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Il carro: a noun that pulls its weight

Since the wheel was invented, carts have been used for transporting goods. But carts and similar vehicles come in all shapes and sizes and are used for so many different things, so it's natural for there to be variants depending on the size and function. 

 

The basic noun in Italian is carro. Its definition in Italian is this: 

Veicolo a trazione animale o meccanica, costituito da un piano sostenuto da due o quattro ruote, usato per il trasporto di materiali e merci.

Vehicle that is mechanical or pulled by animals, constisting of a flat bed supported by two or four wheels, used to transport materials and goods. 

 

The noun carro by itself generally indicates a rather large-sized cart. But what it's used for is usually in the form of a second noun used as an adjective, an adjective, or as an alteration of the word carro.

 

Il carro attrezzi

Carro is used together with a modifier describing its function:

Ho capito la situazione, ma non... chiama il carro attrezzi, il soccorso stradale, qualcosa.

I understand the situation, but I can't... call the tow truck, the roadside assistance, something.

Captions 38-39, Provaci ancora prof! S2E5 Vita da cani - Part 4

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Essentially, you are loading a car on a big "cart" equipped to do that. It's attrezzato (equipped) with gli attrezzi (equipment).

 

Il carro da parata or il carro allegorico

In a parade or procession, called una sfilata, un corteo, un corteo storico, or una processione, the floats are called i carri. 

Come vedi c'è il carro di Santa Rosalia e al posto della Santa... -E lui lì sopra.

As you can see, there's the Saint Rosalia [patron saint of Palermo] float and in place of the Saint... -And him on top of it.

Captions 25-26, Dottor Pitrè e le sue storie - Part 2

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Il carro funebre

carro funebre

For a funeral procession, as well, the noun carro is used. Even today, with a motorized hearse, the same term is employed. 

Sarà mica un carro funebre?

It wouldn't be a hearse, would it?

Caption 64, Provaci ancora prof! S1E2 - Un amore pericoloso - Part 12

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Il carro armato 

Literally, "the armed cart." 

Me lo dici che premio è? Un carro armato vero, nuovo nuovo.

Will you tell me what the prize is? A real tank, brand new.

Captions 20-21, Trailer La vita è bella - Roberto Benigni

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We can use diminutive suffixes to indicate a smaller carro

È su un carretto trainato forse da una pecora, comunque da un ovino ed è un momento felice, anche se per molti esperti, si tratta di un viaggio simbolico verso l'aldilà, il regno dei morti.

He is on a cart drawn by perhaps a sheep, in any case by an ovine and it is a happy moment, even if for many experts, it involves a symbolic journey to the afterlife, the kingdom of the dead.

Captions 53-55, Meraviglie EP. 2 - Part 6

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The constellations we call "the Big Dipper" and "the Little Dipper" are called respectively il Grande carro and il Piccolo carro in Italian.  

 

There are small carts, too, for transporting things by hand.

 

Il carrello

Un carrello can be the kind you use at the supermarket, but it can be any kind of cart, trolley, or dolly for transporting relatively small items.

Una rana in servizio non dovrebbe spingere il carrello delle clienti.

A frog on duty shouldn't push the customers' carts.

Captions 65-66, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 3 S3EP4 Lo stagno del ranocchio - Part 6

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La carriola (or la cariola as they call it in Rome)  

Be'? Che state a fa' co' 'ste carriole?

Well? What are you doing with these wheelbarrows?

Caption 2, Spot pubblicitario TIM Tribù

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A wheelbarrow with only 2 wheels might be called una carretta, but this word might also refer to a wreck of a car, a jalopy. 

 

La carrozza 

Here, we are talking about a carriage, such as a stagecoach, but carrozza is also used for trains. If you reserve your seat, which car you are in will be indicated with il numero di carrozza

Signore? Sono qua, nella carrozza. Dico a Voi.

Sir? I am here, in the carriage. I'm talking to you.

Captions 32-33, Caravaggio EP1 - Part 9

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But the car of a train might also be called un vagone, an Italianized version of "wagon."

Ferma solo a Guidonia, Firenze, Genova e c'è un vagone ristorante per bambini belli che mangiano tutta la pappa.

It stops only in Guidonia, Florence, Genoa, and there is a dining car for nice children who eat all their mush.

Captions 16-18, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 1 EP3 Un cugino in fuga - Part 2

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La carrozzella in this day and age usually refers to a wheelchair, but once, it referred to a buggy.  

Qua, tolto il figlio con la madre in carrozzella non s'è visto nessuno.

Here, apart from the son with his mother in a wheelchair, I didn't see anyone.

Caption 15, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP3 I giardini della memoria - Part 15

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Una carrozzina may refer to a baby carriage, but some people use it to mean "wheelchair." It's important to consider the context!

 

La carrozzeria and il carrozziere

La carrozzeria is the chassis of a car, as well as the place where a chassis is repaired. 

I fanalini della macchina rotti, le ruote bucate. -Fanalini della macchina rotti. -Per non parlare della carrozzeria.

The taillights of my car broken, the tires slashed. -Taillights broken. -Not to mention the body.

Captions 42-43, Provaci ancora prof! S2E5 Vita da cani - Part 20

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The person who repairs the chassis of a vehicle is called il carrozziere.  

Va bene, allora parlo un attimo col carrozziere.

All right. So I'll have a quick word with the body shop guy.

Caption 16, Provaci ancora prof! S1E3 - Una piccola bestia ferita - Part 14

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There are undoubtedly more words stemming from il carro, and feel free to let us know, so we can add them to this lesson!

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Vocabulary

Absolutely Superlative!

 

We've talked recently about comparatives of equality, and so it makes sense to talk about yet another kind of comparative. We're not really comparing two or more items, but rather giving one item a very high vote.

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In English we use words or prefixes such as "super," "very," "extra," "maximum," "mega."

 

There is a super easy way to make adjectives into absolute superlatives in Italian.

 

Daniela explains how this works:

Ripeto due volte la parola "bravo" e dico: "Lui è bravo bravo".

I repeat the word “brilliant” twice and I say, “He is brilliant brilliant.”

Captions 5-6, Corso di italiano con Daniela - Superlativo assoluto - Part 2

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There are certain adjectives we use quite frequently in this form to express an absolute superlative.

 

One is bello (beautiful, nice):

Là, a quelle, in mezzo a quelle canne ci sono due belle fagiani [fagiane] con un maschione bello bello.

There, in those, in the middle of those canes, there are two nice pheasants with a really nice big male.

Captions 70-71, Anna e Marika - Trattoria Al Biondo Tevere - Part 3

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Another is piccolo (small):

e aveva soltanto un balcone... per prendere un po' d'aria e un appartamento piccolo piccolo.

and he only had a balcony... for getting a bit of air, and a tiny, tiny apartment.

Captions 22-24, Andromeda - e i gatti 2 - Part 1

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Still another is nuovo (new):

Se si vince, si prende il primo premio. Me lo dici che premio è? Un carro armato vero, nuovo nuovo.

If we win, we'll get the first prize. Will you tell me what the prize is? A real tank, brand new.

Captions 19-21, Trailer - La vita è bella - Roberto Benigni

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There are lots of others, and you will, little by little, start noticing them as you listen to spoken Italian, where they occur most frequently.

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Practice: 
Think of things in your everyday life, and try forming sentences with this form of the superlativo assoluto. It's fun and easy.

Here's a head start.

Il frigo è vuoto vuoto (the fridge is completely empty).
Questo pavimento è sporco sporco (this floor is very dirty).
Il disco rigido è pieno pieno (the hard drive is totally full).
Questo video era facile facile da capire (this video was super easy to understand).
Tieni il volume basso basso (keep the volume really low).