When we talk about learning a language, we use the word fluency or fluent in English, but finding the right Italian word for this can be tricky. Fluency is all about speaking a "foreign" language with ease and confidence.
Let's look at the dictionary definitions or translations. The dictionary translation of "fluency" is fluidità, and "fluent" is fluido. Both words come from the Latin "fluere" or fluire (to flow) in Italian. And let's keep in mind that we also have "fluidity" and "fluid" in English.
Così ho una conversazione più fluida, senza ripetizioni di parole, OK? -Sì.
That way I have a more fluid conversation, without the repetition of words, OK? -Yes.
Captions 26-27, Corso di italiano con Daniela Pronomi oggetto diretto - Part 2
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In Italian, fluido can describe someone's way of speaking, but there are other words, too.
One great Italian word that can describe someone's degree of ease in speaking a different language is: con scioltezza (with ease, with fluency).
Più sciolto, dai!
More relaxed, come on!
Caption 10, L'oro di Scampia film - Part 2
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An interesting adverb to describe how someone speaks is correntemente (fluently, with ease).
Sì, piccione poliglotta, per quanto possa sembrare assurda questa cosa, pare che sia stato avvistato un piccione che è capace di parlare cinque, sei lingue, correntemente.
Yes, a polyglot pigeon, as absurd as this thing may seem, it appears that a pigeon was sighted that is capable of speaking five, six languages fluently.
Captions 26-28, Anna e Marika in TG Yabla Italia e Meteo - Part 4
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Correntemente should not be confused with correttamente (correctly), which refers to someone speaking with correct grammar.
Il nostro amico si chiede che consigli puoi dare a chi vuole imparare l'italiano e parlarlo correttamente.
Our friend asks himself what advice you can give to someone who wants to learn Italian and speak it correctly.
Captions 54-56, Adriano Risposte agli amici di Yabla
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Another word for fluido is scorrevole, from the verb scorrere (to flow). And of course, we notice the S prefix! Scorrere is related to correre (to run, to flow) so you might want to check out this lesson.
In the following example, the use of scorrere is metaphorical. The speaker is from L'Accademia della Crusca, an important linguistic institution based in Florence (see this lesson). He is talking about the changing Italian language (ever flowing and changing). The Accademia watches the language evolve and tries to document it, understand it, and share the knowledge gained.
Noi non miriamo a raccogliere un materiale immobile. Noi contempliamo un fiume che scorre e ci limitiamo a sorvegliare che non vada al di là degli argini.
We don't aim to gather immobile material. We contemplate a river that flows, and we limit ourselves to making sure that it doesn't overflow its banks.
Captions 40-42, Me Ne Frego Il Fascismo e la lingua italiana - Part 14
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Mia figlia parla italiano in modo scorrevole, cioè con scioltezza, anche se non è madre lingua.
My daughter speaks Italian fluently, in other words, with ease, even though she's not a native speaker.
Some of the words described above have other meanings as well, so it's good to be mindful of the context! Thanks for reading!
In a previous lesson we talked about the verb seguire (to follow). Here are two other words that have the same root and are related, but mean something else: Proseguire and inseguire.
In Italian, we can use the verb continuare, an easy cognate, but sometimes it's nice to change. Proseguire is a verb you will hear a lot, especially when someone is giving you directions.
Come posso arrivare alla spiaggia più vicina? Guarda, se proseguite sulla strada che fat' [sic] stavate facendo...
How can I reach the closest beach? Look, if you continue on the road you tak [sic] were taking...
Captions 17-18, Una gita al lago - Part 1
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Il nostro viaggio prosegue in Piemonte,
Our journey continues in Piedmont,
Caption 7, Meraviglie EP. 5 - Part 4
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You might ask, "Is there a difference between continuare and proseguire?" Well, much of the time they are interchangeable, but sometimes continuare can imply that you keep doing the same thing.
Continuo a non capire (I still don't understand).
But with proseguire, you continue on, you advance, you proceed. Think of an arrow in one direction.
Prosegua pure, prego.
Go ahead and continue, please.
Caption 35, PsicoVip La lavatrice - Ep 23
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We could also have translated this with the verb "to proceed."
There is a noun form of this word: il proseguo.
...questa è diventata una, una realtà e sicuramente, eh, anche per il proseguo...
...this has become a, a reality and surely, uh, also for the aftermath...
Caption 40, Calcio Intervista con il Prof. Cravero
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When you are saying goodbye to someone, instead of saying buona giornata or buona serata, you might say, buon proseguimento if you know that whomever you are saying goodbye to is off to do something else, not just going home.
Buon proseguimento (I wish you well in whatever you do next).
Or
Per il telegiornale oggi è tutto, io vi auguro un buon proseguimento di giornata.
That's all for the newscast for today. I wish you a good rest of the day.
Captions 56-57, Anna e Marika in TG Yabla Italia e Meteo - Part 4
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Allora, il ragioniere, terrorizzato, scappa verso il salone, ma Menicucci lo insegue e gli spara una seconda volta.
So the accountant, terrified, runs towards the living room, but Menicucci chases him down and shoots him a second time.
Captions 51-52, Provaci ancora prof! S2EP1 - La finestra sulla scuola - Part 23
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We can also use the word "to follow" as a translation, but the intention changes from seguire.
We have a noun associated with this word, too: l'inseguimento (the chase, the pursuit).
Ma i bolidi sfreccianti verso Parma sembrano sfidare il nostro inseguimento celeste.
But the race cars speeding towards Parma seem to defy our airborne pursuit.
Captions 9-10, La Mille Miglia del passato per vivere quella di oggi - Part 2
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Susseguirsi (to follow one another in succession)
We have inserted this verb with its reflexive ending, which is actually a reciprocal form, and is used as a noun in our example, something that's quite common.
Ora è il turno della parola: tempo, con la quale indichiamo il susseguirsi dei minuti, delle ore, dei giorni.
Now, it's time for the word "tempo," with which we indicate the passing of minutes, hours, days.
Captions 46-47, Marika spiega Parole con più significati - Part 1
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We can visualize the seconds following one another on a clock... We can talk about un susseguirsi di eventi (a chain of events or a series of events).
For more on the reflexive versus reciprocal verbs, see this video, presented by Marika.
For a lesson in English that explains the reciprocal form of verbs, see this lesson.
We hope we haven't filled your brain with words that are too similar. Please work on each one separately if you if that works best for you!
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