In a previous lesson we talked about what lexical chunks are, and how we can use them to become more fluent. In this lesson, we mention 10 common chunks you'll want in your Italian toolkit. 

1) Non fa niente (it doesn't matter). Literally it's "it doesn't make/do anything." It's better to know what the effect is, and when to say it, than knowing what each word means. Remember that Italian uses the double negative to form a negative, thus we have the negating word non (not) and then the negative word niente (nothing)

Ma se devi andare vai, non fa niente. -No,

But if you have to leave, it's OK/it doesn't matter. -No,

Caption 19, JAMS S1 EP4 - Part 5

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2) Di niente (you're welcome, don't mention it)

Grazie per l'assistenza. -Di niente.

Thanks for your help. -Think nothing of it/you're welcome/it was nothing.

Captions 53-54, La Ladra EP. 4 - Una magica bionda - Part 1

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3) Secondo me (in my opinion)

Però, secondo me, la ragazza ha mentito.

But, in my opinion/according to me, the girl lied.

Caption 6, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 21

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For Yabla videos, we tend to translate secondo me as "in my opinion," to distinguish it from penso che (I think that), but a fluent translation of secondo me, is also "I think." If we take the word secondo by itself, it means "according to."

4) Va bene is an equivalent for all right or OK. But literally, it means, "it goes well."

Maura, appena arrivi prendi un tavolo. -Auguri. Va bene.

Maura, as soon as you arrive, get a table. -Congratulations. All right.

Captions 66-67, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 12

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And let's not forget that it can also be posed as a question: Va bene? Does it go/is it going well? You're really asking if something is OK.

5) D'accordo (agreed). Your tone of voice, as well as the context, will indicate whether you are asking if something is OK, or saying something is OK. It's another way to say "OK?"  or "OK." Literally, it's "of the agreement."

D'accordo?

All right?

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

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D'accordo, arrivo.

All right, I'll be right there.

Caption 29, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1 EP6 Buio - Part 7

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6) But you can also say d'accordo to agree with someone. In this case, you add the verb essere (to be), in this case, sono (I am). Literally, it's "to be in agreement."

Sono d'accordo con te.

I agree with you.

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

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7) Here's a chunk we use a lot: avere bisogno di (to have need of). In English, we just use the transitive verb "to need."

Ho bisogno di tempo.

I need time.

Caption 27, Provaci ancora prof! S2E5 Vita da cani - Part 3

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8) Sometimes you just want to say, "all the better" or "just as well." Meglio così (literally, "better like that)".

Meglio così.

All the better/just as well.

Caption 13, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP3 La terza vittima - Part 11

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9) Come dire (how to say, how can I say it)?

Come dire is something you hear often in conversation. It's tricky to translate, because Italians insert it smack in the middle of what they are saying. Literally, it's "how to say?" They're basically posing the question," How can I put this?" or "What's the best way to say this?" It might even be a filler, like "You know?"

Ma non è che io, come dire, invidiassi Valentina.

But it's not that I, you know, envied Valentina.

Captions 54-55, Guido Crepax Cercando Valentina - Part 13

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In this lesson, we've shown you a number of chunks you can learn as if they were single words. Once you get the hang of them, you can use them to build sentences. We'll look at building sentences with chunks in a future lesson. Where there was a choice, we've focused on the first-person singular, since it's the person you will use a lot in speech. 

Thanks for reading. As always, send your questions or doubts to [email protected].

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Many of us learned that the Italian word for "again" is ancora. That is correct. But ancora has other meanings, as well, so it's handy to have an alternative way to say "again." We have added "anew" as a translation below, to provide a cognate, even though we rarely use it in English. 

di nuovo (again, anew)

Sono di nuovo incinta.

I'm pregnant again.

Caption 28, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 16

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nuovamente (again)

Mi dispiace, ma dobbiamo nuovamente interrogare la Sua collega.

I'm sorry, but we have to question your colleague again.

Caption 10, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 13

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un'altra volta

Yet another way to say again is un'altra volta (another time).

Ma secondo te, mi vuole interrogare un'altra volta? -Figurati,

But in your opinion, does he want to question me again? -Yeah right,

Captions 26-27, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 20

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But keep in mind that un'altra volta can also mean "some other time," so context is key. 

Se per te è troppo tardi, facciamo un'altra volta.

If it's too late for you, let's do it some other time.

Captions 31-32, La compagnia del cigno EP 5 - Part 9

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prefix ri-

We can also use the prefix ri- to express the idea of "again."

E un anno dopo, alla fine del duemila e nove, siamo ripartiti.

And one year later, at the end of two thousand nine, we began again.

Captions 36-37, Ritratti Fabiola Gianotti - Part 13

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And the prefix ri- is used all the time with the verb vedere (to see):

E be', se vuoi rivedere il tuo amato taccuino...

Well, if you want to see your beloved notebook again...

Caption 57, Provaci ancora prof! S1E3 - Una piccola bestia ferita - Part 16

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Every time we say arrivederci, we are hoping to see the person again.  

Arrivederci.

Goodbye.

Caption 1, La compagnia del cigno S1 EP4 - Part 4

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"again" in the negative

As we mentioned in a previous lesson, when we use ancora preceded by non, it often means "not yet." So, in order to say "not again," or "never again," we can use non più (not more, not anymore). 

Poi da quel giorno non l'ho più vista.

Then, from that day on, I never saw her again.

Caption 40, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S2 EP1 Cuccioli - Part 11

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Va be', se ti vergogni vuol dire che hai capito e quindi non lo farai più, e questa già è una buona notizia.

OK, if you're ashamed it means you understand, and so you're not going to do it again, and this is already good news.

Captions 8-9, La Ladra EP. 1 - Le cose cambiano - Part 8

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In that same previous lesson, we mentioned that ancora can also mean "still." Consider this example. 

Che l'hai ancora con me, Renzo?

What, are you still mad at me, Renzo?

Caption 34, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 10

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There is a chance that the meaning could have been "again":  Are you mad at me again, Renzo? However, it would likely have been said in a different way. Once again, we have to be careful with the context when it comes to ancora. 

Another consideration is that ancora is used more often in situations where you do something repeatedly (again and again). In this case, we can also use ripetutamente (repeatedly).

Lo pongolava [sic: pungolava] ripetutamente con il suo becco, ma non si muoveva niente.

She would poke at it repeatedly with her beak, but nothing moved.

Captions 19-21, Le fiabe di Yabla Arianna racconta Il Brutto Anatroccolo - Part 1

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Di nuovo, on the other hand, can imply starting over, rather than just doing something again.  

We hope you have a better sense of different ways to say "again" in Italian. If you find other ways, please let us know! Write to us at [email protected]. Thanks for reading!

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When we learn a language by ear, we don't always know what each individual word means. And for speaking and making ourselves understood, it doesn't really matter much of the time. In fact, we often learn chunks* of words that mean something specific, without knowing the individual words that make up that chunk*. We just learn what to say in a given situation, by repeating what we hear.

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But as we progress in a language, we sometimes like to know more. We wonder, "What does that really mean?" There is a time and a place for both strategies.

If we look at Yabla games, for instance, we can think about Parrot as just listening and repeating, and breaking up the captions into chunks to start speaking — not trying necessarily to repeat an entire caption, as sometimes they are just too long for that, and not necessarily understanding every word. We can just repeat a chunk and then go on to another chunk. Scribe is more about getting into the nitty-gritty of the language, looking at the structure of a sentence, figuring out how the language works. 

We can break up a phrase or chunk* into its parts: the noun, the verb, the preposition, the adjective, the pronoun, etc. This can be very useful for understanding how the grammar works, especially after we have already been able to speak the phrase or chunk in a single breath. Because if we get caught up in the meaning of each word right away, in other words, overthinking things, it may inhibit us from speaking smoothly and sounding natural. Our brains will get the better of us. 

*A chunk, or more accurately, a lexical chunk, is a pre-assembled, natural combination of words — rather than isolated words, which native speakers use as a single unit of meaning.

Here's an example of a chunk we use a lot. In fact, it's likely one of the first things we learn to say and understand in Italian. 

Cosa vuoi fare adesso, Sara? -Non lo so.

What do you want to do now, Sara? -I don't know.

Captions 66-67, La compagnia del cigno EP 5 - Part 11

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If we think about each word, we realize that there is an object pronoun in the Italian phrase: non ([I] don't) lo (it) so (I know), but not in the English "I don't know." There are variations on this chunk in both Italian and English, but this is the most common version. 

If we have studied a little grammar, we recognize or look up that so is the first person singular of the verb sapere. But when you learn the phrase for the first time, you might very well have no idea that the verb is sapere. And that's OK. You just know what it means in essence. You can start speaking Italian without really knowing how to conjugate verbs. Then, little by little, you put the pieces of the puzzle together. 

As we progress, we get used to the idea that it's not necessary to include the personal pronoun io (I) before a verb unless we need it for clarity. The negating word is non. And what about the word order? Non comes first! We put the object before the verb? Crazy. That's a lot of stuff to keep track of for one simple phrase you'll likely say and hear numerous times a day. 

So it's much easier and more natural to learn that non lo so simply means "I don't know." And the same goes for many other chunks of Italian we use every day. 

Non lo so is a full sentence, but it can also be considered to be a "chunk" to become an element in a longer sentence. Learning lexical chunks can help you think in Italian, which is what you want to do to become more and more fluent.

In this example, even though there is an object, lo is still present. 

Questo non lo so.

That I don't know.

Caption 80, Provaci ancora prof! S2E4 L'amica americana - Part 11

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Here, the pronoun is omitted. There is an object cosa (thing, what).  

Non so cosa dirti.

I don't know what to tell you.

Caption 2, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 22

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Here, too, lo seems superfluous, but that is how people talk! 

Non lo so se sono capace,

I don't know if I'm capable,

Caption 34, La compagnia del cigno S2 EP 2 - Part 7

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Here's an additional, longer chunk using the same basis. 

Non lo so e non lo voglio sapere.

I don't know, and I don't want to know.

Caption 29, La Ladra EP. 4 - Una magica bionda - Part 14

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In a future lesson, we will look at some common lexical chunks that you can put in your toolbox to then build on them. Thanks for reading! As always, send your comments and questions to [email protected]

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It's easy to get confused about when and how to use scusi and scusa, which both mean "Excuse me," or "I'm sorry." Let's go back to the origins of this common expression.

Scusare is a transitive verb that means "to excuse," or "to forgive." We often find it in the infinitive, preceded by a modal verb, such as dovere (to have to) or potere (to be able to). 

No, Lei mi deve scusare, io non lo sapevo che mi stesse aspettando.

No, you have to forgive me, I didn't know you were waiting for me.

Captions 25-26, La linea verticale EP 5 - Part 5

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Puoi scusarmi un attimo?

Can you excuse me a moment?

Caption 10, Provaci ancora prof! S1E4 - La mia compagna di banco - Part 15

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However, when it's used in the reflexive form, scusarsi, it means "to apologize." We can conjugate it and precede it with a reflexive particle. Being a true reflexive verb, the subject is both initiating and receiving the action of excusing. 

Mi scuso (I apologize)

Ti scusi (you apologize)

Si scusa (he/she apologizes)

Ci scusiamo (we apologize)

Vi scusate (you [plural] apologize

Si scusano (they apologize)

Perché ti scusi?

Why are you apologizing?

Caption 15, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1 EP6 Buio - Part 19

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E domani mi scuso con Gavina.

And tomorrow I'll apologize to Gavina.

Caption 48, Provaci ancora prof! S1E2 - Un amore pericoloso - Part 22

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And we can use modal verbs, here, too. But the situation is different from our first examples, where the object and the subject are two different people. Here it's the same person. While scusare remains in the infinitive, the modal verb is conjugated. So, in the following example, it's mi + devo (both in the first person singular). 

Io mi devo scusare per oggi.

I have to apologize for today.

Caption 15, Liberi tutti EP7 Quanto vale una pera al Milanetto? - Part 7

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If instead, I don't exactly want to apologize, I want to ask (or demand) forgiveness, then I might say:

Mi puoi scusare per oggi (can you forgive me for today)?

Tu mi devi scusare per oggi (you have to forgive me for today).

 

Mi (me) remains as the object, but the "forgiver" is tu (you).

We can also use the imperative, the command form of scusare. 

In the following examples, scusare is used in the second person plural imperative with a noun that's not a person. If you are late for a meeting, you might say:

Scusate il ritardo.

Forgive the delay.

Scusate per il ritardo

Sorry for the delay.

Caption 24, Sposami EP 6 - Part 13

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Here, you (1 person) are talking to more than one person about your being late.

But what about simply scusi and scusa? We hear these all the time. These commands have to do with one-on-one communication. One person, talking to one person. If you are talking to someone formally, or to an authority figure, you will actually be using the third-person subjunctive (Lei form), which acts as a formal "exhortation." So you say, Scusi (excuse me) or Mi scusi (excuse me). You can use this both when jostling a person by mistake, to apologize, or to ask someone something, for example, directions, or the menu in a restaurant. 

Che cosa significa questa storia? -Ah, scusi signor Preside, ma perché Anna non può stare qui?

What does this thing mean? -Uh, excuse me, Mister Principal, but why can't Anna be here?

Captions 40-41, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP3 La terza vittima - Part 2

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When we personalize this further, with mi, note that in the Lei form, the particle comes before the verb. 

Ah, un'altra cosa, signora, mi scusi.

Oh, one more thing, Ma'am, excuse me.

Caption 56, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP5 Misericordia - Part 13

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Attenzione: We might be tempted to think that with its i ending, scusi is second-person informal conjugation of the verb scusare. And it would be true, as in the example below, which we saw at the beginning of this lesson, but it is also the formal singular imperative (which comes from the third-person singular subjunctive).

Perché ti scusi?

Why are you apologizing?

Caption 15, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1 EP6 Buio - Part 19

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It's not imperative, it's the second-person conjugation of the reflexive form scusarsi. 

But if you are talking to a friend, then you use the second-person imperative, scusa.

Scusa, perché ridi?

Sorry, why are you laughing?

Caption 47, La compagnia del cigno EP 5 - Part 13

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Here, too, we can personalize the command with mi. The mi gets attached to the end of the root verb.

Scusami, non posso tornare a casa con te.

Sorry, I can't go home with you.

Caption 23, La compagnia del cigno S1 EP4 - Part 14

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Consulting the conjugation chart for the verb scusare might be helpful in sorting out what we have presented in this lesson. We hope that you now understand how to apologize to a friend or to a boss or authority figure. Have questions? Write to us at [email protected]. 

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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.

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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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When you buy something in a shop in Italy, one question you might get is whether you would like a bag. But if you think the only word for bag is un sacchetto (the diminutive of un sacco), you're mistaken.  Of course, people will understand you if you ask for un sacchetto, but you might hear other words, as well. These can vary according to region or personal preference. So let's take a look. 

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First of all, let's look at sacco and sacchetto.

Ma che stai comprando un sacco di patate?

But what, are you buying a sack of potatoes?

Caption 47, Un Figlio a tutti i costi film - Part 12

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It's good to know that while un sacco can mean a literal sack — containing something like potatoes, potting soil, animal feed, charcoal, kindling, etc., the noun un sacco is commonly used in a figurative sense to mean "a whole lot." It's used for things as well as situations or feelings. 

Ti ho appena fatto riparare e ho anche speso un sacco di soldi.

I just had you repaired and I even spent a bunch of money.

Captions 50-51, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 3

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Io mi sto divertendo un sacco.

I'm having a lot of fun.

Caption 35, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 22

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Ciao, scusami, io ho visto un sacco di gente.

Hi, excuse me, I've seen a whole lot of people.

Caption 1, Passeggiando per Roma per Roma - Part 2

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And now we come to sacchetto.

Ho pulito la pistola dalle impronte, l'ho messa in un sacchetto di plastica insieme al proiettile

I cleaned the handgun of fingerprints, I put it in a plastic bag together with the bullet,

Captions 22-23, Provaci ancora prof! S2E5 Vita da cani - Part 9

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In certain parts of Italy, such as Emilia-Romagna, un sacchetto is a paper bag, but una sportina is a plastic bag. And nowadays, bags are not free in supermarkets and many shops.

Here is another word for "bag," the kind of bag you will get in a shop or supermarket. It generally refers to a rather small bag.

Vuole una busta?

Do you want a bag?

Caption 16, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S2 EP1 Cuccioli - Part 7

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Busta is an interesting word because busta is also "envelope." But it also refers to a bag, either plastic or paper. If the bag is small, it might be referred to as una bustina. But bustina can also refer to a packet, such as for dried yeast, or tea bags: una bustina di tè.

Duecentocinquanta grammi di farina, io vi consiglio di usare lo zero, una bustina di lievito per dolci,

Two hundred and fifty grams of flour, I advise you to use "zero," one packet of baking powder for desserts,

Captions 1-3, La linea verticale EP8 - Part 7

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The noun borsa has various meanings, including handbag, bag, stock exchange (with a capital B), and scholarship (borsa di studio).

Dammi la mia borsa, subito. Non è tua, è di mamma.

Give me my bag, right now. It's not yours, it's Mom's.

Captions 50-51, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 29

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Instead of saying either valigia or bagaglio, it's common to use le borse, similarly to English. 

Datemi le borse così me le porto in albergo. -Ah, sì, sì e il casco.

Give me your bags, that way I will take them to the hotel. -Ah, yes, yes, and the helmet.

Caption 69, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP4 Maltempo - Part 9

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Le borse can also mean, generally, all the shopping bags you bring home from the supermarket. 

A man, instead of carrying a handbag, might carry un borsello.  It's usually a tracolla (with a shoulder strap).

Se hai smarrito un borsello, l'abbiamo trovato noi, ma è vuoto. Se lo vuoi, te lo vieni a riprendere, sennò lo buttiamo.

If you lost a shoulder bag, we found it, but it's empty. If you want it, come and get it, otherwise, we'll throw it out.

Captions 42-43, Ma che ci faccio qui! Un film di Francesco Amato - Part 6

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When you do sports or go to the gym, you might have un borsone for your change of clothes.

Solo Massimo, l'autore del gol, se ne sta davanti alla sua macchina nel parcheggio a cercare nel borsone il caricabatterie.

Only Massimo, the author of the goal, is standing in front of his car in the parking lot, looking in his duffel bag for his battery charger.

Captions 63-65, Fulvio Benelli Crimine Infinito, romanzo - Part 3

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The closest cognate to "baggage" is bagaglio, so it's easy to remember.  

Ma tutto qui il tuo bagaglio? No, no, no, il resto arriverà.

But is this all your luggage? No, no, no, the rest will come.

Captions 18-19, Il Commissario Manara S1EP1 - Un delitto perfetto - Part 3

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 Some English speakers use the French word "valise" for "suitcase." "Valise" is a cognate of valigia. 

Aiutami a chiudere 'sta [questa] valigia, va'.

Help me shut this suitcase, come on.

Caption 47, Volare - La grande storia di Domenico Modugno Ep. 1 - Part 4

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Una valigetta could be a small suitcase, but it commonly refers to a briefcase.  

Sei riuscita a vedere che c'è nella valigetta? Un mucchio di soldi. Dobbiamo agire al più presto, OK?

Did you manage to see what's in the briefcase? A bunch of money. We have to act as soon as possible, OK?

Captions 40-41, La Ladra EP. 8 - Il momento giusto - Part 6

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Thanks for reading. Perhaps we've given you more than you wanted or needed to know about bags, but you can pick the words you think you might need. If you search a word on the videos page and look at the list of instances of it, you'll get a feel for how these words are used in Italian. Write to us at [email protected]. 

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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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