In Italian, there are two verbs that mean “to be”: essere and stare. When should you use each one? Find out in this simple guide! 

Learn about our Online Italian School and get a free mini lesson every week: https://joyoflanguages.online/italian-school

Subscribe to our new Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@joyoflanguages.italian?sub_confirmation=1

Get the bonus materials for this episode: https://italian.joyoflanguages.com/podcast/essere-vs-stare

Today's Italian words:

Sono felice = I'm happy

Sono italiano = I'm Italian (m)

Sono alto = I'm tall (m)

Sono qui = I'm here

Sto bene = I’m well 

Sto male = I’m not well, literally “I’m bad” 

Sto meglio = I’m better

Stare con le persone = to spend time with people, literally “to stay with people” 

Stare con la famiglia = to spend time with the family, literally “to stay with the family”

Stare zitto = to be quiet, to shut up

Stare fermo = to stay still 

Stare attento = to pay attention, literally “to stay attentive”

Stare calmo = to stay calm

Episode 88: ESSERE vs. STARE: How to Tell the Difference between these Two Verbs

Where's the toilet? Two coffees please! How much is it? Learn the basics in bite-sized pieces with Katie and Matteo. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our You Tube Italian Channel to get more Italian lessons.

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

Courses

Language Learning

You’re learning Italian, but it’s going slower than you’d hoped? These unconventional tips will help you speed things up!

Learn about our Online Italian School and get a free mini lesson every week: https://joyoflanguages.online/italian-school

Subscribe to our new Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@joyoflanguages.italian?sub_confirmation=1

Get the bonus materials for this episode: https://italian.joyoflanguages.com/podcast/learning-italian-tips

Today's Italian words:

Impossibile = Impossible 

Importante = Important

Normale = Normal 

Errore = Mistake 

Il vocabolario = (the) vocabulary 

La grammatica = (the) grammar 

La pronuncia = (the) pronunciation

Anno = Year (remember to make the “n” long!)

Sono di New York = I’m from New York

E tu? Di dove sei? = And you? Where are you from? (informal)

138: How to Learn Italian Faster, According to Science (And Our Students!)

Is learning Italian hard? Maybe not as hard as you think! But these 7 excuses might be keeping you stuck – learn how to overcome them and start speaking Italian. 

Learn about our Online Italian School and get a free mini lesson every week: https://joyoflanguages.online/italian-school

Subscribe to our new Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@joyoflanguages.italian?sub_confirmation=1

Get the bonus materials for this episode: https://italian.joyoflanguages.com/podcast/is-learning-italian-hard

Today's Italian words:

Difficile = difficult 

Facile = easy

Impossibile = impossible 

Sto imparando l’italiano = I’m learning Italian 

Utile = useful 

Non ho tempo! = I don’t have time!

137: Is Learning Italian Hard? 7 Excuses That Might Be Holding You Back

Planning a trip to Italy? Or just want to learn some common Italian phrases? Get by and impress Italians with these 131 ready-to-use expressions! 

Learn about our Online Italian School and get a free mini lesson every week: https://joyoflanguages.online/italian-school

Subscribe to our new Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@joyoflanguages.italian?sub_confirmation=1

Get the bonus materials for this episode: https://italian.joyoflanguages.com/podcast/common-italian-phrases-travel

Today's Italian words:

Buongiorno = Hello (formal, lit. “good day”) 

Vorrei = I’d like 

Vorrei un cappuccino, grazie = I’d like a cappuccino, thank you 

Vorrei pagare, per favore = I’d like to pay please

Dov’è… = Where is…

La metro = The subway 

Dov’è la metro? = Where’s the subway? 

Un biglietto = A ticket 

Vorrei un biglietto = I’d like a ticket 

Quanto costa? = How much does it cost? 

Un tavolo per tre = A table for three

Una birra = A beer

Lo stesso = The same (as in “I’ll have the same”) 

Il conto, per favore = The bill please

Posso pagare? = Can I pay? 

Posso pagare con la carta? = Can I pay by card? 

Prendiamo un taxi = Let’s take a taxi 

136: Quiz Time! Do You Know These Italian Phrases for Travel?

Going to Italy soon? These 8 basic Italian phrases will help you do lots of practical things and speak like a local! 

Learn about our Online Italian School and get a free mini lesson every week: https://joyoflanguages.online/italian-school

Subscribe to our new Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@joyoflanguages.italian?sub_confirmation=1

Get the bonus materials for this episode: https://italian.joyoflanguages.com/podcast/basic-italian-phrases

Today's Italian words:

Prendo un caffè = I’ll have a coffee (lit. I take a coffee)

Prendo una margherita = I’ll have a margherita (lit. I take a margherita)

Lo stesso = The same

Prendo lo stesso = I’ll have the same (lit. I take the same)

Questo = This

Quello = That

Salve = Hello (anytime of day, semi-formal and formal)

Sono… = I’m

Sono Matteo = I’m Matteo

E tu?  = And you? 

Permesso! = Can I move past? / Can I come in? (lit. permission)

Posso? = May I? (lit. I can)

135: 8 Easy Ways to Sound Like a Local in Italy

These Italian phrases will help you talk to Italians and get insider tips on where to go, what to do and what to eat. Use them to make your next trip special!

Learn about our Online Italian School and get a free mini lesson every week: https://joyoflanguages.online/italian-school

Subscribe to our new Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@joyoflanguages.italian?sub_confirmation=1

Get the bonus materials for this episode: https://italian.joyoflanguages.com/podcast/italian-phrases-to-talk-to-anyone

Today's Italian words:

Vive in zona? = Do you live in the area (formal)

Quali sono i piatti tipici? = What are the typical dishes? (lit. “which”)

Mi può consigliare un ristorante? = Can you recommend a restaurant? (formal)

Mi può consigliare un piatto? = Can you recommend a dish? (formal)

Mi può consigliare un vino? = Can you recommend a wine? (formal)

Episode 88: ESSERE vs. STARE: How to Tell the Difference between these Two Verbs

Download our free app to listen on your phone