We talked about the verb provare and related words in a recent lesson. There are a few other words to look at that have the same root. 

First, we have the noun il provino. It's related to prova and provare, because it's about trying out. When you try out for a part in a play, a movie, a theater production, you have to audition. Although the noun l'audizione (cognate of "audition") has become popular, the classical term is il provino or, in the plural (like prove) i provini. It likely came into vogue with sound cinema in the 20th century. 

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There can be un provino for getting into a school of performing arts, a summer course, getting a part as a soloist or even as part of an orchestra, landing a role in a movie, or on TV. 

Non sarai mica venuto a fare il provino come conduttore? -No.

You haven't come to try out to be the show host, have you? -No.

Caption 111, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 3 S3EP4 Lo stagno del ranocchio - Part 9

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Provino can stand for "screen test" when it's about movies or TV. 

Ah, comunque ho assistito al tuo provino, sei brava.

Ah, anyway, I saw your screen test, you are good.

Caption 33, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP4 Maltempo - Part 14

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Just as for le prove, auditions are often mentioned in the plural, perhaps because there is usually more than one person trying out for a part. Also, you might do multiple auditions for the same part. In the following example, the audition is for teaching Italian on TV in the sixties. Alberto is very nervous and has no idea what to expect.

Mi scusi, per i provini?

Excuse me, for the auditions?

Caption 47, Non è mai troppo tardi EP 2 - Part 11

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We know from reading actor biographies that it's often necessary to go to many auditions before landing a part. It can be depressing and frustrating. 

Franca, io faccio provini su provini, ma mai nessuno che mi dice: "Guarda, Mimmo, smettila, non fa per te, cambia mestiere".

Franca, I do audition after audition, but never does anyone say, "Look, Mimmo, quit it. It's not for you. Change professions."

Captions 32-34, Volare - La grande storia di Domenico Modugno Ep. 1 - Part 28

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Lei studia danza moderna da tanti anni e adesso ci sono i provini per un musical.

She's been studying modern dance for many years and now there are auditions for a musical.

Captions 21-22, La Ladra EP. 4 - Una magica bionda - Part 2

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Partenza la mattina, audizioni il pomeriggio, ritorno di notte.

Departure in the morning, auditions in the afternoon, return at night.

Caption 44, Volare - La grande storia di Domenico Modugno Ep. 2 - Part 2

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The noun "audition" can seem rather formal in certain contexts, especially non-musical ones, and the translation "tryout" can work just fine. 

Senti, Cettina, ma veramente lo devo tentare il provino alla radio?

Listen, Cettina, but should I really do a tryout for the radio station?

Caption 57, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 3 S3EP4 Lo stagno del ranocchio - Part 6

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In English, we can also use the compound verb "to try out," but in Italian, we still use fare un provino or fare un audizione. There is no specific verb. Provare might be used in certain contexts, but as we have learned, provare has various nuances. In sports or jobs, la prove can represent "the tryout."

Donata Miulli aveva una prova come cameriera, qui da Lei?

Donata Miulli had a tryout as a waitress, here at your place?

Caption 2, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP4 Maltempo - Part 6

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We can also say that someone who is still trying out for a job is in prova.

Certo che per essere in prova ce la mette tutta per farsi licenziare.

Certainly, for being evaluated, he's doing everything he can to get fired.

Caption 5, La Ladra EP. 3 - L'oro dello squalo - Part 1

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In photography, i provini can indicate the contact prints made from film, from which to choose the photos to enlarge. It can also mean to take some test shots. 

Ho conosciuto Lenox circa un mese fa per lavoro, e quella sera dovevo fare dei provini su uno still life.

I met Lenox about a month ago for work, and that evening I was supposed to do some test shots on a still life.

Captions 31-32, Provaci ancora prof! S2EP2 Una mina vagante - Part 6

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Finally,  just in case you are wondering, we have la provetta. It has nothing to do with auditions or contact prints, but it does have to do with blood tests, or tests of other materials. It's used in a lab. 

Umberto, prepara una provetta con le feci di questo ragazzo. -Subito.

Umberto, prepare a test tube with the stool of this boy. -Right away.

Caption 19, Moscati, l'amore che guarisce EP1 - Part 21

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Have we missed anything? Do you have questions? Write to us at [email protected]. Thanks for reading!

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We looked at the noun torto in a previous lesson. We can say hai torto (you're wrong). But what about when you're right? Being right uses the noun ragione, but let's first take a closer look at this versatile noun and related forms.

The reason, the motive

In Italian, la ragione is a partial true cognate. When used to mean "the reason," it makes sense to us because it's a true cognate:

E c'è una ragione molto precisa.

And there is a very precise reason.

Caption 21, Meraviglie - EP. 2 - Part 2

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The verb form:

We also have a verb form: ragionare (to reason, to think, to reflect):

Cerchiamo di ragionare con calma.

Let's try to think about this calmly.

Caption 28, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 1 - EP1 - Casa nuova

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The adjective form:

We have an adjective, too: ragionevole (reasonable):

Siccome mi sembra anche una persona piuttosto ragionevole,

Since you also seem like a rather reasonable person,

io spero non ci saranno problemi, ecco.

I hope there won't be any problems, that's it.

Captions 55-56, Sei mai stata sulla luna? - film

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Being right:

But we also use the noun ragione (without the article) together with the verb avere (to have) to mean "to be right."

avere ragione (to be right) -- literally, it would be "to have right."

In Italian, aver ragione has come to mean "to be right." And people use this expression countless times every day, so it's great to have it in your toolbox. The verb you need to conjugate is avere (to have), which is probably one of the first verbs to learn in Italian. Here's the conjugation chart for avere. But you don't need an article for ragione in this case, so it couldn't get much easier than that. Abbiamo ragione (are we right)?

Avevi ragione tu. Gabriele s'era messo nei guai.

You were right. Gabriele got into trouble.

Gare di cross illegali.

Illegal dirt bike racing.

Captions 18-19, Il Commissario Manara - S2EP1 - Matrimonio con delitto - Part 8

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Il cliente ha sempre ragione?

The customer is always right?

Caption 70, La Ladra - Ep. 4 - Una magica bionda - Part 2

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Sono stufa delle tue promesse.

I'm sick of your promises.

Sono anni che aspetto che lasci tua moglie...

I've been waiting for you to leave your wife for years...

-Hai ragione. -e io non...

-You're right. -and I won't...

Hai ragione, hai ragione. Va bene.

You're right, you're right. All right.

Captions 68-71, Il Commissario Manara - S2EP9 - L'amica ritrovata - Part 5

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"To prove someone right" can be dare ragione, 

Non ti interessa il parere di nessuno.

You're not interested in anyone's opinion.

-Ma poi i risultati mi danno ragione.

-But afterwards, the results prove me right.

Captions 21-22, Adriano Olivetti - La forza di un sogno Ep. 1

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But we can also use dare ragione when we admit or agree that someone else is right. It's just an additional nuance to saying "you're right."

Su questo, ti dò ragione.

About that, I agree you're right. 

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Tip:

Do a search of ragione on the videos page and you will get plenty of examples in various conjugations and contexts, where ragione might mean "right" and where it might mean "reason." It's a great way to get lots of different examples all at once. Try repeating some of them out loud.

And remember: The trickiest thing to remember is that the verb to use is avere (to have), not essere (to be).

We will close with a little expression that's also the title of this lesson:

a torto o a ragione (wrong or right), rimango della mia idea (I'm not changing my mind). 

In English, we would start with "right," but you get the idea! 

That's it for this lesson, and we hope that when someone else is right, you will be able to tell them so in Italian! If you have questions about this, just write to us at [email protected].