Tag Archives: Colloquial Italian
Pensarci Posted by Geoff on Aug 23, 2017
Pensarci can be confusing. If you look in the dictionary you’ll find the explanation that it is a combination of the verb pensare (to think) and ci (which in this case means ‘about it/of it’). But there’s another meaning to pensarci that’s not so easy to decipher … Let’s begin with the easy meaning: pensarci…
At The Fishmonger in Italy Posted by Serena on Dec 2, 2016
Have ever tried to buy fish in Italy? Here’s an opportunity for you to work on your fish shopping vocabulary. The setting la pescheria del nostro amico Beppe (our friend Beppe’s fishmonger’s) The characters Serena, Geoff, Beppe il pescivendolo e sua moglie Gabriella (Serena, Geoff, Beppe the fishmonger and Gabriella, his wife) Serena e Geoff…
At The Railway Station In Italy Posted by Serena on Nov 2, 2016
In English there’s a particular name for unhelpful public employees: jobsworth, an abbreviation of the phrase “I can’t let you do that, it’s more than my job’s worth”. The jobsworth seems to delight in upholding petty rules at the expense of humanity or even common sense. Isn’t it wonderful then, when you come across their…
At The Dentist in Italy Posted by Serena on Oct 14, 2016
In this weeks blockbuster blog, our hero, Geoff, demonstrates immense courage in the face of a ferocious Italian dentist. Based on a true story! The characters: Geoff, the dentist, and the secretary The setting: a private dental surgery in Italy Segretaria: “Buongiorno, come posso esservi utile?” Secretary: “Good morning, how can I help you?” Geoff…
E Allora? Posted by Geoff on Sep 22, 2016
Here’s another small collection of words and phrases that we use all the time in Italy, but which are often overlooked in Italian classes or text books. Learning how and where to use them will make your spoken Italian sound much more natural. Allora is such a habitual word that it sometimes seems impossible to…
Eccoci Al Mare! Posted by Geoff on Sep 9, 2016
If you’ve studied Italian in language classes or from books, it can be an unsettling surprise to arrive in Italy and find that colloquial Italian is peppered with words and expressions that no one ever told you about. One such word is ecco. You hear it all the time, but it’s difficult to pin down exactly…
Idiomatic Expressions with the Verb Dare Posted by Serena on Jul 1, 2016
Some time ago we published a series of posts on the idiomatic uses of the verbs avere (to have) and fare (to do or to make). Today we’re going to take a look at the idiomatic uses of the verb dare (to give). Here’s a list of the most common ones with some practical examples…