Italian Phrase: Che cosa vuoi dire? (What do you mean?)

If someone provides you with an explanation but you struggle to understand the meaning behind their words, it is only natural to ask the question: What do you mean? One way to express this in Italian is with the phrase Che cosa vuoi dire? which, word-for-word, can be translated as What do you want to …

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Italian Phrase of the Week: Sto bene (I am fine / I am well)

In order to say “I am fine” or “I am well” in Italian, the most common phrase you will hear people use is Sto bene. Sto bene. I’m fine / well. Whereas in English, we use the verb “to be” to express this sentiment, Italians use the verb stare which, in addition to “to be”, …

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Italian Phrase: Magari fosse vero! (I wish it were true!)

If you wish something were true, you would like it to be true, even though you know that it is impossible or unlikely. To express this sentiment in Italian, you can use the following phrase: Magari fosse vero! I wish it were true! Magari is an extremely versatile word but it isn’t the easiest to …

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Italian Phrase: Spero di sì. (I hope so.)

A phrase used in Italian to say that you want something to happen or be true is Spero di sì which means I hope so. Let’s take a moment to break it down into its component parts. Spero di sì. I hope so. Spero is the first-person conjugation of the verb sperare (to hope). In …

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Italian Phrase: Vorrei una birra. (I would like a beer.)

Although Italy is renowned for its excellent wines, there has been growing demand for artisan beers since the 1980s. In the place of famous brand lagers such as Peroni and Moretti, many Italians now prefer craft beer infused with local flavours and ingredients. After all, there’s something truly magical about pouring yourself a frothy pint …

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