There are true cognates, where an Italian word sounds like an English word and they indeed mean something very similar. Then there are false cognates, or so-called "false friends" that look similar but mean 2 different things. In this lesson, we'll explore a word that is both. There is a fine line between the meanings, so we always have to be aware of the context. The word is familiare, an adjective that can mean both "having a connection to the family" or, as it looks to English speakers, "familiar." We don't necessarily think of the connection between "family" and "familiar," but in Italian, the connection is pretty strong.
In the following example, the meaning of familiare is a mix, or rather, it could be both. The atmosphere is familiar to him because he is Italian, but it also reminds him of his family, his childhood.
L'atmosfera che si sente nel ristorante Pinocchio è un'atmosfera familiare e quindi, la musica italiana, la cucina genuina del mio paese, il nome Pinocchio che mi fa ricordare la mia infanzia, tutto mi fa sentire a casa.
The atmosphere that one feels in the Pinocchio Restaurant is a family kind of atmosphere. And so, Italian music, the genuine cooking of my country, the name Pinocchio that makes me remember my childhood, all this makes me feel at home.
Captions 50-55, Adriano Pizzeria Pinocchio - Part 1
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Adriano is living in Dublin, so when he walks into his favorite pizzeria, he feels like he's home. "Home" can mean home, where his family lives, or it can mean home, as in his home country. Or, it can mean feeling at home, or comfortable.
In the following example, it's clear we're talking about the family.
La nostra azienda è un'azienda a conduzione familiare che venne acquistata dal mio bisnonno nel millenovecentoquattro.
Our company is a family-run company that was purchased by my great grandfather in nineteen hundred and four.
Captions 5-6, L'Italia che piace Esperienze Gastronomiche - Part 9
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Familiare can also be a noun, meaning "family member" as in the following example.
Vuole che Le dica ora, o preferisce aspettare la presenza di qualcuno, un familiare?
Do you want me to tell you now, or do you prefer to wait for the presence of someone, a family member?
Caption 32, La linea verticale EP 7 - Part 2
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And of course, familiare can also mean familiar as in the next two examples.
È avvenuto con qualcosa che a noi sembra molto familiare e innocuo: la pioggia.
It happened with something that seems very familiar and harmless to us: rain.
Caption 41, Meraviglie S2EP1 - Part 6
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È veramente un paesaggio familiare, ma come vedete il clima può cambiare in un attimo, essere avvolti da una bufera o vedere il cielo azzurro.
It is truly a familiar landscape, but as you can see, the weather can change in an instant, to be enveloped by a storm or see the blue sky.
Captions 18-20, Meraviglie S2EP1 - Part 12
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We hope you become more familiar with the adjective and noun familiare! Thanks for reading!
We have already talked a bit about the verb anticipare because it is the opposite of posticipare (to postpone). But let's look at some examples to get a feel for the verb and then look at the noun.
Eh, c'è un caso delicato e ho dovuto anticipare il rientro.
Uh, there is a delicate case and I've had to move up my return.
Caption 65, Il Commissario Manara S2EP9 - L'amica ritrovata - Part 5
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We might just say, "I had to go back earlier" or "I had to return ahead of schedule."
Ma no, sulle prime sembrava che fosse quel giorno, poi invece gli scritti li hanno anticipati e li ho dati un mese fa.
But no, at first it seemed like it was that day, but then they moved the written exams up and I did those a month ago.
Captions 5-6, Sposami EP 4 - Part 25
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If I answer your question before you ask it, you might say:
Mi hai anticipato (you preceded me, you beat me to it).
When I have told you something earlier and refer to it now, I might say something like:
Vediamo un po' in quale altro modo si usa, perché, come ti avevo anticipato, ci sono vari modi.
Let's look a bit into what other way it's used. Because, as I told you earlier, there are various ways.
Captions 2-3, Marika spiega La particella CI - Part 2
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Sometimes, instead of words or information, it's money!
Walter m'aveva chiesto di anticipare i soldi per il viaggio ai Caraibi...
Walter had asked me to advance him the money for the trip to the Caribbean...
Caption 51, Il Commissario Manara S2EP5 - Mondo sommerso - Part 3
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It's also common, when talking about money, to use the noun form we mentioned earlier: un anticipo.
Ma il nostro accordo era un anticipo subito e il resto alla consegna.
But our agreement was an advance payment right away and the rest upon delivery.
Caption 8, Il Commissario Manara S2EP5 - Mondo sommerso - Part 9
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We could also use "down payment" to mean anticipo here. You might ask your boss for un anticipo (an advance).
And when something or someone is early, or arrives early, ahead of schedule, most of the time we say in anticipo. It functions as an adverb.
Sono in anticipo?
Am I early?
Caption 40, Il Commissario Manara S2EP3 - Delitto tra le lenzuola - Part 11
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We can also say con anticipo when we want to say "in advance." Here anticipo is a noun, and it has an adjective in front of it.
Il problema è che spesso le strutture sono sovraffollate, per cui, eh, devi agire con molto anticipo rispetto agli esami che vuoi fare
The problem is that often, the facilities are overcrowded, so uh, you have to act long in advance with respect to the exams that you want to do
Captions 8-10, Anna presenta La gravidanza - Part 2
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But we can also say in netto anticipo (well in advance) and here it again functions pretty much like an adverb. It is more important to be able to use this word than to know its part of speech. Sometimes the confines are blurry.
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