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
Play Caption
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
Play Caption
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
Play Caption
Non mollare. -Vai.
Don't give up. -Go.
Caption 4, L'oro di Scampia film - Part 11
Play Caption
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
Play Caption
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
Play Caption
Gemma m'ha mollato.
Gemma dumped me.
Caption 4, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 3 S3EP4 Lo stagno del ranocchio - Part 6
Play Caption
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.
We use the term verbo pronominale (pronominal verb) to describe long verbs like prendersela, in which pronoun particles are added on to the original verb (prendere in this case). But let’s take a closer look at what verbi pronominali (pronominal verbs) are all about.
Pronominale (pronominal) means “relating to or playing the part of a pronoun.” In Italian, un verbo pronominale (a pronominal verb) is one that has a special meaning when used together with one or two particular pronominal particelle (particles).
Grammatically speaking, a particle is simply a small word of functional or relational use, such as an article, preposition, or conjunction.
So we have a normal verb, which, when used together with certain particles, has a distinct meaning that is often, but not necessarily, related to the meaning of the original verb.
Technically, reflexive verbs can also be considered pronominal verbs because in effect, the verb is used together with a particle like the si (oneself) in alzarsi (to get up). But these verbs are a special case and not usually called “pronominal,” since they are already called “reflexive.” Learn more about reflexive verbs here.
Verbs can combine with one or two particles. The particles used to make up a pronominal verb are:
la (it)
le (them)
ne (of it, of them, from it, from them)
ci (of it, about it)
Note that La and le are direct object pronouns while ci and ne are indirect object pronouns and therefore include a preposition and an object in the one particle.
As mentioned in a previous lesson, a pronominal verb in its infinitive form has all the particles attached to it, but when used in a sentence, the pieces may be partially or totally detached, and hence a bit more difficult to locate.
Pronominal verbs may be made up of one verb plus one pronoun particle:
smetterla (to quit doing something): smettere (to quit) + la (it)
darle (to give them, to give a spanking [idiom]): dare (to give) + le (them)
farne (to do something with something): fare (to do, to make) + ne (of it, of them)
capirci (to understand [about] something): capire (to understand) + ci (of it)
Sì, ma lo sai che è la prima volta
Yes, but you know it's the first time
che in un delitto non ci capisco niente neanche io? -Hm.
that in a murder I don't understand anything about it either? -Hm.
Captions 45-46, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP3 - Rapsodia in Blu
Play Caption
Pronominal verbs may also be made up of one verb plus two pronoun particles (which combine with each other).
The particle ci can be combined with a second pronoun particle, such as -la or -ne, but, as we have mentioned before, ci becomes ce when combined with another pronoun particle. Therefore we have, -cela, -cene; NOT -cila, -cine.
avercela [con qualcuno] (to have it in [for somebody], to feel resentful [towards somone]) avere + ci + la
farcela (to make it, to succeed) fare + ci + la
Ce la faccio, ce la faccio, ce la faccio.
"I can do it, I can do it, I can do it."
Caption 60, Dixieland - La magia di Tribo
Play Caption
Since the feminine is so often used in pronominal verbs, especially in idiomatic expressions, we can think of la (it) as standing for una cosa (something, that thing), la vita (life), la faccenda (the matter), or la situazione (the situation).
Exactly why a feminine pronoun is used in so many expressions with pronominal verbs is not cut-and-dried, and there is no quick answer. If you’re insatiably curious, check out this passage from an online book about the question (in Italian).
Pronominal verbs may be made up of one reflexive verb (which uses the particle si in the infinitive) plus a second pronoun particle such as those mentioned above: la, le, ne, or ci.
Prendersela (to get angry, to get offended, to get upset)
Fregarsene (to not care at all about something [colloquial])
Mettercisi (to put [time] into something)
In the following example, we have the pronominal verb accorgersene (to notice something, to realize something, to become aware of something). The basic (reflexive) verb is accorgersi (to notice), but the object pronoun particle ne is added as an indirect object pronoun.
Ma non è tutto lì.
But that's not all of it.
Forse la differenza ha radici più profonde.
Perhaps the difference has deeper roots.
E te ne accorgi solo quando accade.
And you only notice it when it happens.
Captions 32-34, L'oro di Scampia - film - Part 11
Play Caption
Spanish
French
German
Chinese
English
English 
Español
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
