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Coffee Break Italian

Coffee Break Italian

Coffee Break Languages 215 Episodes Aug 22, 2026

Coffee Break Italian is a language learning podcast that teaches Italian in short, 15-minute lessons. In Season 1, teacher Mark, learner Katie, and native speaker Francesca guide beginners from scratch. Season 2 features Mark, Francesca, and learner Isla for more advanced content. The podcast is part of the Coffee Break Languages series, designed for convenient learning on the go.

Episodes

The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2026
The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2026 Aug 22, 2026 3:05 Four mystery cities. Four cryptic clues. One week to work out where we're going.The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt is back for 2026, and everything happens here: https://coffeebreaklanguages.com/treasurehuntEach clue is a short poem describing a European city without ever naming it. Every clue is written from scratch in French, Italian, German and Spanish by the team who teach it, so it rhymes a
The many meanings of the Italian verb 'fare'
The many meanings of the Italian verb 'fare' Aug 17, 2026 7:44 The verb 'fare' means "to do" or "to make", but it does far more work than that in Italian. In this episode, Francesca goes through seven common set phrases built on 'fare' where the natural English translation is a completely different verb, from talking about the weather to packing a suitcase, taking a photo and asking a question. Learn these and a lot of everyday Italian falls into place.➡️ Cli
English words Italians use every day
English words Italians use every day Aug 3, 2026 7:40 Francesca takes a tour through the English words that have quietly become part of everyday Italian, from ordering food to talking about work, music, sport and travel. You'll hear just how naturally these words slot into Italian conversation, and pick up some handy vocabulary along the way.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Want more tips like these delivered straight to yo
The right Italian word for every situation, from 'permesso' to 'prego'
The right Italian word for every situation, from 'permesso' to 'prego' Jul 20, 2026 10:19 Some Italian words only make sense once you know exactly when to use them. In this episode, Francesca goes through the words you need for specific everyday situations, from "permesso" at the door to "pronto" on the phone, and the many meanings hiding inside "prego". In this episode you'll find some new words, and a few extra examples beyond what's in the video.➡️ Click here to watch the video vers
10 Italian food idioms and what they really mean
10 Italian food idioms and what they really mean Jul 6, 2026 10:06 Italian is full of idioms that are borrowed from the kitchen, and once you spot them you'll notice them everywhere. In this episode Francesca takes you through 10 everyday food idioms, from someone who's "like parsley" and turns up everywhere to the moment an omelette is already made and the damage is done. She explains what each one really means and the kind of situation where it fits, then round
5 things you didn't know about the verb 'potere' in Italian
5 things you didn't know about the verb 'potere' in Italian Jun 22, 2026 8:28 You probably already know that 'potere' means "can" or "to be able to", but there's more to this everyday Italian verb than meets the eye. In this episode, Francesca shares five things you might not know about 'potere', from using the conditional to sound more polite to meeting 'potere' as a noun, and she helps you tell it apart from 'riuscire' and 'sapere'. It completes her little series on the m
Italian pasta names: a pronunciation guide
Italian pasta names: a pronunciation guide Jun 8, 2026 9:04 Pasta is the perfect way to practise some of Italian's trickiest sounds. In this episode, Francesca works through pasta names to help you get those gn, gl, ch and gh sounds right, with a few tasty facts thrown in along the way.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Get free mini-lessons and language tips every week by signing up to our newsletter: https://coffeebreaklanguages.
5 things you didn't know about the verb 'volere' in Italian
5 things you didn't know about the verb 'volere' in Italian May 25, 2026 7:02 You probably already know that volere means "to want", but there are still a few secrets hiding in this everyday verb. In this episode, Francesca shares five interesting things to know about volere, from the tricky 'gl' sound and using it as a noun to choosing between ho voluto and volevo in the past. How many of them are new to you?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Want
Allora, dai, boh: 5 Italian words you'll hear every day
Allora, dai, boh: 5 Italian words you'll hear every day May 11, 2026 8:29 Francesca walks you through five tiny Italian words that come up in real conversations all the time: "allora", "dai", "boh", "figurati" and "magari". Each one carries a lot of meaning, and learning to use them naturally is one of the fastest ways to sound more Italian. Which one will you start using first?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ To receive regular free mini-less
5 things you didn't know about the verb 'dovere' in Italian
5 things you didn't know about the verb 'dovere' in Italian Apr 27, 2026 6:57 Francesca goes beyond the textbook meaning of "dovere" and explores five nuances of this everyday Italian verb. You'll look at double conjugations, two different auxiliaries in the past tense, the less familiar meaning of "to owe", and the noun "il dovere". How many of these did you already know?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Love learning in short bursts? Our free wee
5 small changes to improve your Italian
5 small changes to improve your Italian Apr 13, 2026 9:00 Francesca walks you through five common mistakes that are easy to fix but make a real difference to how natural your Italian sounds. From choosing between "favorito" and "preferito" to understanding why Italians say "mi lavo i denti", these are practical changes you can start using straight away.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Want more tips like these delivered straigh
Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 10: Chiuso per ferie
Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 10: Chiuso per ferie Mar 25, 2026 24:48 Welcome back to il Caffè di Tullio - our charming Italian café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling.In Chiuso per ferie, Lorenzo's exhaustion from a busy summer leads to a well-deserved, but u

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