Cena alla pizzeria
Marco prenota un tavolo, chiede consigli educati alla cameriera e assapora una margherita calda senza distrarsi dal telefono.
- Length
- 123 words
- Reading time
- ~1 min
- Vocabulary
- 9 terms
- Comprehension
- 3 questions
Pre-Reading Vocabulary
Review these key words and phrasing examples before you begin reading.
Your Italian story — tap highlighted words when you need help
Marco chiama la pizzeria del quartiere, il profumo di pomodoro e basilico già nella sua mente, e chiede gentilmente se può prenotare un tavolo tranquillo vicino alla finestra per le otto meno un quarto. La voce dalla , calda come il , risponde che la pizza sarà pronta pochi minuti dopo il loro arrivo. Quando entrano, ringraziano la sorridente che li accompagna al tavolo e ordinano subito acqua naturale e una birra piccola da dividere. Marco legge con attenzione le note sul che descrivono la farina integrale e il che l'oste utilizza ogni giorno. Appena arriva la pizza fumante, la tagliano a metà con il coltello e la gustano lentamente, assaporando ogni morso senza distrarsi con il telefono.
Show full English translation
Marco calls the neighborhood pizzeria, already imagining the aroma of tomatoes and basil, and politely asks if he can reserve a quiet table by the window for quarter to eight. The voice on the line, warm like the oven, replies that the margherita pizza will be ready just minutes after they arrive. When they enter, they thank the smiling waitress who leads them to their table and promptly order still water and a small beer to share. Marco attentively reads the menu notes describing the whole-grain flour and sourdough starter the owner uses daily. As soon as the steaming pizza arrives, they cut it in half with a knife and savor each bite slowly, without getting distracted by their phones.
Vocabulary recap
Reading Comprehension Exercise
A2 Italian Reading Comprehension Exercises
1. Cosa chiede Marco al telefono?
Correct: Se può prenotare un tavolo tranquillo vicino alla finestra
Marco vuole un tavolo tranquillo vicino alla finestra, mostrando il suo desiderio di un'esperienza rilassante.
2. Cosa ordinano da bere all'inizio?
Correct: Acqua naturale e una birra piccola da dividere
Ordinano acqua naturale e una birra piccola, una scelta classica per accompagnare la pizza.
3. Come mangiano la pizza quando arriva?
Correct: La tagliano a metà e la gustano senza guardare il telefono
Apprezzano la pizza senza distrazioni, mostrando un momento di connessione e piacere semplice.
Enjoyed this story?
Patterns to reuse
Polite ways to ask for something
chiede gentilmente se può prenotare un tavolo tranquillo
he politely asks if he can reserve a quiet table
In Italian, 'se può' introduces polite requests.
chiedere se può + infinitive
- chiedere se può portare il menù
- chiedere se può consigliare una pizza
- chiedere se può prenotare un tavolo
Use 'chiedere se può...' to politely ask if something can be done.
Ordering drinks with 'e' (and)
ordinano subito acqua naturale e una birra piccola da dividere
they promptly order still water and a small beer to share
ordinare [drink 1] e [drink 2]
- ordinare una cola e un caffè
- ordinare tè caldo e succo d'arancia
- ordinare acqua frizzante e vino rosso
You can link two items with 'e' to order them together.
Expressing actions 'as soon as' something happens
Appena arriva la pizza fumante, la tagliano a metà
As soon as the steaming pizza arrives, they cut it in half
Italian uses 'appena' plus the present for 'as soon as'.
appena [present tense action], [main action]
'Appena' signals that one thing happens immediately after another.
Talking about sharing food or drinks
una birra piccola da dividere
a small beer to share
[food/drink] da dividere
- una pizza da dividere
- un dolce da dividere
- un antipasto da dividere
'Da dividere' means 'to share'; use it to suggest splitting something.
Translator's Note
"This story captures the essence of Italian dining culture, emphasizing the importance of savoring food and moments without distractions."
Practice in the app
Hear it. Repeat it. Remember it.
You already have studio narration here. Open MeloLingua to shadow-read line by line, get pronunciation feedback, and turn new words into flashcards.
One story. The whole practice loop.
Reading this story for free is just the first rep. The MeloLingua app turns the same story into a full practice loop — understand every word, speak it back, build sentences, and keep stories coming that match what you actually care about.
Read with support
Understand vocabulary
Listen
Speak
Practice what you learned
Remember vocabulary
Personalized learning
Daily progress
Result
Make stories about your life
Most language apps hand everyone the same content. MeloLingua lets you create stories around the things you actually enjoy — so staying consistent stops feeling like homework.
- “I love space and cooking”Your story
A chef opens the first restaurant on Mars.
- “I like football and history”Your story
A young striker time-travels to play the legendary teams.
- “I enjoy surfing and travel”Your story
A surfer hunts secret waves across the world.
- “I like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and sci-fi”Your story
An astronaut enters the first intergalactic grappling tournament.
Read it. Listen to it. Speak it back. The more it sounds like your world, the easier it is to keep going.
Generate your first storyKeep practicing
Related Italian Stories
Domenica al parco
Matteo e Lucia camminano con Leo vicino al laghetto, condividono una mela in panchina e progettano un picnic quando il tempo regge.
Open story →
Il colloquio di lavoro
Elena walks HR through two shipped projects, answers remote-team cadence without buzzwords, and names a salary band after one composed breath.
Open story →
Il Corso di Cucina
Marco joins a cooking class and discovers that culinary mishaps can lead to delightful surprises.
Open story →