21. TO DO OR MAKE
fare - to do / make
faccio |
fah-cho |
facciamo |
fah-chah-moh |
fai |
fah-ee |
fate |
fah-teh |
fa |
fah |
fanno |
fahn-noh |
Che cosa fa? What do you do (as a profession)?
Io faccio il contabile. I'm an accountant.
Che facoltà fa? What's your major?
Faccio architettura. I'm studying/majoring in architecture.
Idomatic expressions used with fare:
fare una domanda - to ask a question
fare un viaggio - to take a trip
fare un bagno - to take a bath
fare una passeggiata - to take a walk
fare attenzione - to pay attention
fare un piacere - to do a favor
fare una conferenza - to give a lecture
fare l'attrice / il cantante - to be an actress / a singer
fare l'università - to study at university / be in college
Notice than in English we use the indefinite article (a or an) when talking about professions, but in Italian, you must use the definite article.
22. WORK & SCHOOL
architect |
l'architetto |
teacher (m) |
il maestro |
author |
l'autore |
teacher (f) |
la maestra |
banker |
il banchiere |
professor (m) |
il professore |
waiter |
il cameriere |
professor (f) |
la professoressa |
waitress |
la cameriera |
hair stylist (m) |
il parrucchiere |
saleswoman |
la commessa |
hair stylist (f) |
la parrucchiera |
salesman |
il commesso |
secretary (m) |
il segretario |
accountant |
il contabile |
secretary (f) |
la segretaria |
doctor (m) |
il dottore |
soldier |
il soldato |
doctor (f) |
la dottoressa |
journalist |
il/la giornalista |
musician |
il/la musicista |
office worker (m) |
l'impiegato |
barber |
il barbiere |
office worker (f) |
l'impiegata |
When stating your job or profession, use the verb fare + the definite article: Faccio il professore. I'm a professor.
biology |
la biologia |
architecture |
l'architettura |
chemistry |
la chimica |
business |
il commercio |
economics |
l'economia |
law |
la giurisprudenza |
philosophy |
la filosofia |
engineering |
l'ingegneria |
physics |
la fisica |
literature |
le lettere |
geography |
la geografia |
political science |
le scienze politiche |
foreign languages |
le lingue straniere |
sociology |
la sociologia |
mathematics |
la matematica |
astronomy |
l'astronomia |
medicine |
la medicina |
dramatic arts |
l'arte drammatica |
accounting |
la ragioneria |
computer science |
l'informatica |
history |
la storia |
communication |
la scienza della comunicazioni |
psychology |
la psicologia |
physical education |
l'educazione fisica |
When talking about your major or specialization, use the verb fare without the definite article: Faccio geografia. I study geography.
course, class |
il corso |
oral exams |
gli orali |
department |
la facoltà |
written exams |
gli scritti |
subject |
la materia |
semester / trimester |
il semestre / trimestre |
Listen |
Ascoltate |
Correct! |
Giusto! |
Read |
Leggete |
Wrong! |
Sbagliato! |
Repeat |
Ripetete |
All together! |
Tutti insieme! |
Answer |
Rispondete |
One more time. |
Ancora una volta. |
Write |
Scrivete |
How do you pronounce...? |
Come si pronuncia...? |
Open your books |
Aprite i libri. |
How do you write...? |
Come si scrive...? |
Close your books |
Chiudete i libri. |
How do you say...? |
Come si dice...? |
Do the exercise |
Fate l'esercizio |
What does ... mean? |
Cosa vuol dire...? |
Attention! |
Attenzione! |
Repeat, please. |
Ripeta, per favore. |
Very good! |
Molto bene / Benissimo! |
OK. |
Va bene. |
23. PREPOSITIONS & ADVERBS OF PLACE
at, to |
a |
over / above |
sopra |
in |
in |
under / below |
sotto |
on / up |
su |
inside |
dentro |
from, by |
da |
outside |
fuori |
of |
di |
around |
intorno a |
with |
con |
between |
tra |
without |
senza |
among |
fra |
for |
per |
near |
vicino a |
next to |
accanto a |
far |
lontano da |
behind |
dietro |
before |
prima (di) |
in front of |
davanti a |
after |
dopo (di) |
across |
attraverso |
against |
contro |
down |
giù |
toward |
verso |
24. PREPOSITIONAL CONTRACTIONS
|
|
il |
lo |
l' |
la |
i |
gli |
le |
a |
at, to |
al |
allo |
all' |
alla |
ai |
agli |
alle |
da |
from, by |
dal |
dallo |
dall' |
dalla |
dai |
dagli |
dalle |
di |
of |
del |
dello |
dell' |
della |
dei |
degli |
delle |
in |
in |
nel |
nello |
nell' |
nella |
nei |
negli |
nelle |
su |
on |
sul |
sullo |
sull' |
sulla |
sui |
sugli |
sulle |
con |
with |
col |
collo |
coll' |
colla |
coi |
cogli |
colle |
The only contractions for con that are still used nowadays are col and coi, but even these contractions are optional.
→ Usually no article is used with in before words denoting rooms in a house or buildings in a city.
→ Di is also used when showing possession. Italian does not have the -'s construction that English uses, so you must say that whatever is possessed is of the person.
Questo cane è di Marco. This dog is Marco's. / This is Marco's dog. (Literally: This dog is of Marco.)
25. COUNTRIES & NATIONALITIES Part 1: Part 2:
Africa |
l'Africa |
Indonesia |
l'Indonesia |
African |
africano/a |
Indonesian |
indonesiano/a |
Albania |
l'Albania |
Ireland |
l'Irlanda |
Albanian |
albanese |
Irish |
irlandese |
America |
l'America |
Israel |
l'Israele |
American |
americano/a |
Israeli |
israeliano/a |
Argentina |
l'Argentina |
Italy |
l'Italia |
Argentine |
argentino/a |
Italian |
italiano/a |
Asia |
l'Asia |
Japan |
il Giappone |
Asian |
asiatico/a |
Japanese |
giapponese |
Australia |
l'Australia |
Latvia |
la Lettonia |
Australian |
australiano/a |
Latvian |
lettone |
Austria |
l'Austria |
Lithuania |
la Lituania |
Austrian |
austriaco/a |
Lithuanian |
lituano/a |
Belgium |
il Belgio |
Luxembourg |
il Lussemburgo |
Belgian |
belga |
Luxembourger |
lussemburghese |
Bosnia |
la Bosnia |
Macedonia |
la Macedonia |
Bosnian |
bosniaco/a |
Macedonian |
macedone |
Brazil |
il Brasile |
Malta |
Malta (f) |
Brazilian |
brasiliano/a |
Maltese |
maltese |
Bulgaria |
la Bulgaria |
Netherlands |
i Paesi Bassi / Olanda |
Bulgarian |
bulgaro/a |
Dutch |
olandese |
Canada |
il Canada |
New Zealand |
la Nuova Zelanda |
Canadian |
canadese |
New Zealander |
neozelandese |
China |
la Cina |
Norway |
la Norvegia |
Chinese |
cinese |
Norwegian |
norvegese |
Croatia |
la Croazia |
Poland |
la Polonia |
Croatian |
croato/a |
Polish |
polacco/a |
Czech Republic |
la Repubblica Ceca |
Portugal |
il Portogallo |
Czech |
ceco/a |
Portuguese |
portoghese |
Denmark |
la Danimarca |
Romania |
la Romania |
Danish |
danese |
Romanian |
romeno/a |
Egypt |
l'Egitto |
Russia |
la Russia |
Egyptian |
egiziano/a |
Russian |
russo/a |
England |
l'Inghilterra |
Scotland |
la Scozia |
English |
inglese |
Scottish |
scozzese |
Estonia |
l'Estonia |
Serbia |
la Serbia |
Estonian |
estone |
Serbian |
serbo/a |
Europe |
l'Europa |
Slovakia |
la Slovacchia |
European |
europeo/a |
Slovak |
slovacco/a |
Finland |
la Finlandia |
Slovenia |
la Slovenia |
Finnish |
finlandese |
Slovene |
sloveno/a |
France |
la Francia |
Spain |
la Spagna |
French |
francese |
Spanish |
spagnolo/a |
Germany |
la Germania |
Sweden |
la Svezia |
German |
tedesco/a |
Swedish |
svedese |
Great Britain |
la Gran Bretagna |
Switzerland |
la Svizzera |
British |
britannico/a |
Swiss |
svizzero/a |
Greece |
la Grecia |
Turkey |
la Turchia |
Greek |
greco/a |
Turk |
turco/a |
Hungary |
l'Ungheria |
Ukraine |
l'Ucraina |
Hungarian |
ungherese |
Ukrainian |
ucraino/a |
Iceland |
l'Islanda |
United Kingdom |
il Regno Unito |
Icelandic |
islandese |
United States |
gli Stati Uniti |
India |
l'India |
Wales |
Galles |
Indian |
indiano/a |
Welsh |
gallese |
If the adjective is referring to a language, it will always be the masculine form. If the adjective is referring to a woman instead of a man, then the adjectives ending in -o change to end in -a. The adjectives ending in -e do not change for gender. Also, the adjective americano usually refers to someone living anywhere in the American continent, but manypeople do use it to mean a person from the United States, instead of statunitense.
When talking about your country of origin, it is more common in Italian to use the adjective of nationality. For example, instead of saying She is from Denmark, you would say She is Danish.
26. TO AND FROM PLACES
|
To |
From |
Country (singular) |
in |
da (+ contraction) |
Country (plural) |
negli |
da (+ contraction) |
City |
a |
da |
Vado in Francia. I'm going to France.
Vengo dalla Francia. I come from France.
Vado negli Stati Uniti. I'm going to the United States.
Vengo dagli Stati Uniti. I come from the United States.
Vado a Parigi. I'm going to Paris.
Vengo da Parigi. I come from Paris.
27. TO COME AND TO GO
Venire - to come |
Andare - to go |
vengo |
vehn-goh |
veniamo |
ven-ee-ah-moh |
vado |
vah-doh |
andiamo |
ahn-dee-ah-moh |
vieni |
vee-en-ee |
venite |
ven-ee-teh |
vai |
vah-ee |
andate |
ahn-dah-teh |
viene |
vee-en-eh |
vengono |
ven-goh-noh |
va |
vah |
vanno |
vahn-noh |
→ To make a verb negative, add non before it:
Non vengo a scuola in macchina. I don't come to school by car.
→ If andare is followed by another infinitive, then a must be used before the infinitive:
Vado a mangiare adesso. I'm going to eat now.
Other verbs conjugated in the same pattern as venire are:
avvenire - to happen, to occur
convenire - to convene
divenire - to become
provenire - to come from, to proceed
sovvenire - to help
svenire - to faint
Tenere (to hold, keep) verbs are conjugated very similarly to venire too, except the voi form ends in -ete instead of -ite:
appartenere - to belong
contenere - to contain
intrattenere - to entertain
mantenere - to maintain
ottenere - to obtain
ritenere - to retain
sostenere - to sustain, to support
trattenere - to withhold, to detain
28. CONJUGATING REGULAR VERBS
To conjugate regular verbs, take off the last three letters (-are, -ere, or -ire) and add these endings to the stem:
Regular Verb Endings
-are |
-ere |
1st -ire |
2nd -ire |
-o |
-iamo |
-o |
-iamo |
-o |
-iamo |
-isco |
-iamo |
-i |
-ate |
-i |
-ete |
-i |
-ite |
-isci |
-ite |
-a |
-ano |
-e |
-ono |
-e |
-ono |
-isce |
-iscono |
Verbi Regolari / Regular Verbs
-are |
1st -ire |
parlare |
to speak |
dormire |
to sleep |
cantare |
to sing |
partire |
to leave |
arrivare |
to arrive |
sentire |
to hear |
abitare |
to live |
aprire |
to open |
amare |
to love |
offrire |
to offer |
ascoltare |
to listen (to) |
servire |
to serve |
cominciare |
to begin |
|
|
domandare |
to ask |
|
|
giocare |
to play (a game/sport) |
|
|
guardare |
to look (at)/watch |
|
|
imparare |
to learn |
|
|
insegnare |
to teach |
|
|
lavorare |
to work |
|
|
mangiare |
to eat |
|
|
pensare |
to think |
|
|
studiare |
to study |
|
|
-ere |
2nd -ire |
scrivere |
to write |
finire |
to finish |
vedere |
to see |
capire |
to understand |
credere |
to believe |
preferire |
to prefer |
conoscere |
to know/be acquainted with |
colpire |
to hit |
leggere |
to read |
costruire |
to build |
mettere |
to put |
pulire |
to clean |
perdere |
to lose |
sparire |
to disappear |
prendere |
to take |
|
|
rispondere |
to answer |
|
|
scendere |
to go down/get off |
|
|
vendere |
to sell |
|
|
vivere |
to live |
|
|
correre |
to run |
|
|
dipingere |
to paint |
|
|
ricevere |
to receive |
|
|
Sample Regular Verb
Parlare-to speak |
parlo |
parliamo |
parli |
parlate |
parla |
parlano |
→ The present tense and the preposition da may be used to describe an action which began in the past and is still continuing in the present. The present perfect tense is used in English to convey this same concept.
Da quanto tempo Lei studia l'italiano? How long have you been studying Italian?
Studio l'italiano da due anni. I've been studying Italian for two years.
→ Proprio can be used to emphasize something and it translates as really or just.
Ho proprio sonno. I'm really sleepy.
Arrivo dalla banca proprio adesso. I just now got back from the bank.
29. REFLEXIVE VERBS
Reflexive verbs express actions performed by the subject on the subject. These verbs are conjugated like regular verbs, but a reflexive pronoun precedes the verb form. This pronoun always agrees with the subject. In the infinitive form, reflexive verbs have -si attached to them with the final e dropped. Lavare is to wash, therefore lavarsi is to wash oneself. (Note that some verbs are reflexive in Italian, but not in English.)
Reflexive Pronouns
mi |
ci |
ti |
vi |
si |
si |
Common reflexive verbs:
to be satisfied with |
accontentarsi di |
to graduate (from college) |
laurearsi |
to fall asleep |
addormentarsi |
to wash up |
lavarsi |
to get up |
alzarsi |
to put on |
mettersi |
to be bored |
annoiarsi |
to get organized |
organizzarsi |
to get angry |
arrabbiarsi |
to make a reservation |
prenotarsi |
to be called |
chiamarsi |
to remember to |
ricordarsi di |
to forget to |
dimenticarsi di |
to make a mistake |
sbagliarsi |
to graduate (from high school) |
diplomarsi |
to feel (well, bad) |
sentirsi (bene, male) |
to have a good time |
divertirsi |
to specialize |
specializzarsi |
to shave (the face) |
farsi la barba / radersi |
to get married |
sposarsi |
to stop (oneself) |
fermarsi |
to wake up |
svegliarsi |
to complain about |
lamentarsi di |
to get dressed |
vestirsi |
Io mi lavo. I wash myself.
Noi ci alziamo presto. We get up early.
Si sveglia alle sette. She wakes up at seven.
The plural reflexive pronouns (ci, vi, si) can also be used with non-reflexive verbs to indicate a reciprocal action. These verbs are called reciprocal verbs and are expressed by the words each other in English.
to embrace |
abbracciarsi |
to run into |
incontrarsi |
to help |
aiutarsi |
to fall in love with |
innamorarsi |
to kiss |
baciarsi |
to greet |
salutarsi |
to understand |
capirsi |
to write to |
scriversi |
to meet |
conoscersi |
to phone |
telefonarsi |
to exchange gifts |
farsi regali |
to see |
vedersi |
to look at |
guardarsi |
|
|
Ci scriviamo ogni settimana. We write to each other every week.
Vi vedete spesso? Do you see each other often?
30. IRREGULARITIES IN REGULAR VERBS
Verbs ending in -care and -gare add an h before the -i and -iamo endings to keep the hard sound. Verbs ending in -ciare and -giare do not repeat the i in front of the -i ending. Notice that these verbs are only slightly irregular in spelling, while the pronunciation still follows the normal conjugation pattern.
cercare - to look for |
cominciare - to start |
cerco |
cerchiamo |
comincio |
cominciamo |
cerchi |
cercate |
cominci |
cominciate |
cerca |
cercano |
comincia |
cominciano |
31. PRESENT PERFECT (PASSATO PROSSIMO)
The present perfect tense is used to express something that happened in the past, and which is completely finished (not habitual or continuous). To form this compound tense, which can translate as something happened, something has happened, or something did happen, conjugate avere or sometimes essere and add the past participle. To form the past participle, add these endings to the appropriate stem of the infinitives:
-are |
-ato |
-ere |
-uto |
-ire |
-ito |
Verbs that can take a direct object are generally conjugated with avere. Verbs that do not take a direct object (generally verbs of movement), as well as all reflexive verbs, are conjugated with essere and their past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject. Avere uses avere as its auxiliary verb, while essere uses essere as its auxiliary verb. Negative sentences in the present perfect tense are formed by placing non in front of the auxiliary verb. Common adverbs of time are placed between avere/essere and the past participle.
Io ho visitato Roma. I visited Rome.
Tu non hai visitato gli Stati Uniti. You didn't visit the United States.
Abbiamo conosciuto due ragazze. We met two girls.
Maria è andata in Italia. Maria went to Italy. (Note the agreement of the past participle with the subject.)
Ho sempre avuto paura dei cani. I've always been afraid of dogs.
Hai già finito di studiare? Have you already finished studying?
→ In addition, some verbs take on a different meaning in the present perfect: conoscere means to meet and saperemeans to find out (or to hear).
Reflexive Verbs in the Present Perfect Tense
Since all reflexive verbs use essere as the auxiliary verb, the past participle must agree with the subject. The word order is reflexive pronoun + essere + past participle.
Mi sono divertita. I had fun.
Si è sentito male. He felt bad.
32. IRREGULAR PAST PARTICIPLES Part 1: Part2:
The following verbs all take avere as the auxiliary:
to turn on |
accendere |
acceso |
to hide |
nascondere |
nascosto |
to admit |
ammettere |
ammesso |
to offend |
offendere |
offeso |
to hang (up) |
appendere |
appeso |
to offer |
offrire |
offerto |
to open |
aprire |
aperto |
to lose |
perdere |
perso / perduto |
to drink |
bere |
bevuto |
to permit |
permettere |
permesso |
to ask |
chiedere |
chiesto |
to cry |
piangere |
pianto |
to close |
chiudere |
chiuso |
to put, place |
porre |
posto |
to grant, award |
concedere |
concesso |
to take |
prendere |
preso |
to conclude |
concludere |
concluso |
to promise |
promettere |
promesso |
to know (people) |
conoscere |
conosciuto |
to suggest |
proporre |
proposto |
to correct |
correggere |
corretto |
to laugh |
ridere |
riso |
to decide |
decidere |
deciso |
to solve, resolve |
risolvere |
risolto |
to disappoint |
deludere |
deluso |
to respond, answer |
rispondere |
risposto |
to defend |
difendere |
difeso |
to break |
rompere |
rotto |
to say, tell |
dire |
detto |
to choose |
scegliere |
scelto |
to direct, run |
dirigere |
diretto |
to write |
scrivere |
scritto |
to discuss |
discutere |
discusso |
to suffer |
soffrire |
sofferto |
to distinguish |
distinguere |
distinto |
to turn off |
spegnere |
spento |
to destroy |
distruggere |
distrutto |
to spend |
spendere |
speso |
to divide |
dividere |
diviso |
to push |
spingere |
spinto |
to exclude |
escludere |
escluso |
to translate |
tradurre |
tradotto |
to express |
esprimere |
espresso |
to draw, pull |
trarre |
tratto |
to do |
fare |
fatto |
to kill |
uccidere |
ucciso |
to insist |
insistere |
insistito |
to see |
vedere |
visto / veduto |
to read |
leggere |
letto |
to win |
vincere |
vinto |
to put |
mettere |
messo |
|
|
|
Sample Avere Verb: avere - to have |
(io) ho avuto |
(noi) abbiamo avuto |
(tu) hai avuto |
(voi) avete avuto |
(lei) ha avuto |
(loro) hanno avuto |
Ho avuto can mean I have, I have had, or I did have.
33. ESSERE VERBS
In general, intransitive and reflexive verbs, as well as impersonal verbs and verbs describing a change of state or an evolution of some sorts, take essere as the auxiliary verb in the passato prossimo. These past participles must agree with the subject in gender and number by changing the final vowel. Irregular past participles are highlighted.
to go |
andare |
andato |
to arrive |
arrivare |
arrivato |
to suffice, be enough |
bastare |
bastato |
to be necessary |
bisognare |
bisognato |
to cost |
costare |
costato |
to depend |
dipendere |
dipeso |
to regret, upset |
dispiacere |
dispiaciuto |
to become, grow, turn |
diventare |
diventato |
to last |
durare |
durato |
to enter |
entrare |
entrato |
to exist |
esistere |
esistito |
to be |
essere |
stato |
to arrive / to succeed |
giungere |
giunto |
to get old |
invecchiare |
invecchiato |
to die |
morire |
morto |
to be born |
nascere |
nato |
to be necessary |
occorrere |
occorso |
to leave |
partire |
partito |
to be pleasing [to like] |
piacere |
piaciuto |
to rain |
piovere |
piovuto |
to stay, remain |
restare |
restato |
to go/come back in, return |
rientrare |
rientrato |
to remain, stay |
rimanere |
rimasto |
to return |
ritornare |
ritornato |
to succeed |
riuscire (a) |
riuscito |
to seem |
sembrare |
sembrato |
to serve, be of use |
servire |
servito |
to disappear |
sparire |
sparito |
to stay, be |
stare |
stato |
to happen |
succedere |
successo |
to come back/return |
tornare |
tornato |
to go out |
uscire |
uscito |
to be worth |
valere |
valso |
to come |
venire |
venuto |
Sono nato a Torino nel 1965. I was born in Turin in 1965.
Cosa è successo? What happened?
Lei è stato malata ma niente di grave. She was sick, but it was nothing serious.
→ There are also a few verbs (some with irregular past participles) that use essere as an auxiliary when they are intransitive (no direct object), but avere when they are transitive (with a direct object).
to change, exchange |
cambiare |
cambiato |
to begin, start |
cominciare |
cominciato |
to run |
correre |
corso |
to grow (up), increase |
crescere |
cresciuto |
to diminish, decrease |
diminuire |
diminuito |
to explode |
esplodere |
esploso |
to finish, end, stop |
finire |
finito |
to ripen, mature |
maturare |
maturato |
to improve |
migliorare |
migliorato |
to move |
muovere |
mosso |
to pass, pass through/over |
passare |
passato |
to worsen |
peggiorare |
peggiorato |
to go up, rise |
salire |
salito |
to descend, go down |
scendere |
sceso |
to live (be alive) |
vivere |
vissuto |
L'inverno è finito. Winter is finished.
Abbiamo finito di guardare il film. We finished watching the film.
Sample Essere Verb: andare - to go |
sono andato / sono andata |
siamo andati / siamo andate |
sei andato / sei andata |
siete andati / siete andate |
è andato / è andata |
sono andati / sono andate |
Sono andato can mean I went, I was going, or I did go. Remember that -o is masculine and -a is feminine. The -i ending indicates all males or males and females; whereas the -e ending indicates only females.
34. FOOD & MEALS Part 1: Part 2:
breakfast |
la colazione |
lemon |
il limone |
lunch |
il pranzo |
honey |
il miele |
snack |
la merenda |
olive oil |
l'olio d'oliva |
dinner |
la cena |
vinegar |
l'aceto |
fork |
la forchetta |
jam |
la marmellata |
spoon |
il cucchiaio |
yogurt |
lo yogurt |
knife |
il coltello |
cheese |
il formaggio |
plate |
il piatto |
egg / eggs |
l'uovo / le uova |
napkin |
la salvietta / il tovagliolo |
fried egg |
un uovo fritto / un uovo all'occhio di bue |
cup |
la tazza |
hard-boiled egg |
un uovo sodo |
glass |
il bicchiere |
soft-boiled |
un uovo alla coque |
bottle |
la bottiglia |
poached egg |
un uovo in camicia |
dishes |
le stoviglie |
cereal |
i cereali |
silverware |
le posate |
soup |
la minestra / la zuppa |
saucepan |
la pentola |
rice |
il riso |
frying pan |
la padella |
salad |
l'insalata |
can opener |
l'apriscatole (m) |
french fries |
le patatine fritte |
bottle opener |
l'apribottiglie (m) |
peanuts |
le noccioline |
corkscrew |
il cavatappi |
olives |
le olive |
appetizer |
l'antipasto |
pastries |
le paste |
first course |
il primo |
croissant |
il cornetto |
second course |
il secondo |
cake |
la torta |
side dish |
il contorno |
tart |
la crostata |
pizza |
la pizza |
potato chips |
le patatine |
beverage |
la bevanda |
biscuits / cookies |
i biscotti |
ice |
il ghiaccio |
cocktail snacks |
i salatini |
dessert |
il dolce |
sandwich |
il tramezzino |
ice cream |
il gelato |
roll |
il panino |
cream |
la panna |
meat |
la carne |
chocolate |
la cioccolata |
steak |
la bistecca |
juice |
il succo |
chicken |
il pollo |
wine |
il vino |
turkey |
il tacchino |
milk |
il latte |
fish |
il pesce |
water |
l'acqua (minerale) |
ham |
il prosciutto |
soft drink |
la bibita |
lamb |
l'agnello |
coffee |
il caffè |
goat |
il capretto |
(iced) tea |
il tè (freddo) |
rabbit |
il coniglio |
bread |
il pane |
liver |
il fegato |
butter |
il burro |
pork |
il maiale |
salt |
il sale |
beef |
il manzo |
pepper |
il pepe |
bacon |
la pancetta |
sugar |
lo zucchero |
veal |
il vitello |
La merenda refers to the snack that children have around 10 or 11 AM while at school, but it can also mean afternoon snack. You can also use uno spuntino to refer to a snack in general.
35. PIACERE & SERVIRE
Piacere - to like / Servire - to need
piaccio |
piacciamo |
servo |
serviamo |
piaci |
piacete |
servi |
servite |
piace |
piacciono |
serve |
servono |
Past participle: piaciuto |
|
Past participle: servito |
|
Piacere (a) literally means to be pleasing (to) so to form a sentence you have to invert the word order. You must also use the prepositional contractions with a.
Maria piace a Giovanni. John likes Mary. (Literally: Mary is pleasing to John)
Gli studenti piacciono ai professori. The teachers like the students. (Literally: The students are pleasing to the teachers).
The most common forms are the third person singular and plural when used with object pronouns. The object pronouns that are used with these two verbs are somewhat similar to the reflexive pronouns:
mi |
I (to me) |
ci |
we (to us) |
ti |
you (to you) |
vi |
you (to you) |
gli / le |
he / she (to him / her) |
gli |
they (to them) |
→ To say I like something, use Mi piace if it is singular and Mi piacciono if it is plural. Piaciuto is the past participle and it is used with essere. However, it always agrees with the subject (what is liked) instead of the person.
Mi piace cucinare. I like to cook. (Literally: To me is pleasing to cook.)
Gli piacciono i treni. He likes trains. (Literally: To him are pleasing the trains.)
Ci è piaciuta la bistecca. We liked the steak. (Literally: To us was pleasing the steak.)
Non le sono piaciuti gli spaghetti. She didn't like the spaghetti. (Literally: Not to her was pleasing the spaghetti.)
→ Stressed forms also exist for the object pronouns. They are nearly identical to the subject pronouns, except me and teare used for me and you (familiar). They are always preceded by the preposition a.
A me non piace sciare. I don't like to ski. (Literally: To me not is pleasing to ski.)
A loro piace viaggiare? Do they like to travel? (Literally: To them is pleasing to travel.)
→ Servire has the same construction as piacere. It is also used primarily in the third person singular and plural forms and takes an indirect object. When it takes a direct object, it simply means to serve.
Ti serve della frutta? Do you need any fruit? (Literally: By you is needed some fruit?)
Il pane serve a Marco. Marco needs bread. (Literally: The bread is needed by Marco.)
→ Mancare can be used in the same way as piacere and servire to mean to miss or to lack. If used in the regular way, it means to be missing / absent.
Mi manchi. I miss you. (Literally: To me you are missing.)
Chi manca? Who is missing?
36. FRUITS & VEGETABLES
almond |
la mandorla |
lettuce |
la lattuga |
apple |
la mela |
lime |
la limetta |
apricot |
l'albicocca |
melon |
il melone |
artichoke |
il carciofo |
mint |
la menta |
asparagus |
l'asparago |
mushroom |
il fungo |
avocado |
l'avocado |
nut |
la noce |
banana |
la banana |
oats |
l'avena |
barley |
l'orzo |
olive |
l'oliva |
bean (broad) |
la fava |
onion |
la cipolla |
bean (kidney) |
il fagiolo |
orange |
l'arancia |
berry |
la bacca |
parsley |
il prezzemolo |
broccoli |
i broccoli |
pea |
il pisello |
cabbage |
il cavolo |
peach |
la pesca |
carrot |
la carota |
pear |
la pera |
cauliflower |
il cavolfiore |
pepper |
il peperone |
celery |
il sedano |
pine |
il pino |
cherry |
la ciliegia |
pineapple |
l'ananasso |
chestnut |
la castagna |
plum |
la prugna / la susina |
chives |
la cipollina |
potato |
la patata |
corn |
il granoturco |
pumpkin |
la zucca |
cucumber |
il cetriolo |
radish |
il ravanello |
currant |
il ribes |
raspberry |
il lampone |
cypress |
il cipresso |
rice |
il riso |
date |
il dattero |
rye |
la segale |
eggplant |
la melanzana |
sage |
la salvia |
fig |
il fico |
seed |
il seme |
fruit |
la frutta |
spinach |
gli spinaci |
garlic |
l'aglio |
strawberry |
la fragola |
grapefruit |
il pompelmo |
tomato |
il pomodoro |
grapes |
l'uva |
turnip |
la rapa |
hazelnut |
la nocciola |
vegetables |
i legumi / le verdure |
herb |
l'erba |
vine |
la vite |
horse-radish |
la barbaforte |
walnut |
la noce |
leaf |
la foglia |
watermelon |
l'anguria / il cocomero |
lemon |
il limone |
wheat |
il frumento |
lentil |
la lenticchia |
zucchini |
la zucchina |
37. TO TAKE, EAT OR DRINK
Prendere - to take, eat or drink and Bere - to drink
prendo |
prendiamo |
bevo |
beviamo |
prendi |
prendete |
bevi |
bevete |
prende |
prendono |
beve |
bevono |
Past participle: preso |
Past participle: bevuto |
Bere is only used to mean to drink when it is used in the general sense, as is mangiare - to eat. The rest of the time you simply use prendere when referring to eating or drinking, similar to how we can use the verb have in English.
38. COMMANDS
|
-are |
-ere |
-ire |
tu form (singular familiar) |
-a |
-i |
-i / -isci |
Lei form (singular polite) |
-i |
-a |
-a / -isca |
voi form (plural polite) |
-ate |
-ete |
-ite |
noi form (Let's ...) |
-iamo |
-iamo |
-iamo |
To make a command negative, add non before the command, except for the tu (singular familiar) commands, when you use non and the infinitive.
|
tu form |
Lei form |
voi form |
Answer! |
Rispondi! |
Risponda! |
Rispondete! |
Don't answer! |
Non rispondere! |
Non risponda! |
Non rispondete! |
Irregular Commands
|
andare - to go |
venire - to come |
fare - to do |
dare - to give |
dire - to say / tell |
essere - to be |
avere - to have |
stare -to be / stay |
sing. fam. |
va' |
vieni |
fa' |
da' |
di' |
sii |
abbi |
sta' |
sing. pol. |
vada |
venga |
faccia |
dia |
dica |
sia |
abbia |
stia |
plural |
andate |
venite |
fate |
date |
dite |
siate |
abbiate |
state |
Let's |
andiamo |
veniamo |
facciamo |
diamo |
diciamo |
siamo |
abbiamo |
stiamo |
The words avanti, dai and su can accompany commands to give emphasis, similar to come on! in English. If pure is used with a command, it softens the intensity.
39. MORE NEGATIVES
non...mai |
never |
non...più |
no longer, no more |
non...niente / nulla |
nothing |
non...nessuno |
nobody, no one |
non...neanche |
not even |
non...né...né |
neither...nor |
The non goes before the verb and the second part goes after.
Non ho niente. I have nothing.
Nessuno and niente can also be subjects. In this case, non is not used.
Nessuno è venuto. No one came.
40. HOLIDAY PHRASES
Buon Anno! |
Happy New Year! |
Buona Pasqua! |
Happy Easter! |
Buon compleanno! |
Happy Birthday! |
Buon Natale! |
Merry Christmas! |
Buone feste! |
Happy Holidays! |
Buona vacanza! |
Have a good vacation! |
Buon divertimento! |
Have a good time! |
Buon viaggio! |
Have a good trip! |
Tanti auguri! |
Best wishes |