birra means beer in Italian

How do you say beer in Italian?

Birra!

Birra and pizza is a popular combination at Italian pizzerias.  Birra Moretti is a well-known brand of Italian beer.

Una birra, per favore.
A beer, please.

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Birra sounds just like "beer"

The first half of the word gets the emphasis and sounds like "BEER"

The second half of the word sounds like "ruh" to rhyme with "uh huh"
Take your time to pronounce both the R of "BEER" and the r of "ruh"

BEER-ruh

mela means apple in Italian

How do you say apple in Italian?

Mela!

Mela, apple, is featured in many Italian desserts.  Sfogliata di mela is one of my favorites- it's sort of the Italian version of apple pie.

La mela è rossa.
The apple is red.

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Mela starts out sounding just like "mail"

The first half of the word gets the emphasis and sounds like "MAIL"

The second half of the word sounds like the "uh" of "uh huh"

MAIL-uh

sale means salt in Italian

How do you say salt in Italian?

Sale!

There are two types of sale, salt, used in Italian cooking.  Sale fino is fine table salt.  Sale grosso is coarse sea salt.

Aggiungere un pizzico di sale.
Add a pinch of salt.

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Sale starts out sounding like "sall" to rhyme with "mall""all""tall"

The first half of the word gets the emphasis and sounds like "SALL"

The second half of the word sounds like the "ay" of "hay"

SALL-ay

coltello means knife in Italian

How do you say knife in Italian?

Coltello!

Coltello, knife, is used to describe both the coltello for food preparation in the kitchen and the coltello for eating at the table.

Attenzione, il coltelo è tagliente!
Careful, the knife is sharp!

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Coltello starts out sounding like "coal"

The second syllable gets the emphasis and sounds like "TELL"

The third syllable sounds like "low"

Make sure to take your time pronouncing both l's, both the l of "TELL" and the l of "low"
coal-TELL-low

asparago means asparagus in Italian

How do you say asparagus in Italian?

Asparago!

Usually you'll see asparagus, asparagi, written in the plural.  That's because asparagus, asparagi are too good to eat just one!

Gli asparagi sono verdi.
The asparagus are green.

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Asparago starts out sounding like "us"

The second syllable gets the emphasis and sounds like "PAR" (as in the golf term)

The third syllable sounds like "ugh"(for those crazy folks who don't like asparagus)

The final part of the word sounds like "oh" 

us-PAR-ugh-oh

In the plural:
Asparagi starts out sounding like "us"

The second syllable gets the emphasis and sounds like "PAR" (as in the golf term)
The third syllable sounds like "uh" of "uh huh"
The final part of the words sounds like "gee" (gee whiz!)
us-PAR-uh-gee

finocchio means fennel in Italian

How do you say fennel in Italian?

Finocchio!

In Italy the bulb of the finocchio, fennel,  is eaten in delicious salads, and the green stems and leaves lend a lovely anisette aroma to dishes.  Semi di finocchio, fennel seeds, are also used in Italian cooking.

Il finocchio è croccante.
The fennel is crunchy.

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Finocchio sounds just like the puppet, Pinocchio!

The first syllable of the word sounds like "fee"

The second syllable gets the emphasis and sounds like "NO"

The third syllable sounds like "key"
The fourth syllable sounds like "oh"

fee-NO-key-oh

pera means pear in Italian

How do you say pear in Italian?

Pera!

The word for pear, pera, sounds quite similar in English and Italian!

La pera è fresca.
The pear is fresh.

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Pera sounds just like "pear"

The first half of the word gets the emphasis and sounds like "PEAR"

The second half of the word sounds like the "uh" of "uh huh"

PEAR-uh

torta means cake in Italian

How do you say cake in Italian?

Torta!

A home made cake, torta, may not last long in an Italian household.  First the torta, cake, is enjoyed after dinner.  Then the next morning it is often enjoyed for breakfast!

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Torta starts out like "tore"

The first half of the word gets the emphasis and sounds like "TORE"

The second half of the word sounds like the "tuh" to rhyme with "huh"

TORE-tuh

zuppa means soup in Italian

How do you say soup in Italian?

Zuppa!

Zuppa, soup, is often eaten in place of pasta or rice as the first course of a meal.  There are hundreds of different zuppa, soup recipes.  You'll even find some with an egg cooked on top!

La zuppa è bella calda.
The soup is nice and hot.

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Zuppa starts out sounding like the "ZOO"

The first half of the word gets the emphasis and sounds like "ZOOP"

The second half of the word sounds like the "pu" of "puppy"

Make sure to take your time pronouncing both p's, both the P of "ZOOP" and the p of "pu"

ZOOP-pu

confettura means jam in Italian

How do you say jam in Italian?

Confettura!

Confettura, jam, is enjoyed on bread either for breakfast or afternoon snack.  The Italian take on pie, the crostata, features confettura, jam.

Mangiamo pane con confettura alla fragola.
We're eating bread with strawberry jam.

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Confettura starts out sounding like "cone"

The second syllable sounds like "fate"

The third syllable gets the emphasis and sounds like  "TURE" to rhyme with "lure"

The final part of the word sounds like the "uh" of "uh huh"
Make sure to take your time pronouncing both t's, both the t of "fate" and the T of "TURE"
cone-fate-TURE-uh

limone means lemon in Italian

How do you say lemon in Italian?

Limone!

The lemon, limone, is a key ingredient in Italian cuisine, used both in savory cooking and to make lemon, limone, flavored desserts.

Gelato al limone è buonissino!
Lemon ice cream is very good!

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Limone starts out sounding like the "lee" of Lee jeans

The first third of the word sounds like "lee"

The second third of the word gets the emphasis and sounds like "MOAN" 

The final part of the word sounds like the "ay" of "hay"

lee-MOAN- ay

tavola means table in Italian

How do you say table in Italian?

Tavola!

In Italy sitting around the tavola, table, is a favorite pastime.  Hours after a meal is over, friends and family are still having a great time sitting the table, tavola, and chatting.

Italian proverb:
À tavola non s'invecchia.
At the table no one grows old.

Extra credit, make pronunciation fun:

Tavola starts out sounding like "ta" (as in ta-ta, bye-bye)

The first third of the word gets the emphasis and sounds like "TA"

The second third of the word sounds like "vole" (like the rodent) 

The final part of the word sounds like "uh"(like uh huh)

TA-vole- uh