A conversation in Italian is full of little reactions: Che bello!, Davvero?, Che peccato! This lesson gives you the ones you'll use most, and how to pay a compliment.
Signor Greco tells Karen that his daughter lives in New York. Karen answers Davvero? Che bello! What is she saying?
Really? How nice! Davvero? shows surprise and interest; Che bello! shows she's pleased.
The main idea
Reactions
Che is keh: ch before e or i sounds like k. peccato is pek-KA-to; davvero is dav-VEH-ro. Complimenti! looks like compliments, but it means well done! or congratulations!: say it for something someone did, like a great meal to the cook, not for a view or a building.
Compliments
-issimo makes an adjective stronger: buono becomes buonissimo, really good; bello becomes bellissimo. The stress falls on -is-: bel-LEES-see-mo, bwo-NEES-see-mo. The ending follows the noun: La città è bellissima., Il mare è bellissimo.
Signor Greco shows Karen around:
Quick check
Karen hears that the museum is closed today. What does she say?
Bad news: Che peccato!, what a shame.
Use -issima: The pizza is really good!
buona + -issima for a feminine noun: buonissima.
Signor Greco says he has been to Ohio. Karen is surprised. What does she say?
Davvero?: really?
Karen sees the sea from a terrace in Otranto, near Lecce. React with a compliment.
Che and an adjective or a noun, or -issimo.
Take with you
Che + a word, and -issimo when you mean it: that's how Italians react.