping, eating, hotels, trains, etc...
I really didn't try to use it if I was trying to have a conversation with a fluent speaker as I don't think it was really made for that purpose.
So overall I found this book to be a huge help, but let me also suggest trying to learn as many basic words as possible. It will make things quicker and easier.

I travelled alone in Italy for one week, and this little book was so helpful...referenced it again and again during my visit. It came in handy for practical situations travelers always encounter...directions, menu verbiage, and basic conversation with locals.
It also helped in more specific situations...for women traveling, this will help you formulate quick responses to the "ciao bellas" you'll receive. Bene!

i carry it everywhere, when in the states or italy- great and easy set-up, extremely comprehensible pronouciation tips and helpful/useful blurbs about not-so-well-know (by the outside world) cultural practices, lingo, actions, etc. pleanty of categories, and explanations that make learning bits and peices easier to understand- cant say enough good!

Let's be realistic, a phrasebook isn't going to teach you the language. I mean, what if you can actually use it to ask directions for your hotel? THEN WHAT? You won't be able to understand the answer anyway!!! At that point, you're better off just learning "Mi scusi, parla inglese?" (excuse me, do you speak English?). Still, phrasebooks are useful to decipher menu items and for emergency situations. For instance, when you need to find a pharmacy because you've been walking too much and now your feet are full of blisters! How do you say "bandaid"? There you go! I give this book to all those who come with me on my trips to Italy, it's wonderful, light-weight, easy to look through.

This book is very compact and basically organized, however, for 2 weeks in Italy I really only needed to know about 10 key phrases. I wasn't able to use the book to talk to anyone, (no one has patience for that) I just used the book to master a few phrases leaving about 90% of the book unused. This book might have come in handy in a pinch if I had to communicate a lot with someone in Italian, but I didn't have to.
One more thing: it is imperetive that travelors learn key phrases in the language of the people were you are visiting. It will make your trip a lot smoother and frankly could help you avoid conflict. Learn to say "excuse me", "water", "Thank You", "Where", "WC/Toilet" and so forth. Often times, if you don't try to communicate in their language, they won't try to communicate in your language and you just come off as arrogant and hostile and this may anger them.

I bought this for myself the first time I went to Italy. I have a good understanding of the language (growing up with Italian grandparents) but was not fluent. This little book was a life-saver! Although most people in the larger cities do speak English, I insisted on speaking ONLY Italian. They were delightful about helping me get it right. But without this book, I'd have been lost! This one was purchased for my niece who hopes to move to Italy next year. I know it will be a welcome gift (it's a stocking stuffer for Christmas). Would absolutely recommend to anyone going to a foreign country (the Lonely Planet books, that is.)

This book is great, my husband and I love using it. It has lots of useful phrases like "I want to go to bed with you" or "Would you like to check my mattress?"

In preparing for a trip to Ialy, I have been accumulating many books and language cd's, including Rosetta Stone. There is more info packed into that little book than many items combined! A must have and entertaining too..

I purchased this book to help me with my family trip. It was quite helpful when I don't know how to say certain
things. I was able to learn how to ask for directions during our driving trips to Tuscany town. I was able to purchase fresh grocery, order food.

I also learn some Italian from the CDs I purchased from Amazon.

I highly recommend this book. My children picked up some Italian, too.