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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Italian Phrase: Come va la vita? (How’s life?)

When you see someone you know, it’s only natural to ask how they are doing. One way you can do this in colloquial Italian is by asking the question Come va la vita? which literally means “How’s life?“ Come va la vita? How’s life? Come is the word for “how” in Italian, whereas va is …

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