Rick Steves' French, Italian, and German Phrase Book and Dictionary

by Rick Steves

From ordering cafe au lait in Paris, calamari in Venice, or bratwurst in Munich, it helps to speak some of the native tongue. Rick Steves, bestselling author of travel guides to Europe, offers well-tested phrases and key words to cover every situation a traveler is likely to encounter. This handy guide provides key phrases for use in everyday circumstances, complete with phonetic spelling; an English-French/Italian/German dictionary; the latest information on European currency and rail transportation, and even a tear-out cheat sheet for continued language practice. Informative, concise, and practical, Rick Steves' French, Italian and German Phrase Book and Dictionary is an essential item for any traveler's backpack.

Genres: Travel, Reference, Nonfiction, Language, Linguistics

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1995

About the author

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.

Reviews

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect traveler's word and phrase book. As is always the case with RS's books, contains all the important and useful translations, and some silly ones as well. Emphasizes communication in real social situations (no useless translations for, "Where is the giraffe?") Well organized, small and easy to carry.

[Brandi Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

My boyfriend and I spent 3 weeks in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland with this book, and we were fine. Certainly not fluent, but we were able to communicate well enough. It was a good size and well-organized as well.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have when traveling several European countries.