Becoming Italian Word by Word

Traveling in the Italian Language: Up in the Air

 

Un volo 

A flight

In order to prenotare un volo (reserve a flight), I check the orario (schedule) online to find un volo diretto (a direct flight). I look for posti disponibili (seats available) in classe turistica. (economy class), business class (same in Italian), or prima classe (first class). I usually buy un volo di andata e ritorno (a round–trip flight) rather than un volo di sola andata (one-way ticket).

I prefer un posto vicino al finestrino (window seat); my very tall husband, un posto vicino al corridoio (aisle seat). Given life's uncertainties, I hope I don't have to annullare or cambiare il mio volo (cancel or change my flight).

As the date of my partenza (departure) approaches, I double-check the franchigia del bagaglio (luggage allowance), il mio passaporto (my passport) and the orario di partenza (time of departure). The Italian phrase for check-in time is l’orario per le procedure d’accettazione, but, understandably, even native speakers say “check-in.”

I like to arrive early, with my biglietto elettronico (e-ticket) or carta d’imbarco (boarding pass) and my bagaglio a mano (hand luggage). I stay in the sala d’attesa (waiting room) until it’s time to go to the cancello di imbarco (departure gate). 

I’m relieved to hear the announcement that the plane is imbarco immediato (boarding now). I always worry about a ritardo (delay), especially if there’s a sciopero (strike)--whether of i controllori di volo (air traffic controllers), gli assistenti di volo (flight attendants), il personale di terra (ground crew) or i piloti (pilots). 

On board I know I must allacciare la cintura di sicurezza (fasten my seatbelt) before decollo (take-off). The assistente di volo (flight attendant) offers a cuscino  (pillow), coperta (blanket) and cuffie auricolari (headset)  so I can listen to music or watch a movie. However, since it’s a long flight, I prefer to schiacciare un pisolino (take a little nap). 

After atterraggio (landing) at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport (better known as Fiumicino for the nearby town named for a little river or fiume), I take a shuttle to the main terminal. I feel that I have truly arrived in Italy when I hear the announcement, “La navetta sta per arrivare.” (The shuttle—literally little ship—is about to arrive.) 

In the ritiro bagagli (baggage claim) area, I look for a sign indicating my flight number and the luggage carousel. Usually I rent a carrello (cart) to help with my bags. Once I waited, and waited, and waited but la mia valigia non è mai arrivata a destinazione (my suitcase never came). That’s when I learned another essential travel phrase: La mia valigia è stata smarrita. (My suitcase has been lost.) 

It turned up eventually, and I reminded myself that the rewards of travel outweigh its hassles. As Sant’Agostino (St. Augustine) observed very long ago, “Il mondo è un libro e quelli che non viaggiano ne leggono solo una pagina.” (“The world is like a book, and those who don’t travel read only one page of it.”) 

Words and Expressions 

agenzia di viaggio -- travel agency

viaggiare col cavollo di San Francesco -- to go on foot (on the horse of St. Frances)

viaggiare in un baule -- to travel in a trunk, that is, without seeing anything

fare un viaggio e due servizi -- to make one trip and two services or to kill two birds with one stone

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language.

Click below for the lyrics of a classic that still makes our spirits fly:

Traveling in the Italian Language: Greetings

I Saluti

Greetings

The first word I saw on arriving in Rome was “Benvenuti!” (Welcome!). Everywhere I went, I heard Italians calling out saluti (greetings)—if not in person, then via their telefonini (cell phones). Friends and acquaintances salute each other with the most familiar of Italian words: ciao, which does double duty as “hi” and “bye.”

I learned its history years ago on my first trip to Venice . A waiter at the caffè where I came every day to sip espresso and watch the pigeons swoop across the Piazza di San Marco joked that my “ciao” sounded too Tuscan. Coaching me in the Venetian pronunciation, he explained that the word itself was a local invention.

In the glittering heyday of the city natives proudly refer to as La Serenissima, correspondents signed letters, “Il Suo schiavo” (your slave). Meeting on the street, acquaintances would bow and repeat the same ingratiating words. However, in the Venetian dialect, which softens the hard sound of sch (pronounced sk in other regions) to a chewy sh (as in show), Suo schiavo came out sciao, which melted into ciao as it migrated to other parts of Italy.

Italians use “ciao” informally with those they know by first name. A more polite greeting is “Salve!” According to my etymological dictionary, it dates back to the Latin of ancient Rome as a way of extending a welcome and  encouraging  frieds to make themselves at home. The first words of the Catholic prayer, “Hail Mary,” translate as “Salve Regina” (Hail Queen).

The salutation you’re most likely to hear in shops and restaurants is “Buongiorno” (Good day), generally used until lunch time, which is later in the south than in the north. From then on, the typical greeting is buonasera. But if an Italian injects a buonasera in the middle of a conversation, don’t get up to leave. It’s also an ironic way of signalling the end of a task or discussion—or of the impossibility of ever sorting out a thorny problem. As for la buonanotte, save your “good night” until you’re actually going to bed.

Italians we know sometimes take their leave with “ti saluto” or “vi saluto” (I salute or greet you, singular or plural). “Stammi bene!” (Stay well), our good friends say with a hug, kisses to both cheeks, and one ciao after another. “Ci vediamo!” (We’ll see each other!”)  we call out. And then, because we really do hate saying goodbye, we repeat the entire process all over again.

Words and Expressions

a dopo -- until later

alla prossima volta or alla prossima –- until the next time

a presto -- see you soon

a domani –- until tomorrow

addio –- a final, eloquent good-bye

arrivederci –- until we see each other again

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language. 

Traveling in the Italian Language: Top Ten Phrases for Tourists

10 Phrases You Shouldn’t Go to Italy Without

If you're packing your suitcases and heading for Italy in the coming months, some practical phrases are sure to come in handy. And so I'm launching a series of posts on "Traveling in the Italian Language."  Let's begin with some essential and quintessentially Italian conversation starters:

*Common courtesies. You’re more likely to get what you ask for when you preface a request with “per favore” (please) and respond to any kindness with “grazie” (thank you).  Prego (literally “I beg”)  can mean, “You’re welcome,” or, in some circumstances, “by all means.”

*Salutations.  Although “ciao!”  has become world-famous, the more polite greeting is   “Buongiorno" (Good Day, used until after lunch or late afternoon, depending on the region) or “Buonasera” (Good Evening).  An alternative more common in the North than the South is “Salve!”  Take your leave with a cheery "Arrivederci!" (See you again! Goodbye!)

*Introductions. In Italian, you don't simply announce your name. You say, "Mi chiamo..." (I call myself).  To find out another person's name, ask, "Come si chiama?" (How do you call yourself?)

*How are you?   When asked “come sta?” you might reply "bene" (well),  "molto bene" (very well) or non c’é male (not bad). If asked “come va?” (how’s it going),  the most common answer is the Italian equivalent of  “okay”: “va bene”  (it’s going well).  A common alternative: “Tutto a posto” (everything’s in order).

*Asking for help.  If it’s a true emergency, shout “Aiuto!”  If you’d like help buying  a souvenir,  ask, “Scusi, può aiutarmi?" (Excuse me, can  you help me?)  If you need directions, say “Scusi, potrebbe indicarmi la strada per....” (Excuse me, can you indicate the way to...) To acknowledge the kindness of a stranger, say, “Lei é molto gentile” (You are very kind).

*Buying.  It’s possible to shop without words anywhere in the world, but the following phrases will serve you well in Italy: Quanto costa? (How much does it cost?)  Posso pagare con la carta di credito? (Can I pay with a credit card?)  “In cash" translates as in contanti.  If you want to try something on, ask “Posso provarlo/a?”

*Time.  To find out  the time, you ask “Che ora é?” (what is the hour?) or "Che ore sono?" (what are the hours?). Italy uses a 24-hour clock (sistema orario a 24 ore) so that 6:00 p.m., for instance, is 18:00 (diciotto). “Mezzo” refers to the half (3:30 is le tre e mezzo); "quarto," to 15 minutes. Le tre meno il quarto is 2:45; le tre e un quarto is 3:15).

*Weather. Everyone talks about it everywhere, but in Italian weather (il tempo) “makes” rather than “is.”  “Fa bello” (literally makes beautiful) means “It’s a nice day.” Weather can also fa brutto (ugly), freddo (cold) or caldo (hot).  On a sunny day, "c’è sole” (there’s sun). "Cloudy" translates as coperto (covered) or nuvoloso; “it’s raining,” as piove.

*Illness. “Sto male” means “I’m feeling bad.”   Common travellers’ complaints  include headache (mal di testa), stomach ache (male di pancia),  fever (febbre) and pain (dolore).  If you're allergic to anything, be sure to say, "Sono allergico a..." 

*Compliments. Memorize at least one of the following: Che bello!  (How beautiful!) Che meraviglia! (How marvelous!)  Favoloso! (Fantastic!).  With any luck, you’ll have many occasions to unfurl these words of praise and delight.

Other Useful Words and Expressions

Sono americano/inglese/ francese/spagnolo, etc. -- I’m American, English, French, Spanish, etc.

Non ho capito -- I didn't/don't understand

Può ripetere, per favore? -- Can you repeat, please?

Parla inglese? -- Do you speak English? 

Come si dice......in italiano? -- How do you say ...... in Italian?

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language. 

The Italian Language in the Kitchen

il linguaggio culinario

the language of cooking

Just about every Italian I know seems a born cuoco/cuoca (cook, masculine or feminine) who can cucinare (cook) like a master chef. One reason may be that even il vocabolario gastronomico (the gastronomic vocabulary) is yummier in Italian. In English, for example, I would add sugar in order to sweeten a dish. An Italian would zuccherare so as to addolcire un piatto.

Here are some other tasty linguistic examples:

*to slice: affettare

*to brown: rosolare

 *to butter: imburrare

 *to flavor: insaporire

*to simmer: sobbollire, cuocere a fuoco lento

*to flour: infarinare

*to put in the oven: infornare

*to take out of the oven: sfornare

*to coat with breadcrumbs: impanare

*to mix: mischiare, mescolare

*to grate: grattugiare

*to stir-fry: saltare

*to brown, to fry on a low heat: soffriggere

*to whisk: frullare, montare, sbattere

*to crumble: sbriciolare

 *to rinse: sciacquare

*to sieve (flour, sugar, etc): setacciare, passare al setaccio

 *to sear, to blanch: scottare

 *to stew, braise, simmer: stufare

  *to poach (usually eggs): affogare (literally to drown)

Even cooking utensils (utensili) sound more intriguing in Italian. Rather than boring pots and pans, an Italian cuoco orchestrates a meal with a pentola (pot) , tegame (saucepan), padella (frying pan), coperchio (lid), colapasta (colander), mestolo (ladle), frullatore (electric mixer), and grattugia (grater).

A measuring cup takes on new stature as a caraffa dosatrice or misurino. A mere food processor sounds futuristic as a robot da cucina. Simply getting a grip on a mezzaluna (two-handed chopping knife in the shape of a half moon) is empowering. What vegetable wouldn't be proud to meet its fate in a passaverdure (food mill) or on a tagliere (chopping board)? And who could resist the call of the schiacciapatate (potato masher)?

Il linguaggio culinario doesn’t stay just in the kitchen. “Cosa bolle in pentola?” (What’s boiling in the pot, or cooking?) Italians ask when they want to know what's going on. Gotten yourself into a mess? You’ve made an omelette (fatto una frittata). Have a crush on someone? You’re cooked (cotto).

The expression I’m always happy to hear in an Italian kitchen: A tavola! / Tutti a tavola! (It’s ready! Let’s eat!)

Words and Expressions

cucina a gas -- gas cooker

cucina economica -- kitchen range

libro di cucina, ricettario -- cook book

cuocere al microonde -- to microwave

tostapane -– toaster

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World’s Most Enchanting Language.

Click below for three tips for making an irresistible risotto:

Celebrating Mamma in the Italian Language

La festa della mamma 

 Mother's Day 

Every year as the dark, cold winter gave way to the bright rebirth of Spring, the ancient Romans paid tribute to their gods of fertility. One holiday, Matronalia, was dedicated to Juno, the queen of the gods, and children gave gifts to their mothers on this day.  

Traditionally la festa della mamma in Italy fell on May 8. The current practice of celebrating Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May (la seconda domenica di maggio) started in 1957.  

La mamma italiana is part of her family’s life every day of the year--as was mine (above), even though she was 100 percent Polish. Men may hold the highest political offices, but the person at the helm of the family—the strongest Italian institution—is Mamma. Grown men called mammoni (big mama’s boys) remain at home well into their thirties (and sometimes beyond). Mammismo (“momism”), some contend, stems from a son’s belief that nothing could ever compare with amore materno (motherly love). 

Mothers inspired the most common—and versatile --expression in Italian: Mamma mia! You can translate it as “My God!”, “How great!”, “Oh no!”, “Incredible!” and hundreds of other ways—depending on context and inflection. A wide range of human emotions--from surprise to shock, delight to disbelief, joy to horror--can be conveyed in these two words. 

To help children of all ages express their love for Mamma, Italian websites post “auguri” (best wishes) for la festa della mamma. Here are some exampes: 

*”Le rose sono rosse, le viole sono blu, e tu sei la mamma migliore di quaggiù.” (Roses are red, violets are blue, and the best mamma down here is you.) 

*”Mamma, sei la mia vita, sei come un raggio di sole che al mattino mi sveglia con felicità e come la dolce luce di una stella, che la sera accompagna il mio sonno.” (Mamma, you are my life. You are like a ray of sun that awakens me with happiness in the morning and like the sweet light of a star that accompanies my sleep in the evening.) 

*”Mamma, sei la cosa più bella e dolce che la vita mi potesse donare. Ti voglio bene!” (Mamma, you are the most beautiful and sweetest thing that life could give me. I love you!) 

Dianne Hales  is the author of  LA BELLA LINGUA: MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH ITALIAN, THE WORLD’S MOST ENCHANTING LANGUAGE. 

Words and Expressions 

“come mamma l’ha fatto” -- literally as his mother made him: completely naked, in his birthday suit 

casa madre -- mother or head office 

scena madre -- main scene, the most dramatic and revealing scene in a movie or play 

cocco di mamma --mama’s boy, mammone

madre in affitto -- surrogate mother  

le gioie della maternità -- the joys of motherhood 

Click below for a classic tribute to an Italian mamma: 

How a Chocolate Kiss Is Like an Italian Mamma

Il Bacio Perugina e una mamma italiana

The Perugina “Kiss” and an Italian Mom

How is a world-famous chocolate made in Perugia like an Italian mother?

In a delightful essay published in a collection called Italianità, the author Alessandro Guerriero explains that Il Bacio Perugina is like una mamma italiana because:

*non cambia mai (it never changes).

*è un po’ troppo dolce (it’s a little too sweet), ma non priva (but not lacking) a certain tartness.

*come una mamma italiana d’altri tempi (like an old-style Italian mamma), it is ricca di sentenze (rich in sayings) che non servono assolutamente a nulla (that serve absolutely nothing) but make you smile. (Click here for some samples of frasi dei baci Perugina.

*come una mamma Italian d’altri tempi con gli abiti della festa (like an old-style Italian mom dressed in Sunday clothes), it is un po’ sognante (a little dreamy), un po’ futile (a little frivolous), un po’ fane’ (faded) but you become fond of these things because they make her stand out tra migliaia di altre mamme italiane (among millions of other Italian mothers).

*come una mamma italiana di altri tempi vestita con gli abiti della festa (like an old-style Italian mom  dressed in party clothes), it’s nice to encounter her ma non tutti giorni (but not every day).

*come tutte le mamme italiane è da prendere a piccole dosi (like all Italian moms she should be taken in small doses), altrimenti provoca “maldipancia” insormontabili (otherwise she provokes an insurmountable tummy ache).

Of course, there are many other types of kisses, including a mother's baci affettuosi (affectionate kisses). Friends might exchange a bacino or bacetto (little kiss), but you'd reserve a bacio sulla bocca (kiss on the mouth) or a baciozzo (slang) or bacione (hearty kiss or smooch) for a romantic partner. A date usually ends with a bacio della buonanotte (goodnight kiss). Lovers say goodbye with a bacio d’addio (parting kiss). But there's one type of kiss everyone want to avoid: il bacio della morte (the kiss of death).

Words and Expressions

mandare un bacio -- to throw a kiss

sbaciucchio -- continual kissing, smooching

sbacciucchiarsi -- to be always kissing one another,  to smooch, to canoodle (if anyone remember this word)

baciamano -- hand-kissing

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language.

Click below for a tribute to an Italian mamma: