O.K. it’s time for another one of my little quizzes. This one is based on parole onomatopeiche (onomatopoeic words).
Here’s how it works: below, you will find a numbered list of sounds together with their onomatopoeic counterparts, this is followed by a list of things that produce the sounds (highlighted in blue). All you have to do is match each sound/onomatopoeic word with its appropriate ‘sound producer’. I’ll begin with a completed example:
1. Miao… miao… e’ il miagolio del gatto (Meow… meow… is the mewing of the cat)
Now it’s your turn, and because I don’t want to make it too simplistic for you I’ll leave it in Italian without translations. N.B. I have highlighted the accents of each onomatopoeic word in red to help you with the pronunciation, dai, forza!
2. Tic… tic… e’ il ticchettio —————
3. Bee…bee… e’ il belato —————
4. Sc… sc… e’ il fruscio —————
5. Tin… tin… e’ il tintinnio —————
6. Trin… trin… e’ il trillo —————
7. Sssss… ssss… e’ il sibilo —————
8. Uuuuu… uuuu… e’ l’ ululo —————
9. Gra… gra… e’ il gracidio —————
10. Gru… gru… e’ il grugnito —————
11. Frr… frr… e’ il frinio —————
del serpente
del vento rabbioso
della pecora
dell’orologio
delle foglie al vento
di un brindisi
del telefono
della rana
della cicala
del maiale
To post your answers click on the comments button below. As usual I’ll post the correct answers and translations in a few days, buona fortuna.
Comments:
Nathan:
2. dell’orologio (clock)
3. della pecora (sheep)
4. delle foglie al vento (wind thru leaves?)
5. non lo so
6. del telefono (phone)
7. del serpente (snake)
8. non lo so
9. della cicala (cirket??)
10. del maiale
11. non lo so
Liz:
2. dell’orologio
3. della pecora
4. delle foglie al vento
5. di un brindisi
6. del telefono
7. del serpento
8. del vento rabbioso
9. della rana
10. del maiale
11. della cicala
Liz:
mi dispiace
7. del serpente non serpento!
Rowena:
What an awesome site Serena. Someone had sent me a link for learning word of the day for Portuguese and Spanish, but I am thrilled to see language blogs as well.
Chicchi-ricchi ricchi-ricchi!!
Jennifer:
Ciao Serena,
I really enjoyed this entry…what a good idea to teach us how onomatopeic words are spelled and pronounced in Italian.
I just wanted to point out that this reminds me of a scene (molto carino!) in Nanni Moretti’s Caro diario when callers could never get through to their desired parties because little kids would keep them on the phone asking questions like “what does the pig say?”
Great blog!!
Serena:
Salve Jennifer,
Thanks for your comment. Yes ‘Caro Diario’ is a great film, however I don’t remember the scene that you mentioned as it was several years ago that I saw it, I’ll have to try and watch it again sometime.
A presto, Serena