Archive for the year 2011
Colomba Pasquale Posted by Serena on Apr 22, 2011
Our traditional Easter cake is called la Colomba (the Dove). Similar to the Christmas Panettone in flavor and consistency, but baked in the form of a stylized dove, it is a symbol of peace. Although it’s the most popular Easter cake eaten in Italy, the tradition of la Colomba isn’t that old as it was…
Mancare Posted by Serena on Apr 19, 2011
The Italian verb mancare means ‘to be lacking in’ or ‘to be missing’. It is an important and useful verb which is well worth studying because we use it a lot in everyday conversation. 1. ‘to miss’ someone or something’ is expressed in the following way in Italian: mi manca la mia famiglia – I…
Quiz – Nomi Collettivi – le soluzioni Posted by Serena on Apr 15, 2011
Here are the correct answers to my quiz ‘Nomi Collettivi’ tante persone (lots of people) – una folla tanti alberi (lots of trees) – un bosco tanti cantori (lots of singers) – un coro tante mucche (lots of cows) – una mandria tante navi (lots of ships) – una flotta tanti pesci (lots of fish)…
Quiz – Nomi Collettivi Posted by Serena on Apr 12, 2011
Nomi collettivi – collective nouns are used to indicate a group of people, animals, or objects. For example: ‘un aranceto’ is a group of orange trees, or an orange grove; ‘un complesso’ is a group of rock musicians, or a rock band, e così via (and so on). Now try and match the descriptions below…
Facciamo un Picnic Posted by Serena on Apr 9, 2011
Saturday morning was the beginning of a beautiful warm spring day. Not a cloud in the sky, a chorus of birdsong, lucertole (lizards) scuttling about over the terrazza and darting into shady cracks in the old stone walls. "Stavo pensando" dice mio marito "perché non invitiamo Claudio e Annalisa a fare un picnic su da…
Aprile Posted by Serena on Apr 6, 2011
Principali Festività (Main Festivals) According to the Roman historian Varro, Rome was founded on the 21st of April 753 B.C. (see my blog https://blogs.transparent.com/italian/buon-compleanno-roma/). Every year Rome celebrates her birthday with l’infiorata di Piazza di Spagna i.e. by covering the Spanish steps with blossoms. The 25th of April, Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day), is a…
Imbianchiamo la casa Posted by Serena on Apr 3, 2011
La primavera è arrivata ed è ora di pensare a tutti quei lavoretti che vogliamo fare in giro per la casa. Innanzitutto c’è da imbiancare un paio di stanze. Proprio ieri è arrivato nella cassetta delle lettere il catalogo di un grande magazzino "fai da te". Sfogliamolo assieme e vediamo cosa c’è che ci può…