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, double letters matter in spelling, but in pronunciation, not so much. In Italian, however, double consonants are pronounced differently from single consonants. We're usually talking about the letters M, N, P, S, T, D, G, L, V, C, among others. And the meaning of a word can change drastically from double letter to single letter within a word.
In this lesson, let's focus on the letter L. Consider these two words: molare and mollare.
Il molare is a noun meaning "the molar," when talking about teeth. In fact, the verb molare has to do with grinding (grinding is what molars do), and a grinder is called una mola in Italian.
But if we turn that L into a double LL, it's a different story.
Una molla is a spring, like a slinky, like the spring you have in a ballpoint pen.
La sola idea di, di, di fargli passare una vecchiaia da solo, in un posto così triste come un canile, forse è stata la molla che è scattata in me.
Just the idea of, of, of having him spend his old age by himself, in a place as sad as a dog pound, was maybe what triggered my decision.
Captions 50-52, Andromeda La storia di Ulisse
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In the previous example, Andromeda is talking about adopting or rescuing a dog from a kennel. She uses the noun la molla, with the verb scattare. When you pull the trigger on a gun you are releasing an internal spring. So using molla and scattare together are a way of saying "to trigger."
We use this expression, for example, when things come to a head and something sparks a decision. There is perhaps one crucial catalyst.
The verb mollare is used in a variety of circumstances, from physically letting go of something, such as a bone. Here, mollare is used physically, but in a metaphoric way. In English, we often say, "He's like a dog with a bone."
Ma quelli non mollano l'osso manco morti!
But those guys never let go of the bone, not even dead.
Caption 35, La Ladra EP. 2 - Viva le spose - Part 10
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Mollare can mean "to give up." In this case, there is no object; in other words, when it means "to give up," "to give in," or "to back down," mollare is intransitive.
Appunto per questo, non devi mollare.
Exactly because of this, you shouldn't give up.
Caption 39, Il Commissario Manara S1EP11 - Beato tra le donne - Part 1
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Non mollare. -Vai.
Don't give up. -Go.
Caption 4, L'oro di Scampia film - Part 11
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Mollare is one of those verbs where the command form often uses the infinitive, as in non mollare! (don't let go, don't give up).
When mollare is transitive, having a direct object, it means "to drop," "to leave," "to quit." It's often used for quitting a job or leaving a partner.
Non ha più voluto insegnare. Poi, prima di mollare tutto, ha voluto parlare con me.
She no longer wanted to teach. Then, before dropping everything, she wanted to talk to me.
Captions 63-65, La compagnia del cigno S1 EP4 - Part 5
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Ancora devono smaltire il fatto che ho mollato l'università.
They still have to get over the fact that I dropped out of college.
Caption 29, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 12
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Gemma m'ha mollato.
Gemma dumped me.
Caption 4, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 3 S3EP4 Lo stagno del ranocchio - Part 6
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Thanks for reading. We hope to have clarified the difference between molare and mollare and to have helped you understand the various nuances of the verb mollare.
Since the wheel was invented, carts have been used for transporting goods. But carts and similar vehicles come in all shapes and sizes and are used for so many different things, so it's natural for there to be variants depending on the size and function.
The basic noun in Italian is carro. Its definition in Italian is this:
Veicolo a trazione animale o meccanica, costituito da un piano sostenuto da due o quattro ruote, usato per il trasporto di materiali e merci.
Vehicle that is mechanical or pulled by animals, constisting of a flat bed supported by two or four wheels, used to transport materials and goods.
The noun carro by itself generally indicates a rather large-sized cart. But what it's used for is usually in the form of a second noun used as an adjective, an adjective, or as an alteration of the word carro.
Carro is used together with a modifier describing its function:
Ho capito la situazione, ma non... chiama il carro attrezzi, il soccorso stradale, qualcosa.
I understand the situation, but I can't... call the tow truck, the roadside assistance, something.
Captions 38-39, Provaci ancora prof! S2E5 Vita da cani - Part 4
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Essentially, you are loading a car on a big "cart" equipped to do that. It's attrezzato (equipped) with gli attrezzi (equipment).
In a parade or procession, called una sfilata, un corteo, un corteo storico, or una processione, the floats are called i carri.
Come vedi c'è il carro di Santa Rosalia e al posto della Santa... -E lui lì sopra.
As you can see, there's the Saint Rosalia [patron saint of Palermo] float and in place of the Saint... -And him on top of it.
Captions 25-26, Dottor Pitrè e le sue storie - Part 2
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For a funeral procession, as well, the noun carro is used. Even today, with a motorized hearse, the same term is employed.
Sarà mica un carro funebre?
It wouldn't be a hearse, would it?
Caption 64, Provaci ancora prof! S1E2 - Un amore pericoloso - Part 12
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Literally, "the armed cart."
Me lo dici che premio è? Un carro armato vero, nuovo nuovo.
Will you tell me what the prize is? A real tank, brand new.
Captions 20-21, Trailer La vita è bella - Roberto Benigni
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We can use diminutive suffixes to indicate a smaller carro.
È su un carretto trainato forse da una pecora, comunque da un ovino ed è un momento felice, anche se per molti esperti, si tratta di un viaggio simbolico verso l'aldilà, il regno dei morti.
He is on a cart drawn by perhaps a sheep, in any case by an ovine and it is a happy moment, even if for many experts, it involves a symbolic journey to the afterlife, the kingdom of the dead.
Captions 53-55, Meraviglie EP. 2 - Part 6
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The constellations we call "the Big Dipper" and "the Little Dipper" are called respectively il Grande carro and il Piccolo carro in Italian.
There are small carts, too, for transporting things by hand.
Un carrello can be the kind you use at the supermarket, but it can be any kind of cart, trolley, or dolly for transporting relatively small items.
Una rana in servizio non dovrebbe spingere il carrello delle clienti.
A frog on duty shouldn't push the customers' carts.
Captions 65-66, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 3 S3EP4 Lo stagno del ranocchio - Part 6
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Be'? Che state a fa' co' 'ste carriole?
Well? What are you doing with these wheelbarrows?
Caption 2, Spot pubblicitario TIM Tribù
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A wheelbarrow with only 2 wheels might be called una carretta, but this word might also refer to a wreck of a car, a jalopy.
Signore? Sono qua, nella carrozza. Dico a Voi.
Sir? I am here, in the carriage. I'm talking to you.
Captions 32-33, Caravaggio EP1 - Part 9
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But the car of a train might also be called un vagone, an Italianized version of "wagon."
Ferma solo a Guidonia, Firenze, Genova e c'è un vagone ristorante per bambini belli che mangiano tutta la pappa.
It stops only in Guidonia, Florence, Genoa, and there is a dining car for nice children who eat all their mush.
Captions 16-18, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 1 EP3 Un cugino in fuga - Part 2
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La carrozzella in this day and age usually refers to a wheelchair, but once, it referred to a buggy.
Qua, tolto il figlio con la madre in carrozzella non s'è visto nessuno.
Here, apart from the son with his mother in a wheelchair, I didn't see anyone.
Caption 15, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP3 I giardini della memoria - Part 15
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Una carrozzina may refer to a baby carriage, but some people use it to mean "wheelchair." It's important to consider the context!
La carrozzeria is the chassis of a car, as well as the place where a chassis is repaired.
I fanalini della macchina rotti, le ruote bucate. -Fanalini della macchina rotti. -Per non parlare della carrozzeria.
The taillights of my car broken, the tires slashed. -Taillights broken. -Not to mention the body.
Captions 42-43, Provaci ancora prof! S2E5 Vita da cani - Part 20
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The person who repairs the chassis of a vehicle is called il carrozziere.
Va bene, allora parlo un attimo col carrozziere.
All right. So I'll have a quick word with the body shop guy.
Caption 16, Provaci ancora prof! S1E3 - Una piccola bestia ferita - Part 14
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There are undoubtedly more words stemming from il carro, and feel free to let us know, so we can add them to this lesson!
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