The Italian verbs stanare and scovare are very similar, often used as synonyms. Both generally mean to force an animal (or person) out of its lair or hiding place, or, figuratively, to discover or track something down after a search.

Stanare comes from the noun la tana, meaning "the den." Scovare comes from the noun il covo, meaning "the lair" or "the den." Snidare (less common, but perhaps interesting to know), comes from the noun il nido, meaning "the nest."

E allora questa è la tana del lupo.

And so this is the wolf's den.

Caption 54, Volare - La grande storia di Domenico Modugno Ep. 1 - Part 22

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Perché questa scuola è un covo di nazisti in erba, te lo dico.

Because this school is a den of budding Nazis, I'm telling you.

Caption 45, La Tempesta film - Part 11

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Scoprire means "to discover" or "to uncover."

Dovevamo scoprire cosa le stava succedendo.

We had to find out what was happening to her.

Caption 49, JAMS S1 EP5 - Part 6

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Trovare means "to find" or "to discover."

È così che pensate di trovare mio figlio?

Is that how you think you're going to find my son?

Caption 38, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1 EP6 Buio - Part 5

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Rintracciare means "to trace," "to track down," or "to locate."​

Sa dove lo posso rintracciare?

Do you know where I can find him?

Caption 16, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP1 - Due americane a Roma - Part 27

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Reperire means "to find," "to locate," or "to source".

Cucina non significa soltanto alimenti, ma cottura: servono pentole, utensili che non era facile reperire in quegli anni.

Cooking doesn't just mean ingredients, but cooking: one needs pans, utensils that weren't easy to find in those years.

Captions 42-43, L'arte della cucina Terre d'Acqua - Part 13

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Thanks for reading. We hope you know more now, having read this lesson, than you knew before! Write to us at [email protected]. 

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How do you say "over here," "over there," or "all over" (everywhere) in Italian? There are several ways, and sometimes it's tricky to know which to use, as they all get mixed up in our brains. As with many expressions, people have their regional and personal preferences. 

The first words we learn for "here" and "there" are qui (here), qua (here), lì (there), and là (there). While they are interchangeable in many cases, we could say that qui and lì are often more specific or precise than qua and là.

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One common way to say "over here" and "over there" is with the preposition di (of, from, than, by, and more) plus either qua or là.

Carini, questi. -Camilla, magari un'altra volta. -Prego, allora potete accomodarvi di qua alla cassa.

These are cute. -Camilla, maybe another time. -Please, so, you can come over here to the register.

Captions 56-57, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP1 - Due americane a Roma - Part 10

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Di là? -No di qua. Di là. -Ciao.

Over there? -No, over here. Over there. -Hi.

Captions 66-67, Provaci ancora prof! S3 EP3 La terza vittima - Part 3

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In the following example, we can see in the video that Lojacono is indicating a different room, so instead of "over here," it's "in here." But he is indicating the way.

E di qua c'è un altro cadavere.

And in here, there is another corpse.

Caption 10, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP4 Gelo - Part 2

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As a matter of fact, often, di qua means "this way," when giving directions or leading someone. 

Prego, di qua.

Please, this way.

Caption 15, Liberi tutti EP1 Ma bevete anche l'aqua piovana? - Part 2

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When we want to say, "in the other room," without being specific as to what kind of room it is, it's enough to say di là.

Tua madre invece è di là che ti aspetta.

Your mother, on the other hand, is in there/in the other room, waiting for you.

Caption 64, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 26

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Another way to say "over here" or "over there" is with the noun, la parte (the side). 

Da questa/quella parte (literally, "to this side"). Da is a preposition meaning "from" "at," "to" and more. Questo/a and quello/a are adjectives in this case, meaning, respectively, "this" and "that." La parte has different meanings. Usually it's "a section," or "a part," but it's also a synonym for il lato, meaning "the side." Lato is more specific, often referring to one of two sides, and it can also be figurative, meaning "aspect."

Devi sempre guardare il lato negativo delle cose?

Do you always have to look at the negative side of things?

Caption 68, Sposami EP 6 - Part 5

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 Parte is more general. 

Controlla da questa parte.

Check over here.

Caption 78, Provaci ancora prof! S3 EP3 La terza vittima - Part 3

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It works the same way with quella. 

Scusate, è qua l'entrata? -Sì, da quella parte.

Excuse me, is this the entrance? -Yes, over there.

Caption 1, Volare - La grande storia di Domenico Modugno Ep. 1 - Part 6

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L'ho affrontato. -[Se] Cerca il bagno è da quella parte.

I confronted him. -If you're looking for the restroom, it's that way.

Caption 24, Provaci ancora prof! S2E3 Dietro la porta - Part 25

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Here is a popular way to say "all over," or "all over the place." Its synonym is used just before it: dappertutto, which we can guess was once three words: da per tutto, meaning in ogni parte (in every place). Over time, the three words merged into one, a process called univerbazione (fusion).

L'abbiamo cercato dappertutto. Da tutte le parti, ma non si trova.

We have looked for him everywhere. All over the place, but he hasn't been found.

Captions 29-30, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP5 Rione Serra Venerdì - Part 14

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We hope things are clearer now on how to say "over here" and "over there," as well as "this way," and "that way." Write to us at [email protected].  

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Recently, a reader wondered about the significance of ci in a sentence where it seemed unnecessary. There's the word lì meaning "there," and then the particle ci, which also means "there." So what gives?

Paolo è uno spirito libero e lì dentro ci muore.

Paolo is a free spirit and he's dying in there.

Caption 17, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 21

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For grammar nerds: In this construction, ci is a locative clitic pronoun. [By definition, a clitic is a word or part of a word that depends on a neighboring word and cannot stand alone. In Italian, clitics often appear as pronouns that attach to verbs, playing a crucial role in sentence structure. Pronouns and particles that are clitic are: direct/indirect objects (mi, ti, lo, la, ci, vi, li, le, gli, si) and particles like ne (of it/them, from there) and ci (there, to/for it/us/you).]

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In the case of the example above, we're talking about ci. While we can answer the question dove (where) with lì (there) by itself, we cannot answer it with just ci,  because ci doesn't mean anything unless it's associated with another word; it can't stand alone (not to mention that it can change its meaning depending on the word associated with it and the context).

In our clip, ci refers back to the place expressed by lì dentro (“in there”). This is common practice in Italian but not in English. 

Breaking down the components, we have:

lì dentro → an explicit locative phrase

ci → a locative pronoun particle that refers back to the explicit locative phrase

What happens if you remove ci?

Paolo è uno spirito libero e lì dentro muore.

Paolo è uno spirito libero e muore lì dentro.

These sentences sound truncated or foreign because the verb morire (to die) is one that expects a locative complement like ci. Lì dentro alone does not satisfy that expectation in this structure. We can think of ci as a location reinforcement that rounds out the phrase.

Various verbs are linked to this use of ci. 

Here, the verb is tornare (to return), which has to do with place. Ci is present along with qui (here).

Non ci torno più qui.

I'm not coming back here.

Caption 23, Non è mai troppo tardi EP1 - Part 19

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 Here's an example with the verb andare (to go). Note how ci is present, even though we know the place is the prison. 

Ferma! -Io non ci vado in prigione!

Stop! -I'm not going [there] to prison!

Caption 20, Il Commissario Manara S2EP8 - Fuori servizio - Part 16

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Here, the verb is lavorare and ci is present, reinforcing the place: in quello studio (in that studio). 

Ma lo conosco benissimo, è un architet' [architetto]... ma è uno dei numeri uno, io ci ho lavorato poi in quello studio.

But I know him very well, he's an architect... but he is one of the number ones, plus, I have worked at that firm.

Captions 47-49, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP1 - Due americane a Roma - Part 16

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Here's an interesting example. In the first part, the stress is on "what" and ci is absent, but in the second part, to emphasize "where," ci is present. 

Che fai qua? -No, tu che ci fai qua?

What are you doing here? -No, what are you doing here?

Captions 45-46, Il Commissario Manara S2EP9 - L'amica ritrovata - Part 8

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Of course, sometimes, using ci can be personal or regional. It's not always set in stone. 

Italian verbs that normally require a locative pronoun are vivere (to live), stare (to be, to stay), lavorare (to work), morire (to die), among others, when the place is thematically important. 

Thanks for reading. We hope you now have a better understanding of the seemingly redundant use of ci in Italian. 

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In the final segment of Com'è umano lui, a biopic about Paolo Villaggio, Maura tells Paolo about a phone call from Rizzoli. Here is the exchange:

Ha chiamato a casa Rizzoli. -Chi, l'editore? -No, quello del tonno. -Ah, che voleva? -Paolo, ma è ovvio che ha chiamato l'editore. Ma perché ci dovrebbe chiamare quello del tonno, scusami? Tu sei un tonno.

Rizzoli called at home. -Who, the publisher? -No, the tuna one. -Ah, what did he want? -Paolo, but it's obvious that the publisher called. But why should the tuna one be calling us, excuse me? You are a tunafish.

Captions 63-69, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 30

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Maura is answering Paolo's first question, "Chi, l'editore?" Rizzoli is the name of an important publishing company, perhaps, at one time, the best known of them. Most Italians have heard of Rizzoli Libri (Rizzoli books). Maura's answer is sarcastic because she thinks it should be obvious, so she says, No, quello del tonno (no, the tuna one). Why does she say this? Because Rizzoli is also a very well-known producer of canned fish. Particularly appreciated are their anchovies in olive oil, but Maura mentions their tuna. And then she calls him a tuna. 

Readers might not have caught the connection, so here is a photo taken of a jar of tuna, bought at the supermarket. 

Paolo clearly doesn't get the sarcasm at the beginning (or is pretending not to) and asks what they want. So she has to explain, she means the publishing house and then calls him a tuna. 

Paolo Villaggio has written books (for Rizzoli) and appeared in movies. Below are some Wikipedia links about the actor and author. 

Here is an article in Italian.

Here's the same article in English. 

We hope you enjoyed the film! Let us know at [email protected] or in the comments section of the video page. 

In proper English, we are not supposed to use double negatives. We can either say, "I am neither stupid nor ignorant," or "I'm not stupid or ignorant," but I can't say, "I'm not neither stupid nor ignorant."

We use double negatives in certain expressions or with poetic license, for example, in the famous song by Bill Withers, whose first line is:

"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone."

Of course, "ain't" as an alternative to "isn't" and other negative conjugations of the verb "to be," is also not grammatically correct. But we use it sometimes for effect.  Another example of poetic license using a double negative is from the Rolling Stones song:

"I can't get no satisfaction."

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However, in Italian, double negatives aren't just OK, they are obligatory in many cases! When comparing two equivalent negative things, né is used and means both "neither" and "nor," which can make for some tricky choices in translating sometimes. So in this case, we have three negatives. Careful not to forget the accent here, as ne with no accent is a pronoun. 

Non mangio né carne né pesce (I eat neither meat nor fish). 

Note that né and né come after the verb, whereas non comes before the verb. 

È possibile che se faccio attività fisica io, poi non riesco a suonare né l'oboe né il pianoforte,

It is possible that if I do physical activity, then I'll be able to play neither the oboe nor the piano.

Captions 4-6, La compagnia del cigno EP 5 - Part 8

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Non gli arrivano né il rumore dei tifosi incollati alle recinzioni, né quello della pioggia.

Reaching him is neither the noise of the fans glued to the barriers, nor that of the rain.

Captions 31-32, Fulvio Benelli Crimine Infinito, romanzo - Part 1

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And here, né features in a common expression to use to express indifference. 

A ma', Dante mo' nun me [romanesco: ora non mi] fa né caldo né freddo.

Hey Mom, now, Dante leaves me indifferent (neither hot nor cold).

Caption 16, La Ladra EP. 9 - L'amico sconosciuto - Part 15

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If you listen for the word niente (nothing, none), you will likely hear non before the noun preceding it, as in this example. 

Ma non mi importa niente assolutamente,

But I absolutely don't care at all, [it doesn't matter to me at all]

Caption 33, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP1 - Due americane a Roma - Part 7

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Another similar word, frequently referring to people, is nessuno (no one):

Non c'è nessuno che può aiutarci.

There is no one who can help us.

Caption 12, Caravaggio EP1 - Part 2

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After you apologize to someone, you might hear him or her say, Fa niente (it doesn't matter), but it's pretty much an accepted, shortened form of: Non fa niente (it doesn't matter).

Non fa niente, tranquilla.

It doesn't matter, don't worry.

Caption 33, La compagnia del cigno S1 EP4 - Part 12

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The main thing to keep in mind is that in Italian, a double negative intensifies a negative statement; it does not make it positive. 

Thanks for reading, and we hope you have learned something! Let us know if you want to delve further into this topic, with more examples. Write to us at [email protected]. 

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There are true cognates, where an Italian word sounds like an English word and they indeed mean something very similar. Then there are false cognates, or so-called "false friends" that look similar but mean 2 different things. In this lesson, we'll explore a word that is both. There is a fine line between the meanings, so we always have to be aware of the context. The word is familiare, an adjective that can mean both "having a connection to the family" or, as it looks to English speakers, "familiar." We don't necessarily think of the connection between "family" and "familiar," but in Italian, the connection is pretty strong. 

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In the following example, the meaning of familiare is a mix, or rather, it could be both. The atmosphere is familiar to him because he is Italian, but it also reminds him of his family, his childhood. 

L'atmosfera che si sente nel ristorante Pinocchio è un'atmosfera familiare e quindi, la musica italiana, la cucina genuina del mio paese, il nome Pinocchio che mi fa ricordare la mia infanzia, tutto mi fa sentire a casa.

The atmosphere that one feels in the Pinocchio Restaurant is a family kind of atmosphere. And so, Italian music, the genuine cooking of my country, the name Pinocchio that makes me remember my childhood, all this makes me feel at home.

Captions 50-55, Adriano Pizzeria Pinocchio - Part 1

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Adriano is living in Dublin, so when he walks into his favorite pizzeria, he feels like he's home. "Home" can mean home, where his family lives, or it can mean home, as in his home country.  Or, it can mean feeling at home, or comfortable.

In the following example, it's clear we're talking about the family.

La nostra azienda è un'azienda a conduzione familiare che venne acquistata dal mio bisnonno nel millenovecentoquattro.

Our company is a family-run company that was purchased by my great grandfather in nineteen hundred and four.

Captions 5-6, L'Italia che piace Esperienze Gastronomiche - Part 9

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Familiare can also be a noun, meaning "family member" as in the following example. 

Vuole che Le dica ora, o preferisce aspettare la presenza di qualcuno, un familiare?

Do you want me to tell you now, or do you prefer to wait for the presence of someone, a family member?

Caption 32, La linea verticale EP 7 - Part 2

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And of course, familiare can also mean familiar as in the next two examples. 

È avvenuto con qualcosa che a noi sembra molto familiare e innocuo: la pioggia.

It happened with something that seems very familiar and harmless to us: rain.

Caption 41, Meraviglie S2EP1 - Part 6

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È veramente un paesaggio familiare, ma come vedete il clima può cambiare in un attimo, essere avvolti da una bufera o vedere il cielo azzurro.

It is truly a familiar landscape, but as you can see, the weather can change in an instant, to be enveloped by a storm or see the blue sky.

Captions 18-20, Meraviglie S2EP1 - Part 12

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We hope you become more familiar with the adjective and noun familiare!  Thanks for reading!

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The verb cuocere is a normal ho-hum verb about cooking, but that is not all it has to offer. 

Nel frattempo che la pasta si cuoce, cuociamo il pomodoro.

Meanwhile, while the pasta is cooking, we'll cook the tomatoes.

Caption 29, In cucina con Antonino Episodio 4: il coltivatore del pomodorino del

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When something is cooked, è cotto. It's worth noting that cuocere is an irregular verb. Check out its conjugation chart. An archaic version of cuocere is cocere, which allows the irregularities to make more sense. We might liken this verb to muovere (to move) in terms of conjugation, with its participle mosso.

If you like your meat well done, ben cotto is what you will ask the waiter for. 

È ben cotto, come piace a te.

It's well-done, just like you like it.

Caption 70, Provaci ancora prof! S2E5 Vita da cani - Part 10

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Sì, perché deve essere cotto al punto giusto, ma stavamo parlando anche della cottura delle patate

Yes, because it must be cooked to perfection, but we were also talking about the cooking of the potatoes

Captions 49-50, JAMS S1 EP7 - Part 3

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When we talk about cottura, we often talk about tempo di cottura (cooking time), such as on a package of pasta. Every type of pasta has a different tempo di cottura. Or we talk about cooking method: il tipo di cottura.

Cuocere is a transitive verb. We cook something. But if we just cook, we can use the verb cucinare (to cook). 

Insegnami a cucinare.

Teach me to cook.

Caption 27, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP3 I giardini della memoria - Part 22

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Who does the cooking? Il cuoco (the cook, the chef).

Mi piacerebbe diventare cuoco.

I'd like to become a chef.

Caption 20, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP6 Dalla parte degli ultimi - Part 18

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The verb cuocere can be used figuratively, too. Quando prendi una cotta, (when you get cooked), you are head over heels in love with someone or you have a crush on someone. Cuocere is "to cook." And we use the verb prendere (to take, to get), usually in its reflexive form. 

Mi sa che qui qualcuno si è preso una cotta per te, eh.

I think that someone has a crush on you, huh.

Caption 60, JAMS S1 EP2 - Part 5

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È cotto marcio. -Totale.

He is cooked rotten [madly in love]. -Totally.

Captions 1-2, Provaci ancora prof! S3 EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 27

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Il cotto is a kind of tile, made of terracotta or earthenware. It is very popular in Italy for floors, both indoors and outdoors. Il cotto is also a regional, abbreviated way of referring to cooked ham — prosciutto cotto.

Let's not forget our S prefix. Scottare can mean to blanch something in water with its synonym, sbollentare. The verb "bollentare" without the s-prefix doesn't seem to exist, but we can see that sbollentare comes from bollire (to boil).

Seicento grammi di castagne sbollentate,

Six hundred grams of blanched chestnuts,

Caption 6, Ricette di Natale Il Monte Bianco

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Scottare can also mean "to burn," or "to sear." As an adjective, scotto means overcooked. 

Quindi gli han fatto mangiare risotto freddo scotto? -Sì, sì.

So they made them eat cold, overcooked risotto? -Yes, yes.

Caption 12, Benvenuti in Galera Bollate, Milano - Part 10

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Sbollire, on the other hand, has to do with calming down. In English, we have the expression "Simmer down."  Of course, if we are talking about cooking, then whatever was boiling has to cool down. 

Ho creduto fosse meglio fargli sbollire la rabbia, tanto prima o poi mi avrebbe richiamata.

I thought it best to give him time to let him calm down his anger, as, sooner or later, he would have called me back.

Captions 13-14, Provaci ancora prof! S2EP2 Una mina vagante - Part 7

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There is also a kind of beef called la scottona, which is a young female bovine that has never been impregnated. She may be in heat, and that might be where the term scottona  comes from (no one really knows).

Ad esempio la Fiorentina che è carne di vitello [sic: vitellone] o di scottona cotta alla brace o alla griglia.

For example, the Fiorentina (steak) which is veal [young beef] or young female bovine grilled or broiled.

Captions 49-50, L'Italia a tavola Interrogazione sulla Toscana

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A good expression with cuocere is lasciare cuocere nel suo brodo. Or, more properly, lasciare cuocere nel proprio brodo (to let someone cook in his own broth). It is used when you decide to let someone make their own decisions without interfering or influencing them (although often, you think they are not making the right decision). They'll make their own bed and lie in it. Or you might just be letting them think things over on their own. 

We hope you now have a new way of looking at the humble verb cuocere. Have we forgotten any connections? Let us know at [email protected]. 

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Here is a line-by-line translation and explanation. Keep in mind that there is not only one way to translate poetry. If you look for translations of this sonnet on the Internet, you will find various versions. The most important thing is to understand it enough to get the gist of the poem. Some words are different from modern Italian, for example, duo instead of due (two), ove instead of dove (where), loco instead of luogo (place), desio instead of desiderio (desire).

1. Benedetto sia ’l giorno, e ’l mese, e l’anno,

Blessed be the day, and the month, and the year
→ The poet is blessing the moment in time when he first saw the woman he loves.

2. e la stagione, e ’l tempo, e l’ora, e ’l punto,

and the season, and the time, and the hour, and the exact point [in time].
→ He continues the list, blessing every detail of that moment.

3. e ’l bel paese, e ’l loco ov’io fui giunto

and the beautiful place, and the spot where I was joined
→ He adds the physical place where he happened to be when it happened that he was struck

4. da’ duo begli occhi che legato m’hanno;

by two beautiful eyes that bound me;
→ Her eyes “tied” him to her

5. e benedetto il primo dolce affanno

and blessed be the first, sweet agony
→ He is also blessing the first "sweet" pain of love

6. ch’i’ ebbi ad esser con Amor congiunto,

that I felt when I became joined with Love,
→ When he first fell in love. Amor is another name for Cupid.

7. e l’arco, e le saette ond’i’ fui punto,

and the bow and the arrows where I was struck,
→ Love is imagined as Cupid shooting arrows. Saetta is another word for freccia (arrow). 

8. e le piaghe che ’nfin al cor mi vanno.

and the wounds that go all the way to my heart.
→ His love wounds are deep — another poetic metaphor.

9. Benedette le voci tante ch’io

Blessed be the many voices (words) that I
→ Beginning again with a blessing (implicit subjunctive).

10. chiamando il nome de mia donna ho sparte, 

have scattered while calling my lady’s name, — sparte is another past participle (in the feminine plural to agree with voci) of the verb spargere (to scatter)
→ All the times he has spoken her name.

11. e i sospiri, e le lagrime, e ’l desio;

and the sighs, the tears, and the desire; desio is an archaic form of desiderio (desire)
→ All the feelings his love caused — also blessed.

12. e benedette sian tutte le carte

and blessed be all the pages
→ “The pages” = the poems he has written about her.

13. ov’io fama l’acquisto, e ’l pensier mio,

where I gain fame (through writing), and my thoughts,  — Ove is another form of dove (where)
→ His poetry gives him fame; his thoughts 

14. ch’è sol di lei, sì ch’altra non v’ha parte.

which belong only to her, so that no other woman has any share in them.
→are entirely of her; there is no place for any other woman. 

E il {loco} ov'io fui giunto [e il luogo dove io sono giunto] da duo begli occhi [grazie a quei due begli occhi]

And the place where I was joined by two beautiful eyes

Captions 6-7, La compagnia del cigno EP 5 - Part 3

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Francesco Petrarca (known as Petrarch in English) was born in the area of Arezzo, Tuscany in around 1304, in other words, at the beginning of the century known as il trecento ('300). He spent many years in France, living in Montpellier and especially in Avignon. Legend has it that he fell in love with a woman named Laura in Avignon, whom he met in a church there.

The present sonnet, dedicated to Laura, is part of "Rerum vulgarium fragmenta" (fragments composed in the vernacular). This is notable because most of his works were composed in Latin. Another name for this collection of poems in Italian was Rime sparse (scattered rhymes or verses). It was also called il canzoniere (the songbook). 

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Why are we talking about this particular sonnet? Barbara, a character in La compagnia del cigno, on Yabla, recites the sonnet perfectly when she joins an Italian class in her new school. It seemed like a perfect occasion for us to discuss some interesting features of the sonnet. One feature is the use of the subjunctive (il congiuntivo), a grammar topic we've talked about in previous lessons, so this is a chance to look at one more way to use this tricky verbal conjugation. 

Benedetto sia il giorno e il mese, e l'anno.

Blessed be the day and the month, and the year.

Captions 1-2, La compagnia del cigno EP 5 - Part 3

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That is how she begins. Here is the entire sonnet:

Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374)
Sonetto LXI dal Canzoniere (sonnet 61 from the "songbook")

Benedetto sia 'l giorno, e 'l mese, e l'anno,
e la stagione, e 'l tempo, e l'ora, e 'l punto,
e 'l bel paese, e 'l loco ov'io fui giunto
da' duo begli occhi che legato m'hanno;
e benedetto il primo dolce affanno
ch'i' ebbi ad esser con Amor congiunto,
e l'arco, e le saette ond'i' fui punto,
e le piaghe che 'nfin al cor mi vanno.
Benedette le voci tante ch'io
chiamando il nome de mia donna ho sparte,
e i sospiri, e le lagrime, e 'l desio;
e benedette sian tutte le carte
ov'io fama l'acquisto, e 'l pensier mio,
ch'è sol di lei, sì ch'altra non v'ha parte. 

The poem starts out with the subjunctive (Benedetto sia…). How does this work?  The poet is expressing a wish, a blessing, or a devotional hope. That's one way the subjunctive is used in Italian.

We have looked at the subjunctive mood (il congiuntivo) and how the conjunction che (that, which) triggers it on so many occasions.

But other conjunctions trigger the subjunctive, as well. Subordinating conjunctions (including che) are used to connect a dependent or subordinate clause (one that can't stand alone) to a main clause in different ways. They're called congiunzioni subordinanti in Italian and are categorized into groups such as concessive (of concession), temporali (of time), causali (of cause), finali (of purpose), etc. 

We will go through them one by one over the course of multiple lessons and provide examples from Yabla videos. Knowing the names of the various conjunction types is not the important thing, but recognizing their meaning and being able to use them when needed or desired will enhance your speaking and writing. As you learn more Italian, you will begin recognizing them and incorporating them into your speech and understanding. These conjunctions play a role in instructions, rules, and regulations, so it's a good idea to be familiar with them. 

Some are more common than others, and you will hear them again and again in Yabla videos, as well as in everyday speech. Practicing them in Speak, Scribe, and Revo will reinforce your command of them and help them feel natural. To see more examples, do a search of your chosen conjunction on the "videos" page and they will be listed. Open the transcript if you need more context or complete sentences. 

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In this lesson, we will deal with some common conjunctions of concession. In English, these are words like "despite," "notwithstanding," "although," "even though," etc. In Italian, they are: benché, sebbene, malgrado che, nonostante, anche se (which doesn't necessarily take the subjunctive depending on the context).

Here's an explanation of what this kind of conjunction is about, in Italian and in English. 

Le congiunzioni concessive introducono un ostacolo che non impedisce l'azione principale.

Concessive conjunctions introduce an obstacle that doesn't impede the principal action. 

As we will see, some of the conjunctions we encounter already contain the conjunction che. And we can guess that at one time, they were separate words: bene che or se bene. Two of the conjunctions of concession contain the adverb bene (well). With benché, it's at the beginning, whereas with sebbene, it's in second place. Bene (well, good) is generally a positive or reinforcing word. That can help us understand that even though there is an obstacle in the subordinate clause, it doesn't prevent the main clause from being true. 

You might be wondering if benché and sebbene are interchangeable. They are indeed. And they both take the subjunctive. In the first example below, the verb in the subjunctive mood is avere (to have), and in the second example, it's essere (to be). 

benché (even though, although)

Ho fatto il matto anch'io, benché avessi quindici anni nel quarantacinque,

I went crazy too, even though I was fifteen years old in nineteen forty-five,

Captions 58-59, Vera e Giuliano Montaldo - Part 4

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sebbene

Ma prima nessuno, nessuno aveva visto questa meraviglia, neanche gli uomini preistorici perché, sebbene siano state trovate delle tracce, eh, di, della loro presenza in altri punti, in questi ambienti assolutamente no.

But before that, no one, no one had seen this wonder, not even prehistoric men because, although traces have been found, uh, of, of their presence in other spots, in these chambers, absolutely not.

Captions 5-9, Meraviglie S2EP1 - Part 7

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A way to express the same idea informally, and without needing the subjunctive, is with anche se (even if). 

Ci sono certe realtà che vanno raccontate, anche se fa male.

There are certain realities that need to be told, even if it hurts.

Captions 24-25, Liberi tutti EP7 Quanto vale una pera al Milanetto? - Part 6

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nonostante (despite, despite the fact that, notwithstanding)

A dodici anni ha composto la sua prima opera e nonostante fosse un genio, i suoi l'hanno obbligato a studiare da avvocato,

At the age of twelve, he composed his first work and even though he was a genius, his parents forced him to study to be a lawyer,

Captions 7-9, La compagnia del cigno S2 EP 2 - Part 7

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The handy thing about nonostante is that it can be followed by either a verb in the subjunctive mood or by a noun! It works similarly to "despite" in English. When followed by a noun, nonostante works like a preposition. 

Pochi sono venuti a trovarlo, nonostante tutto il bene che ha fatto.

Few came to visit him, despite all the good he did.

Captions 8-9, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP6 Dalla parte degli ultimi - Part 15

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malgrado (despite, in spite of)

Ecco le campane, oggi è domenica, e malgrado sia un giorno di festa, la città, ehm, si muove in questo momento, forse perché molti son' tornati dalle vacanze.

There go the bells, today is Sunday, and even though it is a non-work day, the city, uhm, is stirring right now, perhaps because many have come back from their holidays.

Captions 16-19, Rosalba al parco della donna gatto - Part 1

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Malgrado can also be followed by a noun.

Malgrado l'ora tarda, giovani dai quindici ai vent'anni hanno invaso la stazione Centrale

Despite the late hour, young people from fifteen to twenty years old invaded the Central Station

Captions 5-6, Guido Crepax Cercando Valentina - Part 3

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Malgrado and nonostante are pretty much interchangeable, but nonostante is more common, and malgrado can seem negative (from the presence of mal = evil), as well as being a bit more formal. These two concessive conjunctions are quite interesting, and we'll delve deeper into them in a future lesson.

Thanks for reading. We hope gathering conjunctions together can help you make sense of them. See also Daniela's video lessons about il congiuntivo and this one about subordinating conjunctions.

Write to us at [email protected] or leave a comment on the "videos" page. 

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We often wonder: When do we use il congiuntivo (the subjunctive) in Italian?

For curiosity's sake, let's have a look at where the subjunctive came from. 

The word "subjunctive," as used to denote a grammatical mood, derives directly from the Latin "modus subjunctivus." This, in turn, is a translation from the original Greek term "hypotaktike enklisis" (subordinated mood/mode). In Greek, the subjunctive is almost exclusively used in subordinate clauses (hence the "sub" in subjunctive).

We talk about the subjunctive mood, but "mood" was a variant coming from the original Latin word "modus" (mode), meaning "way" or "manner" (among other things). One way to look at the subjunctive is as a way of using verbs in a subordinate clause. 

The earliest known usage of the term "subjunctive" in English dates from the 16th century. Nowadays, this mood or mode is used only sporadically in English. But in Italian, as a language based on Latin, it is used quite a bit. Of course, given that language is in continual evolution, nowadays, people dispense with the subjunctive some of the time, especially in informal speech, as you will discover in watching Yabla videos. Not everyone uses correct grammar all the time. 

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The sentences below are fairly simple, where the main clause is not much more than just a pronoun (included in the conjugation of the verb) and a verb. And instead of an object, we have a new (subordinate) clause beginning with che (that) or with other conjunctions.

In a previous lesson, we talked about the expression a naso, which is used when you don't have the exact facts or measurements, but venture a guess. One way to translate it is "by the looks of things." But here, we look at a different expression that means something similar, but has very different origins. Here, we are taking a rough guess. Italians often say a occhio e croce to mean "roughly," but what does it actually mean?

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The two elements of the expression are occhio (eye) and croce (cross). It starts out with the preposition a (meaning "in the manner of"). It comes from the art or craft of weaving. Sometimes a thread or a piece of yarn breaks off and needs to be repaired. The weaver tries her best to hide the blemish, but has to do it by eye, rather than using the loom mechanically or electrically. She has to fit the thread into the weave by hand. In woven material, the threads are crossed under and over each other, hence the term croce.

The expression, used by many Italians who might not even know where the expression comes from, has come to be understood as "approximately," "roughly," "roughly speaking," or "if I had to guess."

A occhio e croce, però, puoi scegliere tra: concorso in omicidio, tentata truffa, falsa testimonianza.

Roughly speaking, however, you can choose between: complicity in murder, attempted fraud, perjury.

Captions 73-74, Provaci ancora prof! S2E4 L'amica americana - Part 24

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E pensare che io, a occhio e croce, appena l'ho visto, ho detto: a me sembra un cuscino.

And to think that I, if I had to guess, as soon as I saw it, I said: It looks like a pillow to me.

Captions 40-41, Un medico in famiglia Stagione 1 EP3 Un cugino in fuga - Part 4

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Calcolando che sulla terra all'epoca c'erano cinque miliardi di abitanti, la ricerca si restringeva a occhio e croce tra ottocento milioni di persone.

Calculating that on earth at the time there were five billion inhabitants, the search was limited, roughly speaking, to eight hundred million people.

Captions 42-43, Questione di Karma Rai Cinema - Part 1

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As in all languages, we might know what something means, but not necessarily why it means that. Now when you hear someone use this bizarre-sounding expression, you will wonder no more. You will get a certain satisfaction of understanding, but also knowing where the expression comes from. Visualizing a loom might help remember.

But we can also use the short form of this expression, a occhio (by eye). It's simple and clear. It is similar to a naso but used in situations where the eyes are the judges.

How many young Italians try to get a recipe from la mamma (their mother), la zia (the aunt), or la nonna (the grandmother), only to find that it's impossible to pin down the quantities or timing because they do it all a occhio (by eye)!

E le quantità? A occhio.

And the quantities? By eye.

Captions 14-15, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP4 Maltempo - Part 5

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Thanks for reading. Send us your comments or questions to [email protected].

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Italian and English share the image of the "nose" to speak figuratively about different behaviors or attitudes. 

Take a look at Marika's video about various expressions having to do with il naso (the nose). 

Oggi parliamo di quelle espressioni che hanno a che fare con il naso.

Today, let's talk about those expressions that have to do with the nose.

Captions 4-5, Marika spiega Espressioni con naso

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We'll take a look at some of these expressions further in this lesson.

First of all, how do we say "nosy" in Italian? One way is to use the verb ficcare "to stick in..." Being nosy is when you stick your nose into situations where you probably shouldn't. 

No, perché se so che hai ricominciato a curiosare, a ficcare il naso dentro delitti, omicidi... ah!

No, because if I find out that you have started poking around, sticking your nose into crimes, homicides... ow!

Captions 29-30, Provaci ancora prof! S2EP1 - La finestra sulla scuola - Part 16

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We can compress this expression into a noun/adjective as well. 

Allora, lei è una che fa finta di starsene per conto suo, ma poi te la ritrovi sempre fra i piedi, una grandissima ficcanaso.

So, she is someone who pretends to mind her own business, but then you always find her underfoot, hugely nosy.

Captions 45-47, Provaci ancora prof! S1E4 - La mia compagna di banco - Part 30

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In the previous example, ficcanaso was used as a noun, as we can see by its indefinite article. But it can also be used as an adjective to describe someone. 

And we use the same noun, ficcanaso, in both the singular and the plural. 

A me i ficcanaso un mi so' [non mi sono] mai garbati [piaciuti].

Me, snoopers, I've never liked.

Caption 30, Il Commissario Manara S1EP2 - Vendemmia tardiva - Part 8

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Ficcare is commonly used in this expression, but not only. You'll find some examples on WordReference. Ficcare is somewhat similar to infilare or inserire, but it implies an action lacking in grace. 

Let's look at a very common expression used to describe someone who is snobbish or stuck up. 

When we talk about someone with la puzza sotto al naso (the stink below one's nose), we're talking about someone who is haughty, with one's nose in the air, or a snob. 

Be', quando facevo il liceo, c'era una classe dove c'era un sacco di figlie di professionisti, molte con la puzza sotto il naso.

Well, when I went to high school, there was a class where there were a bunch of professionals' daughters, lots of them with a stink under their noses [their noses in the air].

Captions 15-17, Illuminate Margherita Hack - Part 6

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The English word snob has made its way into the Italian language, as an adjective meaning "snobbish," but the longer expression is extremely common. 

Finally, a way to say something is based on one's intuition rather than precise information, is a naso (by one's nose), or a lume di naso (by the light of one's nose). They both can mean something like "an impression," "a gut reaction," "a gut feeling," or "off the top of one's head," "by the looks of things." So basically, you're making an educated guess, using your intuition. 

E ti è sembrata sincera? A lume di naso, no.

And did she seem sincere to you? Intuitively [by the light of my nose], no.

Captions 23-24, Provaci ancora prof! S3 EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 22

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We can use a naso when we're talking about measurements we are guessing at without knowing precise numbers, like the size of a room. Another way to translate this, depending on the context, is "by the seat of one's pants." 

There are certainly other expressions using the nose or the sense of smell, but this is a good start. Let us know if you come across other expressions with the nose that might be interesting, and we'll add them to the lesson. Write to us at [email protected]. 

Thanks for reading. Next month, we will look at a similar expression to a naso, having to do with approximation, so stay tuned!

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Food, and eating and drinking are very important to all of us. But how to talk about this in Italian? There are different ways, but one of the basic things to know is that being hungry and thirsty are most commonly expressed using the verb avere (to have) plus the noun la fame (the hunger) or the noun la sete (the thirst). We've provided the articles to know the gender, but the article is not used in this formula. 

Io però ho fame.

But I'm hungry.

Caption 88, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1 EP6 Buio - Part 9

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Ho sete.

I'm thirsty.

Caption 52, La linea verticale EP 5 - Part 4

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But in the next example, the article is used. Note that who is hungry is identified by an indirect object pronoun — mi or a me (to me) in this case. 

M'è passata la fame.

I've lost my appetite [to me, the hunger has passed]

Caption 59, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 14

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Peppi', t'aspetto fuori, che m'è passata la sete a me.

Peppi', I'll wait outside, since I'm not thirsty anymore [to me the thirst has passed].

Caption 27, Chi m'ha visto film - Part 4

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So, instead of asking, "How hungry are you?" the question can become, "How much hunger do you have?" 

C'avete fame? -Sì, altroché. Ma quanta? -Tanta.

Are you hungry? -Yes, absolutely. But how [hungry]? -Very.

Captions 25-26, Provaci ancora prof! S3 EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 21

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Sometimes, we might want to use an adjective, especially when we're very hungry. We can say affamato.

Tutto sommato retaggio di un'Italia che, fino a pochi decenni prima, era un'Italia tutto sommato affamata.

All in all, a heritage of an Italy, which until a few decades earlier, was a hungry Italy, all in all.

Captions 62-63, L'arte della cucina L'Epoca delle Piccole Rivoluzioni - Part 11

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We can also say, when we feel "desperate," Sto morendo di fame (I'm dying of hunger). 

And to remove hunger, in other words, to feed someone, we can use the prefix S: 

Diceva che non avevano abbastanza soldi, non potevano permettersi un'altra bocca da sfamare.

He would say that they didn't have enough money. They couldn't afford another mouth to feed.

Captions 13-14, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP3 Vicini - Part 19

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We can also "give someone something to eat," dare da mangiare. 

Devo dare da mangiare a mia figlia.

I have to feed my daughter.

Caption 15, Adriano Olivetti La forza di un sogno Ep. 1 - Part 11

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Maybe this lesson has made you affamato. We hope that you can sfamarti. Thanks for reading. You can write to us a [email protected]. 

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You might have heard Italians saying, "D'accordo" to mean "OK," or "all right," in your travels, in movies and TV shows, or elsewhere. Depending on the context and inflection, it can be posed as a question:

D'accordo?

All right?

Caption 29, Provaci ancora prof! S2E5 Vita da cani - Part 8

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 Or it can be a statement of agreement. 

D'accordo.

All right.

Caption 73, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP2 Rabbia - Part 20

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There are various ways to use d'accordo and its main noun, accordo (agreement). We've mentioned some of them in this lesson. 

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But there is also a verb form, accordare. One common use of this verb is in music. It means "to tune," such as the strings of a musical instrument. 

Ah, perfetto. -Accordare la chitarra. -Sì.

Ah, perfect. -To tune a guitar. -Yes.

Caption 67, L'Eredità -Quiz TV La sfida dei sei. Puntata 2 - Part 10

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You might have heard Daniela use accordare when talking about "agreement" between various parts of speech. 

Chiaramente, se il soggetto è plurale il verbo va accordato anche alla terza persona plurale.

Clearly, if the subject is plural the verb has to agree in the third person plural, as well.

Captions 3-4, Corso di italiano con Daniela La forma passiva - Part 3

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It's very common to use mettersi d'accordo to come to an agreement or essere d'accordo to agree or to be in agreement:

Dai, ti sei messa d'accordo con Polio e Faber per farmi uno scherzo

Come on, you ganged up with Polio and Faber to play a joke on me,

Caption 15, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 10

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Sono d'accordo con te.

I agree with you.

Caption 9, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP5 Misericordia - Part 25

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But it's also possible to use the reflexive verb accordarsi.

Gli sposi devono accordarsi su un piccolo particolare della formula, nessun problema.

The bride and groom have to come to an agreement about a little detail for their vows, no problem.

Caption 19, Sposami EP 5 - Part 21

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Finally, accordare can also mean "to grant." In this case, it's transitive.

Ma, veramente, commissario, ha preso un giorno di permesso. Ma gliel'ha accordato Lei, prima di partire.

But actually, Commissioner, she took a personal day. But you granted it to her, before leaving.

Captions 5-6, Il Commissario Manara S1EP6 - Reazione a Catena - Part 2

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Permesso accordato.

Permission granted.

Caption 106, Provaci ancora prof! S3 EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 20

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Thanks for reading. Send your questions and comments to [email protected] or use the comments section of the video you happen to be watching. 

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There are various ways to talk about showing up in Italian. They often involve the reflexive form of a verb. Let's look at some examples. 

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Farsi vedere. We use the verb fare reflexively with the infinitive form of the verb vedere (to see). Literally, it means something to the effect of "to make/let oneself be seen." Sometimes it's about showing oneself or being seen.

Scusa, Diana, e se la persona che si firmava nel biglietto, quella che non voleva farsi vedere, non fosse una donna?

Excuse me, Diana, and if the person who signed the card, the one who didn't want to show himself, weren't a woman?

Captions 19-20, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP3 I giardini della memoria - Part 6

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In the previous example, someone didn't want to be seen. In the following example, however, it means to show up, to come around. 

Non si sono fatti più vedere qua.

They never showed up here again.

They were never seen here again.

Caption 19, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP5 Rione Serra Venerdì - Part 7

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When you want someone to stay in touch, you can say:

Posso dire: "Fatti vedere ogni tanto, è un mese che non ci parliamo".

I can say: "Show up every now and then. We haven't talked to each other in a month."

Caption 13, Marika spiega Il verbo vedere - Part 2

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Another way to say something similar is farsi vivo (to make oneself alive). It doesn't make sense literally, but it can mean "to show up" or "to get in touch." It's a way to be non-specific about actually showing up, in other words, it can also imply calling or writing, since it doesn't use the verb vedere (to see).

Non credo si faccia vivo, comunque stia tranquillo.

I don't think he'll get in touch, but regardless, don't worry.

Caption 19, Il Commissario Manara S1EP6 - Reazione a Catena - Part 11

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Mi faccio vivo io. -Commissario,

I will be in touch. -Detective,

Caption 63, Provaci ancora prof! S2E4 L'amica americana - Part 11

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Another way to show up is with the reflexive verb presentarsi. 

A parte la moglie di Rotunno, c'è anche un altro passeggero che non si è presentato:

Besides Rotunno's wife, there's another passenger who didn't show up:

Captions 81-82, Provaci ancora prof! S2EP1 - La finestra sulla scuola - Part 8

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Related to showing up, we have the verb comparire (to come into view).

Però, proprio per queste caratteristiche, è un cattivo che può comparire solo eccezionalmente.

However, precisely because of these characteristics, he is a villain who can only seldomly appear/be present.

Captions 39-40, Fumettology TEX - Part 5

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Aside: Similar to comparire is apparire, a cognate of the verb "to appear." In Italian, it is often used before an adjective and means "to seem" or "to appear to be." We'll explore the difference between apparire and comparire in a separate lesson. 

Thanks for reading. You can practice using one of the expressions above when someone shows up or doesn't show up, or when you want someone to show up. 

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In English, we usually think of baptism as being carried out in a church, with water. The cognate is used in Italian too, in this same context.

I testimoni, perché? È un battesimo, mica è un matrimonio.

The witnesses, why? It's a baptism, not a wedding.

Caption 11, Il Commissario Manara S2EP7 - Alta società - Part 4

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Già, perché Galileo è nato a Pisa, era un pisano. È stato battezzato nel Battistero,

Right, because Galileo was born in Pisa, he was a Pisan. He was baptized in the Baptistery —

Captions 5-6, Meraviglie EP. 4 - Part 10

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But Italians use the verb battezzare (to baptize) figuratively, too, in various contexts. Let's look at a few examples that come up in Yabla videos. Battezzare means "to give a name."

È un piatto nuovo e l'ho battezzato "l'amour retrouvé" [francese: l'amore ritrovato].

It's a new dish and I christened it, "l'amour retrouvé" [French: recovered love].

Caption 47, La Ladra EP. 10 - Un ignobile ricatto - Part 12

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Il furto a casa Parascandolo, sai come l'abbiamo battezzato?

The theft at Parascandolo's house, do you know what we named it?

Captions 63-64, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1 EP6 Buio - Part 8

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Eproprio questo forte vento ha dato il nome, ha battezzato questo incredibile sistema di ambienti sotterranei, e infatti questa è la Grotta Grande del Vento.

And precisely this strong wind gave a name to, it "baptized" this incredible network of subterranean chambers, and in fact, this is the Great Cave of the Wind.

Captions 21-24, Meraviglie S2EP1 - Part 4

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Abbiamo battezzato le note, abbiamo dato il nome alle sette note.

We've "baptized" the notes, we've given a name to the seven notes.

Captions 58-59, A scuola di musica con Alessio - Part 1

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Thanks for reading. Write to us at [email protected]. We love to hear from you!

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Trentino–Alto Adige is a region in northern Italy, right on the border with Austria and Switzerland. It has two main provinces:

Trentino, with the capital city Trento (Trent), where almost everyone speaks Italian.

Alto Adige, also called South Tyrol (German: Südtirol), with the capital city Bolzano (German: Bozen), where most people speak German as their first language.

Because of its history, the region is officially bilingual (in fact, trilingual, since Ladin, a local Romance language, is also recognized in some valleys).

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Many towns and cities in South Tyrol have both German and Italian names:

Bolzano / Bozen

Merano / Meran

Bressanone / Brixen

 

This is because South Tyrol was part of Austria-Hungary until 1919, when it became part of Italy after World War I. The local population was mostly German-speaking, but the Italian government wanted to strengthen Italian identity in the new territory.

During the Fascist period (1920s–1940s), Mussolini ordered the Italianization of South Tyrol. German was banned in schools and public life, and all German place names were replaced with Italian ones. These Italian versions were often invented or adapted by the Italian nationalist Ettore Tolomei.

Ostilità verso i dialetti, repressione delle minoranze linguistiche. [Bozen, Bolzano. Trento]

Hostility towards dialects, repression of minority languages.

Captions 4-5, Me Ne Frego Il Fascismo e la lingua italiana - Part 2

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Unless you go there or look at a map, you might only see or hear one version of the place name, the one in the language being spoken at the moment. Can it be confusing? Yes.

Qui, nell'Abbazia di Novacella a Varna in Val d'Isarco, a pochi chilometri da Bressanone, in tanti hanno sostato e trovato ricovero.

Here in the Abbey of Novacella in Varna in the Valley of Isarco, at only a few kilometers from Bressanone [Brixen], many have stopped and found refuge.

Captions 20-23, Itinerari Della Bellezza Trentino Alto Adige - Part 3

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Today, both languages are recognized. Street signs and official documents are in Italian and German. For example, you’ll see “Bolzano/Bozen” on road signs or maps.

💡 Did you know?

Besides Italian and German, a third language is spoken in some valleys of South Tyrol: Ladin.

In Italian, it’s called ladino.

In German, it’s called Ladinisch.

Ladin is not the same as the modern language Ladino (or Judeo-Spanish), which is spoken by Sephardic Jews. The two are unrelated.

Ladin is a very old Romance language, directly descended from Latin, and is still spoken in a few Alpine valleys (for example, the Val Gardena / Gröden and Val Badia / Gadertal). Because of this, South Tyrol is sometimes described as a trilingual province: Italian, German, and Ladin.

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