Archive for 'Italian Language'
Similitudini Posted by Serena on Jul 17, 2011
A few days ago a reader wrote to me saying that he really enjoyed Italian similitudini (similes) such as cieco come una talpa (‘as blind as a mole’), and asked if I knew any more of them. Here is a list of some popular similitudini: dormire come un ghiro (‘to sleep like a dormouse’) furbo…
Chi Compie Queste Azioni? Posted by Serena on Jun 20, 2011
Here’s a little quiz for you. Listed below are 6 groups of actions. See if you can match each group to the appropriate person. Chi compie queste azioni? – Who carries out these actions? Group 1. taglia imbastisce cuce infila misura Group 2. sbuccia spreme affetta mescola frigge Group 3. frena sterza accellera posteggia indica…
Quiz – Chi Compie Queste Azioni? – le soluzioni Posted by Serena on Jun 17, 2011
Firstly, well done everyone who had a go at my quiz, I see I’ll have to do more of these in the future. Va bene, as promised here are the translation and le soluzioni (the solutions): Chi compie queste azioni? – Who carries out these actions? Group 1. taglia (cuts) imbastisce (tacks) cuce (sews)…
Musica Mattutina – Morning Music Posted by Serena on May 30, 2011
Not having regular nine to five jobs, we tend to have our own orario (timetable). However, even if we do need to alzarci presto (get up early) we rarely have to use la sveglia (the alarm clock) because every morning a series of reliable events take place that make sure we don’t stay in bed…
Ti fregano anche da morto Posted by Serena on May 15, 2011
It never ceases to amaze me the variety of ways in which i furbi riescono a fregare la gente (cunning people manage to rip folk off). Here is a little story about a fregatura (scam) that I read in the newspaper Il Secolo XIX: Tangenti sui morti, tre arresti – Bribes for the dead, three…
L’Etimologia della Pasta Posted by Serena on May 9, 2011
I thought it would be fun to have a look at just a few of the innumerable varieties of pasta that we produce in Italy, and to discover where they get their names from. Click on the images below to enlarge them. Va bene, cominciamo con la pasta italiana più famosa: gli spaghetti (o.k. let’s…
Il Nuovo Decespugliatore Posted by Serena on Apr 30, 2011
As I mentioned in my last blog "Facciamo gli erbi" the grass and weeds on the orto (vegetable garden) are growing a vista d’occhio (before our eyes). As we don’t have a cow or a goat the only practical way of keeping 500 square meters of land under control is a decespugliatore (strimmer or brush…