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la fiducia (the trust) and related words

Let's zoom in on the noun la fiducia and related words. Fiducia means "trust," "faith," or "confidence," depending on the context. And there are related adjective and verb forms, which we will discuss, as well. 

Devi andare alla polizia e costituirti spontaneamente. Abbi un po' di fiducia.

You have to go to the police and voluntarily turn yourself in. Have a little faith.

Captions 20-21, Provaci ancora prof! S2E5 Vita da cani - Part 20

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There are a few different verbs we use with this noun:

Avere (to have):

Avere fiducia in qualcuno / qualcosa (to have trust in someone/something).

Ho sempre avuto fiducia in te,

I have always had faith in you,

Caption 32, Moscati, l'amore che guarisce EP 2 - Part 19

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Dare (to give)

Dare fiducia a qualcuno (to give one's trust to someone, to trust someone). 

Infatti, mi sto occupando da tempo, in prima persona, di questo problema, però Lei deve darmi un po' di fiducia.

In fact, I have been working for a while now, personally, on this problem, but you have to trust me a little.

Captions 13-14, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP4 Maltempo - Part 19

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Perdere (to lose)

Perdere fiducia (to lose one's faith/trust).

Le parole bugiarde te [ti] fanno perde' [perdere] la fiducia.

Lying words make you lose trust.

Caption 43, Sposami EP 4 - Part 11

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Related adjective: fiducioso / fiduciosa (trusting, optimistic)

Lascia stare, che il mistero a volte ti può tirare brutti scherzi. Ma io sono fiduciosa.

Forget that. Sometimes mystery plays nasty tricks. But I am confident/hopeful.

Captions 15-17, Sei mai stata sulla Luna? film - Part 13

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Fiducioso can also mean "hopeful," because in this case, hope is based on trust. 

So instead of saying, "I hope you will be on time," I might say, "I trust you will be on time." 

 

Related verb: fidarsi (to trust)

 

In Italian, fidarsi is a reflexive verb.
This already makes it different from English.

 

1. Why fidarsi is reflexive:
Italian does not say “to trust” in the same direct way as English.
Instead of "I trust you," or "I trust in you," Italian often says:

Mi fido di te (literally: I entrust myself to you).

The reflexive pronoun (mi, ti, si, ci, vi) shows that trust is seen as an inner decision of the person who trusts, not just an action directed outward.

2. Fidarsi di + person / thing

The verb normally takes the preposition di (of).

Negli ultimi tempi, quali sono state le donne a contatto con Dodo? Qualcuna di cui lui potesse fidarsi?

In recent times, who were the women in contact with Dodo? Someone he could trust [in]?

Captions 43-45, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1 EP6 Buio - Part 17

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3. Why Italians can say just “Fidati.”
Italian often omits what is obvious from the context (the indirect object, for example).
    •    Fidati. = Trust me / Trust it / Trust.

Even if di me is not said, it is understood.

 

The following example has two instances of fidarsi. The first is in the imperative and we hear it all the time. The second is the first person singular, which is handy to recognize and remember.  

Non ci facciamo una figuraccia con questo Marsili, no? Fidati. -Mi fido di più se mi dici chi te l'ha detto. -Una persona molto affidabile.

We're not going to look like idiots with this Marsili, right? Trust me. -I trust [you] more if you tell me who told you. -A very reliable person.

Captions 50-53, Il Commissario Manara S1EP5 - Il Raggio Verde - Part 6

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Let's also note that the root fida is part of the adjective affidabile (reliable, trustworthy). The opposite is inaffidabile.

Che tu ci sei [sic: sia] rimasta male lo capisco, però che Paolo sia inaffidabile lo sapevamo.

I understand that you are upset, but we knew that Paolo was unreliable.

Captions 34-35, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 10

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And here's a first-person singular conjugation of fidarsi in the negative:  

Tanto ho capito, io il tipo l'ho inquadrato. Non mi fido.

Anyway I understand, I have that type figured out. I don't trust [him].

Captions 44-45, Il Commissario Manara S1EP1 - Un delitto perfetto - Part 8

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Note that in the negative imperative, the infinitive form of the verb is used (in the familiar second-person).

Libero, non ti fidare.

Libero, don't trust [him].

Caption 30, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 1 EP 4 Buon Compleanno Maria - Part 4

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Leaving out the object sounds quite natural in Italian, but can be confusing for learners who expect it.

In English, saying only “Trust.” sounds incomplete.


In Italian, Fidati. works as a complete sentence.

 

Thanks for reading. We hope you have a better understanding now of fiducia and related words. Write to us at [email protected].

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Vocabulary

Il carro: a noun that pulls its weight

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.

 

Il carro attrezzi

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).

 

Il carro da parata or il carro allegorico

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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Il carro funebre

carro funebre

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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Il carro armato 

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.

 

Il carrello

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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La carriola (or la cariola as they call it in Rome)  

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. 

 

La carrozza 

Here, we are talking about a carriage, such as a stagecoach, but carrozza is also used for trains. If you reserve your seat, which car you are in will be indicated with il numero di carrozza

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 and il carrozziere

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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Vocabulary