Piedmontese (piemontèis) is a Romance language spoken by about two or three million people, the majority of whom live in the Italian region of Piedmont. While it is sometimes debated whether Piedmontese is a language or a dialect, its lack of mutual intelligibility with Italian and its independent growth from Latin mean that it is best classified as a language. While standard Italian has become the dominant language across Italy, Piedmontese is still widely known, especially among older people and in rural areas, and it wouldn't hurt to know some if you're travelling in the region.
;a: like f__a__ther
;e: like the beginning of the vowel in r__ay__ , sometimes like b__e__d
;ë: a schwa, like the __a__bout
;eu: the first sound of e with the upper lip rounded back
;i: like mach__i__ne
;o: like b__oo__k
;ò: like in __o__ff
;u: like French t__u__: the sound of i with the lips rounded back
;b: like in __b__oy
;c: like in __ch__eese if before an e or i , like in __c__at otherwise
;ch: like the second pronunciation of c
;cc: like the first pronunciation of c
;d: like in __d__og
;f: like in __f__un
;g: like in __j__ump if before an e or i , like in pen__gu__in otherwise
;gh: like the second pronunciation of g
;gg: like the first pronunciaton of g
;gli: like in mi__ll__ion
;gn: like in ca__ny__on
;j: like in hallelu__j__ah
;k: like in __k__ing
;l: somewhat like __l__amb
;m: like in __m__other
;n: like in n__ight , like in si__ng before consonants and at the ends of words
;nn: like the first pronunciation of n
;p: like in __p__ort
;q: like English q
;r: trilled r
;s: like in __s__ong , like in bu__s__y between vowels, after consonants, and at word endings , sometimes like in pre__ss__ure . The first pronunciation is always used before c or cc. The second is always used before g or gg.
;ss: like the first pronunciation of s
;sc: like in __sc__an , sometimes like que__sti__on
;t: like in __t__ap
;v: like in __v__an , sometimes between v and w
;z: like in z__oom , sometimes like in da__ds
Common signs
; OPEN : uvert or duvert ; CLOSED : cius ; ENTRANCE : ingress ; EXIT : sboch ; PUSH : possé ; PULL : tiré ; TOILET : toaleta ; MEN : ; WOMEN : ; FORBIDDEN : proibì
; Hello. : Cerea. (cher-eeah) ; Hello. (informal) : . () ; How are you? : Com a l'é? (cohm-a-lay) ; Fine, thank you. : A va bin grassie/mersì' (ah va been grasshieh/mersshi) ; And you? : E ti? (eh tea) ; What's your name? : Com it ciamës-to? (Com-it cham-us toe) Com it ës-ciame? (Com-it us-cham-eh) ; My name is... : Mi im ës-ciamo (Me im us cha-mo) ; Nice to meet you. : . () ; Please. : . () ; Thank you. : Mersi. (Mer-sshi) ; Thank you very much. : Bombin ëd grassie. (Bomb-bin uhd grasshieh) ; You're welcome. : Figurte. (Figur-tay) ; Yes. : . () ; No. : . () ; Excuse me. (getting attention) : . () ; Excuse me. (begging pardon) : . () ; I'm sorry. : . () ; Goodbye. : Arvëdse. (Ar-vuhd-seh) ; Goodbye (informal) : . () ; I can't speak Piedmontese [well]. : [ ]. ([ ]) ; Do you speak English? : Parlës-to anglèis? (Par-lus toe ang-lays) ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : ? (?) ; Help! : ! (!) ; Look out! : ! (!) ; Good Morning. : Bondì. (bawn-dee) ; Good evening. : Bon-a sèira. (bohn-ah shy-i-rah) ; Good night. : . () ; Good night (to sleep) : . () ; I don't understand. : . () ; Where is the toilet? : ? (?)
; Leave me alone. : . (.) ; Don't touch me! : ! (!) ; I'll call the police. : . (.) ; Police! : ! (!) ; Stop! Thief! : ! ! (! !) ; I need your help. : . (.) ; It's an emergency. : . (.) ; I'm lost. : . (.) ; I lost my bag. : . (.) ; I lost my wallet. : . (.) ; I'm sick. : . (.) ; I've been injured. : . (.) ; I need a doctor. : . (.) ; Can I use your phone? : ? (?)
; 1 : () ; 2 : () ; 3 : () ; 4 : () ; 5 : () ; 6 : () ; 7 : () ; 8 : () ; 9 : () ; 10 : () ; 11 : () ; 12 : () ; 13 : () ; 14 : () ; 15 : () ; 16 : () ; 17 : () ; 18 : () ; 19 : () ; 20 : () ; 21 : () ; 22 : () ; 23 : () ; 30 : () ; 40 : () ; 50 : () ; 60 : () ; 70 : () ; 80 : () ; 90 : () ; 100 : () ; 200 : () ; 300 : () ; 1,000 : () ; 2,000 : () ; 1,000,000 : () ; 1,000,000,000 : () ; 1,000,000,000,000 : () ; number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : () ; half : () ; less : () ; more : ()
; now : () ; later : () ; before : () ; morning : () ; afternoon : () ; evening : () ; night : (__)
; one o'clock AM : () ; two o'clock AM : () ; noon : () ; one o'clock PM : () ; two o'clock PM : () ; midnight : ()
; _____ minute(s) : () ; _____ hour(s) : () ; _____ day(s) : () ; _____ week(s) : () ; _____ month(s) : () ; _____ year(s) : ()
; today : () ; yesterday : () ; tomorrow : () ; this week : () ; last week : () ; next week : ()
; Sunday : () ; Monday : () ; Tuesday : () ; Wednesday : () ; Thursday : () ; Friday : () ; Saturday : (__)
; January : () ; February : () ; March : () ; April : () ; May : () ; June : () ; July : () ; August : () ; September : () ; October : () ; November : () ; December : ()
; black : () ; white : () ; gray : () ; red : () ; blue : () ; yellow : () ; green : () ; orange : () ; purple : () ; brown : ()
; How much is a ticket to ___? : () ; One ticket to _, please. : () ; Where does this train/bus go? : () ; Where is the train/bus to ___? : () ; Does this train/bus stop in _? : () ; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : () ; When will this train/bus arrive in ___? : ()
; How do I get to _____ ? : () ; ...the train station? : () ; ...the bus station? : () ; ...the airport? : () ; ...downtown? : () ; ...the youth hostel? : () ; ...the _____ hotel? : () ; ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : () ; Where are there a lot of... : () ; ...hotels? : () ; ...restaurants? : () ; ...bars? : () ; ...sites to see? : () ; Can you show me on the map? : () ; street : () ; Turn left. : () ; Turn right. : () ; left : () ; right : () ; straight ahead : () ; towards the _____ : () ; past the _____ : () ; before the _____ : () ; Watch for the _. : () ; intersection : () ; north : () ; south : () ; east : () ; west : () ; uphill : () ; downhill : (__)
; Taxi! : (__) ; Take me to ___, please. : () ; How much does it cost to get to _? : () ; Take me there, please. : ()
; Do you have any rooms available? : () ; How much is a room for one person/two people? : () ; Does the room come with... : () ; ...bedsheets? : () ; ...a bathroom? : () ; ...a telephone? : () ; ...a TV? : () ; May I see the room first? : () ; Do you have anything quieter? : () ; ...bigger? : () ; ...cleaner? : () ; ...cheaper? : () ; OK, I'll take it. : () ; I will stay for _____ night(s). : () ; Can you suggest another hotel? : () ; Do you have a safe? : () ; ...lockers? : () ; Is breakfast/supper included? : () ; What time is breakfast/supper? : () ; Please clean my room. : () ; Can you wake me at _? : () ; I want to check out. : ()
; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : () ; Do you accept British pounds? : () ; Do you accept euros? : () ; Do you accept credit cards? : () ; Can you change money for me? : () ; Where can I get money changed? : () ; Can you change a traveler's check for me? : () ; Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : () ; What is the exchange rate? : () ; Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ()
; A table for one person/two people, please. : () ; Can I look at the menu, please? : () ; Can I look in the kitchen? : () ; Is there a house specialty? : () ; Is there a local specialty? : () ; I'm a vegetarian. : () ; I don't eat pork. : () ; I don't eat beef. : () ; I only eat kosher food. : () ; Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : () ; fixed-price meal : () ; a la carte : () ; breakfast : () ; lunch : () ; tea (meal) : () ; supper : () ; I want _. : () ; I want a dish containing _. : () ; chicken : () ; beef : () ; fish : () ; ham : () ; sausage : () ; cheese : () ; eggs : () ; salad : () ; (fresh) vegetables : () ; (fresh) fruit : () ; bread : () ; toast : () ; noodles : () ; rice : () ; beans : () ; May I have a glass of _? : () ; May I have a cup of _? : () ; May I have a bottle of _? : () ; coffee : () ; tea (drink) : () ; juice : () ; (bubbly) water : () ; (still) water : () ; beer : () ; red/white wine : () ; May I have some _? : () ; salt : () ; black pepper : () ; butter : () ; Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): () ; I'm finished. : () ; It was delicious. : () ; Please clear the plates. : () ; The check, please. : ()
; Do you serve alcohol? : () ; Is there table service? : () ; A beer/two beers, please. : () ; A glass of red/white wine, please. : () ; A pint, please. : () ; A bottle, please. : () ; _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : () ; whiskey : () ; vodka : () ; rum : () ; water : () ; club soda : () ; tonic water : () ; orange juice : () ; Coke (soda) : () ; Do you have any bar snacks? : () ; One more, please. : () ; Another round, please. : () ; When is closing time? : () ; Cheers! : ()
; Do you have this in my size? : () ; How much is this? : () ; That's too expensive. : () ; Would you take _? : () ; expensive : () ; cheap : () ; I can't afford it. : () ; I don't want it. : () ; You're cheating me. : () ; I'm not interested. : (..) ; OK, I'll take it. : () ; Can I have a bag? : () ; Do you ship (overseas)? : () ; I need... : () ; ...toothpaste. : () ; ...a toothbrush. : () ; ...tampons. : . () ; ...soap. : () ; ...shampoo. : () ; ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : () ; ...cold medicine. : () ; ...stomach medicine. : ... () ; ...a razor. : () ; ...an umbrella. : () ; ...sunblock lotion. : () ; ...a postcard. : () ; ...postage stamps. : () ; ...batteries. : () ; ...writing paper. : () ; ...a pen. : () ; ...English-language books. : () ; ...English-language magazines. : () ; ...an English-language newspaper. : () ; ...an English-English dictionary. : (__)
; I want to rent a car. : () ; Can I get insurance? : () ; stop (on a street sign) : () ; one way : () ; yield : () ; no parking : () ; speed limit : () ; gas (petrol) station : () ; petrol : () ; diesel : ()
; I haven't done anything wrong. : () ; It was a misunderstanding. : () ; Where are you taking me? : () ; Am I under arrest? : () ; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : () ; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : () ; I want to talk to a lawyer. : () ; Can I just pay a fine now? : ()