In a recent episode of Romanzo italiano, there is a noun with an S-prefix that we perhaps haven't seen before. It's a word we encounter quite often, however, as we travel around Italy: la sbarra. We can perhaps figure out that it comes from barra, which resembles the noun "bar" — not the kind of bar where one can have a drink, but a physical bar, that's long and narrow.

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Clicca su "Play" o semplicemente premi sulla barra spaziatrice della tua tastiera.

Click on "Play" or simply press the space bar on your keyboard.

Captions 5-6, Tutorial Yabla Comandi base del riproduttore

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Barra also means "slash," as in a URL. We can use it in casual conversation to indicate a range or option. Here too, it could be translated as "slash."

E io, naturalmente, ho già preparato un impasto perché deve lievitare, deve lievitare almeno due barra tre ore,

And naturally, I already prepared a batch of dough because it has to rise, it has to rise for at least two to/slash three hours,

Captions 66-67, L'Italia a tavola Panzerotti Pugliesi - Part 1

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Barra can also be part of an address, un numero civico: For example, one address might be via nuova, 41 and another address nearby might be via nuova, 41/A — quarantuno barra A. 

Barrare is a verb we use when we cross off an item from a list, or when we check a box on a multiple-choice quiz. We often make a slanted line (that is naturally, narrow and long). 

We have seen that the S- prefix can give a negative value to a word, whether it be a noun, verb, or adjective. But it can also reinforce the meaning. 

Finché Lei resta lì, no, mi sbarra la strada.

As long as you stay there, no. You're blocking my path.

Caption 37, Volare - La grande storia di Domenico Modugno Ep. 1 - Part 11

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The noun la sbarra is the gate or barrier that blocks you from crossing a threshold until you get a ticket, pay, or show some ID. We find una sbarra in parking lots, toll booths, private driveways, level crossings, and yes, prisons, as in the following example. 

Alla sbarra, quando mi fermo per farmi riconoscere, mi viene da abbassare gli occhi e la vedo alzarsi con uno sforzo enorme, quella sbarra.

At the barrier, when I stop to identify myself, it makes me want to lower my eyes and I see it rise with enormous effort, that barrier.

Captions 37-41, Romanzo Italiano Campania - Part 3

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Può dirsi fortunato chi imbocca un passaggio a livello un attimo prima che calino le sbarre.

He can count himself lucky, whoever crosses a railroad crossing an instant before the barriers are lowered.

Caption 28, La Mille Miglia del passato per vivere quella di oggi - Part 2

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And since prison bars are used to block inmates from leaving, sbarre is used for these, too.

In this example, journalist Oriana Fallaci is talking about the conditions of Muslim women in Islamic countries.

Attraverso quei buchi, le donne guardano il cielo come attraverso le sbarre di una prigione.

Through these holes, the women look at the sky as through the bars of a prison.

Captions 3-4, L'Oriana film - Part 4

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And here, Alberto Manzi is teaching young kids in a juvenile detention center. 

Se guardi il cielo, non ci sono sbarre, non ci sono muri.

If you look at the sky, there are no bars, there are no walls.

Captions 22-24, Non è mai troppo tardi EP1 - Part 12

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La sbarra can be negative and imply being imprisoned, but it's also commonplace in so many places where there is no free passage, so it's a good word to have in your toolbox, along with its variants. 

Thanks for reading. Write to us with questions and ideas at [email protected].

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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.

Proseguire (to continue)

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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Inseguire (to chase, to pursue)

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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Let's add one more word!

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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