lingua Archives - Page 24 of 28

Are you a “quaquaraquà”? Strange Italian people – PODCAST

SomeusefulconversationalItalianexpressionsfordefiningweird,unusualorstrangepeople.Listentothepodcast. Weirdosareeverywhere,includingItaly.ButhowcanyoudescribeapersonhavingastrangeorunusualattitudeinItalian? Itseemsthatwhenitcomestostrangeorunusualpeople,allthelanguagesagreeonstereotypesandcommonexpressions. Fuoriditesta-Outofyourmind Mattocomeuncavallo-Crazylikeahorse Viveresuunaltropianeta-Belivingonanotherplanet Testardocomeunmulo- Beasstubbornasamule Unbuonoanulla-Agoodfornothing Unquaquaraquà- A squealer Cervellodigallina-Hen’sbrain Glimancaunvenerdì-HemissesaFriday(he’snot100%) Averelatestatralenuvole- Headintheclouds Loscemodelvillaggio-Everybody’sfool Thanksforlistening.Ifyouhavequestionsorknowmore,pleasecommentthispostandshare.

Interrompere qualcuno – Interrupt someone, PODCAST

IfyouspeaksomeItalianbutyouarenotfluentenoughforjumpingintoaconversationandinterruptsomeoneappropriately,hereyoucanfindsomehelp. Therearedifferentapproachesforinterruptingsomeone(interromperequalcuno)dependingonthesituationandthepersonyouaretalkingto.Wecouldtakeforexample3levels:formale,normale,informale.Noneedtotranslatethese3wordsinEnglishright?Wearegoingtogiveyoufourexamplesforeachlevel. Havealookandrepeatafterthepodcastforlearningthecorrectpronunciation.Enjoy! FORMALE NORMALE INFORMALE InthefirstcaseweusedtheformalLei, verypolite; inthesecondtheinformalTuwithsomepoliteformulas(e.g.senontidispiace); inthethirdgroupweusedaverydirectsetofexamples,somethingyouwoulduseonlywithpeopleyoureallyknow. WehopeyoucouldusesomeofthesesentencestointeractproperlywithanativeItalianspeaker.Ofcoursewewouldlovetoteachyoumore.Pleasevisitourhomepage,youcanbookafreetrialItalianlessononSkype(tm).Thanksforlistening,civediamo!

Andare in bicicletta – Cycling in Italian

Spending a nice holiday cycling in Italy is a wonderful experience. Learn basic words related to cycling and bicycles. “Andare in bicicletta” means cycling in Italian. Cycling in Italian cities is not really safe, too many cars and stone-paved roads. However, spending a nice holiday immersed in the beautiful countryside, cycling in Italian Alps, lakes, … Read more ≫

Sorpresa! – Express surprise in Italian

Learn how to express surprise in Italian with 10 examples coming from the live language. Quick Italian lesson: try to translate into your language the following examples: DI PUNTO IN BIANCO… Exactly like “out of the blue”. Di punto in bianco, Carlo si è alzato dal tavolo e se n’è andato. Non se lo … Read more ≫

Conversational Italian 4: Affittare una macchina: Rent a car – Podcast

Learnhowto”affittareunamacchina”,rentacarinItalian,listentothepodcast. ThislessonmaycomeinhandywhenyouaretravellinginItaly.Italianpublictransportationisabitmessy,notveryefficient,butdefinitelycheapandenjoyable.Thebestwaytotravelandfeelfreetogoanywhere,isofcourserentingacar.Learnthebasicvocabularyandpronunciation,listentotheFREEpodcast. Affittareunamacchina. Thelessonisdividedinthreeparts:whatyouwillsaytorentacar,whatyouwillhearfromtheautonoleggio (carrentalagency) andthefinaldialoguewiththefreepodcast.Buondivertimento! WORDBANK autonoleggio=carrental/cliente=customer/ affittare=torent/assicurazione=insurance/franchigia= excess-deductible/ driver’slicence=patentediguida/benzina=gasoline/serbatoio=tank/ilpieno=fulltank/utilitaria=economycar/gomma=tire/ruota=wheel/volante=steeringwheel/freno=brake/parcheggio=parkinglot/incidente=accident/dent=ammaccatura/ furgone=van WHATYOUWILLSAY-COSADIRAI Vorreiaffittareunamacchinaperfavore. I’dliketorentacarplease. Vuolevederelamiapatente? Wouldyouliketoseemylicense? Dov’èlamacchina? Whereisthecar? Possolasciarelamacchinainun’altracittà? CanIleavethecarinanothercity? Hailcambiomanualeoautomatico? Isitstickshiftorautomatic? C’èunaammaccaturasullacarrozzeria There’sadentinthebodywork. C’èungraffiosullaportiera There’sascratchatthedoor. Qualèlatariffaoraria? What’sthefeeperhour? Qualèlatariffagiornaliera? What’sthefeeperday? Qualèlatariffaalchilometro? What’sthefeeperkilometer? Quantocostal’assicurazione? Howmuchistheinsurance? Qualèlatarga? What’stheplatenumber? Èabenzinaoèundiesel? Doesittakepetrolordiesel? Dovelalascioquandoritorno? WheredoIleaveitwhenI’mback? Dovelasciolechiavi? WheredoIleavethekeys? Miscusi,hoammaccatolamacchina. I’msorry,I’vedentedthecar. WHATYOUHEAR-COSASENTIRAI Ilserbatoioèpieno Thetankisfull Perfavore,larestituiscaconilpieno Pleasebringitbackwithafulltank Lechiavisonosulcruscotto Keysareonthedashboard Lavetturaènelparcheggio,fila32,posto56 Thevehicleisintheparkinglot,aisle32,place56 Chiamiquestonumeroincasodinecessità Pleasecallthisnumbershouldyouneedanyhelp Compiliilmoduloperfavore Pleasefillouttheform … Read more ≫

Conversational Italian #3: Italian phrasal verbs

Do you like tiramisù? I do! The name of this famous Italian dessert is the combination of the verb tirare (to pull) and the preposition su (up). Italian phrasal verbs are called verbi sintagmatici. Calling them “Italian phrasal verbs” is not right, but it makes sense and “verbi sintagmatici” is too technical (and boring, che noia!). Italian phrasal verbs are important … Read more ≫

“Una chiacchierata” with Dianne Hales

A friendly conversation with the author of the best-selling book “La bella lingua” and the brand new “Mona Lisa: A life discovered” I’m very happy to finally have the chance of “chiacchierare” (chatting) with Dianne Hales. I am fascinated by the genuine love Dianne feels for my native language, expressed with passion in her book, “La … Read more ≫

“Che tempo fa?” – Weather in Italian – Podcast

Basiclesson:WeatherinItalian.Chetempofa? Weatheristheclassicicebreaker,buthowdowesay”ice”inItalian?TodayyouwilllearnthemostcommonexpressionrelatedtoweatherinItalianusingverbs,adjectives,frequentquestionsandvocabulary.Everythingcomeswithapodcast,ofcourserecordedbyanativeItalianspeaker. VERBS-VERBI ADJECTIVES-AGGETTIVI NOUNS-NOMI Q&A’s -DOMANDEERISPOSTE DOMANDE Com’èiltempooggi?-What’stheweatherliketoday? Comesaràiltempodomani? Whatwilltheweatherbeliketomorrow Comesonoleprevisioni?How’stheforecastlooking? Nevicheràdomani?Isitgoingtosnowtomorrow? Qualèlatemperatura?What’sthetemperature? ChetempofaaMilano?How’stheweatherinMilan? Com’erailtempoieriaRoma?HowwastheweatheryesterdayinRome ChetempofaràdomaniaFirenze?Whatwilltheweatherbeliketomorrow inFirenze? Domanipioverà?Isitgoingtoraintomorrow? Domanifaràbeltempo?Istheweathergoingtobegoodtomorrow? Facaldoofafreddo?Willitbehotorcold? C’èilsoleaBologna?IsitsunnyinBologna? RISPOSTE Oggifabeltempo.Todaytheweatherisfine Domanifaràbruttotempo.Tomorrowtheweatherisgoingtobebad Leprevisionisonobuone.Theforecastisgood Domaninonnevicherà.Itwon’tsnowtomorrow Cisonoventottogradi.28degrees AMilanoc’èilsole.It’ssunnyinMilan ARomaierihapiovuto.ItwasrainingyesterdayinRome DomaniaFirenzesarànuvoloso.ItwillbecloudyinFirenzetomorrow Domaniforsenonpioverà.Maybetomorrowitwon’train Domanifaràbeltempo.Tomorrowtheweatherwillbegood Faràfreddo.Itwillbecold ABolognac’èlanebbia.It’sfoggyinBologna NowyouarereadytotalkaboutweatherinItalian.Pleasefollowusandsubscribetoournewsletter. LearnItalianonlinewithDanteLearning,bookyourfreetriallessontoday!

Il presepe in Italia – Nativity scenes in Italy – Christmas words

The Italian presepe is a traditional representation of the nativity, but also a chance to stay together during Christmas Il presepe, or presepio, is a classic representation of the nativity. Every catholic family (famiglia cattolica) in Italy makes the “presepe” with kids and friends at home. An Italian Christmas (Natale) is not complete without the … Read more ≫