Concentrating on the pitfalls and difficulties inherent in colloquial usage, this reference work contains numerous Italian words and phrases in A-Z format with commentaries on their correct meanings and usages. Emphasis is placed on choosing the right word for the right occasion. Alternative vocabulary is provided with notes on register and nuance and on the differences between spoken and written forms. There is also advice on courtesy, gender and the avoidance of false friends - words which look similar to English words but mean something slightly or altogether different. Additionally, there are notes on pronunciation and the use of comparative, transitive and intransitive verbs, separable and inseparable verbs, verbal nouns and compound nouns, and special vocabulary lists for food, analogies, journalese and animal comparisons and analogies. It is aimed at all levels, students, travellers and the general reader.