{"id":3829,"date":"2013-08-20T14:08:00","date_gmt":"2013-08-20T14:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/?p=3829"},"modified":"2013-08-20T14:39:12","modified_gmt":"2013-08-20T14:39:12","slug":"let-me-give-you-a-hand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/let-me-give-you-a-hand\/","title":{"rendered":"Let me give you a hand"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mano<\/strong> = hand, like occhio<\/strong> = eye, which we explored in a previous blog, is another word whose roots can be found in a range of vocabulary and expressions which I\u2019ll cover in this blog. But first, let\u2019s have a look at the hand itself. The first thing to note is that la mano<\/strong> is irregular in that it is a feminine word ending in \u2018o<\/strong>\u2019, which is typically a masculine ending:<\/p>\n

la mano<\/strong> = the hand (fem. sing), plural le mani<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are the basic parts of the hand:<\/font><\/p>\n

il dito<\/strong> = the finger (masc. sing.), plural le dita<\/strong> (fem. plur.)<\/p>\n

il pollice<\/strong> = the thumb<\/p>\n

l\u2019indice<\/strong>  = the index finger<\/p>\n

il medio<\/strong> = the middle finger<\/p>\n

l\u2019anulare<\/strong> = the ring finger<\/p>\n

il mignolo<\/strong> = the little finger<\/p>\n

la nocca<\/strong> = the knuckle<\/p>\n

l\u2019unghia<\/strong> = the nail (fem. sing.)<\/p>\n

il palmo<\/strong> = the palm<\/p>\n

il dorso<\/strong> = the back of the hand<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Uomo-e-Dio\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hands from Michelangelo\u2019s La Creazione di Adamo<\/font><\/strong><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

Here are a few words which derive from mano<\/strong>, beginning with a sometimes controversial one:<\/font><\/p>\n

manager<\/strong> = manager, contrary to a misguided theory proposed by certain feminists the word manager (we use the word in its English form) has nothing to do with men, i.e. man<\/u> (male person)<\/em> ager<\/font>. It derives instead from the Latin manu<\/u> agere<\/strong> = to lead by the hand<\/u><\/p>\n

manuale<\/strong> = manual, literally: \u2018by hand\u2019<\/em><\/font>, or handbook, as in manuale di istruzione<\/strong> or manuale d\u2019uso<\/strong> (instruction manual). N.B. Libretto di istruzione<\/strong> (instruction booklet) is also widely used<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n

manodopera<\/strong> = labour, literally: \u2018handwork\u2019<\/font><\/em> (can also be written mano d\u2019opera<\/strong> but the former is more correct). Hence manodopera stagionale<\/strong> (seasonal labour), costo della manodepera<\/strong> (labour cost), etc.<\/p>\n

manovale<\/strong> = labourer<\/p>\n

manovra<\/strong> = manoeuvre, literally: \u2018operation carried out by hand\u2019<\/font><\/em> (the English word manure also comes from the same root)<\/p>\n

manufatto<\/strong> = manufactured product, artefact, handwork, literally: \u2018made by hand\u2019<\/font><\/em>, hence manifattura<\/strong> = manufacturing<\/p>\n

maneggiare<\/strong> = to handle<\/p>\n

il manico\/la maniglia<\/strong> = the handle, such as a door handle: la maniglia della porta<\/strong><\/p>\n

la manovella<\/strong> = the crank<\/p>\n

la manopola<\/strong> = the knob<\/p>\n

la manica<\/strong> = the sleeve, N.B. we also use La Manica<\/strong> to describe \u2018The English Channel\u2019<\/p>\n

la manica a vento<\/strong> = the windsock, literally: \u2018the wind sleeve\u2019<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n

le manette<\/strong> = the handcuffs<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026 and a few useful expressions that use the word mano<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

a portata di mano<\/strong> = close at hand, hence: tenere a portata di mano<\/strong> (keep close at hand)<\/p>\n

mani di pasta frolla<\/strong> = butter fingers, literally: \u2018short crust pastry hands\u2019<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n

fare la mano morta<\/strong> = to touch someone (with sexual intent) by pretending it was an accident, literally: \u2018to do the dead hand\u2019<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n

dare una mano<\/strong> = to give a hand, e.g. domani ti do una mano sull\u2019orto<\/strong> (I\u2019ll give you a hand in the vegetable garden tomorrow), or le posso dare una mano, signora?<\/strong> (can I give you a hand madam?).<\/p>\n

stringere la mano<\/strong> a qualcuno<\/strong> = to shake someone’s hand, literally: \u2018to squeeze the hand\u2019<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n

una persona alla mano<\/strong> = a simple person<\/p>\n

scritto\/composto a quattro mani<\/strong> = co-written, literally: written\/composed by four hands (i.e. by two people)<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n

una mano lava l\u2019altra e tutt\u2019e due lavano il viso<\/strong> = cooperation is more effective, literally: one hand washes the other one and both wash the face<\/font><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Mano = hand, like occhio = eye, which we explored in a previous blog, is another word whose roots can be found in a range of vocabulary and expressions which I\u2019ll cover in this blog. But first, let\u2019s have a look at the hand itself. The first thing to note is that la mano is…<\/p>\n

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