Learn Some Italian

I spoke about this earlier in the blog but I wanted to touch on it again.  Before you go to Venice learn some basic Italian.  You will find quite a few people speak English in the large cities like Venice and Rome but not all.  Some of the people that do speak English, speak very broken English.  It is always nice to learn some of the local language and the Italian people really appreciate your effort.  The longer you are over there the easier it comes.  If you cannot memorize these just print them and take them with you.  You will be glad you have them. 
 
Here are the ones we use most commonly when we are in Italy:
hello and good bye informal = ciao pronounced chow
good day = buon giorno pronounced bwohn JOUR-noh
goodbye = arrivederci pronounced ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee
thank you = grazie pronounced GRAT-tzee yay
you are welcome = prego pronounced PRAY-goh
yes = si pronounced see
no = no pronounced no
please = pier favore pronounced pair-fa-VOHR-ray
Do you speak English = Para Inglese pronounced PAR-la-een=GLAY-zay
I don't understand = non capisco pronounced non ka-PEESK-koh
I'm sorry = mi dispiace pronounced mee-dees-pee-YAT-chay
How much is it? = quanto costa pronounced KWAN-toh COST-ah
Excuse me to get attention = scusi pronounced SKOO-zee
Excuse me to get past someone = permesso pronounced pair-MEH-so
Where is = Dov'e pronounced doh-VAY
the bathroom = il bagno pronounced eel-bhan-yoh
information = informazione pronounced in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay
wine = vino pronounced VEE-noh
white wine = vino bianco pronounced VEE-noh bee-YHAN-koh
red wine =  vino rosso pronounced VEE-noh ROHS-soh
beer = birra pronounced BEER-rah
Check Please = Il conto, per favore pronounced eel COAN-toh pair fah-VOAR-eh
Cheers = saluti (to your health) pronounced sah-LOO-tee (some say cin cin pronounced chin - chin)

Numbers:

English (Inglese)	Italian (Italiano)	Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun
1	uno	OO-no
2	due	DOO-way
3	tre	tray
4	quattro	KWAH-troh
5	cinque	CHEEN-kway
6	sei	say
7	sette	SET-tay
8	otto	OH-toh
9	nove	NO-vay
10	dieci	dee-YAY-chee
11	undici	OON-dee-chee
12	dodici	DOH-dee-chee
13	tredici	TRAY-dee-chee
14	quattordici	kwa-TOR-dee-chee
15	quindici	KWEEN-dee-chee
16	sedici	SAY-dee-chee
17	diciasette	dee-chee-ya-SET-tay
18	diciotto	dee-CHO-toh
19	diciannove	dee-chee-ya-NO-vay
20	venti	VENT-tee
21*	vent'uno*	vent-OO-no
22*	venti due*	VENT-tee DOO-way
23*	venti tre*	VENT-tee TRAY
30	trenta	TRAYN-tah
40	quaranta	kwa-RAHN-tah
50	cinquanta	cheen-KWAN-tah
60	sessanta	say-SAHN-tah
70	settanta	seh-TAHN-tah
80	ottanta	oh-TAHN-tah