Let’s find out how you got on with this month’s quiz, which was based on material from our recent posts.

Part 1: Vocabulary revision

a. In the 70’s pop singer Elton John was famous for wearing which type of footwear? (Italian name required) = le zeppe, gli zatteroni

b. In which Italian city were the above type of footwear popular between around 1400 and 1700, and what were they called? = Venezia, chopine

c. In Italian, end of season sales are called = I Saldi di Fine Stagione

d. and a bargain is called = un’occassione

e. in a shoe shop, how would you say: “I take a size 38”? = porto il 38

f. how would you say: “I like the grey ones better”? = mi piacciono di più quelle grigie/quelli grigi

g. how would you ask: “could you give me a bit of a discount? = mi potrebbe fare un po’ di sconto?

h. you can wear them, eat them, and plug electrical appliances into them … what are they? = le ciabatte

i. when you want to buy some shoes you go to a = negozio di calzature and when you want to get your shoes fixed you go to a = calzolaio

j. what expression do we use in Italian for mopping our plates with a piece of bread to finish off the sauce? = fare la scarpetta

k. when you want to buy a book you go to the = libreria and when you want to borrow a book you go to the biblioteca

l. if a shop assistant tells you: “l’abbiamo terminato” what do they mean? = we’ve sold out of them

m. how would you ask the shop assistant to gift wrap your acquisition? = mi può fare una confezione regalo per favore?

m. how would you ask: “how much do I owe you”? = quanto le devo?

Part 2: Replace the English words and phrases in the following dialogue with their Italian equivalents

Luisa: “Cosa fai domani?”

Serena: “ Vado giù a Sarzana a fare un po’ di spesa”

Luisa: “Cosa vuoi comprare”

Serena: “volevo  trovarmi un paio di scarponi leggeri per l’estate”

Luisa: “E basta?”

Serena: “No, mia mamma mi ha chiesto di trovarle delle lenzuola di cotone, hai qualche idea dove le posso trovare”

Luisa: “Hmmmm sì, ti consiglio di andare a ‘Tutto Letto’, è un nuovo grande magazzino che vende di tutto per la camera da letto.”

Serena: “Okay, dove resta?”

Luisa: “Allora, esci dall’autostrada e vai verso il centro, sai c’è quella grande rotonda/rotatoria?”

Serena: “Sì”

Luisa: “Allora, vai a destra, verso Massa, ed è lì a duecento metri sulla sinistra.”

Serena: “Ho capito, grazie”

Luisa: “Figurati, buona spesa!”

Serena: “Grazie, a dopo, ciao.”

Well done everyone who had a go, a presto.