We talked about the important verb sapere (to know) in a previous lesson. You might have also figured out that even though sapere means "to know," in English, "to know" isn't always translated into Italian with sapere. It can also be translated as conoscere (to know, to be familiar with, to meet for the first time). We have a lesson about that, too.
Another nuance of the verb sapere is that it often means "to know how." In this case, just as "to know how," in English, is followed by a verb in the infinitive (such as in "to know how to do something"), sapere, when it means "to know how" is also followed by a verb in the infinitive. We can see an example of this in the following clip.
Ma come, l'hai inventata tu la Lettera Ventidue
But how come? You invented the Lettera Twenty-two
e non la sai usare?
and you don't know how to use it?
Caption 38, Adriano Olivetti - La forza di un sogno Ep. 1
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But there is another similar way to translate this sense of sapere. And that is with "can" or "to be able to." Just as with "can," sometimes it's about being capable of doing something (as in the previous example), and sometimes it is about being able to or kind enough to do something (as in this next example).
Mi scusi, buon uomo.
Pardon me, my good man.
Mi sa dire l'ora, per favore?
Can you tell me the time, please?
-Le cinque e trentacinque.
-Five thirty-five.
-Ma è sicuro?
-But are you sure?
E trentasei mo, eh!
-[And] thirty-six now, huh!
-Ah!
-Ah!
Grazie, eh! -Prego.
Thanks, huh! -You're welcome.
Captions 1-7, Barzellette - L'asino che dà l'ora
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Literally, this might have been translated as: "Do you know how to tell me the time?" But that's not really what he means. Of course, the guy on the scooter could have said something else, such as:
Sa che ore sono (Do you know what time it is)?
but that isn't actually asking for the person to share the information. He also could have said:
Mi può dire che ore sono (can you tell me what time it is)?
Mi può dire l'ora per favore (can you tell me the time, please)?
Che ore sono, per favore (what time is it, please)?
Può dirmi che ore sono (can you tell me what time it is)?
So we can use the verb potere (to be able to), but using sapere to mean "can" in certain contexts, especially with verbs such as dire (to say) indicare (to indicate), consigliare (to recommend), is a very typical way to ask if someone can do something. It is ever so slightly round-about and gives an impression of informal politeness. We might say it's a cross between "Can you?" and "Do you know how?"
1) Can you ask the above questions using the informal form of address?
2) How about transforming these sentences by replacing potere with sapere?
-2a) Mi puoi dire come raggiungere la stazione (can you tell me how to get to the station)?
-2b) Non poteva dirmi l'ora perché non aveva l'orologio (she couldn't tell me what time it was because she didn't have her watch on).
-2c) Non ti posso consigliare una buona pizzeria perché non sono di questa zona (I can't recommend a good pizzeria because I am not from around here).
1)
Sai dirmi l'ora (can you tell me the time)?
Sai che ore sono (do you know what time it is)?
Mi puoi dire che ore sono (can you tell me what time it is)?
Mi puoi dire l'ora per favore (can you tell me the time, please)?
Che ore sono, per favore (what time is it, please)?
Puoi dirmi che ore sono (can you tell me what time it is)?
2)
2a) Mi sai dire come raggiungere la stazione (can you tell me how to get to the station)?
2b) Non sapeva dirmi l'ora perché non aveva con se l'orologio (he/she couldn't tell me what time it was because she didn't have her watch on).
2bb) Non ha saputo dirmi l'ora perché non aveva con se l'orologio (he/she couldn't tell me what time it was because she didn't have her watch on).
2c) Non ti so consigliare una buona pizzeria perché non sono di questa zona (I can't recommend a good pizzeria because I am not from around here).
Let us know if you have any questions (newsletter@yabla.com), and thanks for reading!
If we listen to an Italian speaking, either formally or informally, one word we will hear constantly is proprio. With its various meanings, it can be confusing to start using. Proprio sounds a lot like "proper," of course, and that is one meaning, although not the most common.
Let's start with one of the few cases in which proprio can connote "proper": the expression vero e proprio. Literally, "true and proper," it always comes as two words connected by the conjunction e (and). The expression can mean "proper" or "veritable" (as in the case of the example below). "Genuine," "real," or "actual" can work, too. Italians really like to say vero e proprio "true and proper." Think of it as one word.
Il Duomo di Siena è un vero e proprio scrigno.
The Duomo of Siena is a veritable treasure chest.
Caption 1, Meraviglie - EP. 3 - Part 5
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Very often, proprio means "just," or "exactly," as in the following example.
A volte molto freddo, specie a gennaio e a febbraio.
Sometimes, very cold, especially in January and February.
Ecco perché bisogna vestirsi pesanti, proprio come me.
That's why we need to dress in heavy clothing, just like me.
Captions 12-13, Adriano - Le stagioni dell'anno
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Proprio can mean "actually" or "indeed."
Vedrete come la prima sillaba di ogni verso è proprio il nome che poi è rimasto alle sette note.
You'll see how the first syllable of each line is indeed the name which has since remained, for the seven notes.
Captions 29-30, A scuola di musica - con Alessio
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We use proprio to give more emphasis to an adjective.
Proprio buono!
Really good!
Caption 46, Adriano - Il caffè
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We also use proprio when in English, we would say "right" as an adverb, for example, proprio lì (right there).
Ciao, ragazzi e ragazze [ragazze e ragazzi]. Mi trovo proprio al ristorante Pinocchio.
Hi guys and gals, I'm right in the Pinocchio restaurant.
Caption 3, Adriano - Pizzeria Pinocchio
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We also use propio to indicate ownership. We add this example so that you know about this use. Not all Italians uses this properly, so don't worry about it too much, but if you don't know this meaning, there may be cause for confusion. We'll talk about this more in a future lesson.
Una città dove non c'è più egoismo e ognuno fa il proprio dovere di creare e agire.
A city where there's no more egotism and everyone does one's own duty — to create and act.
Captions 11-12, Adriano Olivetti - La forza di un sogno Ep. 1
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One way to take advantage of Yabla is to do a search of proprio on the videos page. You'll see example after example of this word in various contexts. If there are examples you don't quite understand, let us know! We're here to help.
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