Italian

Grammar
Made Easy
PODCAST FREEBIE
EPISODE #20

TEN USEFUL PHRASES

FOR WHEN YOU FORGET
HOW TO SPEAK ITALIAN
BY ITALIAN MATTERS

© ITALIAN MATTERS LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU FREEZE WHILE SPEAKING ITALIAN?
First, let’s make something clear: it’s normal to freeze, it’s normal to forget words, and it’s normal
to not remember how to conjugate verbs! When you freeze while speaking Italian, you can pause
and use one of the phrases and questions below to keep the conversation in the Italian language,
and to avoid switching to your first language.

PHRASES AND QUESTIONS

Scusa, puoi ripetere per favore?
Pardon me, can you repeat please?

Non mi viene la parola

The word is not coming to me

Non mi viene in mente

It doesn’t come to mind

Non mi ricordo come si dice...

I can’t remember how to say...

Non ho capito, cosa significa?

I didn’t understand, what does it mean?

Non ti seguo
I’m not following you

Ho perso il filo del discorso

I lost my train of thoughts (literally: I lost the thread of the conversation)

Che cosa intendi?

What do you mean?

Un attimo, fammi pensare

One moment, let me think

Devo pensare un secondo

I have to think for one second

© ITALIAN MATTERS LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.