URL
Lesson Introduction
Ever have a nightmare in which you got on the wrong train and ended up in a place unknown to you, far away from your desired destination? We'll today's lesson is all about that dream... becoming a reality! You'll be learning the names of two of Italy's most famous cities, as well!
Comments 
To comment, please login.
Comments Policy
Allowed comments do not necessarily represent the views of ChinesePod.com. We also reserve the right to reject personal attacks, false/unsubstantiated allegations, spamming of any kind, and comments that include vulgar language or libelous statements.
Out of consideration for our Newbie and Elementary users, English translations should be provided with any Chinese (characters or pinyin) written in Newbie and Elementary lesson discussion posts. New lesson idea? Please let us know on our contact page.
ragazzoaustriaco says
October 29, 2008
Non userò mai più i treni italiani in estate! Sono troppo caldi e abbastanza sporci.
hasanova says
October 29, 2008
it was easy, yuppiiiiii!!!
billkaulitzlover says
October 29, 2008
Is "prego" more formal than "per favore"?
hasanova says
October 29, 2008
I think "per favore" is different from "prego"..I realize little difference.. maybe I'm wrong...it would be good if someone elucidated it...
marianneloffredo says
i don't know how the actual meaning of prego and per favore differ but I can say with certainty that prego is used constantly as part of the everyday conversation in Italy. When you are travelling you hear that word constantly. I get the feeling that the meaning of prego is more expansive than that of per favore which just means please. Do others share this observation?October 29, 2008
ire_ne says
October 29, 2008
Yes, maybe "prego" it is more formal than "per favore" but there's not a lot of difference.
You can say
Es1 Mi può favorire il biglietto per favore?
oppure
Es2 Biglietto prego.
You don`t usually use "prego" with your friends, that`s why I told you that`s more formal.
ire_ne says
October 29, 2008
Caro ragazzoaustriaco,
ti svelerò un segreto : i treni italiani non sono un granchè neanche d'inverno. Li ho usati per 3 anni per andare all'universita' e lo so bene. A parte il fatto che sono sempre in ritardo, inoltre d'inverno qualche volta non fa il riscaldamento e d'esate non funziona l`aria condizionata.
In più il prezzo del biglietto aumenta sempre di mese in mese. :-s
ire_ne says
October 29, 2008
hasanova,
I told you that you needed to start with newbie ;-)
reinhard084 says
October 29, 2008
Non so, ma forse i treni del nord sono diversi. Ho usato i treni fra Milano, Como, Varenna, Malpensa durante gli ultimi due anni, e da solito sono puliti, en non in ritardo...
hasanova says
October 29, 2008
ire_ne it is newbie & it was easy to understand.. grazie bella :))
rogerdouglas says
November 1, 2008
While I was on holiday in Tuscany we took the train to Florence a couple of times. We found it quite easy and convenient, but were a bit confused by the ticket machine. On the first trip I bought tickets from Florence to Florence! Two of my companions were then busted by the ticket inspector and had to pay extra.
--R.
sivo says
November 4, 2008
does "ecco"
have the same meaning as "qui" and " qua"
ire_ne says
November 4, 2008
"qui" is "here", "qua" is "there".
"Ecco" is trasated is english as "here", "there", "that's", "this" but there isn't an equivalent word in english.
"Ecco" is used when a person or a thing pops up. Or is used when a fact suddenly occurs.
es: Ecco la mamma = There's my mother.
Ecco il treno che arriva = Here is the train that's coming in.
It is also used as an interjection to strenghen the phrase.
es: Ecco, ci mancava anche questa! = Here we go, this is all we were missing (sarcastic).
lemykh says
November 5, 2008
@irene
la mia insegnante italiana mi ha detto che:
qui=qua=here,ma
li=la=there
chi e' giusto???
ire_ne says
November 5, 2008
lì and la' = there
li and la are articles! Be careful about the accent! ;-)
lucazani says
November 9, 2008
"Prego" is used when you kindly invite someone to do something, when you offer something, and as an answer to "grazie = thanks".
"Per favore" when the result of the action you request, is of some advantage to you.
"Sit down, please" could be translated both with "Prego, siediti" and "Siediti, per favore", but they have two very different meanings:
"Siediti, prego" is a kind invitation, like "make yourself comfortable, sit down"
"Siediti, per favore" could be said to a child running around and making a mess. It's like "I cannot stand your running around anymore: please sit down!"
I hope this helps....
blueschaeffer says
August 15, 2009
When should I use "prego" and when should I say "per piacere"? Or are they interchangable?
blueschaeffer says
August 15, 2009
Also, does "ecco" translate like "voila" in French?
catherinem says
August 16, 2009
@blueschaeffer
Prego and per piacere are not interchangable. If you want to say you're welcome you can say prego or piacere (happy to/my pleasure).
Other times you want to say, here you are (or a barista at a cafe says: Here you are, your coffee). In Italian in this case the barista would say Il suo cafe', prego.
Per piacere means please. You can say something like, please don't talk! Per piacere, non parlare.
If this is still unclear, let me know.
As for voila and ecco, these two are quite similar when used to mean, here he/she/it is!
For example, I want to know when my friend Giovanna will arrive. I'm talking about her, then I see her coming. I say, Eccola, (here she is!).
This newbie lesson, "Where is She?" features this word, and a discussion of its uses.
Hope this helps!
karolvig says
August 31, 2009
Prego is please, but I heard is used too like in restaurants by the attendant, meaning "What do you like? "...
And "Lei" is you? ´Cause i read it was she...
annaa says
August 31, 2009
Karolvig, lei means she as you said, but it is also the courtesy form for you. So when you speak with a stranger or you are in a formal situation it is better to address the person with Lei instead of tu.
About prego, as Catherine wrote, it can be used in restaurants by the attendant to say here you are.
If the attendant says just Prego, it can also mean something like "please go on, I'm available, ask what you need". It's not exactly like asking "what would you like to order", but it is commonly used to invite someone to say what they need.
If it's still unclear or you have any other question just let us know! :-)