{"id":18017,"date":"2019-04-04T12:59:42","date_gmt":"2019-04-04T10:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/?p=18017"},"modified":"2019-04-04T12:59:42","modified_gmt":"2019-04-04T10:59:42","slug":"mi-piace-il-verbo-sentire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/mi-piace-il-verbo-sentire\/","title":{"rendered":"Mi Piace Il Verbo Sentire"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, I’m dedicating a poem by Alda Merini<\/strong> (1931-2009) to my dear husband Geoff, who sometimes complains that the verb sentire<\/strong> (to feel) is used for too many different actions: to hear, to smell, to taste, and to feel.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

In reality, we do actually have specific nouns and verbs to describe i cinque sensi<\/strong> (the five senses).
\nEccoli<\/strong> (here they are):<\/p>\n

la vista<\/strong> = sight
\nverb: vedere<\/strong> = to see<\/p>\n

l’udito<\/strong> = hearing
\nverb: udire<\/strong> = to hear. This is irregular in the present tense: io odo, tu odi, lui ode, noi udiamo, voi udite, loro odono<\/strong><\/p>\n

l’olfatto<\/strong> = smell
\nverb: odorare<\/strong> = to smell<\/p>\n

il gusto<\/strong> = taste
\nverb: gustare<\/strong> = to taste<\/p>\n

il tatto<\/strong> = touch
\nverb: toccare<\/strong> = to touch<\/p>\n

However, apart from la vista<\/strong>, which always uses the verb vedere<\/strong>, all the other senses commonly use the verb sentire<\/strong>, e.g.:
\nho sentito un rumore strano<\/strong> = I heard a strange noise
\nsi sente il sapore del cloro nell’acqua<\/strong> = you can taste chlorine in the water; il sapore del cloro<\/strong> = <\/strong>the taste of chlorine<\/em>
\nsento un odore delizioso<\/strong> = I smell a delicious smell
\nsenti com’\u00e8 morbido!<\/strong> = feel how soft it is!<\/p>\n

We also use sentire<\/strong> for feelings, e.g.:
\nsento pena per lui<\/strong> = I feel sorry for him
\nquando vedo il mare sento una grande felicit\u00e0 <\/strong>= when I see the sea I feel great happiness<\/p>\n

The verb sentire<\/strong> is used in this way for a reason: the word senso <\/strong>(sense) comes from the Latin verb sentire<\/strong>, which means ‘to perceive an external stimulus, either physically through the five senses or emotionally’. In fact English words such as sentiment (sentimento<\/strong>) and sentimental (sentimentale<\/strong>) come from the same root.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Geoff by the sea.<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

So, here’s Alda Merini’s beautiful poem which pays homage to this very important Italian verb. English translation by Serena.<\/p>\n

Mi Piace Il Verbo Sentire…, di Alda Merini:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mi piace il verbo sentire…<\/strong><\/span>
\nSentire il rumore del mare,<\/strong><\/span>
\nsentirne l\u2019odore.<\/strong><\/span>
\nSentire il suono della pioggia<\/strong><\/span>
\nche ti bagna le labbra,<\/strong><\/span>
\nsentire una penna che traccia<\/strong><\/span>
\nsentimenti su un foglio bianco.<\/strong><\/span>
\nSentire l\u2019odore di chi ami,<\/strong><\/span>
\nsentirne la voce<\/strong><\/span>
\ne sentirlo col cuore.<\/strong><\/span>
\nSentire \u00e8 il verbo delle emozioni,<\/strong><\/span>
\nci si sdraia sulla schiena del mondo<\/strong><\/span>
\ne si sente\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I Like The Verb To Feel…, by Alda Merini:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I like the verb to feel\u2026<\/span>
\nTo feel the noise of the sea,<\/span>
\nto feel its smell.<\/span>
\nTo feel the sound of the rain<\/span>
\nthat wets your lips,<\/span>
\nto feel a pen portraying<\/span>
\nfeelings on a white sheet.<\/span>
\nTo feel the smell of the one you love,<\/span>
\nto feel his voice,<\/span>
\nand to feel him with your heart.<\/span>
\nTo feel is the verb of emotions,<\/span>
\nyou lay down on the back of the world<\/span>
\nand you feel…<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Today, I’m dedicating a poem by Alda Merini (1931-2009) to my dear husband Geoff, who sometimes complains that the verb sentire (to feel) is used for too many different actions: to hear, to smell, to taste, and to feel. In reality, we do actually have specific nouns and verbs to describe i cinque sensi (the…<\/p>\n

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