Since so many of us need to at least read and write basic Italian, I've posted a few sites which I have found helpful for the study of Italian and/or translating.

Word Reference Dictionary and Verb Conjugator

Basic Italian Grammar

Interactive Italian Lessons

Italian Grammar, Vocabulary and Phrase Builder

Pronunciation Practice

Italian Language Activities

Biff

Excellent resources, Biff! I love that verb conjugator. That already helped me with some of my questions in my other post. I was not sure if abitare gets essere or avere in the past perfect tense but it looks like it is avere.

Biff thank you so much for that impressive list of links to help with understanding the Italian language.

I have a feeling that it will be used quite a lot and is going to be very, very useful. For that reason I've classified it as a 'Sticky' so it will stay at the TOP of this thread and people will be able to find and access it with ease.

Complimenti e grazie mille!

Carole,
Thanks for making this topic a Sticky. When I find any other useful links, I'll edit my original post to add them. After using the online translation programs for a while, it became pretty obvious that the only way I was going to read and write Italian was by studying the language.

Un abbraccio,
Biff

I don't remember who suggested them for the first time, however the following links are also useful:

Rosetta Stone

Italian to English Vocabulary (Help with family history documents)

I found this web page about Italian mail abbreviations and I already posted it on Amici Over the Ocean in the Italian Language forum.
I don't remember if it has alredy been posted here, but anyway... here's the link: Abbreviazioni Italiane.
I think it's interesting and helpful.

www.oddcast.com/demos/...hp?clients

This one is useful in a different way. You key in the Italian word you want to hear in Italian, select Italian, and the little people there say it for you in Italian. Try it..... try surnames, comunes, anything. What do you think?

Donna

Biff and Donna - these sites are awesome! Thanks for sharing...very helpful, not only for research but also for the early Italian student like me!

Michelle