Travel Phrases 9 Parli inglese? Do you speak English?

Travel Phrases Lesson 9
Parli inglese? Do you speak English?
Italiano
English
A: Ciao. Parli inglese?
Hello. Do you speak English?
B: Sì. Parlo inglese.
Yes. I speak English.
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B: Sì. Un po’.
Yes. A little.
A: Salve. Parla inglese?
Hello. Do you speak English?
B: No. Non parlo inglese.
No. I don’t speak English.
A: Ho capito.
Understood.
You are having trouble understanding what someone is saying. Your safest solution is to ask them if
they speak English using the phrase, Parli inglese? Do you speak English.
Hopefully they will answer. Sì. Parlo inglese. Yes. I speak English.
Another possible answer is Sì. Un po’. Yes. A little.
The first word sì means yes.
This is followed by two words un po’, which mean a little.
Let’s ask the same question to an older person or a superior. Salve. Parla inglese? Hello. Do you
speak English?
The only difference between the informal and the formal phrases is the word, parli, you speak
informal. That becomes, parla, you speak Formal. You can also use other greetings like, Buon
giorno. Parla inglese? Buona sera. Parla inglese?
If they answer No. Non parlo inglese. No. I don’t speak English. You are out of luck! But you can
try to ask them if the speak another language. Here are the most common languages Italians speak:
francese
French
tedesco
German
spagnolo
Spanish
Once you have understood what they said you can answer. Ho capito. Understood.
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