Becoming Italian Word by Word

Italian for Travelers: Reading an Italian Menu

il menu 

A menu  is a menu in Italian as well as in English and French (and perhaps many other tongues). But this doesn’t mean that one country's menu is like any other's.

Here is what you can expect to find on il menu at an Italian ristorante: 

 *L'antipasto (before the meal), small dishes that accompany an aperitivo and stimulate the appetite. Hot (caldo) items might include crostini, bruschetta and mozzarella in carrozza. Among popular cold (freddo) items are funghi ripieni (stuffed mushrooms) and olive (olives). 

A good starter if you want to taste a little bit of everything is the antipasto misto di terra (prosciutto, pancetta, bresaola, etc.) or antipasto misto di mare (a mix of seafood). 

*Il primo (first course), usually consisting of pasta (cooked al dente, literally to the tooth, or firm), minestrone, risotto, or zuppa (soup). Unless we’re extremely hungry, Bob and I usually split a pasta course. “Uno per due” (One for two), I say. 

*Il secondo (second or main course), which can be di pesce (of fish) or di carne (of meat). If you are ordering beef, you can specify if you want it al sangue (rare), medio (medium), or ben cotto (well done). However, there is only one way that the famous bistecca fiorentina is prepared: very rare. 

*Il contorno (side dish or vegetables) such as melanzane (eggplant), spinaci (spinach), or insalata mista (mixed salad).

*Il formaggio (cheese), usually featuring a selection of local specialties 

*Il dolce (dessert), which might include tiramisù, zabaglione or zabaione (custard of egg yolks with wine and brandy), or dolci della casa (special homemade sweets) such as panna cotta or torta al cioccolato.

*Caffè (espresso). If you want an extra charge of caffeine, you can order un doppio (a double). If you like just a “stain” of milk, ask for a macchiato. But remember: cappuccino isn’t an Italian after-meal option. However, a digestivo, such as limoncello or grappa, is, particularly after a long and satisfying dinner.

After giving you a chance to review the menù and la carta dei vini (wine list), a waiter may ask what you want in several ways: “Che cosa desidera?” (What do you desire?) “Posso prendere l’ordinazione?”” (May I take your order?) "Cosa prendete?” (What are you taking?) "Avete deciso?" (Have you decided?) The simplest way to answer is “Vorrei… (I would like).

Once you are served, be sure to eat the true Italian way: piano piano (slowly). There's no need to rush through a meal. Remember the old Italian saying, “A tavola non si invecchia mai.” (One never gets old at the table.)

Words and Expressions 

Che cosa consiglia? -- What do you recommend? 

Quali sono le specialità di questa regione? -- What are the specialties of this region?

Qual è il piatto del giorno? --What is the dish of the day?

Abbiamo mangiato molto bene -- We have eaten very well

Complimenti al cuoco! -- Compliments to the cook!

pagare alla romana -- to go dutch

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language. Click here for more information on her "writer's studio" in Capri this fall. 

Italian for Travelers: A Shop for Every Reason

il negozio

the shop 

Big department stores (grandi magazzini) and malls (centri commerciali) aren’t as widespread or as popular in Italy as in the United States. You’re more likely to find negozi (shops), often owned and run by the same family for generations.

Here is a sampling of stores you may find in an Italian city or town and what you'll find inside:

*antiquario -- antiques (above)

*calzoleria, negozio di calzature -- shoes or shoe repair

*cartoleria -- office supplies and stationery

*edicola -- news stand, kiosk with newspapers, magazines, comic books, etc.

*enoteca, negozio di vini, vinaio -- wine

*farmacia -- pharmacy

*ferramenta -- hardware

*gioielleria -- jewelry

*libreria -- books

*merceria -- knitting, sewing, laces, buttons, small items

*negozio di abbigliamento intimo -- underwear, pajamas, stockings

*negozio di arredamento -- furniture

*negozio di casalinghi -- household items (pans, espresso machines, irons, etc.)

*negozio di fiori, fioraio -- flowers

*negozio di giocattoli – toys

*pelletteria --– leather goods

*profumeria -- beauty products

*salumeria – deli items (cheeses, olives, cured meats, etc.)

Opening hours (orario d’apertura) vary, depending on the type of shop and the region. Almost all shops close for lunch (per pranzo) at 1:00 p.m. and may post a sign reading “chiuso per pranzo” or “chiusura pomeridiana” (afternoon closing). Shops in different locations reopen at 3:30, 4:00, or 4:30 p.m. When open, shops often display a sign saying “aperto" or "entrata libera” (free entrance).

During the summer many cities and small towns in Italy sponsor “shopping sotto le stelle” (shopping under the stars). Stores remain open until midnight or even 2:00 a.m., with live music and entertainment on the crowded streets. You’ll find entire families staying out late and socializing. Feel free to join the fun.

Whatever the hour, if you like to andare per negozi (shop around), you’ll need some basic phrases. When you enter a shop, the sales clerk (commesso) or shop owner (titolare del negozio) may ask, “Posso aiutarla?” (“May I help you?”) or simply say, “Mi dica” (“Tell me”—what you want.) If you’re just browsing, you can say, “Sto solo guardando” (I’m just looking) or “Do solo uno sguardo, grazie” (I’m just giving a look, thank you).

If you find something you like, ask how much it costs (“Quanto costa?”) and if you can use your credit card (carta di credito). If you decide to take it, say “lo prendo.” And because it’s very important to have a receipt for every purchase in Italy, be sure to get a scontrino.

Words and Expressions

negozietto -- small shop

aprire un negozio –- open a shop

guardare le vetrine  -- another term for window-shopping

fare acquisti, fare compere, fare spesa -- general expressions for shopping

fare la spesa -- shopping for food or groceries  (only)

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language. Click here for more information on her "writer's studio" in Capri this fall. 

Italian for Travelers: Swimming in a Sea of Words

nuotare, fare il bagno

 to swim, to go swimming

The first time that an Italian sharing a hotel elevator asked if I had “fatto il bagno,” I was taken aback. Was she really asking if I had taken a bath? And if so, why?

“Si,” I replied tentatively. As she chattered about the sun and the sea, I realized that “fare il bagno” also can translate informally as “to take a dip” or nuotare (to swim). 

“Sa nuotare?” (Do you know how to swim?) a lifeguard (bagnino) asked one day as I prepared to dive (fare un tuffo /tuffarsi) into the sea. “Si, si, sono una buona nuotatrice” (Yes, I’m a good swimmer), I assured him. In fact, my husband says that I can “nuotare come un pesce” (swim like a fish)--although I aspire to glide through the waves like a more alluring marine creature, such as a sirena (mermaid) or ninfa di mare (sea nymph).

Because the waters of northern California are too cold for una nuotata (swimming), I take advantage of every moment of the stagione balneare (bathing season) in Italy. I pack several costumi da bagno (bathing suits), occhialini da nuoto (goggles), ciabatte da piscina (pool slippers) and plenty of protezione solare (sunscreen),

In una piscina (swimming pool), I do vasche (laps) of various stili (strokes): a rana (breast stroke), nuoto alla marinara libero (side stroke) and dorso (back stroke). Sometimes I simply faccio il morto (play dead or float) or sguazzo (splash around).

However, I much prefer to head to la spiaggia (the beach) or a stabilimento balneare (bathing establishment) for some bagni di mare (sea bathing). (You can barely see me as a tiny dot in the middle of the photo above.) I’m not much of a subacqueo (diver), but if I have the chance, I enjoy snorkeling (nuotare con boccaglio e maschera). Sometimes I even pack my own pinne (flippers).

In Italian, you don’t have to entrare in acqua (get in the water) or immergersi (immerse yourself) to find yourself in alto mare (in high seas or all at sea). You might tuffarsi negli affari (plunge into business) and quickly end up in un mare di guai (in a sea of troubles). Then you would have to cercare per mari e per monti (search for the seas and mountains, or look high and low) for the equivalent of a salvagente (life preserver).

Italians might invite you to bagnare un avvenimento (celebrate an occasion, such as a graduation or baptism) with them. The event could turn out to be so moving that you might avere un tuffo al cuore (feel your heart dive -- or swell -- with emotion). You also don’t need lezioni di nuoto (swimming lessons) to nuotare nell’abbondanza or nell’oro — literally  to be so rich that you're swimming in wealth or gold.

Words and Expressions

balneare –- anything pertaining to swimming, seaside

tutto bagnato -- soaking wet 

divieto di balneazione –- no swimming

spanciata –- belly-flop (dare una spanciata –- to belly-flop)

bracciate –- strokes

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language. Click here for more information on her "writer's studio" in Capri this fall. 

 

Italian for Travelers: Reading Road Signs

cartelli stradali

road signs

“What a lovely-sounding word!” I exclaimed to my husband the first time we came across “rallentare” on a road sign. I didn’t know that it meant “slow down” until Bob suddenly hit the brakes on a steep curve (svolta). I was similarly taken by the declaration “Caduta massi.” Fortunately, no stones fell on us in the time it took for me to look up the definition. And we had fastened our seat belts even before seeing the reminder "Allacciare la cintura" (buckle up).

Sometimes translation is easy. A stop sign looks the same in Chianti as in Kansas, and Italians even call it a "stop." The numerals indicating il limite di velocità (speed limit) also look familiar—but they indicate kilometers, not miles (there are 1.6 kilometers per mile).

An Italian traffic light (semaforo) blinks red and green just as in the States -- although a driver in Naples explained to us that actually stopping at a red light is optional. (He opted not to.) A sign for a “diversione” isn’t pointing the way to a diverting site, but points to a detour (also translated as deviazione).

Some Italian road signs remind motorists to drive carefully, with admonitions such as “cautela!” (caution) and prudenza (prudence). Others warn of various pericoli (dangers): allagamento (flooding), salita ripida (steep hill), superficie irregolare or sdrucciolevole (irregular or slippery surface), superficie ghiacciata (icy surface) or strada interrotta (road blocked). Just as elsewhere, you may see signs for “lavori in corso” (road work ahead) but never spot any operai (workers).

Road signs such as “usare i fanali“ (use headlights), tenere la destra (keep right), dare la precedenza (yield) or tenere la corsia (keep in lane) tell you what to do. Others, such as senso vietato (no entry) or parcheggio vietato (no parking), make clear what not to do. Just keep in mind that anything divieto is forbidden. 

Even when you know the literal meaning of the Italian words, road signs can be confounding.  “Strada bianca” (white road) sounded so appealing that I suggested we try it—only to discover the very bumpy way that this phrase translates as “unpaved road.” I did better with “senso unico” and figured out that it meant “one way” just before we headed in the wrong direction.

Words and Expressions

entrata / uscita –- entrance/ exit

prossima uscita –- next exit

sosta autorizzata –- parking allowed

parcheggiare in doppia fila –- to double-park

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language. Click here for more information on her "writer's studio" in Capri this fall. 

 

Italian for Travelers: Renting a Car

noleggiare una macchina

renting a car

In the United States, renting a car is as routine as picking up keys and signing a rental agreement. A visit to an agenzia di autonoleggio (auto rental agency) in Italy is often a bit more complicated.

“Vorremmo noleggiare una machina” (We’d like to rent a car), we say. “Abbiamo una prenotazione.” (We have a reservation.) Brace yourself before asking, “Quanto costa?” (How much does it cost?) Whether you’re renting by the day (al giorno) or the week (alla settimana), you’re sure to pay un sacco di soldi (a pile of money). It doesn’t hurt to ask if there’s a una tariffa festiva o feriale (a weekend or midweek rate).

Some companies may ask for a deposit (una caparra). Others add an extra charge for mileage (un supplemento per il chilometraggio). We prefer to ask for unlimited mileage (chilometraggio illimitato). Most Italian cars have manual transmissions (cambio manuale), so you can expect to pay more for an automatic (cambio automatico).

You will need to present your driver’s license (patente) and inquire about insurance (l’assicurazione), which may be covered by your personal policy or your credit card. Always ask when (quando) and where (dove) to return the car (riportare la macchina)—and if somebody will be there (ci sarà qualcuno) when you do so. I suggest requesting GPS (navigatore satellitare) or make sure you have a good road map (cartina stradale). You can also reserve an infant or child car seat (seggiolino auto per neonati / bambini).

Depending on your location, you may have a range of vehicular choices: an economy car (macchina piccola), a midsize car (macchina media), a full-size car (macchina grande), van (monovolume), truck (camion), pickup truck (furgoncino) or maybe even a convertible (decappottabile). In big cities like Rome and Milan, you can rent a motorcycle (motocicletta) or a scooter (motorino) by the hour (all’ ora) or by the half-day (a mezza giornata). Don’t forget a helmet (un casco)!

Once on the road, you’ll need to find a gas station (benzinaio or distributore di benzina) to fill up the tank (fare il pieno). Many are “self-service,” with signs saying “Fai da te” (Do it yourself). Check if you need to buy unleaded gas (benzina verde), regular (normale), super (super) or diesel (gasolio).

Be sure to find out whom to contact in case of an accident (incidente), breakdown (guasto), flat tire (gomma a terra—literally rubber to earth) or a dead battery (batteria scarica). Although I hope you don’t need them, you should learn phrases such as my car won’t start (la mia macchina non parte), is broken (è rotta) or is overheating (si sta surriscaldando).

If the engine isn’t working (non funziona) or you get caught in a pile-up (tamponamento a catena), you may need a tow truck (un carro attrezzi), a mechanic (un meccanico), an auto body shop (una carrozzeria) –- or a stiff drink (qualcosa di forte da bere).

Words and Expressions

mettere in moto una macchina -- to start an engine

andare in retromarcia -- to go in reverse

fare inversione (di marcia) --– to do a U-turn

azionare / mettere la freccia -- to signal

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language. Click here for more information on her "writer's studio" in Capri this fall. 

Italian for Travelers: At Home in a Hotel

 

albergo 

hotel

As we were tooling around Lago Maggiore on one of our first visits to Italy, my husband asked me, “Who is this guy Albergo and why is his name on so many buildings?” I gently explained that “albergo” means hotel. Derived from the Germanic haribergo for a military barracks, albergo dates back to the Dark Ages, when barbarian hordes swept over the Italian peninsula. 

Italian hotels have come a long, long way since then, but I learned several valuable expressions several years ago when our hotel in Rome literally went dark: C’è un problema. (There’s a problem.) Manca la corrente. (Literally, the current is missing or lacking, which translates as “the electricity isn’t working.”) Manca l’acqua calda. (There’s no hot water.) 

Italian hotels are ranked on a star system according to their quality and cost, with one star (una stella) indicating the most rudimentary of accommodations at the lowest rates and five stars (cinque stelle) for the most luxurious and costly. You can also stay at an albergo per famiglie (residential hotel), 
albergo per la gioventù or ostello della gioventù (youth hostel),

albergo a ore (a cheap hotel rented by the hours, 
albergo a gestione familiare (a family-run hotel), or a pensione (bed-and-breakfast). 

The staff at the front desk of most hotels, particularly in larger towns and cities, speak English, but hotels are a perfect place to practice your Italian. You will want to call or check online to make sure a hotel has una stanza disponibile (a free room, or vacancy). Indicate if you want a single (singola) or a double room (doppia), and be sure to find out quanto si paga per notte (what is the charge per night). 

When you arrive at the hotel, tell the desk clerk that you have una prenotazione (reservation). You will have to provide your passport and credit card. Un facchino (porter) will help you with il tuo bagaglio (your luggage). If you’re not satisfied with the room, you can say, “Preferisco una camera più grande—o più tranquilla o con vista.” “I prefer a larger room--or a quieter room or one with a view." Ask how  the room temperature control, telephone, and television operate (come funziona ….) And be sure to get la chiave della camera (the room key). 

In the course of your stay, you may need to ask for a pillow (cuscino), blanket (coperta), towels (asciugamani), soap (sapone), or a hair-dryer (asciugacapelli or phon). Many hotels offer a breakfast buffet (colazione a buffet) in a dining room (sala da pranzo), but I prefer room service (servizio in camera). 

Later in the day I like to linger in the atrio (lobby) and watch the parade of travelers. The scene always reminds me of 
a complaint I’ve heard many an Italian mother make as her youngsters and their friends tromp in and out the door: 
“Questa casa non è un albergo!” “This house is not a hotel!” 

Words and Expressions  

Vorrei una camera -- I’d like a room. 

per due persone -- for two people.  

per due notti -- for two nights  

albergo per famiglie -- residential hotel

albergatore, albergatrice -- innkeeper, landlord or landlady

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language. Click here for more information on her "writer's studio" in Capri this fall.