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.
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!
In English, the words that come to mind when talking about choices are: either, or, both, either one, whichever one (among others). Let's explore our options in Italian.
Birra o vino? Ultimissima.
Beer or wine? The very latest.
Caption 41, Anna e Marika La mozzarella di bufala - La produzione e i tagli - Part 3
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But there's another word that means "or" and can imply "or else," or "otherwise." It's oppure. When we are thinking of alternatives, we might use oppure.... (or...). We also use it when we would say, "Or not," as in the following example.
Ci ha portato anche i due bicchieri per il vino, ma non so se io e Marika a pranzo berremo oppure no.
He also brought us two glasses for wine, but I don't know if Marika and I will drink at lunch or not.
Captions 22-23, Anna e Marika Trattoria Al Biondo Tevere - Part 1
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Note: It doesn't have to be oppure. It can also just be o, but it's an option!
In English, we have "either" and "or" that go together when we talk about choices.
In Italian, the same word — o —goes in both spots in the sentence where were would insert "either" and "or." Consider the example below.
O ci prende almeno una canzone o gli diciamo basta, finito, chiuso.
Either he takes at least one song from us, or we say to him enough, over, done with.
Caption 48, Volare - La grande storia di Domenico Modugno Ep. 2 - Part 2
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Similarly, when neither choice is a positive one, Italian uses né (neither/nor) for both "neither" and "nor."
Ho capito dai suoi occhi che Lei non ha né marito né figli.
I understood from your eyes that you have neither husband nor children.
Caption 11, Adriano Olivetti La forza di un sogno Ep.2 - Part 24
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Non voglio né questo né quello (I don't want this one or that one / I want neither this one nor that one).
Sometimes we don't have a preference. When it's 2 items, either one will do. If it's a masculine noun like il colore (the color), we can say:
Uno o l'altro, non importa (one or the other, it doesn't matter).
If it's a feminine noun such as la tovaglia (the tablecloth), we can say:
Una o l'altra andrebbe bene (one or the other would be fine).
We have to imagine the noun we're talking about and determine if it's masculine or feminine...
When we choose among more than 2 items, we use "any," "whichever," or "whatever" in English. In Italian, it's qualsiasi or qualunque (as well as some others).
Qualsiasi cosa tu decida di fare.
Whatever you decide to do.
Caption 63, Adriano Olivetti La forza di un sogno Ep.2 - Part 18
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Diciamo che potete fare qualsiasi pasta al pesto, anche, ad esempio, gli gnocchi, però il piatto tradizionale è trenette o linguine al pesto.
Let's say that you can use whatever kind of pasta for pesto, for example, even gnocchi, however, the traditional dish is trenette or linguine al pesto.
Captions 76-77, L'Italia a tavola Il pesto genovese - Part 1
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Eh, qualunque cosa tu mi abbia detto non, non l'hai detta a Raimondi, vero?
Uh, whatever you told me, you didn't, you didn't tell Raimondi, right?
Captions 22-23, Il Commissario Manara S2EP12 - La donna senza volto - Part 10
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If you do a search of qualsiasi and qualunque on the Yabla videos page, you'll notice that they are used interchangeably in many cases. Experience will help you figure out when they aren't exactly the same thing.
In Part 2, we'll talk about how to say "both" in Italian. There is more than one way.
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