Thinking in Italian: Giving Experiences a Name

Par Sigrid Lee

One thing you'll notice as you listen to Italians speak is that they often give a name to what they're experiencing. In English, we're more likely to describe it.

Once you begin noticing this pattern, you'll hear it everywhere. Instead of describing something as sad or quiet, Italian often gives the feeling or quality a name: Che tristezza! Che silenzio! Che pace!

As you become familiar with expressions like these, you'll be taking a step toward thinking in Italian.

If we translated these expressions literally, we might say "What sadness!" — "What silence!" — "What fear!" But that's not the point. The goal isn't to translate che tristezza as "what sadness." The goal is to reach for che tristezza! automatically whenever something strikes you as sad.

Senza musica, senza allegria, che tristezza! E che paura!

Without music, without happiness, how sad! And how frightening!

Captions 54-55, Dixiland E gli amici scomparsi
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The same goes for paura. La paura is "the fear," which we certainly use in English, but we usually use "afraid." Ho paura (I'm afraid). Non ho paura (I'm not afraid).

È fortissimo e quando penso a lui, non ho paura di niente.

He's very strong, and when I think about him, I'm not afraid of anything.

Captions 7-8, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP5 Rione Serra Venerdì - Part 17
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Senti che bel silenzio. -Chissà dove sono.

Listen how nice and quiet [it is]. -Who knows where they are.

Caption 17, Acqua in bocca Allarme gita - Ep 9
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Let's keep in mind that for Italians, la vergogna can be "the embarrassment" or "the shame." It depends on the context and the degree.

Accompagnato dalla mamma, sai che vergogna. Uh, che vergogna.

Accompanied by one's mom, you know, it's embarrassing. Wow, how embarrassing.

Captions 31-32, La Ladra EP. 5 - Chi la fa l'aspetti - Part 7
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In this next clip, Paolo Villaggio's father has to pay for an accident Paolo had caused. Che vergogna might have implied a combination of shame and embarrassment. Paolo's father was embarrassed, and Paolo should have been ashamed.

Ma naturalmente, provvedo subito. Io pago. -Eh. Che vergogna, Paolo.

But naturally, I'll see to it right away. I'll pay. -Yeah. How shameful, Paolo.

Captions 20-22, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 7
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Here's one that's especially easy to make your own: Che pace. You're out in the countryside. There are no cars, no city noise, just birds singing. Che pace!

Finalmente! Che belli! Che pace che c'è qui.

Finally! How lovely [they are]! How peaceful it is here.

Captions 14-16, Sposami EP 6 - Part 27
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Little by little, these expressions will stop feeling like translations and start feeling like Italian.

As you go about your day, try commenting to yourself in Italian. Walk into a quiet room and think, Che silenzio! See a beautiful landscape? Che bellezza! Watch a sad movie? Che tristezza! Before long, you'll find yourself reaching for these expressions without translating them first.

Of course, these aren't the only ways to express these ideas in Italian. You'll also hear adjectives such as triste, bello, and silenzioso. But if you learn expressions like Che tristezza!, Che pace!, and Che vergogna! as complete thoughts, you'll begin to sound—and think—a little more like an Italian speaker.

Thanks for reading. If you have questions or comments, write to us at [email protected].