Tag Archives: Colloquial Italian
Tasty Italian Flowers Posted by Serena on May 18, 2016
Food dominates all here in Italy, and wherever they are, whatever the occasion, Italians love discussing it! Here’s a typical example: The setting: A small Yoga class in a little Italian country town The characters: Serena (the yoga teacher) and the students (all ladies). Insegnante: “Adesso sdraiatevi e portate le ginocchia al petto così da…
Buying Clothes in Italy – Part 2 Posted by Serena on Apr 13, 2016
Shopping for clothes, like any other category of activity, has its own specific vocabulary. How do you ask for the right shoe size, or say that the jacket sleeves are too short? What size waist are those jeans, and is that shirt going to fit your neck? Here is some key vocabulary to help you…
Buying Clothes in Italy – Part 1 Posted by Serena on Apr 8, 2016
A couple have been invited to una festa in maschera (a fancy dressing party) and they’ve decided to mascherarsi (dress up) as Bonnie and Clyde. They go down town to root around the mercatino delle pulci (flea market) were vintage clothing is sold: Marito: “Mi servono un paio di pantaloni a vita alta, taglia 48…
I’ve Got a Cold Posted by Serena on Mar 23, 2016
Ogni medaglia ha il suo rovescio, every cloud has a silver lining. The cloud is my miserable cold, and the silver lining is that you get to learn some useful vocabulary. So, now you can moan about how bad you feel in both English and Italian … lucky you …. etciù!!! Suona il telefono. Serena…
Having Your Watch Fixed in Italy Posted by Serena on Jan 12, 2016
The setting: il negozio di un orologiaio (the watchmakers/repairers shop) in a small town in Italy The characters: Serena (the client), and l’orologiaio (the watchmaker) Serena: “Buongiorno, ho bisogno di cambiare la batteria dell’orologio” Serena: “Good morning, I need to change the battery in my watch” Orologiaio: “Mi dia pure l’orologio che guardiamo il tipo…
At the Art Gallery in Italy Posted by Serena on Dec 18, 2015
The setting: the ticket office of the Galleria Nazionale in Parma The characters: the ticket seller and an elderly couple Tired from the long journey and the heat, the couple are trying to make sense of the notice board at the entrance of the Galleria Nazionale: Marito: “Oggi che giorno è?” Husband: “What day is…
Carmela’s Little Black Book Posted by Geoff on Oct 14, 2015
She awoke suddenly in darkness, a strange light flickered around the door frame sending menacing shadows dancing across the walls. Smoke … her throat was parched, she began to cough. Stumbling across the room she reached for the door handle and cried out in pain as it burnt her palm. An intense panic welled up…