We use the imperative form of verbs to give commands. We use it in circumstances such as getting someone's attention. Even when you are saying mi scusi or scusa (excuse me), you are using the imperative form. On any conjugation chart, you will find the imperative form for a verb, where applicable. For example, the verb andare (to go).
Vai! Va' (imperative form, familiar second person singular). Go!
Vada! (imperative formal second person singular). Go!
Andate! (imperative informal second person plural). Go!
Vadano (imperative formal second person plural) Go!
Andiamo! (first person plural imperative). Let's go.
Vai via, non seguirmi più.
Go away, don't follow me anymore.
Caption 48, Non è mai troppo tardi EP 2 - Part 7
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But there is another common way to form an imperative in certain circumstances. When a command is directed at the public in general, not a specific person, the infinitive is often used. For example, we'll hear the infinitive in a command at a train station:
Attenzione. Allontanarsi dalla linea gialla.
Attention please. Step back from the yellow line.
Caption 7, Sposami EP 2 - Part 26
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In navigating instructions:
Tenere la destra, tenere la sinistra.
Bear right, bear left.
Caption 22, Stai lontana da me Rai Cinema - Part 16
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Instructions for staying safe during Covid-19.
Lavarsi bene le mani con sapone, per almeno venti secondi
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap, for at least twenty seconds,
Caption 54, COVID-19 Domande frequenti - Part 2
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Putting someone on hold.
Attendere, prego.
Wait, please.
Caption 3, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP3 Vicini - Part 6
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The infinitive is also used for negative informal commands in the second-person singular. So to form a negative command, instead of using non with the conjugated verb, we use non with the infinitive of the verb.
non andare
No, aspetta, aspetta, Lara. Aspetta. Non andare.
No, wait, wait, Lara. Wait. Don't go.
Captions 7-8, Il Commissario Manara S2EP4 - Miss Maremma - Part 1
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non fare così
Avanti, dai, Tiziana, non fare così. Vieni qua.
Come on, please, Tiziana, don't be like this. Come here.
Caption 25, Il Commissario Manara S2EP9 - L'amica ritrovata - Part 7
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non piangere
Dai, dai, non piangere più, calmati un po'.
Come on, come on, stop crying, calm down a little.
Caption 64, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP1 I Bastardi - Part 4
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non mi lasciare!
Amore, non mi lasciare.
Love, don't leave me.
Caption 74, Sposami EP 2 - Part 18
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non fare lo scemo
Ma non fare lo scemo, dai!
But don't be an idiot, come on!
Caption 27, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 1 EP3 Un cugino in fuga - Part 8
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And when the command is negative and addressed to the general public, the same holds true. Non plus the infinitive.
Non calpestare l'erba (don't walk on the grass).
Non attraversare col rosso (don't cross with a red light).
Think of some commands such as: parla (speak)! And then make it negative: non parlare (don't speak).
Verbs to try: If you're not sure of the right conjugation, look it up in WordReference.
aspettare (to wait), dormire (to sleep), correre (to run), rallentare (to slow down), guardare (to look), etc.
We all struggle with lots of things in different ways. In Italian, there's a combination of two words we commonly use for this: fare fatica. Literally, it's "to make effort or exertion." It can mean "to make an effort," but "to struggle" is closer to the idea. Lots of times you make an effort because you are trying hard, and that's when we can use impegnarsi (to make an effort). It's easy to get confused.
Let's look at some examples from Yabla videos of fare fatica. In our first example, the meaning is literal. The speaker has Covid-19!
Faccio fatica ad alzarmi dal letto.
I have a hard time getting out of bed.
Caption 15, Fuori era primavera Viaggio nell'Italia del lockdown - Part 4
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The meaning can be mental, too.
Fai anche fatica a trovare anche [sic] lavoro.
You also struggle to find work, too.
Caption 17, Benvenuti in Galera Bollate, Milano - Part 17
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When you are trying to understand someone, but you fail or almost, you can say.
Faccio fatica a capire il tuo inglese. Parliamo italiano (I'm having a hard time understanding your English. Let's speak Italian).
When you exert yourself, you can also use the verb faticare (to toil, to labor).
So you could also say,
Fatico a capire il tuo inglese (I struggle to understand your English).
Il bisnonno credo che lavorasse sulle navi ospedale, durante la guerra, e loro avevano un orto a Procida per cui campavano delle cose dell'orto e hanno faticato sempre a mettere insieme il pranzo.
I think her great-grandfather worked on hospital ships, during the war, and they had a vegetable garden in Procida so they lived on things from the vegetable garden and they always struggled to pull lunch together.
Captions 7-10, Vera e Giuliano Montaldo - Part 5
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When you are just trying hard or working hard, then the reflexive verb impegnarsi works well.
Hai visto che quando ti impegni le cose le sai fare?
You see that when you make an effort, you are able to do things?
Caption 10, Sposami EP 2 - Part 17
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Impegnarsi can also mean to commit, such as when you promise to do something.
La ditta Soleri si era impegnata a comprarlo, per almeno cinque anni.
The Soleri company had committed to buying it, for at least five years.
Caption 15, Il Commissario Manara S2EP6 - Sotto tiro - Part 3
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When we use impegno as a noun, it can mean a commitment, as something you have committed to doing, or it can mean you have a prior commitment, such as an appointment or errand.
No, domani avrei un impegno.
No, tomorrow, I have a commitment.
Caption 54, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP 4 Maltempo - Part 6
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As in any language, there are different ways to say the same thing, or something similar. Keep your eyes and ears open so you can expand your vocabulary, and choose just the right word when the time comes.
When we talk about learning a language, we use the word fluency or fluent in English, but finding the right Italian word for this can be tricky. Fluency is all about speaking a "foreign" language with ease and confidence.
Let's look at the dictionary definitions or translations. The dictionary translation of "fluency" is fluidità, and "fluent" is fluido. Both words come from the Latin "fluere" or fluire (to flow) in Italian. And let's keep in mind that we also have "fluidity" and "fluid" in English.
Così ho una conversazione più fluida, senza ripetizioni di parole, OK? -Sì.
That way I have a more fluid conversation, without the repetition of words, OK? -Yes.
Captions 26-27, Corso di italiano con Daniela Pronomi oggetto diretto - Part 2
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In Italian, fluido can describe someone's way of speaking, but there are other words, too.
One great Italian word that can describe someone's degree of ease in speaking a different language is: con scioltezza (with ease, with fluency).
Più sciolto, dai!
More relaxed, come on!
Caption 10, L'oro di Scampia film - Part 2
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An interesting adverb to describe how someone speaks is correntemente (fluently, with ease).
Sì, piccione poliglotta, per quanto possa sembrare assurda questa cosa, pare che sia stato avvistato un piccione che è capace di parlare cinque, sei lingue, correntemente.
Yes, a polyglot pigeon, as absurd as this thing may seem, it appears that a pigeon was sighted that is capable of speaking five, six languages fluently.
Captions 26-28, Anna e Marika in TG Yabla Italia e Meteo - Part 4
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Correntemente should not be confused with correttamente (correctly), which refers to someone speaking with correct grammar.
Il nostro amico si chiede che consigli puoi dare a chi vuole imparare l'italiano e parlarlo correttamente.
Our friend asks himself what advice you can give to someone who wants to learn Italian and speak it correctly.
Captions 54-56, Adriano Risposte agli amici di Yabla
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Another word for fluido is scorrevole, from the verb scorrere (to flow). And of course, we notice the S prefix! Scorrere is related to correre (to run, to flow) so you might want to check out this lesson.
In the following example, the use of scorrere is metaphorical. The speaker is from L'Accademia della Crusca, an important linguistic institution based in Florence (see this lesson). He is talking about the changing Italian language (ever flowing and changing). The Accademia watches the language evolve and tries to document it, understand it, and share the knowledge gained.
Noi non miriamo a raccogliere un materiale immobile. Noi contempliamo un fiume che scorre e ci limitiamo a sorvegliare che non vada al di là degli argini.
We don't aim to gather immobile material. We contemplate a river that flows, and we limit ourselves to making sure that it doesn't overflow its banks.
Captions 40-42, Me Ne Frego Il Fascismo e la lingua italiana - Part 14
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Mia figlia parla italiano in modo scorrevole, cioè con scioltezza, anche se non è madre lingua.
My daughter speaks Italian fluently, in other words, with ease, even though she's not a native speaker.
Some of the words described above have other meanings as well, so it's good to be mindful of the context! Thanks for reading!
Prendere la palla al balzo. Let's look at this common Italian expression, which could do with a bit of explaining. First, the individual words: Prendere is a verb meaning "to take" or "to catch." La palla is "the ball" (implying a ball used in sports, such as basketball or tennis). Al balzo means "on the bounce" or "as it bounces up." We can visualize someone who bounces the ball, and you catch it as it comes up from the ground or floor.
The expression is used in casual and semi-formal speech, often to describe the action of reacting quickly to an advantageous opportunity. It's similar to "seizing the moment" or "seizing the day," common translations of the Latin phrase "carpe diem." In other words, when chance comes your way, go for it.
In our first example, Imma only uses the first part of the expression, and omits the "ball" metaphor while retaining the "bounce," or "rebound" metaphor.
Ma Vaccaro prende al balzo l'idea e decide che il ricatto lo farà lui.
But Vaccaro grabs the idea on the rebound and decides that he's the one who will blackmail him.
Captions 30-31, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP1 L'estate del dito - Part 27
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Another version of this Italian expression is cogliere la palla al balzo. All that changes is the verb, from prendere (to take, to catch) to cogliere (to seize, to grab).
Quello non è per colpa mia. Però hai colto la palla al balzo.
That wasn't my fault. However, you seized the opportunity.
Captions 38-39, Il Commissario Manara S2EP12 - La donna senza volto - Part 15
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Let's look at other related words with the same root balz-
The verb balzare means "to jump" or "to leap," or, in the case of a ball, "to bounce."
A closely connected verb is rimbalzare (to bounce, to ricochet).
Here, we have an example of 2 verbs (in the passato remoto) rimbalzare and balzare.
La palla rimbalzò a terra, balzò in alto e cadde in uno stagno.
The ball bounced on the ground, bounced up and fell into a pond.
Caption 7, Ti racconto una fiaba Il Principe Ranocchio - Part 1
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The noun il balzo means "the leap," "the jump," "the spring," or "the bounce."
Ogni santo giorno ho una gran voglia di saltare
Con un balzo in sella e cominciare a pedalare
Every blessed day I have a great urge to jump
with a spring into the saddle and start to pedal
Captions 7-8, Radici nel Cemento La Bicicletta
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A closely connected noun is il rimbalzo (the rebound).
Maggiore è il rimbalzo e più grande è la capacità dei materiali di resistere agli impatti.
The greater the rebound and the greater the ability of the materials to withstand impacts.
Captions 43-44, Space to ground EP1 Life on Mars - Esplorazione - Part 3
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Di rimbalzo is "on the rebound."
Next time you take advantage of the right moment, you can say, Ho preso la palla al balzo!
Spring might be a great time for learning Italian. You might be thinking of a vacation in one of the beautiful spots in Italy. The days are getting longer, so there's more time to do things before wanting to climb into bed for the night. You can even study outside if the weather is nice. Spring is a time of growth. So why not cultivate your language skills too?
Let's have a look at some vocabulary related to spring, gardening, and growing vegetables. Even if you are not into plants, some of the words we look at have other, non-gardening meanings that are useful to know.
➡️ Need some basics? The Italian word for spring is la primavera. For more about the 4 seasons, see this lesson.
Spring is one of the seasons that are best for visiting Italy. The weather tends to be nice and it's not too hot.
Il periodo dell'anno migliore per venire in questo luogo incantato è senza dubbio la primavera.
The best time of year to come to this enchanted place is undoubtedly the spring.
Captions 64-65, In giro per l'Italia La Valle del Sorbo
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There is already a lesson about orto vs giardino, but we'll mention the difference here, too. In English, we use the word "garden" to mean a garden with flowers or a vegetable garden. But in Italian, there are two distinctive terms. Il giardino is for flowers and plants, and can also refer to the "backyard," or "yard," a space outside a house where you can enjoy the outdoors. When it comes to fruits and vegetables growing in the ground, we talk about l'orto. An orchard or grove (of fruit trees), on the other hand, is il frutteto, with its -eto ending. The shop or department of a supermarket where fruits and vegetables are sold is often called l'ortofrutta.
Spring is when we plant things, or sow seeds. We tend to use the verb "to plant," even when we are talking about sowing seeds. In Italian, too, there is a difference.
Mangiamo le mele... -E usiamo i semi. -Questa idea mi piace. -Eccoli qui, Mirò, sono pronti da seminare.
Let's eat the apples... -And we'll use the seeds. -I like this idea. -Here they are, Mirò. They're ready to plant [to sow].
Captions 41-44, Gatto Mirò EP 10 Piantiamo un albero
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➡️ Seminare can also mean to lose someone who is following you:
Ce l'abbiamo fatta, prof. Li abbiamo seminati!
We did it, Prof. We lost them!
Captions 30-31, Provaci ancora prof! S1E1 - Il regalo di Babbo Natale - Part 13
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Here is the literal meaning of piantare (to plant):
Gli ho chiesto quando voleva piantare i nuovi vitigni,
I asked him when he wanted to plant the new vines,
Caption 35, Il Commissario Manara S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 5
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➡️ Piantare can also mean to leave, to ditch, to quit on someone.
Però lei qualche giorno prima delle nozze l'ha piantato.
But a few days before the wedding she ditched him.
Caption 64, Il Commissario Manara S1EP9 - Morte in paradiso - Part 10
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➡️ Piantare can also mean to quit doing something. In this case, it is combined with la (it).
E piantala, dai, con quella telecamera.
Come on, quit it with that video camera.
Caption 32, Il Commissario Manara S2EP9 - L'amica ritrovata - Part 11
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La pianta (the plant) is a noun related to the verb piantare.
I pomodori si staccano dalla pianta rigorosamente a mano, seguendo il grado di maturazione dei frutti.
The tomatoes are detached from the plant strictly by hand, according to the degree of the ripening of the fruit.
Captions 36-37, Pomodori Vulcanici Pomodori del Vesuvio - Part 1
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When we buy seedlings to plant, we can use the diminutive form of pianta, la piantina.
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Questa zappa serve per rimuovere la terra e non fare una crosta intorno alla piantina in modo e maniera che non abbia la forza di crescere, e serve anche per non far nascere l'erba tutta intorno a queste piantine.
This hoe is used to move the soil around and not form a crust around the young plant in such a way that it doesn't have the strength to grow, and it's also used to prevent the grass from growing all around these little plants.
Captions 20-23, La campagna toscana Il contadino - Part 1
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For more examples, see this lesson that also talks about seeds and plants.
In the previous example, the speaker mentions l'erba. L'erba is the grass, but he might be implying crabgrass or weeds, commonly called erbaccia. See this lesson about l'erba (the grass), le erbe (the herbs) and l'erbaccia (weeds).
When we go to a vivaio (nursery, greenhouse), we might see a sign that says piante e fiori. When we're just learning, it might be tricky to remember that plants are feminine but flowers are masculine. Go figure! And let's not forget the noun il pianto (the crying), a whole different thing. The verb form is piangere.
...in cui si distingueva chiaramente il pianto di una bambina.
...in which he could clearly distinguish the crying of a little girl.
Caption 65, Il Commissario Manara S2EP10 -La verità nascosta - Part 6
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With all this green vocabulary, are you ready to meet the moment? il momento perfetto per piantare… e imparare (the perfect moment for planting and learning)!
A reader has written to us to ask about two particles: vi and ci. Many of us are familiar with these particles as personal pronouns, indicating the second person plural and the first person plural, respectively. But let's review and cite some examples.
Most of the time, at least in conversation, vi refers to the second-person plural object personal pronoun. It can be both direct or indirect. In other words, it's translated as "you" plural, as an object. Let's look at a couple of examples.
Io quello che vi posso dire è che in campagna si cerca sempre di salvare il salvabile.
What I can tell you is that in the country, you always try to salvage what is salvageable.
Captions 99-100, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP2 Come piante fra sassi - Part 22
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Mettetevi qua. -Ma perché?
Put yourselves here. -But why?
Caption 61, Non è mai troppo tardi EP 2 - Part 8
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When there is a direct object pronoun such as lo (it) involved, vi changes to ve.
Uscite. Ve lo dico io quando potete rientrare.
Come on out. I'll tell [it to] you when you can go in again.
Caption 1, La Ladra EP. 7 - Il piccolo ladro - Part 14
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This is true for all particles in this category. (ci→ce, ti→te, si→se, vi→ve, mi→me).
Ce lo stiamo chiedendo da stamattina.
We've been asking ourselves that since this morning.
Caption 15, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP5 Misericordia - Part 4
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See this lesson about ci. It links to another lesson on the same topic. The lesson begins with the meaning referred to above, that of a personal pronoun. But it goes on to talk about ci meaning "in that place," or "there." Here is an example where the particle ci is attached to the root of the infinitive essere (to be).
Devi esserci anche tu.
You have to be there, too.
Caption 44, JAMS S1 EP7 - Part 7
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This could have been Ci devi essere anche tu with the particle separate from the verb. Both ways are correct!
This lesson focuses on ci meaning "there," with examples. Do a search of ci to find even more lessons about this particle.
If you have gotten this far, with a grasp of ci, then it's time to look at vi. If you are still confused about ci, don't worry. There is a reason there are so many lessons about ci. There is always something new to learn about this pesky little particle.
The next part of the lesson is about a word you might see more than hear, so you can even skip it, but if you are curious, it's good to know about vi meaning "there," even though you will likely never need to actually use it. You can always use ci and it won't be wrong.
Some grammarians say that vi and ci (when they mean "in that place," or "there") are synonymous, but that vi is more formal. That may be true in many cases, but let's dig a bit deeper. Why would someone use vi instead of ci?
Some scholars posit that vi means "there" but implies a restricted space, whereas ci is more generalized. In other words, vi refers to a precise destination, whereas ci can refer to anywhere.
One interesting detail is that vi derives from the Latin "ibi" → "there"; ci derives from "ecce hic" → "behold here."
In Calabria vi sono due isole: una è l'Isola Dino, che è la più grande, come ho detto prima e l'altra invece è la [sic]... Isola di Cirella, che è un po' più a sud,
In Calabria, there are two islands: one is Dino Island, which is the biggest, as I said before and the other, instead, is the [sic]... Cirella Island, which is a bit further south,
Captions 27-29, Antonio e l'Isola di Dino
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The speaker could have used ci. But here he is getting specific, referring to Calabria, so vi works, too. In the next example, once again, the speaker (who, in this case, is the teacher) is talking about a specific language (Italian), so vi is appropriate but not necessary.
In both examples, the language is more formal than in everyday conversation. In the first example, someone is providing some factual information about Calabria. In the second example, a teacher is using somewhat formal language with his students. The movie the clip is from takes place in the 1960s which might be another reason for vi in place of ci.
Nella nostra amata lingua, vi sono molte parole che iniziano con la "o"...
In our beloved language, there are many words that begin with O...
Captions 49-50, Non è mai troppo tardi EP 2 - Part 11
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If you do a quick search of vi sono on the videos page, you will find examples where the meaning is totally different. So context matters. In the following example, vi refers to "you" plural, and sono is the first person singular of the verb essere (to be).
Vi sono mancato un po'? -Sì.
Did you miss me a little? -Yes.
Caption 48, Non è mai troppo tardi EP 2 - Part 8
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One related word you might see on a listino prezzi (price list) for a hotel or other accommodation as you travel in Italy is ivi. It means therein, so you might see something like: Pernottamento ivi compreso la prima colazione (overnight stay including breakfast)
For interested learners, here is an article delving into the difference between vi and ci. It's in English. CUNY article
We hope to have cleared up some doubts about vi and ci! You can write to us at [email protected].
When you want to reinforce a command, such as fermati (stop), stai zitto (shut up), vai via (get out), etc., one way to do it is to add che è meglio afterward. It's a way of saying you mean it, and that if the person doesn't obey, there will be consequences. Literally, it's "which is better" and can be translated with "it's for the best," but it can also imply "you'll be better off if you do as I say," or "I mean it," or "or else [there will be consequences you won't like]," or even "You better [do as I say]."
Lojacano is telling a suspect to stop.
Nico', fermati che è meglio, eh. -Mi so' [sono] fermato.
Nico', stop, as you're better off, huh. -I have stopped.
Captions 16-17, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP3 Vicini - Part 21
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Michele is not very welcome at the meeting at the Nest and Riccardo encourages him to leave.
Scusate, ma sono molto scosso. -Ecco, bravo esci. Esci, che è meglio.
Excuse me, but I am very shaken. -There, good, leave. Leave, as it's for the best.
Captions 13-15, Liberi tutti EP1 Ma bevete anche l'aqua piovana? - Part 6
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Paolo's parents don't want him to say another word. He is already in big trouble. He tries to talk, his mother shuts him up and his father puts the stinger on the end.
Mi scusi, dottore. -Ma per favore, guarda, Paolo, per favore, stai zitto. -Che è meglio.
Forgive me, sir. -Oh please, look, Paolo, please, shut up. -Which is better [you're better off].
Captions 7-9, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 7
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Che è meglio is usually something you say at the end for effect, often accompanied with an appropriate facial expression and gesture.
Tra l'altro is an adverbial phrase (in this case, a preposition plus an indefinite pronoun) that has a few different meanings. It's also an intercalare (a filler word), although not one that can stand alone.
Tra l'altro is frequently translated as "among other things," because tra means "between" or "among" (as well as other prepositions) and altro means "other." It can certainly be used that way, but let's note that in our expression, l'altro is singular, not plural (which would be altri or altre.) With its article, we can identify altro as a noun in this case, or more properly, an indefinite pronoun (taking on the role of a noun).
One can also say, tra le altre cose. This more literally corresponds to "among other things" or "among the other things."
Translating tra l'altro can be challenging, but in the end, what's important is to be able to understand it and use it in Italian conversation, reading, and writing. With its multiple meanings, it's a handy little expression to be familiar with.
One purpose of tra l'altro is to shift the topic of conversation to another, related, or additional piece of information, sometimes in mid-sentence. It can mean, "oh, by the way," "in addition (to which)," "(and) incidentally," "furthermore," "moreover," "besides," "besides which," "speaking of which," "not only that," "to top it off," "come to think of it," and more. And sometimes it's just to add a "by the way."
So if you're talking and you want to change the subject slightly, to go off on a tangent, or just add some extra information that might be useful, important, or interesting, tra l'altro is a good bet.
Here, Diana is rattling off some information about a rich guy, and then adds some extra information (with tra l'altro) she knows will spark Imma's curiosity.
Poi dopo diventò infatti un grande imprenditore, uno dei più ricchi e importanti della regione. E, tra l'altro, due anni fa ha ristrutturato proprio la casa ai Sassi di Lombardi. -Ah.
Then later, he actually became a big entrepreneur, one of the richest and most important in the region. And, incidentally, two years ago he renovated Lombardi's house in the "Sassi." -Ah.
Captions 23-25, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP6 Dalla parte degli ultimi - Part 24
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Here, Camilla's husband had bought a work of art that is likely evidence of a crime. She tells him that if he doesn't give it to the police, he's committing a crime. He responds.
Ah, io commetto un reato? Guarda che l'ho comprata regolarmente, facendo anche un ottimo affare, tra l'altro.
Ah, I'm committing a crime? Look, I bought it legally, getting a great bargain, by the way.
Captions 11-12, Provaci ancora prof! S1E4 - La mia compagna di banco - Part 16
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Camilla can't accept a suggestion from one of her students, because it would be cowardly. She says:
Sarebbe anche una vigliaccata tra l'altro.
It would also be chickenhearted, among other things.
Caption 28, Provaci ancora prof! S1E4 - La mia compagna di banco - Part 2
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Here, the speaker adds a little extra information.
Comunque, il mio amico la trova bellissima, tra l'altro è una persona molto spiritosa e soprattutto economicamente sta messo benissimo.
Anyway, my friend thinks you are really beautiful, plus which he's a funny person and above all, he's riding high financially.
Captions 82-84, Questione di Karma Rai Cinema - Part 9
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Here, Ada, who runs the place Manara is staying at, interrupts her own discourse to say he would have liked her husband. She could also have said, tra parentesi (in parentheses) in place of tra l'altro. Or she could have said e a proposito (and speaking of which or whom).
Sai che cosa diceva mio marito? Tra l'altro era un bel tipo, ti sarebbe piaciuto.
You know what my husband used to say? And, by the way, he was a cool guy, you would have liked him.
Captions 1-2, Il Commissario Manara S1EP11 - Beato tra le donne - Part 9
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If you do a search of tra l'altro on the videos page, you'll find many examples. You may come up with better translations than the ones already present (you can provide your suggestions in the comments section of the videos page).
At this point, you might be wondering if we can also say fra l'altro, since tra and fra mean the same thing. The answer is yes, although you'll likely find more examples with tra.
È stato un suo collega... che io, fra l'altro, nemmeno conoscevo.
It was a colleague of hers... whom, by the way, I didn't even know.
Captions 29-30, La Ladra EP. 9 - L'amico sconosciuto - Part 2
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See this lesson about tra and fra.
You asked, we'll try to answer! Are there differences between scordare and dimenticare, both of which mean "to forget?" If so, what's the difference? That is the question we'll set out to answer in this lesson. Yabla videos should provide us with plenty of examples to see and hear.
There is a long article (in Italian) on the website of L'Accademia della Crusca, but the upshot is: La scelta dell’uno o dell’altro è dovuta a ragioni e abitudini linguistiche personali, di contesto o di gusto, in parte legate alla regione di provenienza (the choice of one or the other is due to personal linguistic reasons and habits, context, and taste, partly tied to the region one is from).
So, in a way, we could say, "We're done here." But let's explore a bit further.
In our previous lesson about the song Quando sarai piccola, we discussed the etymology of the two verbs in question. Even though etymology does not define the current use of a word, it can be meaningful and help remember the verbs themselves. Knowing that dimenticare comes from mente (mind) and scordare comes from cuore (heart) is an enrichment for those who care.
Philosopher and historian Benedetto Croce felt this difference: Croce scriveva in Conversazioni critiche (1950-1951, p. 69):
L’italiano rammentare (e dimenticare) si riferiscono piuttosto alla mente, e il ricordare (e scordare), si riferiscono piuttosto al cuore".
The Italian rammentare (and dimenticare) refer rather to the mind, and ricordare (and scordare), refer rather, to the heart.
Some Italians do feel there's a difference, as you can see in this forum discussion. It may be felt in certain regions or in certain (older) generations. In our previous lesson, we did mention that dimenticare was more neutral and scordare more personal. That is the opinion expressed in various sources, but certainly, L'Accademia della Crusca says it best. They both work just fine.
Now that we have no particular concerns about meaning, we can move on to using the verbs.
In this first example, the infinitive form of the verb is used as a sort of imperative.
Non dimenticare di prendere lo scontrino dopo aver pagato.
Don't forget to take the receipt after having paid.
Caption 52, Vocaboliamo Supermercato - Part 6
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When we want to use the verb as a plain, transitive verb, dimenticare is a solid choice, and the easiest.
Alle volte dimentico che sei un uomo, con dei bei baffi.
Sometimes I forget you're a man, with a nice moustache.
Captions 50-51, La compagnia del cigno S2 EP 2 - Part 4
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Even in compound tenses, where we have the participle, we use the auxiliary avere (to have). In the following example, the important element is la luce (the light).
Eh, hai dimenticato la luce in bagno.
Hey, you forgot the light in the bathroom.
Caption 71, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP1 - Due americane a Roma - Part 17
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There are also more complicated ways to use dimenticare (and scordare) in compound tenses with and without pronouns, but we'll look at them in a future lesson. See this lesson about remembering and forgetting in Italian.
E non lo scorderò mai.
And I'll never forget it.
Caption 18, Acqua in bocca La pizza Margherita - Ep 7
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Scordare takes the auxiliary avere when used in a straightforward construction as below.
Ho scordato gli agrumi.
I forgot the citrus fruit.
Caption 11, La Ladra EP. 11 - Un esame importante - Part 1
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But it is very common to hear scordare (or scordarsi) in a compound tense in its reflexive or pronominal form.
Non mi dire che ti sei scordato la banconota da cinquecento.
Don't tell me that you forgot the five-hundred banknote.
Caption 50, La Ladra EP. 11 - Un esame importante - Part 6
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And there is a great expression using this verb. It's the equivalent of "Forget about it." "You wish!" "No way!"
Se stai cercando di farmi cambiare idea sul fatto che ti voglio sposare, scordatelo. Chiaro?
If you're trying to make me change my mind about wanting to marry you, forget about it. Clear?
Caption 29, Il Commissario Manara S2EP1 - Matrimonio con delitto - Part 15
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Note: In scordatelo, the stress is on the first syllable.
🎻 Keep in mind that in music, scordare also means to be or to go out of tune.
La corda di mi del mio violino si è scordata, la devo riaccordare prima di cominciare a suonare (the e string on my violin is out of tune, I have to tune it again before starting to play).
Here we have the verb accordare (to tune) from the noun la corda (the string). But when someone is singing out of tune, or when referring to poor intonazione (intonation), the verb is stonare with stonato being the adjective.
Thanks for reading. Write to us at [email protected]
This week's canzone (song), from the recent Festival di Sanremo has some words and grammar points that are worth taking into consideration. And, even if you aren't a Yabla subscriber, you can find the song on YouTube. Of course, with Yabla, you can take advantage of the extra features such as toggling Italian and or English subtitles on and off, looking up the word with a click, and games or exercises such as Scribe, Speak, and Recall to enhance your experience and help you learn.
For starters, the title of the song seems like a contradiction in terms. But that is the point, which becomes clear, little by little, as the song goes on.
In English, we usually say something like, "when you grow up," "when you're big," or "when you're grown up." In Italian, we say, Quando sarai grande. But here in this song, it's just the opposite: Quando sarai piccola (when you're grown down), or "when you're small." Admittedly, it's tricky to translate. Why? Because in English, in a 2-clause construction, we only use the future tense in the independent clause: When you're grown up, you'll be able to drive. We don't say, "When you'll be grown up, you'll be able to drive." But in Italian, we use the future tense in both clauses! Quando sarai grande, potrai guidare. It's just something to remember.
As the song goes on, it becomes clear that the singer is not referring to the little girl on the swing, but to his mother, who probably has dementia or Alzheimer's disease and has lost much of her memory thus needing some help, just as children do.
Now let's look at some of the vocabulary in the lyrics.
🇮🇹 a malapena (adverb) – barely, hardly
This phrase means that something happens with great difficulty or just barely.
Preparerò da mangiare per cena
Io, che so fare il caffè a malapena
I'll prepare food for dinner
I, who barely knows how to make coffee
Captions 19-20, Simone Cristicchi Quando sarai piccola
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📚 For more about a malapena, see this lesson. Malapena never stands alone and is always preceded by the preposition a.
🇮🇹 la fatica (noun, feminine) – the effort, the struggle, the fatigue. It can refer to both physical and mental effort or exhaustion.
C'è quella rabbia di vederti cambiare
E la fatica di doverlo accettare
There's that anger of seeing you change
And the effort of having to accept it
Captions 29-30, Simone Cristicchi Quando sarai piccola
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→ fare fatica means "to struggle." The verb faticare also means "to struggle," "to work hard."
→ a fatica means "with difficulty."
The lyrics are interesting from a learning point of view, as we have 3 related words: dimenticare, scordare, and ricordare. They all have to do with memory.
🇮🇹 scordare vs. dimenticare
Both verbs mean "to forget," but there are nuances:
Dimenticare is used in more neutral or general contexts.
Ci sono pagine di vita, pezzi di memoria che non so dimenticare
There are pages of life, parts of memory that I can't forget
Caption 31, Simone Cristicchi Quando sarai piccola
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If we take a closer look at dimenticare, we can see there is a kind of prefix (di-) that is often a negation. We also see the root, ment- from mente meaning "mind." So we could say that dimenticare is the act of something being removed from one's mind. And as a matter of fact, according to L'Accademia della Crusca, the term existed in late Latin as "dementicare" (to exit the mind), derived from "dimentire" (to lose one's senses" with its prefix "de-" (to deprive) and "mens" (mind).
Scordare is used in a more personal or emotional sense and is frequently used in its reflexive form: scordarsi.
Ti ripeterò il mio nome mille volte perché tanto te lo scorderai
I will repeat my name to you a thousand times because, anyway, you will forget it
Caption 11, Simone Cristicchi Quando sarai piccola
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Here is a link to a very famous emotional song, titled, "Non ti scordar di me" (don't forget me), sung by Luciano Pavarotti. Here are the Italian lyrics.
🇮🇹 scordare and ricordare: What's the connection?
Ricordare means "to remember." It comes from the Latin "recordari," meaning “to bring back to the heart” (cor, cordis = heart).
Ti ripeterò il tuo nome mille volte fino a quando lo ricorderai
I will repeat your name a thousand times until you remember it
Caption 21, Simone Cristicchi Quando sarai piccola
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Scordare, as mentioned above, means "to forget." The S-prefix (often from Latin ex- or dis-) can indicate a reversal, opposition, or removal. So, literally, scordare suggests losing one's memory or removing something from the heart. When you learn something by heart, you remember it.
🇮🇹 lo sguardo
This noun begins with an s, so it might look like an S-prefix word. It isn't quite, because there is no noun guardo. But it is close, because there is a verb guardare, and the words both deal with looking (guardare) or giving someone a look (uno sguardo).
Ci sono sguardi pieni di silenzio
There are glances full of silence
Caption 27, Simone Cristicchi Quando sarai piccola
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🇮🇹 sconfiggere means "to defeat."
This is another S-prefix word, derived from the verb (practically obsolete) configgere (to strike, to fight), with the S-prefix altering the meaning to "to overcome" or "to defeat."
E sconfiggere anche il tempo che per noi non è passato
And also to defeat time that has not passed for us
Caption 24, Simone Cristicchi Quando sarai piccola
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🇮🇹 sapere (to know, to be able to)
We have already seen this verb in a previous example. Interestingly, sapere usually means “to know” (facts, skills, or how to do something),
Io, che so fare il caffè a malapena
I, who barely knows how to make coffee
Caption 20, Simone Cristicchi Quando sarai piccola
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but it can also mean "to be able to" in certain contexts:
Ci sono pagine di vita, pezzi di memoria che non so dimenticare
There are pages of life, parts of memory that I can't forget
Caption 31, Simone Cristicchi Quando sarai piccola
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📚 For more about the verb sapere, see this lesson.
We hope these vocabulary tips will help you appreciate the lyrics of this song. Many of us have family members or relatives with dementia and so we'll be able to relate to what's expressed in the song. Thanks for reading!
Who decides whether a word exists or not? There is the dictionary of course, and associations like L'accademia della crusca. But language is fluid, and it's ordinary people, in the end, who decide what's in and what's out. If "most" people use a word that might not be in the dictionary, it will likely be mentioned in a future edition. But things change so quickly that it's hard to keep up, and printed classical dictionaries are way behind. Let's look at a word that has cropped up in a Yabla video. It has the famous S prefix: Sporzionare.
If we know the word "portion," we can guess that porzione is the Italian noun. In English, we sometimes say "to portion out" or "to portion up" when talking about something like a pie or cake. The more formal term would be "to apportion." We usually say "to divvy up," informally, or "to divide something into portions." Or, just "to cut."
Getting back to Italian, Italians love to make verbs out of nouns, and sometimes, in order to give more clarity to an action that goes in a certain direction, an S will be added. One example that comes to mind is sdoppiare, when talking about duplicating a cassette or media platform, even though sdoppiare means "to split up" or "to divide."
In a recent episode of JAMS, Davide, a cook at a local bistro, who helps the kids out with their cooking projects, has to come up with a last minute birthday cake because Joy forgot the cake she had made at someone's house (a whole other story!). Alice blows out the candles, but then Davide takes the cheesecake away to cut it into portions.
{Dove} vai con la torta? -{La} devo sporzionare.
Where are you going with the cake? -I have to portion it out.
Captions 27-28, JAMS S1 EP8 - Part 7
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It's kind of fun to come across new words with an S prefix. For more about the S prefix, see this lesson. Meanwhile, let us know if you find any we haven't talked about. We're interested! Write to us at [email protected]
Over time, we've looked at various Italian prefixes and here is one more: pro-. We often don't think about it because pro- can simply be part of a word. But in many cases, there is a good chance the root exists as a word on its own. In a recent video on Yabla, the verb provenire came up. A reader asked: "What's the difference between venire and provenire?" Great question.
The answer is that provenire (while technically an action verb) has to do with the origin of something, whereas venire is an action, a movement in the direction of the speaker, writer, or interlocutor. In English, we do have the noun "provenance," from the Latin meaning "to come forth," but we usually translate provenire as "to come from," or "to originate from." So if we think of the prefix pro- meaning "forward" or "forth," it might help us remember these words.
Penso che non ho tempo per fare la badante a nessuno, quindi tu organizza gli incontri e io vedo se riesco a venire.
I think I don't have time to be a babysitter for anyone, so you organize the meetings and I'll see if I can come.
Captions 56-57, La compagnia del cigno S2 EP 2 - Part 2
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Ora stanno cercando di capire da dove provengono...
Now they are trying to figure out where they come from...
Caption 49, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP6 Dalla parte degli ultimi - Part 22
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E be', non fargli vedere il tuo libretto degli esami perché...
Well, don't let her see your exam record because...
Caption 27, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 6
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We can now see the connection between "provide" and provvedere, but we can also see the word vedere (to see), and so it makes sense to translate provvedere as "to see to." It can also be "to take care of."
Lo so, ho avuto tanto da fare. Domani provvedo, va bene?
I know. I have had a lot to do. Tomorrow I will see to it, all right?
Caption 39, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP1 I Bastardi - Part 17
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Sei capace di studiare, sacrificarti, passare le notti insonni, mettere tutta la tua vita a servizio della musica, sei capace?
Are you capable of studying, sacrificing yourself, spending sleepless nights, putting your whole life at the service of music, are you capable?
Captions 31-33, La compagnia del cigno S2 EP 2 - Part 7
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Ma Lei mi deve promettere una cosa.
But you have to promise me one thing:
Caption 23, Moscati, l'amore che guarisce EP1 - Part 18
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The noun form is la promessa (the promise).
Dobbiamo porre nella teglia il pollo con le patate a spicchi,
In the pan, we have to place the chicken with the potato wedges,
Captions 6-7, JAMS S1 EP7 - Part 3
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Porre can also be reflexive, with a more figurative meaning of considering something.
Seconda cosa, visto che una è partita e l'altra si è fidanzata, io non mi pongo il problema, capito?
Second of all, since one is gone and the other is engaged, I don't consider the problem, you understand?
Captions 5-7, Il Commissario Manara S2EP11 - Uno strano incidente di caccia - Part 11
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Proporre is to put forth, as with an idea.
Bene. Cosa propone?
Good. What do you propose?
Caption 43, Il Commissario Manara S1EP4 - Le Lettere Di Leopardi - Part 10
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The noun form is la proposta (the proposal, the suggestion).
Although trarre is another word for tirare (to pull) it's frequently used in a figurative sense, as in drawing a conclusion or gaining an advantage.
Ma stavolta proprio il senso di colpa gli ha fatto trarre delle conclusioni affrettate,
But this time his guilty conscience made him draw hasty conclusions,
Captions 73-74, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP 4 Maltempo - Part 20
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Protrarre is used to refer to prolonging something over time.
La costruzione della Fortezza di Fenestrelle, iniziata nel millesettecentoventotto, si protrarrà per centoventi anni.
The construction of the Fenestrelle Fortress, begun in seventeen hundred and twenty-eight, would continue on for a hundred and twenty years.
Captions 14-16, Meraviglie EP. 5 - Part 4
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The reflexive form of the verb muovere is used here: muoversi.
Non ti muovere.
Don't move.
Caption 47, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP4 Gelo - Part 13
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When you move forward in school, from one grade to the next, the verb is promuovere. It can be used as well, just as in English, when you promote someone or something, giving them publicity.
Com'è andata? -Mi hanno promosso.
How did it go? -They promoted me.
Caption 2, Non è mai troppo tardi EP 2 - Part 23
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We talk about these verbs in this lesson.
The prefix pro- can also mean "entirely" — interamente. In the case of prosciutto (cured ham), it has to do with salting and drying: pro - asciutto (dry). The verb is prosciugare, to dry entirely. Prosciogliere is "to dissolve completely."
Thanks for reading. We hope you've gotten the idea of the prefix pro-. If you think of other words with this prefix, please let us know, and we'll add them to the lesson.
After someone says grazie (thank you) or grazie mille (many thanks/a thousand thanks), what do you say? There are various choices, so let's take a look. Here is the most basic answer, and it's the one you might already have learned.
Per festeggiare, ti offro un gelato. Grazie! -Prego.
To celebrate, I'll treat you to an ice cream. Thanks! -You're welcome.
Captions 36-37, Francesca alla guida - Part 3
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The only tricky thing about prego is that it can mean a host of things, such as "this way," "go ahead," "after you," "here you are." See this lesson about pregare, the verb from which prego (the first person singular of pregare) stems.
Another common way to say "You're welcome!" is di niente or di nulla. They both mean, literally, "of nothing." This response implies that granting whatever is being thanked for was not a burden or problem.
Grazie per l'assistenza. Di niente.
Thanks for your help. Think nothing of it.
Captions 53-54, La Ladra EP. 4 - Una magica bionda - Part 1
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These days in English, some people say, "No problem."
Yet another way of saying "You're welcome" is to question why someone would feel the need to thank you. The full version of the expression is di che cosa (for what [thing])?
È bellissimo! Grazie. -E di cosa?
It's beautiful! Thank you. -And for what? [it was nothing]
Captions 27-28, JAMS S1 EP8 - Part 6
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This can be shortened to e di che (for what)? In other words, what are you thanking me for or why are you thanking me?
Here is a variation, except it's not in the form of a question.
Non c'è di che.
Don't mention it. (there's nothing to thank me for or "It was nothing."
Caption 74, Sposami EP 4 - Part 7
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When you want to be really clear that you were glad to do the favor, you can say, ci mancherebbe! or ci mancherebbe altro.
Io gli dico: "Grazie mille!" "È stato gentilissimo". E questo signore mi risponde: "Ci mancherebbe altro".
And I say, “Many thanks!” “You've been very kind.” And this man responds to me with: “It's the least I could do.”
Captions 36-38, Marika spiega Il verbo mancare
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See also Marika's video where she talks about the verb mancare. It's a tricky verb in Italian and used in many situations. See also this lesson about ci mancherebbe.
Yet another response when someone says grazie is: figurati. This is the informal. In our example, before saying "thank you," Pietro's saxophone teacher says, "You shouldn't have." which stands in for "thank you."
Ciao. -Cinzia. [Ho] Portato una bottiglia. Ma non dovevi. Figurati. Grazie mille, eh.
Hi. -Cinzia. [I] brought a bottle. But you shouldn't have. It was nothing. Thanks, a lot, huh.
Captions 1-5, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP5 Rione Serra Venerdì - Part 29
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Here is an example of the same thing, using the polite form.
Ecco. -Grazie. -Si figuri.
Here. -Thanks. -Don't mention it.
Captions 24-25, Il Commissario Manara S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 13
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Both ci mancherebbe and figurati/si figuri can also be appropriate responses when someone apologizes for something, using, for example, mi scusi (polite) or scusa (informal singular).
There are undoubtedly other ways to say "You're welcome" in Italian, but this list is a good start. Feel free to let us know if you hear others. We'll add them to this lesson. Thanks for reading!
When you know enough Italian to communicate with Italians, there is still something that might stump you. In the midst of a sentence in Italian, you might hear a word you don't recognize. Often, it is an English word being pronounced in a strange way, or maybe it's being used to mean something different from what it means in English. We're not prepared for it, either. We expect an Italian word! Let's look at a few of these words.
Il catering (the catering service, the caterers)
The usual Italianized version of this word is a noun: il catering. In English we're used to saying "the caterers" but in Italian, it's all about the catering service, shortened to "the catering", or rather il catering.
Se agiamo subito possiamo disdire, limitare i danni e pagare meno penali possibili. Il fioraio, il catering. -Perché?
If we act right away we can cancel, limit the damage, and pay as few penalties as possible. The florist, the caterers. -Why?
Captions 46-48, Sposami EP 4 - Part 10
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Nella mia vita mi ero occupata molto di rapporti educativi, mi ero occupata di sociale, e tra le varie occupazioni, io ho avuto anche per dieci anni un catering che avevo creato io.
In my life, I had been very involved with educational relationships, I had been involved in social work, and among the various occupations, I had also had a catering company for ten years, which I had created.
Captions 3-6, Benvenuti in Galera Bollate, Milano - Part 5
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If you listen to these 2 examples, you will hear the A in "catering" pronounced 2 different ways. In our first example, Nora uses the common Italian pronunciation. She pronounces the A like the a in padre. In the second example, the speaker, who has a completely different accent, uses the English pronunciation of the A, a "long" a, but she uses "catering" as a noun, as is common for Italians. We can surmise that she knows some English and therefore knows that A) catering is an English word, and B) that the A is pronounced with a long A (by English standards). In English we typically refer to "the caterers."
Fare footing (to go running or jogging)
For sure, the English word "jogging" can present challenges of pronunciation for Italians. The J is generally pronounced the same way the letter i is pronounced, and a g followed by an i is usually pronounced like a J. It's a nightmare. No wonder they found an easier way to describe the activity of moving one's feet along a road or path. Of course "footing" is a real word in English, but we use it to mean "a firm placing of one's feet."
Scusa, non hai sempre detto che sono patetici quelli che fanno footing a una certa età?
Excuse me, haven't you always said that pathetic are those who go running at a certain age?
Captions 38-39, Provaci ancora prof! S2E3 Dietro la porta - Part 1
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Since English is popular in Italian, "running" is used a lot in stores that sell sports equipment. "Footing" has probably gone out of style for young folks.
Un toast (a grilled cheese sandwich [of sorts]).
For Italians, un toast is a sandwich of pan carré (packaged square sliced bread, often with the crust removed). So it is toasted, hence the name, but it is also filled with a combination of prosciutto cotto (cooked ham), formaggio (cheese that melts), and sometimes also giardiniera (pickled vegetables). There may also be a mayonnaise-based sauce in there, too. It's the kind of snack you can get in many bars and is one of the cheaper things you can order and satisfy your appetite.
Perché ho pensato, allora, ci sarebbero le uova strapazzate con il bacon o i muffin oppure un buonissimo toast con prosciutto e formaggio...
Because I had thought, then, there would be scrambled eggs with bacon or muffins, or else a very good grilled cheese [sandwich] with ham...
Captions 23-25, JAMS EP 6 - Part 5
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Toast, as English speakers know it, is something else altogether and needs no explaining. If you want to talk about toast to an Italian, you'll call it pane tostato, and it might be made in il tostapane (the toaster).
Let us know if you think of other English words that have different meanings when spoken by an Italian. And thanks for reading!
Write to us at [email protected].
One stumbling block, when translating Italian into English, is when the third-person plural is used to mean "someone." If we look for the Italian translation of "someone," we find qualcuno. We can certainly use that but it's typical to hear someone say, for example, hanno suonato (someone rang [the doorbell]). The literal translation would be "they rang," but that does not work in English.
In our first example, Renzo, the architect is talking to his designers about opening up the space to let more light in. He is distracted and doesn't hear the doorbell. The designer uses the third-person plural instead of qualcuno ha suonato.
Dobbiamo aprire? -Sì, aprire. Aprire, aprire qui, aprire qui. -Dicevo la porta, hanno suonato. -E apri, che aspetti?
Should we open? -Yes, open. Open, open here, open here. -I was talking about the door, someone rang [the doorbell]. -So, open up, what are you waiting for?
Captions 60-63, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP1 - Due americane a Roma - Part 18
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And we will just add, for general information, that while in English, we usually say, "I'll get the door" or "I'll open the door," it is typical to omit the object la porta. We just use the verb aprire (to open) by itself.
Vai ad aprire (go open the door)
The third person plural is also used in place of the passive voice or the impersonale third-person singular. This happens when the agent is not known, not mentioned, or not important. In English, we often use the passive voice in these cases.
Adriano Olivetti has given a movie camera to his American friend and she is thanking him.
Ma Lei lo sa che questa cinepresa la usano nei reportage di guerra? -Ah sì? -Sì, perché può funzionare in qualsiasi condizione. -Me l'hanno consigliata.
But you know that this camera is used in war reporting? -Oh yes? -Yes, because it can function under any conditions. -They recommended it to me. [It was recommended to me].
Captions 18-20, Adriano Olivetti La forza di un sogno Ep.2 - Part 3
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Agent Bates could have used the passive with the verb venire:
Ma Lei lo sa che questa cinepresa viene usata nei reportage di guerra?
Or she could have used the impersonale:
Ma Lei lo sa che questa cinepresa si usa nei reportage di guerra?
Thanks for reading. If you come across verbs in the third-person plural that mean "someone" or are used in place of the passive voice or the impersonale, let us know and we'll add them to this lesson. Write to us at [email protected].
We're talking about the expression: sbarcare il lunario. At first glance, it isn't easy to figure out.
Let's begin our discussion with the noun la luna (the moon). That may help us guess that lunario has something to do with the moon. Originally the month was the interval between one new moon and the next (a sense gleaned from late Old English). The Italian word for "month" is mese from the Latin "mensis," which signified both "month" and "moon."
Il Lunario is well known in Italy as a kind of almanac, aimed at an agricultural readership, providing the phases of the moon of a given year and information about when to plant certain crops, when to cut one's hair to make it grow faster, according to the phases of the moon. Il lunario could be bought at any newsstand and likely still is. There are different editions of the Lunario, each appropriate to the region, since the planting seasons differ from area to area. A famous lunario in Florence is Il vero sesto Cajo Baccelli, named after a 16th-century astrologist. The almanac covers an entire year, month by month, and by extension, the phases of the moon. Loosely interpreted, il lunario is a period of time.
We need another piece of the puzzle to fully understand sbarcare il lunario. The verb sbarcare comes from the noun la barca (the boat). Sbarcare is what can be called "a parasynthetic verb," or un verbo parasintentico because it comes from a different part of speech (in this case, the noun la barca) and has a suffix or prefix (in this case, S) and becomes a verb, in this case, sbarcare.
These days, we use the verb sbarcare to mean the opposite of imbarcare (to board), in other words, to disembark or to go ashore. That implies you have reached the shore. In the context of the expression, you make it to the end of the year or month (and give a sigh of relief). You have made it.
That is certainly one interpretation of sbarcare, and the one found in dictionaries. But there is another interpretation, which took a bit of hunting. This interpretation first came up in a search for the expression sbarcare il lunario. The Accademia della Crusca answers questions, and apparently, plenty of people wanted to know about this expression. But then, Wiktionary also gave this alternate definition of sbarcare.
Sbarcare can also be used in its reflexive form: sbarcarsela, and as a pronominal verb, sbarcarla, to mean cavarsela (to manage, to get by), to overcome an obstacle or critical moment, to survive, more or less. Other similar expressions are:
tirare a campare (to take it one day at a time)
tirare avanti (to hobble along)
riuscire a campare a stento (to barely manage, with great effort, remaining poor)
tirare avanti la baracca or, more commonly mandare avanti la baracca — Here is the Italian explanation from Accademia della Crusca with an English translation following it, and connecting it to our expression:
...dove ‘baracca’ “ha il significato di famiglia, impresa, amministrazione mal organizzata, in cattive condizioni economiche. La baracca infatti è una costruzione provvisoria, di legno o metallo, per ricovero di persone, animali, materiale, ed anche, in senso spregiativo, una casupola, una casa malandata”, proprio come la vita di chi sbarca il lunario. (...where baracca (shack) has the meaning of poorly organized family, business, or administration, in poor economic conditions. In fact, the shack is a temporary construction, made of wood or metal, for sheltering people, animals, material, and also, in a derogatory sense, a shack, a run-down house," just like the life of those who have trouble making ends meet.)
In the expression sbarcare il lunario, the sense of sbarcare is this: trascorrere per lo più stentatamente e faticosamente, vivendo di espedienti, un periodo di tempo, l’esistenza stessa (to laboriously scrape through, living by expedients, a period of time, existence itself).
In English, we talk about living paycheck to paycheck. That's the idea.
For a more-in-depth explanation of sbarcare il lunario (in Italian), see this article from the Accademia della Crusca.
Finally, here is the clip from Provaci ancora, Prof. It's part of a news broadcast on TV that Renzo is listening to as he cooks dinner.
Il commissario Gaetano Berardi, che conduce l'inchiesta {è...} -Ehm... risalito a lui dopo un'attenta indagine tra un gruppo di aspiranti attori... -Ah. -che sbarcano il lunario vestiti da antichi Romani... -Ciao amore, dov'è papà?
Chief Gaetano Berardi, who is leading the investigation, has... -Um. traced it to him, after a careful investigation into a group of aspiring actors... -Ah. -who make ends meet dressed as ancient Romans... -Hello love, where's Dad?
Captions 3-6, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP1 - Due americane a Roma - Part 17
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Thanks for reading. Write to us at [email protected].
When we're talking about animals, we use the noun "paw," rather than "foot" for certain animals, such as dogs, cats, and bears. In Italian, this is la zampa. When used in its diminutive form, it's often figurative and can mean a couple of different things, depending on the surrounding words.
In our first example, we can interpret lo zampino to mean "the fingerprint." Imma's figurative fingerprints appear to be all over the hiring of her secretary, since they had been classmates at school.
Secondo me c'è il Suo zampino nell'assunzione della signora Sigillino in procura.
In my opinion, there's your pawprint in the hiring of Mrs. Sigillino in the prosecutor's office.
Captions 9-10, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP6 Dalla parte degli ultimi - Part 17
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Mettere lo zampino is an expression that means "to interfere." To have a hand in something.
The Italian description of a Luca Manara video is as follows:
Le indagini sono ormai cominciate e già c'è il sentore che ci sia lo zampino di qualcuno.
The investigation has begun by now, and there is already the inkling that someone has had a hand in it.
In this next example, we can interpret lasciare lo zampino to mean something like "leaving one's paw [caught] in a trap." Eva is dealing with her son who has gotten caught stealing a CD.
Non è che hai rubato pure te[tu]? -Io? Eh! Magari da giovane... -No, io no... però ho conosciuto un ragazzo che c'ha lasciato lo zampino.
It's not that you robbed as well? -Me? Yeah! Maybe when you were younger... -No, not me... but I knew a boy who left his little paw there (who got caught).
Captions 14-17, La Ladra EP. 1 - Le cose cambiano - Part 7
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The traditional saying is:
Tanto va la gatta al lardo che ci lascia lo zampino (the cat goes so often (or so far) into the lard that she leaves her paw in it).
In other words, "curiosity killed the cat."
Thanks for reading. Write to us at [email protected]
Benvenuti In Galera (welcome to prison) is a documentary about a restaurant. It's a special restaurant because it's inside a prison, and the first of its kind. In the first segment, various kinds of food are mentioned so we thought it would be helpful and/or interesting to discover something about the dishes being served.
At the beginning of the film, we see and hear the kitchen crew as they shout orders back and forth. There are some unusual dishes on the menu, and the server-inmates have to deal with some odd names. The customers, too, are curious about the dishes they are about to be served.
Alborelle in carpione
No no, è il carpione d'arborella [alborelle in carpione].
No, no, it's carpione d'arborella.
Caption 22, Benvenuti in Galera Bollate, Milano - Part 1
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Alborella or arborella (Alburnus arborella also called "bleak") is a European fresh-water fish in the carp family.
The dish is typical of the Piedmont and Lombard regions, with their many lakes and streams where fish in the carp family are prevalent. Since the In Galera restaurant is in Bollate on the outskirts of Milan, we can consider it a traditional local dish.
In carpione indicates a particular method, commonly used with carp, of conserving freshwater fish to to be consumed at a later time. It involves a marinade of sautéd onions and peppers seasoned with sage, bay leaves, and other aromatic herbs, with the addition of vinegar which then evaporates. The marinade is added to the fish after it has been cooked (fried). That's the main characteristic of in carpione (carp style). The marinade is also useful for masking the muddy taste carp can have since it feeds at the bottom of streams and lakes.
Here, you can find a recipe in Italian.
And here is a rough English translation:
Clean the fish, wash them, dry and flour them.
Fry them in plenty of oil, drain them and place them to dry on absorbent kitchen paper.
Prepare a mixture with the onion, peppers, garlic and capers.
Take a glass jar large enough to comfortably contain the fish and fill it halfway with extra virgin olive oil
Pour the oil measured in the jar into a large pan; add the anchovies cut into small pieces and the previously prepared chopped mixture, the bay leaf and the mustard.
Heat over very low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring continuously. The oil should not smoke or reach a high temperature.
Add the red vinegar in the proportion of 2 parts vinegar to 1 part oil.
Raise the heat, stirring well until the liquid boils is reduced by a third.
Fill the jar with the fish and cover them with the liquid.
Leave the jar uncovered for a few minutes to eliminate any air bubbles by topping up with the leftover liquid.
Close and store in a cool, dark place for five days before serving.
Salmerino confit.
Mi dici cos'è, Davide, per favore? Il Salmerino confit.
Will you tell me what it is, Davide, please? Confit of char.
Captions 28-29, Benvenuti in Galera Bollate, Milano - Part 1
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Salmerino
It's called Arctic Char in English and is part of the salmon family.
Confit (from the French verb confire (to preserve) is another way of conserving food. In this case, it's in oil, at a low temperature.
Scottadito
Un salmone e un polipo, seguono cinque risi, segue un maiale e uno scottadito.
A salmon and an octopus, followed by five rices, followed by a pork, and a grilled chop.
Captions 41-42, Benvenuti in Galera Bollate, Milano - Part 1
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Scottadito is a fun word. If we take it apart, we get scottare (to burn) and dito (finger). So we are talking about something hot, right off the grill, that someone could burn their fingers on. It implies being eaten right away. The term is traditionally used for abbacchio (suckling lamb chops) because you can hold them by the bone (burning your fingers). The mode of cooking is alla brace (referring to the embers) or ai ferri (referring to the iron grill).
Scottare can also mean "to parboil," "to scald."
Let us know in the comments of the video or write to us at [email protected] if you enjoyed reading background material connected to the video.
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