Meet, Greet and Introduce Yourself

What you will learn

• Conjugate essere, fare and stare in the present tense
• Greet people and ask how they are in both informal and formal Italian
• Introduce yourself and others with Mi chiamo and Piacere
• Talk about your nationality and profession
• Use e, ma and o to join ideas
• Choose between tu and Lei by context

Quick review

Say these aloud before you start. They come from earlier lessons.

• Parlo italiano. I speak Italian. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Parlo italiano. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:
• Non lavoro qui. I do not work here. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Non lavoro qui. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:
• Dove abiti? Where do you live? Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Dove abiti? Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:
• Ho una domanda. I have a question. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Ho una domanda. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:
• Abbiamo mangiato bene. We ate well. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Abbiamo mangiato bene. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:

Theory

The three pillars of every conversation

Essere (to be), fare (to do/make) and stare (to stay/be doing) appear in almost every first meeting. essere and fare are irregular, so learn them as sets — but note that stare is regular: sto, stai, sta, stiamo, state, stanno.

stare appears in greetings: Come stai? literally means 'How are you staying?' — but Italians ask it as 'How are you?'. At beginner level: use stare for how someone is doing or feeling, and essere for who or what someone is.

• Io sono inglese. I am English. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Io sono inglese. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:
• Che lavoro fai? What do you do for a living? Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Che lavoro fai? Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:
• Sto bene, grazie. I am well, thanks. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Sto bene, grazie. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:

Informal tu and formal Lei

Italian has two ways to say 'you'. Use tu with friends, family and young people. Use Lei (with a capital L) with strangers, older people and in professional situations.

The verb form changes too: Come stai? (informal) becomes Come sta? (formal). When in doubt in Italy, start formal — Italians will invite you to switch to tu.

• Come ti chiami? What is your name? (informal) Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Come ti chiami? Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:
• Come si chiama? What is your name? (formal) Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Come si chiama? Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:
• Lei parla inglese? Do you speak English? (formal) Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Lei parla inglese? Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:

Introducing yourself without hesitation

Mi chiamo... is the standard way to give your name — it literally means 'I call myself...'. Piacere means 'pleasure' and is the all-purpose reply when you meet someone: Piacere! — 'Nice to meet you!'.

To say where you are from, use Di dove sei? (informal) or Di dov'è? (formal), and answer with Sono di + city or Sono + nationality.

• Mi chiamo Laura. My name is Laura. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Mi chiamo Laura. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:
• Di dove sei? Where are you from? (informal) Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Di dove sei? Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:
• Sono di Londra, ma sono inglese. I am from London, and I am English. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian: Sono di Londra, ma sono inglese. Listen in Italian: Slow in Italian:

Vocabulary

Ready-to-use phrases

Dialogues

Exercises