Italian Pocket Dictionaries

In this post, we are going to recommend you the best Italian pocket dictionaries that you can carry up in down with you in your pocket or purse. When a little boy is learning how to swim, he is usually given a swimming board. And if he is very nervous, and is afraid of the water, he is given a life saver. A little boy, when he is learning to walk, he is given a baby walker. I have seen little babies that can not give a step without falling, but with a baby walker, they can run all over the house.

A child will not use a baby walker forever. And an adult would look very funny bathing in a pool with life savers all around him. These aids are always necessary at the beginning. Later on, you could find your way around them and only use them in specific occasions.

When you are learning a new language, you do not have at hand all the vocabulary and expressions you would like to use. And there is nothing more frustrating than to have the words at the tip of your mouth but without being able to say them.

If you are planning to take a trip where you will have to use Italian, and you are still in the initial stages of learning, it would become very handy to have a pocket dictionary with you.

Even if you are not planning to test your newly acquired Italian skills by traveling, but you are constantly practicing the language, it is always good to have your pocket dictionary around.

Here is a list of the four most useful Pocket Dictionaries out there. You could not go wrong with any of these. Check them out:

1.) Barron’s Italian-English Pocket Dictionary: it’s a good basic dictionary. It’s nicely organized and it’s quite handy. It’s size is 3.9 x 1.6 x 6.1 inches. This Dictionary contains approximately 70,000 words, in two separated sections. It uses American English. New words for computers, the Internet, and information technology have been incorporated. A lot of technical words are excluded. It also includes a free downloadable bilingual electronic dictionary available for PC or MAC. I think the Dictionary is a bit heavy to be a pocket book (12.6 ounces). To take a look at this Dictionary in Amazon, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

2.) Langenscheidt Pocket Dictionary Italian: Italian-English /English-Italian: It’s easy to pack and very useful. It’s size is 4.1 x 1 x 5.9 inches. Idioms and idiomatic expressions are included. I like the vinyl cover (which makes it extremely durable) and the 48-page activity section. It has more than 45,000 references. It includes a lot of new words and colloquialisms. It weighs 10.4 ounces. The Italian section doesn’t have phonetic symbols either stress indicators. The English section does have phonetic symbols. To take a look at this Dictionary in Amazon, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

3.) Berlitz Italian Pocket Dictionary: it’s very helpful. This is a nice, small dictionary. It fits just fine in a purse. It’s the smallest of all these four dictionaries presented in this post and it’s size is 3.1 x 1 x 4.2 inches. It weighs only 5.6 ounces. The Italian section doesn’t have phonetic symbols but the English section does. The letters are the perfect font size (easy to read). It doesn’t explain the different word choices.  To take a look at this Dictionary in Amazon, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

4.) Larousse Pocket Dictionary: Italian-English /English-Italian: this one has just about everything. It really is an excellent dictionary, although it’s quite big. Some people consider it’s too big to be a pocket dictionary but I think it’s still fine. Maybe it’s name should be changed to Larousse Backpack Dictionary because it fits better in a backpack than in your pocket. 🙂 It’s the biggest dictionary in this group of four mentioned in this post, and it’s size is 4.2 x 1.4 x 7 inches. It also is the heaviest in the group, weighing 14.4 ounces. It has a hardcover. It includes some verb tables and some other charts for numbers, months, and a lot of useful material for people who are beginning to learn Italian. To take a look at this Dictionary in Amazon, click here.

 

 

 

If you have used any of these dictionaries please share your experience with us. If you have a comment or a question about them, please leave it in the box below. If you have a Pocket Dictionary that isn’t listed here and you think it should be also included, please tell us in the comment box.