Dialogue: A Day Trip to Chianti

Buongiorno, noi volevamo assaggiare i vostri vini accompagnati da due stuzzichini, è possibile?

I believe the only way you can truly learn a language is by using it in real life. (I also believe that burrata is one of the best cheeses around.)

To help you get that real-life experience, Carlotta — a native Italian speaker from Florence — wrote this dialogue for you. It’s about two friends — both Italian — who are going to Chianti on the hunt for wine and a butcher.

Unlike other dialogues made for students, this one is full of language that Italians use every day, and it doesn’t simplify the conversation.

If you’re a beginner, you’ll notice that a lot of the language is complex, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to learn. Don’t let the length or the big words intimidate you. What’s more, you’ll notice that the translation from Italian to English is not literal.

That’s on purpose because there are words / phrases that don’t directly translate in the same way.

Buono studio!

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Marco: Sto arrivando! Cinque minuti e sono lì. Per favore chiedi all’autista di aspettarmi. – I’m on my way. I’ll be there in 5 minutes, please ask the driver to wait for me.

Paul: Daiii, sbrigati Marco, non ci aspetteranno ancora per molto. Qui mi guardano tutti male! – Come on, hurry up Marco, they won’t wait for long. They’re all looking at me badly!

Marco: Eccomi, eccomi, sono dietro l’angolo. Ora dovresti vedermi….mi vedi? Mi sto sbracciando. – Here I am, here I am, I’m around around the corner. Now you should see me… do you see me? I’m waving.