First Phrases

Book club · Italiano

Book club in Italian: 10 phrases for tonight

One book, one evening, a table of people who like talking about it. You do not need perfect language: an opinion, a question and a polite request for no spoilers will carry you.

Register: Informal (friendly). "Tu" is normal in Italian book clubs among adults. If the group is much older, switch to "Lei" only if they do first.

How to read the sounds: Italian is spoken as written. Double consonants (tt, ll, zz) are held longer. c before e/i = ch, g before e/i = j, gn = ny, gli = ly, sc before e/i = sh. Stress is in CAPITALS.

10 phrases, door to goodbye

  1. 01 · Arriving
    Buonasera, è qui il gruppo di lettura?
    Say it like: bwoh-nah-SEH-rah, eh kwee eel GROOP-poh dee let-TOO-rah
    Good evening, is this the reading group?
  2. 02 · Saying you're new
    Sono nuovo/nuova in città e non conosco ancora nessuno.
    Say it like: SOH-noh NWOH-voh/NWOH-vah een cheet-TAH eh nohn koh-NOS-koh ahn-KOH-rah nes-SOO-noh
    I'm new in the city and I don't know anyone yet.
  3. 03 · Asking how it works
    Come scegliete il libro di ogni mese?
    Say it like: KOH-meh shel-YEH-teh eel LEE-broh dee OH-nyee MEH-zeh
    How do you choose the book each month?
  4. 04 · Small talk
    Che ne hai pensato del libro?
    Say it like: keh neh eye pen-SAH-toh del LEE-broh
    What did you think of the book?
  5. 05 · Small talk
    Hai letto altro di questo autore?
    Say it like: eye LET-toh AL-troh dee KWES-toh ow-TOH-reh
    Have you read anything else by this author?
  6. 06 · Small talk
    Che cosa stai leggendo ultimamente?
    Say it like: keh KOH-zah stye led-JEN-doh ool-tee-mah-MEN-teh
    What have you been reading lately?
  7. 07 · No spoilers
    Non l'ho ancora finito, niente spoiler!
    Say it like: nohn LOH ahn-KOH-rah fee-NEE-toh, NYEN-teh SPOY-ler
    I haven't finished it yet, no spoilers!
  8. 08 · The ending
    Che ne pensi del finale?
    Say it like: keh neh PEN-see del fee-NAH-leh
    What do you think of the ending?
  9. 09 · Next book
    Che libro leggiamo il mese prossimo?
    Say it like: keh LEE-broh led-JAH-moh eel MEH-zeh PROS-see-moh
    Which book shall we read next month?
  10. 10 · Leaving & keeping in touch
    Sono stato/stata bene con voi. C'è un gruppo WhatsApp?
    Say it like: SOH-noh STAH-toh/STAH-tah BEH-neh kohn voy. cheh oon GROOP-poh WAHTS-ahp
    I enjoyed being with you. Is there a WhatsApp group?

3 things you will probably hear

  1. H1 · You may hear
    Oggi parliamo dei primi capitoli.
    Say it like: OD-jee par-LYAH-moh day PREE-mee kah-PEE-toh-lee
    Today we're talking about the first chapters.
  2. H2 · You may hear
    Chi vuole cominciare?
    Say it like: kee VWOH-leh koh-meen-CHAH-reh
    Who wants to start?
  3. H3 · You may hear
    Ti presto il libro di questo mese.
    Say it like: tee PRES-toh eel LEE-broh dee KWES-toh MEH-zeh
    I'll lend you this month's book.

Go and try it

Find book clubs on Come Alone

Quick answers

What do I say when I arrive alone at a book club in Italian?

Start with: "Buonasera, è qui il gruppo di lettura?" (Good evening, is this the reading group?). Then say you are new: "Sono nuovo/nuova in città e non conosco ancora nessuno." (I'm new in the city and I don't know anyone yet.)

Should I use informal or formal Italian at a book club?

"Tu" is normal in Italian book clubs among adults. If the group is much older, switch to "Lei" only if they do first.

How do I ask to meet again after a book club in Italian?

Try: "Sono stato/stata bene con voi. C'è un gruppo WhatsApp?" (I enjoyed being with you. Is there a WhatsApp group?)

Same evening, another language

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Italian, another evening

Pub quiz Padel & pickleball Run club Sauna Book club Dinner with strangers Language café

All 7 × 6 cards · Phrases for a specific event near you

How it works

  1. Pick the evening and the language people will speak.
  2. Read the ten phrases in order: they follow the evening from the door to goodbye. Tap the speaker to hear each one in your device's voice.
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending; a "check" mark flags a phrase we are least sure of.
  4. Find the event on Come Alone, open it in Meet & Mint to see who else is going, and say the first phrase for real.

firstphrases.app/tonight/book/it/ · Meet & Mint