Free Italian audio course
Learn by copying everyday conversations.
Hear a short scene, understand the useful phrases, copy them out loud, then try your own answers in the pauses.
Episode 2
At the bar
Italian · A1 beginner · 10 minutes · No signup
Free to play, download, and read, with no account or email needed.
Voices are AI-generated. Luca, the teacher, and Sam, the learner, are fictional characters.
All episodes
Take them in order: each episode builds on the phrases before it. Every one is free to play, download, and read.
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Episode 1
A1 beginner · 9 minutes
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Episode 2
At the bar
A1 beginner · 10 minutes · Playing on this page
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Episode 3
A1 beginner · 11 minutes
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Episode 4
A1 beginner · 10 minutes
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Episode 5
A1 beginner · 10 minutes
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Italian
Episodes 1–5 out now · more coming soon
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Episodes 1–5 out now · more coming soon
How the lesson works
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1
Hear the scene
Sam orders breakfast at the counter of an Italian bar, and Luca plays the barista. First, you just listen for how many cornetti are left.
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2
Understand the useful phrases
Luca explains each phrase in English, only as much as helps your next try.
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3
Copy them out loud
Say each phrase in the pause after you hear it. Copy the sound and rhythm before worrying about grammar.
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4
Try your answers
Order from memory, swap the cappuccino for an espresso, then play the customer. A spoken answer follows every pause, so you can compare.
Missed an answer? Keep listening. The words come back, and you don’t need to touch the screen once the episode is playing.
After this episode
You can say good morning, order a drink and a pastry politely, take the last one, and say who it's for.
Level A1. Written for adult English speakers starting Italian. You don’t need any Italian to begin.
Phrases you’ll say
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Buongiorno, vorrei un cappuccino e un cornetto.
Good morning, I'd like a cappuccino and a cornetto.
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Buongiorno, vorrei un caffè e un cornetto.
Good morning, I'd like an espresso and a cornetto.
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Allora prendo quello, per favore.
Then I'll take that one, please.
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Sì. È per la mia collega.
Yes. It's for my colleague. (For a man: il mio collega.)
Phrases you’ll recognize
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Il cappuccino c'è, ma resta un solo cornetto.
There's cappuccino, but only one cornetto left.
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Al cioccolato?
The chocolate one?
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Che fortuna! Lei è molto gentile.
Lucky her! You're very kind.
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In realtà, il cappuccino è per lei.
Actually, the cappuccino is for her.
Listening with your screen off
The download is the most reliable way. Save the MP3 and play it offline in any audio app. Your browser puts it with your other downloads (on iPhone, in the Files app).
Playing from this page can keep going when you lock your phone, depending on your phone and browser. Some pause when you switch apps or close the tab. If yours does, use the download.
The speaking pauses are optional. If you’re driving, keep your attention on the road: just listen, or skip the speaking parts. The episode says the same.
Transcript
Every word of Episode 2. Choose a time to play from there. “Your turn” marks a pause for you to speak; Italian is in bold.
Welcome
Sam: Coffee, at last. Well, almost. First I have to order it.
Luca: Then let's order it properly. I'm Luca, and this is Copycat Cafe.
Sam: And I'm Sam. Also, I'm hungry.
Luca: Sam and I are AI-generated voices. Today we're at an Italian bar. In Italy, a bar is where you get coffee and a pastry in the morning. By the end, you'll be able to say good morning, order politely, and choose the last pastry on the counter. Listen first. Copy the sound. Then try the words for yourself.
Luca: If you miss an answer, let it go. You'll hear it again. If you're driving, keep your attention on the road and skip the speaking exercises.
Luca: First, a quick warm-up from last time. If you're new, just listen. Say hi, and then I'm, and your own name.
Your turn · 5-second pause
Luca: Ciao, sono Luca.
Sam: Ciao, sono Sam.
Luca: Ciao, sono, and your name. Sono means I am. Today you'll meet its cousin for it is.
At the bar
Luca: Here's the whole scene. Sam is a customer at the counter. I'm the barista. A cornetto is an Italian croissant. Just listen for one thing: how many cornetti are left?
Sam: Buongiorno, vorrei un cappuccino e un cornetto.
Luca: Il cappuccino c'è, ma resta un solo cornetto.
Sam: Allora prendo quello, per favore.
Luca: Al cioccolato?
Sam: Sì. È per la mia collega.
Luca: Che fortuna! Lei è molto gentile.
Sam: In realtà, il cappuccino è per lei.
Luca: E il cornetto è per lei?
Sam: Esatto. Adesso siamo sinceri.
Order politely
Sam: One cornetto left, and it's chocolate. I call that fate.
Luca: Just one. Un solo cornetto. Let's learn how you ordered it. Sam starts with buongiorno. Good morning. Copy it: buongiorno.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Luca: Then the polite word for ordering: vorrei. I'd like. Listen for the double r: vorrei. Copy it.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Luca: Vorrei un cappuccino. I'd like a cappuccino. Copy it: vorrei un cappuccino.
Your turn · 5-second pause
Luca: Then: e un cornetto, and a cornetto. Now the whole order, in one smooth line: buongiorno, vorrei un cappuccino e un cornetto.
Your turn · 7-second pause
Luca: Once more, nice and easy. Buongiorno, vorrei un cappuccino e un cornetto.
Your turn · 7-second pause
Change the drink
Luca: Now change the drink. In Italy, un caffè means a small espresso. Un caffè. Copy it.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Luca: Now without hearing the Italian first. Say: good morning, I'd like an espresso and a cornetto.
Your turn · 7.5-second pause
Luca: Buongiorno, vorrei un caffè e un cornetto. Same order, new drink.
Take the last one
Luca: The barista answers: il cappuccino c'è, ma resta un solo cornetto. There's cappuccino, but only one cornetto left. You don't need to say that one. Just catch un solo cornetto.
Luca: Sam decides: allora prendo quello, per favore. Then I'll take that one, please. Vorrei asks. Prendo decides: I'll take. Copy it: prendo quello.
Your turn · 4.5-second pause
Luca: Per favore. Please. Copy it: per favore.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Luca: Allora means then, or so. Now the whole line: allora prendo quello, per favore.
Your turn · 6-second pause
Who is it for?
Luca: The barista asks: al cioccolato? The chocolate one? Sam says: sì. È per la mia collega. Yes. It's for my colleague. Last time, sono meant I am. Here, è means it is. And you've met collega before: a colleague. La mia collega is a woman; for a man, it's il mio collega. Today, Sam's colleague is a woman. Copy it: è per la mia collega.
Your turn · 5.5-second pause
Luca: Once more: sì. È per la mia collega.
Your turn · 5.5-second pause
Luca: The barista is impressed: che fortuna! Lei è molto gentile. Lucky her! You're very kind. Speaking politely to a customer, the barista says lei è, you are.
Sam: And then I tell the truth.
Luca: You do. In realtà, il cappuccino è per lei. Actually, the cappuccino is for her. Same little word, but now per lei means for her. Here's a quick check. In realtà, il cappuccino è per lei. Who gets the cappuccino: Sam, or her colleague? Say it in English.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Luca: Her colleague. Then the barista asks Sam: e il cornetto è per lei? And the cornetto is for you? And Sam admits: esatto. Adesso siamo sinceri. Exactly. Now we're being honest.
Sam: A colleague gets coffee. I get chocolate. Everyone wins.
Luca: Copy just the first word: esatto. Exactly.
Your turn · 4-second pause
Your order
Luca: Let's put it together. You're the customer. I'll be the barista. Say good morning, and that you'd like a cappuccino and a cornetto.
Your turn · 7.5-second pause
Luca: Il cappuccino c'è, ma resta un solo cornetto.
Luca: Say: then I'll take that one, please.
Your turn · 6-second pause
Luca: Al cioccolato?
Luca: Say yes, it's for your colleague. She's a woman.
Your turn · 6-second pause
Luca: Che fortuna! Lei è molto gentile.
Luca: Here's one version of your part. Buongiorno, vorrei un cappuccino e un cornetto. Allora prendo quello, per favore. Sì. È per la mia collega. If you missed a step, that's fine. These gaps are for practice, not a test.
Listen again
Luca: Let's hear the original scene again. No explanations this time. Notice which bits you recognise.
Sam: Buongiorno, vorrei un cappuccino e un cornetto.
Luca: Il cappuccino c'è, ma resta un solo cornetto.
Sam: Allora prendo quello, per favore.
Luca: Al cioccolato?
Sam: Sì. È per la mia collega.
Luca: Che fortuna! Lei è molto gentile.
Sam: In realtà, il cappuccino è per lei.
Luca: E il cornetto è per lei?
Sam: Esatto. Adesso siamo sinceri.
Your turn
Luca: Now it's your morning. Sam will stay quiet. Same steps, with one change: this time you want an espresso, not a cappuccino. Say good morning, and that you'd like an espresso and a cornetto.
Your turn · 7.5-second pause
Luca: Il caffè c'è, ma resta un solo cornetto.
Luca: Say: then I'll take that one, please.
Your turn · 6-second pause
Luca: Al cioccolato?
Luca: Say yes, it's for your colleague. She's a woman.
Your turn · 6-second pause
Luca: Che fortuna! Lei è molto gentile.
Luca: Here's one version of your part: Buongiorno, vorrei un caffè e un cornetto. Allora prendo quello, per favore. Sì. È per la mia collega.
Sam: And who actually eats the cornetto stays between us.
Keep the phrases
Luca: One last line from memory. There's one cornetto left, and you want it. Say: then I'll take that one, please.
Your turn · 6-second pause
Luca: Allora prendo quello, per favore. Keep vorrei to ask for something, and prendo once you've decided. Next time, we're at a train station, asking where things are. This is the free Copycat Cafe audio course. The optional app has today's matching lesson, At the bar. A presto!
Sam: A presto! Excuse me. A chocolate cornetto needs me.
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About this episode
Episode 2 of the free Copycat Cafe Italian audio course. It’s adapted from “At the bar”, lesson 2 of our Italian course.
Luca and Sam are fictional characters with AI-generated voices. The music is original.
Want feedback on your pronunciation?
The free course gives you the phrases, the pauses, and an answer to compare with. It can’t hear you. The Copycat Cafe app is a paid app that adds a pronunciation score on every word you say, and conversations with Copy, your AI conversation partner, that respond to what you actually say. In the app, “At the bar” uses the same scene.
See how Copycat works