So you want to speak Italian? (Così vuoi parlare italiano?)

Figured there was one for Japanese, one for Spanish, and one for English ... why not for Italiano?

Chi parli italiano qui?

Chi è italiano e chi abita in italia?

Amo parlare italiano. È la mia lingua preferita, perchè è bella! Voglio andare in italia. Forse questa estate. Chi possono sapere? Se parli italiano, post qui!

If you speak Italian (or would like to speak Italian), post here!

Interesting, Italian looks so much similar to Latin, but much less complex.

Linguam Latinam dicere amo. Spero te hunc sinet.

Italian is around 75% Latin, or something like that.

Salve, per essempio, e` latina e italiana e [means] 'greetings' o 'salutations'

Ciao!
Mi kiamo Saidhbhìn. Abito a Dublino. C'è solè. Ho doichi anni( I said 12 cause thats what age i was when i learned this much)

Thats mostly what i can remember from italian class (excuse the spelling mistakes) but i know a bit more but i can't remember how to spell it

Chi è italiano e che abiti in italia?
Who is Italian and who lives in Italy?
It's "Chi è italiano e chi abita in Italia?"
Well..I'm Italian!

Ciao!
Mi kiamo Saidhbhìn. Abito a Dublino. C'è solè. Ho doichi anni( I said 12 cause thats what age i was when i learned this much)

Twelve is "dodici"; fourteen is "quattordici"...
"My name is..." is "mi chiamo


Amo parlare italiano. È la mia lingua preferita, perchè è bella! Voglio andare in italia. Forse questa estate. Chi possono sapere? Se parli italiano, post qui!

Sono contenta che ti piaccia la mia lingua!!
(I'm happy because you like my language!)

But...isn't there another italian thred?

But...isn't there another italian thred? It's thread :lol:

and I'm in Rome aswell. But not Italian.

Forza Juve!!!!!!!!!

Buonasera: good evening
Mi chiama/o Mitzi: My name is Mitzi
Ho: i have - Ho quattordici anni - i have 14 years
e: and
Mia/Mio- girl/boy- my
Porto:i wear

A at the end of a word can mean its feminine O is masculine/if your talking about yourself

Cane-dog, pesce-fish, gatto-cat

Hi-Buongiorna
Bye-Arrivederci

Hope i've helped someone:)

Wow thats amazing... all these people who dont live in England or America, but still know English!!! ;)

It's "Chi è italiano e chi abita in Italia?"


I probably shouldn't argue, but I was taught that you never say 'chi' unless it's at the beginning of a sentence. It doesn't really come in the middle. Just what I was taught.

i use to learn italian in primary school and the only thing i can remember is how to count to one hundred !

uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei, sette, otto, nove, dieci, undici, dodici, tredici, quattordici, quindici, seidici, diciasette, diciotto, dicinove, venti, ventuno, ventidue, ventitre, ventiquattro, venticinque, ventisei, ventisette, ventotto, ventinove, trenta, trentuno, trentadue, trentaquattro, trentacinque, trentasei, trentasette, trentotto, trentanove ... cento!

uno, due, tre, quattro, cinque, sei, sette, otto, nove, dieci, undici, dodici, tredici, quattordici, quindici, seidici, diciasette, diciotto, dicinove, venti, ventuno, ventidue, ventitre, ventiquattro, venticinque, ventisei, ventisette, ventotto, ventinove, trenta, trentuno, trentadue, trentaquattro, trentacinque, trentasei, trentasette, trentotto, trentanove ... cento!

:clap:

lol, my fingers were tired as I hit 39.

Like: no ill never make it...yous go on (with the thread)...ill be ok il just rest,zzzzzzzzz! lol :lol: Ok im only messing, not crazy or anything!!

lol.

I wish Italian was taught in more schools in America. I've talked to a lot of kids who wish they could take it, but their schools don't offer it.

Then again, it's only spoken in one country (as far as I know). It would make more sense to take Spanish. But, then again, schools frequently teach French, and that's only spoken in France. (It's completely different in Quebec, from what I've heard; it might as well be 'Quebecench.')

I wish we had Spanish in my school as it would come in useful but here in ireland we have italian in school. Its a nice language, i have to pick between french and italian and italian is my choice, i pick it up alot easier.:)

I think this thread will come in useful for me, as I'm going on holiday to Tuscany this August and don't speak a word of Italian. :scared: I'd love to learn it, but the only languages taught at my school are French, Spanish and German. :(

Hello!

Parlo italiano anch'io! Abito vicino al'italia dunque é utile per me di imparare questa lingua....Penso che Idril87 sarà utile per noi se avessemo domande su questa lingua!

Io sono stata a Ticino, Lugano CH e andavo a scuola gli per 2 anni. Mi sto dimenticando l'Italiano, ma che merda.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-82883410422500452&q=harry+potter

Guardate quello! Non dimenticate di mettere il volume alto!! E bellissimo e in Italiano.
Dite se vi e piacuto.

Ah, é orribile:lol: :lol: Le voci sono spacievole!!! But I laughed hard they look so stupid!!:lol:

Anch'io parlo l'Italiano, ma abito nella Scozia. L'ho imparato all'universita (non puo trovare gli accenti) nella Nuova Zelanda. Ho lavorato le due estate prossime a Spoleto, in Umbria. Sono studentessa dell'opera lirica, quindi e molto importante per me di comprendere l'Italiano, almeno abbastanza bene. Il mio superiore a Spoleto ama bene il 'Harry Potter'. Ciascuno sa i nomi differenti per i professori, in Italiano? - mi ricordo che 'Dumbledore' e 'McGonagall' hanno altri nomi in Italia, ma non ricordo come si chiamano.

Adesso ho ascoltato al questo rindoppaggio - quanto e orrendo! Ma molto amusante!

Avete sentito Caparezza? Le parole sono interessanti. Le canzoni che sono divertenti sono Limiti, Dagli all'Untore, Vengo Dalla Luna, Follie Preferenzialli, Jodellavitanonhocapitouncazzo, Il Secondo Seconde Me etc. Sono piutosto strane ma le parole sono creative.

Ciao tutti! Anch'io parlo italiano ma non sono da Europa. Sono Americana! Italiano e una bella lingua e auita quando vedo parole in "latin." Spero che viaggiare in italia quest'anno. Dove dovrebbe vado? Ho andato in Tuscana a Firenze, a Roma, e a Venezia.

I think this thread will come in useful for me, as I'm going on holiday to Tuscany this August and don't speak a word of Italian. :scared: I'd love to learn it, but the only languages taught at my school are French, Spanish and German. :(


Ciao -- Hi/Bye [Chow]
Buongiorno -- Good day [Bwon - jor - no]
Bounasera -- Good night [Bwon - a - sair - ah]
Dov'è il bango? -- Where is the bathroom? [Dough vay il bahn-yo?]
Come ti chiami? -- What is your name? [Co-may tee kee-amee?]
Mi chiamo {your name} -- My name is (literally, "I call myself ...") [Me kee-amo]
Voglio mangiare adesso -- I want to eat now [Voh-yo maan-jar-ay ah-dess-oh]
Come stai? -- How are you? (to one person) [Coh-may sty--ee]
Sto bene, grazie -- I am well, thank you [Stoh ben-ay, grots-ee-ay]
Grazie -- Thank you [Grots-ee-ay]
Tutti -- Everyone [Too-tee]
Tutto -- Everything / All [Too-toe]
Niente -- Nothing [Nee-en-tay]
Ho mal di testa! -- I have a headache [Oh mal dee testa]
Quanti anni hai? -- How old are you (literally, "How many years do you have?") [Kwan-tee ahnn-ee eye?] {"anni" -- the 'n's must be held, or else you are saying, "How many anuses do you have?"
Ho [number, see my number list on prior page] anni -- I am # years old (literally, "I have # years.") [Oh # ahnn-ee]
Per favore -- please (pear fuh-vor-ay)
Posso andare al bango? -- Can I go to the bathroom? (Po-so an-dar-ay ahl bahn-yo?]
Toscano -- Tuscany
Roma -- Rome
Napoli -- Naples
Firenze -- Florence [Fear-ents-ay]
è -- is
e -- and
andiamo -- let's go / we go / we are going
Sono Americano -- I am American
Abito in America -- I live in America


The basics.

Ciao -- Hi/Bye [Chow]
Buongiorno -- Good day [Bwon - jor - no]
Bounasera -- Good night [Bwon - a - sair - ah]
Dov'è il bango? -- Where is the bathroom? [Dough vay il bahn-yo?]
Come ti chiami? -- What is your name? [Co-may tee kee-amee?]
Mi chiamo {your name} -- My name is (literally, "I call myself ...") [Me kee-amo]
Voglio mangiare adesso -- I want to eat now [Voh-yo maan-jar-ay ah-dess-oh]
Come stai? -- How are you? (to one person) [Coh-may sty--ee]
Sto bene, grazie -- I am well, thank you [Stoh ben-ay, grots-ee-ay]
Grazie -- Thank you [Grots-ee-ay]
Tutti -- Everyone [Too-tee]
Tutto -- Everything / All [Too-toe]
Niente -- Nothing [Nee-en-tay]
Ho mal di testa! -- I have a headache [Oh mal dee testa]
Quanti anni hai? -- How old are you (literally, "How many years do you have?") [Kwan-tee ahnn-ee eye?] {"anni" -- the 'n's must be held, or else you are saying, "How many anuses do you have?"
Ho [number, see my number list on prior page] anni -- I am # years old (literally, "I have # years.") [Oh # ahnn-ee]
Per favore -- please (pear fuh-vor-ay)
Posso andare al bango? -- Can I go to the bathroom? (Po-so an-dar-ay ahl bahn-yo?]
Toscano -- Tuscany
Roma -- Rome
Napoli -- Naples
Firenze -- Florence [Fear-ents-ay]
è -- is
e -- and
andiamo -- let's go / we go / we are going
Sono Americano -- I am American
Abito in America -- I live in America


The basics.
Well, grazie!! :p I'm definitely going to print that list off!! :D Oh, and also: how do you say "I am English" and "I live in England"? :) Thanks again!!

LOL, thought you were American, sorry.

Sono di Inghilterra -- I am from England [So-no dee in-gill-terra]
Sono Britannico -- I am British [so-no bree-taan-ee-co] <-- I'm not sure how to say 'English' as in from 'England' (the language is 'inglese') so I just put 'British.'

Di dove sei? -- Where are you from? [Dee doh-vay say?]
Di dov'è? -- Where is he/she/it from? [Dee doh-vay?]

Well, grazie!! :p I'm definitely going to print that list off!! :D Oh, and also: how do you say "I am English" and "I live in England"? :) Thanks again!!
I am English = Sono Inglese
I live in England = Vivo (or "Abito") in Inghilterra

"Where are you from?" is "Di dove sei?", but we use more often "Da dove vieni?" ("Where do you come from?")!

And if you want to wish:
Happy birthday = Buon compleanno
Merry Christmas = Buon Natale
Happy New Year = Buon anno nuovo
Happy Easter = Buona Pasqua
Congratulations = Complimenti
Good luck = Buona fortuna
Welcome = Benvenuto (or "Benvenuta" if she is a female!)

Thanks for your help everyone!! :D

I have a question: "In bocca al lupo" (I think I spelled that right) is another way of saying "Good luck," right?

Exactly!!! And the answer is "Crepi"! ("cre" as in "credible" and "pi" as in "pink")

And does "Crepi" mean something like, "May the wolf die"? (I think I've heard this all before, but I'm not sure.)

I have a question: "In bocca al lupo" (I think I spelled that right) is another way of saying "Good luck," right?

in a way, it means is "in a manner of a wolf's mouth" so like with excitement, will, and spice, like you do something and you engufl it like a wolf, so you're like telling the person to get the event as it comes in his/hers wolf mouth, heh :lol:

I love the rhymes and sounds of Italian words as they flow of your tongue ...

Can anyone tell me if this is correct? It's just a random sentence, but I want to test my ability to form a good sentence:

Nel bello castello di Hogwarts, Harry guarda il neve e pensa di Ginny.
[In the beautiful Hogwarts castle, Harry watches the snow and thinks of Ginny.]

And does "Crepi" mean something like, "May the wolf die"? (I think I've heard this all before, but I'm not sure.)
Yes, it does ^^!!

I love the rhymes and sounds of Italian words as they flow of your tongue ...

Can anyone tell me if this is correct? It's just a random sentence, but I want to test my ability to form a good sentence:

Nel bello castello di Hogwarts, Harry guarda il neve e pensa di Ginny.
[In the beautiful Hogwarts castle, Harry watches the snow and thinks of Ginny.]
Quite correct! There is only some little mistakes:
"Nel bel castello di Hogwarts, Harry guarda la neve e pensa a Ginny."

"Nel bel" Why is that? If you can explain.

Also, is "col" a proper conjugation of "con il"? Or is it slang?

Bel
"Bel" is the form of the word "bello" that we use before words that start with consonants; instead, we use "bello" before words that start with vowel (but we don't write, for example, "bello albergo", but "bell'albergo" -beautiful hotel-) or with special consonants like "z" ("Bello zaino"= beautiful bag) or "s + another consonant" ("Bello stivale"= b. boot)!

Col
The correct form is "con il", but we often use "col" too!

Grazimile on clearing that up with "col!"

But, also, my Italian textbook says "Nella Bella Capella" ("In the Beautiful Chapel") and not "Nella Bel Capella," even though "capella" starts with a consonant. Is this some form of dialiect? I'm learning pure Roman Italian as far as I know, and you're from Rome....

Grazimile on clearing that up with "col!"

But, also, my Italian textbook says "Nella Bella Capella" ("In the Beautiful Chapel") and not "Nella Bel Capella," even though "capella" starts with a consonant. Is this some form of dialiect? I'm learning pure Roman Italian as far as I know, and you're from Rome....

I think 'bella' the femm. form


Yea, "bella" is the femm. form!

Il mio superiore a Spoleto ama bene il 'Harry Potter'. Ciascuno sa i nomi differenti per i professori, in Italiano? - mi ricordo che 'Dumbledore' e 'McGonagall' hanno altri nomi in Italia, ma non ricordo come si chiamano.



Dumbledore = Silente
McGonagall = McGranitt
Snape = Piton
Lupin = Lupin
Quirrel = Raptor
Lockheart = Allock
Sprout = Sprite
Pomfrey = Chips



hope that helps :)

Il mio superiore a Spoleto ama bene il 'Harry Potter'. Ciascuno sa i nomi differenti per i professori, in Italiano? - mi ricordo che 'Dumbledore' e 'McGonagall' hanno altri nomi in Italia, ma non ricordo come si chiamano.



Dumbledore = Silente
McGonagall = McGranitt
Snape = Piton
Lupin = Lupin
Quirrel = Raptor
Lockheart = Allock
Sprout = Sprite
Pomfrey = Chips



hope that helps :)

I wonder why Quirrel is Raptor.

Is Madam Pomfrey, "Signora Chips"?

Is Madam Pomfrey, "Signora Chips"? She is Madama Chips :)

I wonder why Quirrel is Raptor.

Good question :grumble: ...
In HP6, Horace Slughorn became Horace Lumacorno...quite horrible...I don't like traslated names...

What does "Lumacorno" mean? "Slughorn"? What percentage of Italians do you think speak English?

What does "Lumacorno" mean? "Slughorn"? What percentage of Italians do you think speak English?
Lumacorno means Slughorn...but Slughorn has a better sound!
I don't know how many Italians speak English...we start studying it when we are seven or eight years old...but not everyone learns it very well!

LOL, so English is required? It's funny, because English class is completely different here. Until highschool you learn grammar and all that terrible stuff, but once you hit highschool it's awesome: No more grammar (for me) and it's mainly just reading classical English literature.

LOL, so English is required?.
Well...yes, it is! We must study English because it is the most spoken language in the world and it's important to learn it!
It's funny, because English class is completely different here. Until highschool you learn grammar and all that terrible stuff, but once you hit highschool it's awesome: No more grammar (for me) and it's mainly just reading classical English literature.
It is the same here, but for Italian language! However, even English grammar isn't studied during the last years of school!

I have a question:

Can you say (this is a random sentence), "Voglio vedere tu" as "I want to see you" or do you say, "Voglio vedi"? Also, when do you use "tu" and when do you use "te"?

"I want to see you"= "Voglio vedere te" or "Ti voglio vedere" or "Voglio vederti"
"You" is traslated "tu" when it is a subject, and "te" or "ti" when it is an object!
Same thing for:
"I"= "io" (subject), "me" or "mi" (object)
"He"= "Egli"(subject), "lui" or "lo" (object)
"She"= "Ella"(subject), "lei" or "la" (object)
"They"= "Essi" (subject), "loro" or "li" (object)

Quite different for:
"We"= "Noi" (we use it both as subject and object), "ci" (only object)
"You"= "Voi" (Both subject and object), "vi" (only object)

CONFUSING! Agh!

I understand things likes, "Vi piace" and "Gli piace," etc., but how do you tell when it's a subject or object so quickly? How can someone speak Italian and just KNOW to use "you" as a subj/obj?

Sorry, I forgot that Italian grammar isn't so easy ^^!!
What do you want to know is a basic rule, one of those things that we learn when we start school...the rule is: a word is subject when it does the action of the verb and it is object when it undergoes the action.

For example:

You want to see me = Tu vuoi vedere me=> You/Tu is subject because it's "you" that "want to see"

I want to see you = Io voglio vedere te=> You/te is object because it isn't "you" that "want to see", but it's "I/io" (that, in this case, is the subject!)

I hope this is quite clear: It's not too easy try to explain Italian grammar in another language ^^!!

hi!
i'm another italian! :D :D :D :D
cooool a whole tread on the italian language...ohhhhhhhh :D :D :D

Benvenuto, Bradipo!

Idril: Thanks for the help, I definitely understand better now.

I'll test myself:

"You are going to go to the movies on Friday night"
Vai [andare<?>] al cinema in venerdi stasera.

"I am going to see you at the movies on Friday night."
Vado vedere te al cinema in venerdi stasera.

Also, how do you say "what are?"

I know you can say "quale" (I think), but can you also say "che cosa" or "cosa sono?"

Anche, Idril, you have really well-developed English grammar. Can you speak fluently?

hi!
i'm another italian! :D :D :D :D
cooool a whole tread on the italian language...ohhhhhhhh :D :D :D
Welcome!!! Finalmente un connazionale :D !!


Idril: Thanks for the help, I definitely understand better now.

I'll test myself:

"You are going to go to the movies on Friday night"
Vai [andare<?>] al cinema in venerdi stasera.

"I am going to see you at the movies on Friday night."
Vado vedere te al cinema in venerdi stasera.


The first tense is quite correct. There is only a mistake: "on Friday night" is "venerdì sera", without "in"!
I didn't understand the second tense: is something like "I'm going to the cinema with you"? In this case we traslate it with: "Vado al cinema con te".

Also, how do you say "what are?"

I know you can say "quale" (I think), but can you also say "che cosa" or "cosa sono?"

Yes, I can!
For example:
What are you doing? = Che cosa stai facendo?
What are those things? = Cosa sono quelle cose?
What is you favourite colour? = Qual è il tuo colore preferito?
Anche, Idril, you have really well-developed English grammar. Can you speak fluently?
Thank you very much :D ! I can speak quite fluently: I love English and I have a really good teacher!

Welcome!!! Finalmente un connazionale :D !!



The first tense is quite correct. There is only a mistake: "on Friday night" is "venerdì sera", without "in"!
I didn't understand the second tense: is something like "I'm going to the cinema with you"? In this case we traslate it with: "Vado al cinema con te".

I always confuse "stasera" with "sera," but thanks for the corrections.
So, "Vado andare al cinema venerdì sera" is correct? That is, "I am going to go to the movies on Friday night."

Also, the second sentence is, "I am going to see you at the movie theater on Friday night." Which I thought would become, "Vado (I am going) vedere (to see) te (you) al cinema (at the movie theater) venerdì sera. (on Friday night.)"

I always confuse "stasera" with "sera," but thanks for the corrections.
Remember that 'stasera' is short for 'questa sera' which means either this evening or tonight. (particular)
Sera on its own just means evening (general)
Not to be confused with serra which means either a greenhouse or a hothouse (if there is indeed a difference between the two) :)

Thanks, YellowRose!

Also, does anyone know why you must say "il mio / la mia" (except with close relations)? What's the point of "il / la"?

Il mio amico è simpatico.
"The my friend is nice."

It doesn't perturb me, I just wondered.

I always confuse "stasera" with "sera," but thanks for the corrections.
So, "Vado andare al cinema venerdì sera" is correct? That is, "I am going to go to the movies on Friday night."

Also, the second sentence is, "I am going to see you at the movie theater on Friday night." Which I thought would become, "Vado (I am going) vedere (to see) te (you) al cinema (at the movie theater) venerdì sera. (on Friday night.)"
We cannot say "Vado andare". If you want to say " I'm going to cinema (In this moment)", wuo must say: "Sto andando al cinema"

The second tense is quite correct, but you cannot say "Vado vedere": between "vado" and "vedere", it must be "a" or "per" = "Vado a vedere te", "Vado per vedere te"


Thanks, YellowRose!

Also, does anyone know why you must say "il mio / la mia" (except with close relations)? What's the point of "il / la"?

Il mio amico è simpatico.
"The my friend is nice."

It doesn't perturb me, I just wondered.
This is just a rule of Italian grammar: we use the articles before possessive adjectives.

Why can't you say "Vado al cinema"?

You can say "Vado al cinema"; but you cannot say "Vado andare al cinema" because it hasn't sense!

I have question for anyone who is italian and lives in Rome, and this seems to be the best place to ask. Sorry if I am intruding on anything. I wanted to know; what is the significance of having gelato, or ice cream, at the Piazza de Espagne (the Spanish Steps)? It's something that came up in an anime I watched and having never been to Rome myself, I haven't a clue.

I have question for anyone who is italian and lives in Rome, and this seems to be the best place to ask. Sorry if I am intruding on anything. I wanted to know; what is the significance of having gelato, or ice cream, at the Piazza de Espagne (the Spanish Steps)? It's something that came up in an anime I watched and having never been to Rome myself, I haven't a clue. Piazza di Spagna is one of Romes most beautiful square's which has the famed Spanish Steps. A lot of turists and Romans sit on them to watch other people go by..except me as I'm in a wheelchair, but that's another story :) It is especially beautiful in the Spring when they put big vases of pink/red flowers at the ends of all the steps. Any google image search of Piazza di Spagna will show you this. I don't think there is a specific significance (at least I've never heard about one) of eating ice cream there apart from the fact that there are many places that sells it there, and the ice-cream is generally very good, and what better way to pass the time watching other people walking by in one of Italy's most famous square's eating a yummy ice-cream. :D

I love it Italy ...

Once my little brothers are older, my dad says we're going to take a trip there. I can't wait. I'll get to test-out my Italian.

Can anyone explain how you can say, "I have gone to the movies"?

I know it's something like, "Avetto andando al cinema," or something, but I haven't actually learned this in school, just read it online and it's bugging me.

I guess what I want explained is how can you say you have done something? Also, is it hard to put a verb into the past tense? Lastly, is there a specific way to make an adjective an adverb (example: quick --> quickly; veloce --> ??)

I love it Italy ...
I guess what I want explained is how can you say you have done something? Also, is it hard to put a verb into the past tense? Lastly, is there a specific way to make an adjective an adverb (example: quick --> quickly; veloce --> ??)
It is quite hard for strangers, because it's quite different from english past tense! We use the "passato prossimo" and it is formed by the verbes "to be" or "to have" and a form called "participio" of the verb you want to use...it is quite hard to explain...I make some examples:

"I have gone to movies"= "Sono andato (or andata, femm. form) al cinema" ("sono" is a form of "to be")
"I have eaten an apple"= "Ho mangiato una mela" ("ho" is a form of "to have")

Not so easy...

For adverbs, we haven't a specific way ...quickly is velocemente, and some times the rule is adjective+"mente"...but this isn't a real rule...

So, I could say, "Ho vedeto il cane" for "I have seen the dog"?

Sono = I am / They are, right? So how does it mean "I have" in your first example?

Thanks for the explanation YellowRose. You've made me really want to go there now. It sounds enchanting.

So, I could say, "Ho vedeto il cane" for "I have seen the dog"?

That would be 'Ho visto il cane'. 'Visto' is the passato prossimo of the verb 'vedere'.




Thanks for the explanation YellowRose. You've made me really want to go there now. It sounds enchanting. Great. It's well worth a visit :)

Is this an ok place to ask when going to italy what are the must sees?
Sorry if its not :shrug:

Is this an ok place to ask when going to italy what are the must sees?

Hard question...
In Italy there are so many beautiful places...
Obviously, you must visit Rome, particularly the centre of it...then there is Venice that is a wonderful and very peculiar city...Florence too is wonderful...
But, as I said, every italian town have something that must be seen!

Well i suppose i'll have to try and get everywhere! :lol:

This would be a wonderful idea :D!!!
But I think that during your first visit, you should go to Rome, Venice and Florence...

I heard that there's a castle in Torino that's absolutely beautiful. A minister/prince of some sort lives there and you can stay in it. It's called Castello Carivale (or something, I really don't know).

How do you learn the 'passati prossimi?' Is there a standard way of doing it?

How do you learn the 'passati prossimi?' Is there a standard way of doing it?
There isn't a real rule...it's something like the irregular verbes in English...you learn them when you speak, read, listen Italian language!

That's going to take a lot of work for me. Are there many irregular passati prossimi?

That's going to take a lot of work for me. Are there many irregular passati prossimi?
What you should ask is "is there any regular "passato prossimo" :lol: ?
Well...many of them end with "-ato"...

For example:
Parlare (to speak) => parlato
Mangiare (to eat) => mangiato
Giocare (to play) => giocato

...or with "ito"...
For example:
Partire (to leave) => partito
Dormire (to sleep) => dormito
Sentire (to listen) => sentito

So a rule could be: when the verbe end with "-are", the passato prossimo end with "-ato", when the verbe end with "-ire" the passato prossimo end with "-ito"...but there are exceptions....for example:

Fare (to make, to do) => fatto (not "facato" or "faciato")
Dire (to tell) => detto (not "dicito"...quite funny sound ^^!!)

Moreover, there are many verbes that end with "-ere" and the pass. pross. don't end with "-eto"...

For example:
Vedere (to see) => visto (not "vedeto")
Sedere (to sit down) => seduto (not "sedeto)
Volere (to want) => Voluto (not "voleto")

As I said, I think that to read, to listen, to speak Italian is the best way to learn it...I think you should come and stay in Italy for some months!

*JAW DROPS*


How did I miss this topic?
Aww, it makes me feel all warm inside since I'm italian, from Milan.
*psst! If you visit Italy, you have to visit Milan as well, it's a must!*



If any more questions come up, I'll try to help :D

Ooooh, un'altra italiana! Evviva! Magari mi dai una mano a spiegare come si usa il passato prossimo ^^!!! I have visited Milan three times, but I saw principally one thing: San Siro, tha stade of my beloved team, the great Milan ^^!!!

Italiana e milanista!
I think we'll have NO problem getting along :D


FORZA MILAN! :clap:

FORZA MILAN! :clap: :nc:



Forza Juve! :lol:

http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/confused/confused0055.gif

Juventines here too, oh man, Juventines here too!

http://home.no/femma/smilies/daane.gif

Io parlo italiano. Sono inglese ma abito in Milano. Milano non e molto bene secondo me. Tu hai visitato Milano??

http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/confused/confused0055.gif

Juventines here too, oh man, Juventines here too!

http://home.no/femma/smilies/daane.gif
Onnipresenti :grumble: ....


Io parlo italiano. Sono inglese ma abito in Milano. Milano non e molto bene secondo me. Tu hai visitato Milano??
When I went to Milan, I didn't visit it very well, but what I visited was beautiful! For example I liked very much the "Duomo".

Oh cool Idril87. Bits of it are nice the Duomo is beautiful but parts of are really ugly. Where I live for example.

Oh cool Idril87. Bits of it are nice the Duomo is beautiful but parts of are really ugly. Where I live for example.
Well...Rome too has ugly part...and Rome is really a wonderful city...but, as I said, I didn't visit Milan well so I cannot judge!

I think every city has ugly parts.
Milan is probably the more Europian of our cities, so part of it has really that Industrial kind-of look.

But it makes me love even more the contrast between those parts and the beautiful old streets and monuments.

What you should ask is "is there any regular "passato prossimo" :lol: ?

Wouldn't the plural of passato prossimo be "passati prossimi?"


So a rule could be: when the verbe end with "-are", the passato prossimo end with "-ato", when the verbe end with "-ire" the passato prossimo end with "-ito"...but there are exceptions....for example:

You really helped explain this to me. Thanks a lot!

Also, the word I've bolded is spelt wrong. It should be 'verb,' plural 'verbs.' I believe 'il verbo' is 'verb' in Italian, and 'i verbi' are 'verbs' in Italian.

Wouldn't the plural of passato prossimo be "passati prossimi?"
Yes, it is...what I wanted to say is that there aren't many regular "passati prossimi": there are more irregular passati prossimi


Also, the word I've bolded is spelt wrong. It should be 'verb,' plural 'verbs.' I believe 'il verbo' is 'verb' in Italian, and 'i verbi' are 'verbs' in Italian.
Thanks!! I don't know why I was sure that the word is "verbe"... what stupid mistake ^^" !!!

You've given me so much help so far, it would have been for me to not correct you (as egotistical as that sounds!).

Tomorrow I'll go to Praha with my school...so for some days I cannot answer to your questions! I'll answer when I'll return!
Good bye!

Arrivederci!

I'm back ^^!!!

Oh cool Idril87. Bits of it are nice the Duomo is beautiful but parts of are really ugly. Where I live for example. Milan may not be as beautiful as Rome (and I agree Rome has its ugly parts as well) but it certainly has better shops than Rome. BTW I'm an English peep living in Italy too. Hi :)



Juventines here too, oh man, Juventines here too!

Juve rocks and Juve rules :)


I'm back ^^!!!

hope you had a nice time.

Quali sono i capoluoghi d'italia? Io so il capoluogo della Toscana è Firenze, e penso il capoluogo del Lazio è Roma, ma quali sono gli altri? (I think that makes sense.)

Quali sono i capoluoghi d'italia? Io so il capoluogo della Toscana è Firenze, e penso il capoluogo del Lazio è Roma, ma quali sono gli altri? (I think that makes sense.)

Valle d'Aosta=Aosta
Piemonte=Torino
Liguria=Genova
Lombardia=Milano
Trentino Alto Adige=Trento
Friuli Venezia Giulia=Trieste
Veneto=Venezia
Emilia Romagna=Bologna
Marche=Ancona
Toscana=Firenze
Abruzzo=L'Aquila
Umbria=Perugia
Lazio=Roma
Molise=Campobasso
Campania=Napoli
Puglia=Bari
Basilicata=Potenza
Calabria=Catanzaro
Sicilia=Palermo
Sardegna=Cagliari

Thanks!

Can anyone tell me random things about everyday Italian life?

Thanks!

Can anyone tell me random things about everyday Italian life?
We have a quite common life...students go to school six days a week, we usually enjoy ourselves every saturday evening...we have a quick breakfast (usually milk and coffee, biscuits or some cakes), a quick lunch and a complete dinner...

What do you want to know about our life? If you ask something, I'll try to answer :)!

I would love to speak Italian, it is the most beautiful language.:D

Six days a week!? But that means you get out earlier, like around one pm, right? Also, how does the siesta work? Is it true that it may be banished? And who won the elections? I don't know much about the Italian government, but I think I'm rooting for Berlusconi. How's the Italian government?

Now I'll try translating ...

Sei giorni una settimana!? Ma poi si deve finire più presto, all'una, no? Anche come lavora la siesta? E` vero che la potrebbe concludersi? E chi vince le elezioni? Io non lo so molto del governo italiano, ma penso io tifo per Berlusconi. Com'e` il governo italiano?

Also, if it's allowed, can you list some Italian curses and phrases that shouldn't be said?

Six days a week!? But that means you get out earlier, like around one pm, right?
Yes, we get out around one-two p.m. ...in some schools, students get out around four-five p.m., but they don't go to school on Saturday...
Also, how does the siesta work? Is it true that it may be banished?
I think you confused Italy and Mexico...we haven't the siesta ^^!! And who won the elections? I don't know much about the Italian government, but I think I'm rooting for Berlusconi. How's the Italian government?
Italian government is not the best neither the worst of the world...there are many problems here...but I think that we haven't a too horrible life ^^!!
It seems that Prodi won the elections...but now there is a strange situation and we are not so sure...

Now I'll try translating ...

Sei giorni una settimana!? Ma poi si deve finire più presto, all'una, no? Anche come lavora la siesta? E` vero che la potrebbe concludersi? E chi vince le elezioni? Io non lo so molto del governo italiano, ma penso io tifo per Berlusconi. Com'e` il governo italiano?
Very good traslation! Just some imperfections:

"Anche come lavora la siesta"= in this case, the best traslation of "to work" is "funzionare" so: "Come funziona la siesta?"

"E` vero che la potrebbe concludersi"= "E' vero che potrebbe essere tolta"=> "to banish"= bandire, togliere

"Io non lo so molto del governo italiano"= without "lo"=> "Io non so molto del governo italiano"

Ciao! Come stai tutti? Io sono Al. :D Io sto troppo stanco oggi :(

I studied Italian for a year at University, but then the department closed down :shrug:. I'm now forgetting a lot of what I've learned - hopefully this thread can keep me fresh!

Ciao, Al! Mi chiamo Bill. Sono degli Stati Uniti.

I've found this thread very helpful (and interesting). I hope you will too.

Also, to Idril: With the 'siesta,' I used that for lack of a better word. I meant, don't Italians leave work around 1-2 pm to go home, have lunch, take a nap, and then return to work? Thanks for the help with translation! I thought you could say, "Non lo so" for "I don't know" just as much as "Non so"?

I've done a bit of reading on the elections and it seems that Berlusconi isn't accepting his defeat because it's the "closest election in Italian history." But Prodi doesn't seem fearful. He's certain he's won, and if he has, his party only holds the slightest majority and it will disorient politics in Italy because everything will be nearly and even split on decision. I think.

Another question: Which is used more often, "Che ore sono?" or "Che ora e`?"

Ciao Bill! Come stai? Sei uno studente? Di dove sei? Io abito in Aberdeen in Scozzia, é sono uno studente. Io studio Inglese all'Universita. Mi piace Italiano, é una lingua molto bello!

Ciao Bill! Come stai? Sei uno studente? Di dove sei? Io abito in Aberdeen in Scozzia, é sono uno studente. Io studio Inglese all'Universita. Mi piace Italiano, é una lingua molto bello!

Sto bene. E tu? Sì, io sono uno studente in liceo (high school). Anche mi piace italiano, perchè è una lingua bellissima! La amo più di inglese! La trovo molto facile. È
Scozzia "Scotland?"

Luckily, we have a few native Italians here (Idril, YellowRose) and they're really helpful!

Also, to Idril: With the 'siesta,' I used that for lack of a better word. I meant, don't Italians leave work around 1-2 pm to go home, have lunch, take a nap, and then return to work?
Yes, we do, but we call it "pausa pranzo" (that means something like "pause for lunch"
I thought you could say, "Non lo so" for "I don't know" just as much as "Non so"?
We use both "Non so" and "Non lo so", but in different tenses...
For example:
Q:"Sai cosa sto facendo?" (Do you know what I'm doing?)
A:"Non so cosa stai facendo" (I don't know what you are doing)
or
A:"Non lo so" (I don't know)
In this case, "lo" means "cosa stai facendo" ...It's a more quick answer!

I've done a bit of reading on the elections and it seems that Berlusconi isn't accepting his defeat because it's the "closest election in Italian history." But Prodi doesn't seem fearful. He's certain he's won, and if he has, his party only holds the slightest majority and it will disorient politics in Italy because everything will be nearly and even split on decision. I think.
Me too. I think that we will have a difficult period...


Another question: Which is used more often, "Che ore sono?" or "Che ora e`?"
We use both quite often: there aren't many differences!

È Scozzia "Scotland?"
Scotland is Scozia, without the double "z": in Italian, words with "zio", "zia" and "zie" don't want the double "z"!

Ciao! Come stai tutti? Io sono Al. :D Io sto troppo stanco oggi :(

I studied Italian for a year at University, but then the department closed down :shrug:. I'm now forgetting a lot of what I've learned - hopefully this thread can keep me fresh!
Welcome :)!!!

Thanks, Idril! Also, just one thing for the heck of it. You wrote "It's a more quick answer," but it should be, "It's a quicker answer." I think in Italian quicker would = piu` veloce = more quick.

Also, I have another question (I know!!)

My Italian workbook says to fill the blank with the proper possessive of 'his' or 'her' ('il suo' o 'la sua'). But it says this:

Sono _____________ i regali. (his)
Sono _____________ i regali. (her)

Is this a trick question, because either way it would be 'i suoi regali,' right? Also, how are you supposed to tell if it means his or her gifts?

Thanks, Idril! Also, just one thing for the heck of it. You wrote "It's a more quick answer," but it should be, "It's a quicker answer." I think in Italian quicker would = piu` veloce = more quick.
Thanks :)!!

My Italian workbook says to fill the blank with the proper possessive of 'his' or 'her' ('il suo' o 'la sua'). But it says this:

Sono _____________ i regali. (his)
Sono _____________ i regali. (her)

Is this a trick question, because either way it would be 'i suoi regali,' right? Also, how are you supposed to tell if it means his or her gifts?
You must consider previous tenses... if there aren't them, you cannot say if it means his or her. This rule is different from english one!

Anybody watching GF6?

Forza Fefè!

You must consider previous tenses... if there aren't them, you cannot say if it means his or her. This rule is different from english one!
So would you say, "They are his, her, or its gifts"? I don't really get how you would know what to say.

My Italian workbook says to fill the blank with the proper possessive of 'his' or 'her' ('il suo' o 'la sua'). But it says this:

Sono _____________ i regali. (his)
Sono _____________ i regali. (her)

Is this a trick question, because either way it would be 'i suoi regali,' right? Also, how are you supposed to tell if it means his or her gifts?

ya i think so .. mind you, i'm not 100% sure, nor italian, but it makes sense.

Ciao a tutti ! Mi chiamo klumbzy. Ho sedici anni e abito in Australia.

ummm .. lol i don't remember much anymore .. i never learned tenses other than present .. or we did a bit. I used to study italian but i didn't choose it this year, and if i had i'd have to study by correspondence. I miss it coz i loved it so much .. lol this looks VERY helpful though. lol

Hey, klumbzy. We use an Australian textbook (in America).

I don't really get how you would know what to say.
I try to explain with some examples:

-"Alice ama i cani e i gatti: sono i suoi animali preferiti." (Alice loves dogs and cats: they are her favourite animals) = in this case, "suoi" means "her" because it means "of Alice"

-"Marco ama i cani e i gatti: sono i suoi animali preferiti." (Marco loves dogs and cats: they are his favourite animals) = in this case, "suoi" means "his" because it means "of Marco"

Ciao a tutti ! Mi chiamo klumbzy. Ho sedici anni e abito in Australia.
Hello!! Last october, a dozen of Australian students came to my school: they are nice people! Two of them also went to some our parties!

I try to explain with some examples:

-"Alice ama i cani e i gatti: sono i suoi animali preferiti." (Alice loves dogs and cats: they are her favourite animals) = in this case, "suoi" means "her" because it means "of Alice"

-"Marco ama i cani e i gatti: sono i suoi animali preferiti." (Marco loves dogs and cats: they are his favourite animals) = in this case, "suoi" means "his" because it means "of Marco"
I understand that, its just I don't get how when someone reads "sono i suoi regali" they can know whether to say 'his,' 'her,' or 'its.'

BTW ...
BUONA PASQUA A TUTTI!!! (in the US, anyway)

I understand that, its just I don't get how when someone reads "sono i suoi regali" they can know whether to say 'his,' 'her,' or 'its.'
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In that case, you simply cannot know if "suoi" means 'his,' 'her,' or 'its' ^^!

Ok, thanks! lol, so do you basically guess? Thanks for putting up with my dumb questions.

Ciao tutti, non sono italiano. Non parlo l'italiano. Non questo è uno scherzo.

Hello everybody,
I am not Italian. I do not speak italian. This is not a joke.

LOL. Come stai? Would you write, 'Non questo e`' or 'Questo non e`'?

Ok, thanks! lol, so do you basically guess?
Well...yes, we do ^^!! But, usually a tense like that is not alone!


Ciao tutti, non sono italiano. Non parlo l'italiano. Non questo è uno scherzo.

Hello everybody,
I am not Italian. I do not speak italian. This is not a joke.
Eheh...babelfish or something like it :p ?
Anyway...it isn't "Non questo è" but it's "Questo non è"!

(bump)

I don't want to get this deleted.

Did someone famous in Italy die recently? I was watching Italian news on public TV here and they were showing footage of a funeral, but I couldn't understand what they were saying.

Ciao tutti belli brutti! I've just noticed this thread, so maybe I'll pop in for questions on occasion. Ciao!

Ciao.

What do you mean by, "Hey everyone handsome ugly!"? LOL.

Oh, I just say that because it rhymes. You've never heard that before? Hehe, maybe I made it up, but I'm sure I've heard someone say that.

(bump)

I don't want to get this deleted.

Did someone famous in Italy die recently? I was watching Italian news on public TV here and they were showing footage of a funeral, but I couldn't understand what they were saying.
I think you saw the funeral of three italian soldiers killed in Nassirya...

Oh, okay.

Also, Idril, do you think you can literally translate the Padre Nostro for me? I was trying myself, but I think it's in, like, old Italian or something (like Olde English).

I can try, but it's a difficult work and I need a dictionary and a lot of time...I'll try during next week (this week I'm quite busy ^^!!)!

Wow...so I'll take a stab at Italian, though my only languages are English and French.

Sono Americana, ho diciotto anni. Abito in America. Parlo francese e inglese. L'italiano è simile (similar?) al francese, io pensa...è facile. Il passato prossimo è come ("like", in the sense of "similar to") il "passé composé" o il passato prossimo francese.

"Facile" (easy) is the same word in French and Italian, interestingly enough, and I conjugated "parlare" based on my knowledge of French...Italian is a lovely language.

Sono Americana, ho diciotto anni. Abito in America. Parlo francese e inglese. L'italiano è simile (similar?) al francese, io pensa...è facile. Il passato prossimo è come ("like", in the sense of "similar to") il "passé composé" o il passato prossimo francese.
That's awesome. You were really close. I'm not sure about "simile," but it should be "io penso" and "come" is understood as "similar to" in that case. And one more thing (I think) "al francese" should be "alla francese." Idril will help us, lol.

Oh, and Idril: Thanks. Whenever you get to it. I was just wondering what the words translated directly to. Like the line "Come in cieli così in terra," would that be "how in skies so on earth?"

"Facile" (easy) is the same word in French and Italian, interestingly enough...Spelled the same, but pronounced differently.

Is it pronoucned "faa-SEEL"? It's "FAH-chi-lay" for us.

Is it pronoucned "faa-SEEL"? It's "FAH-chi-lay" for us.Yes, that's right for the French. Haha, thought I haven't spoken it in a while, so I could be wrong. Also interesting to note is that the antonym is spelled the same in both languages as well: difficile. Again, just pronounced differently.

Ho una domanda - c'e qualcuno chi sa se "chi volete che sia" e (scusa, non ho scoperto come a fare gli accenti sul questo computer) un fraso colloquiale per "chi pensate che sia", forse molto anziano?

"Chi volete, che sia."
I believe it transaltes to, "Who wants, who knows."

I am so excited!
Oggi nella classa siamo imparti come parlare nel tempo al passato! (Passato prossimo). Adesso, io posso parlare di che succede e che è succeduto! Per essempio: Due giorni fa sono andato non solo a scuola, m'anche a Scouts.

(How does that sound, Idril?)

Also, orpheus: I use this site (http://www.coloryourprofyle.com/phade/alt.html) for the accents.

Ho una domanda - c'e qualcuno chi sa se "chi volete che sia" e (scusa, non ho scoperto come a fare gli accenti sul questo computer) un fraso colloquiale per "chi pensate che sia", forse molto anziano?
They have quite similar meanings!


I am so excited!
Oggi nella classa siamo imparti come parlare nel tempo al passato! (Passato prossimo). Adesso, io posso parlare di che succede e che è succeduto! Per essempio: Due giorni fa sono andato non solo a scuola, m'anche a Scouts.

(How does that sound, Idril?)

Good!
Only two real mistakes:
"siamo imparti" => "abbiamo imparato" (we learned)
"è succeduto" => "è successo" (it happened)

The word "esempio" (example) doesn't want the double "s" and we don't usually write "m'anche", but "ma anche" (but also)!

Thanks! Yesterday, I learned about not needing to pluralize the ending of the participle if the helping verb is 'avere.' (ie., not 'abbiamo imparati,' but 'abbiamo imparato.') I also learned that you use 'essere' mainly for verbs of motion, and 'avere' for everything else. Also, I was unsure about "m'anche," but I'd seen it before. Is it never said, or just not common? Also, would someone say, "pegli" or "pelle" today, or is that archaic?

Oggi, in classa, abbiamo imparato un po' più del passato prossimo. Ho imparato come usare 'già' e 'ancora,' e che 'mai' può [mean] 'ever' o 'never,' [depending on the context].

"Pegli" and "pelle" (pelle also means "skin" ^^) are archaic...maybe "m'anche" too is archaic, but I'm not sure...in any case it's not an usual form!

to mean = significare
depending on the context = "a seconda del contesto" or "secondo il contesto"

Thanks, Idril! You're awesome!

Also, would it be archaic to say 'col'? I know for a fact that it was in the title of a modern Italian translation of 'Interview with the Vampire,' which became 'Intervista col Vampiro.' But maybe that was just to add effect to the old-time setting of the books?

EDIT: What's the difference between 'avere bisogno di' and 'bisognare'? What if I wanted to write "I need help!" Would that become "Ho bisogno d'auitare!" or would it be "Ho bisogno di auitare!"

Also, is Margherita Missoni a big Italian star? I just saw her on TV here ... e lei è bella!!!!! :love:

Also, would it be archaic to say 'col'? I know for a fact that it was in the title of a modern Italian translation of 'Interview with the Vampire,' which became 'Intervista col Vampiro.' But maybe that was just to add effect to the old-time setting of the books?
It isn't the usual form, but you can use it...it's not a mistake (but "con il" is the best form)


EDIT: What's the difference between 'avere bisogno di' and 'bisognare'?

We don't use "bisognare"...maybe it's archaic...in corrent language, "to need" is "avere bisogno di"!
What if I wanted to write "I need help!" Would that become "Ho bisogno d'aiutare!" or would it be "Ho bisogno di aiutare!"
"I need help" is "Ho bisogno di aiuto" (or "d'aiuto", it's the same): "aiuto" is a noun and means "help"; "aiutare" is a verb and means "to help"...so "ho bisogno di aiutare" means "I need to help"!


Also, is Margherita Missoni a big Italian star? I just saw her on TV here ... e lei è bella!!!!! :love:
I don't know her, but I don't know many Italian stars, because I don't like very much Italian tv!

Thanks a lot, Idril. I thought that an un-conjugated verb (suc as aiutare -- I always spell it wrong!) could mean 'to help,' 'helping,' and 'help,' but now I remember that "using" would be translated to "usando," and that "the want/desire" becomes "la voglia." (But, then again, I learned that from someone who spoke Sicilian, so it might not be true to the Italian of Tuscany/Rome, which I'm learning.)

Does 'Aspetta!' mean 'Wait!' or would you have to say, 'Aspettare!' because of the imperitive tense? Also, does 'facendo' mean 'doing,' and does 'camminando' mean 'walking'? Or would 'walking' be 'camminare'?

Does 'Aspetta!' mean 'Wait!' or would you have to say, 'Aspettare!' because of the imperitive tense?
"Aspetta!" is an imperative tense, so it means "Wait!"!

Also, does 'facendo' mean 'doing,' and does 'camminando' mean 'walking'? Or would 'walking' be 'camminare'?
"Facendo" is a traslation of "doing" and "camminando" is a traslation of "walking", but they have not always the same uses. For example:

"I'm going home" = "Sto andando a casa" (going=andando)

"I like swimming" = "Mi piace nuotare" (swimming=nuotare, not "nuotando")

Thanks, a lot. (Didn't know there was reply to this until now!)

I got an A on my Italian exam! (In part, thanks to everyone here's help.)

I got an A on my Italian exam! (In part, thanks to everyone here's help.)
Congratulations!!!!

Oh, okay.

Also, Idril, do you think you can literally translate the Padre Nostro for me? I was trying myself, but I think it's in, like, old Italian or something (like Olde English).
I didn't forget your question, but during these weeks I had to study very much (during next month, I'll have my exams!); but I'll find traslate it, I promise ^^!!

Thanks a lot!!!!
I'm so glad you've helped me here.

(bump) Don't want to lose this post.

Oh, okay.

Also, Idril, do you think you can literally translate the Padre Nostro for me? I was trying myself, but I think it's in, like, old Italian or something (like Olde English).
And in the end ^^...

Our Father, that are in the Sky,
Hallowed be Your name.
Come Your kingdom,
be done Your will,
in the Sky and on the Earth.
Give us our everyday bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen.


I hope that there aren't too many mistakes ^^!

Thanks!

Also, I was wondering if you could give me some Italian slang. The only thing I really know is 'pelato,' which means 'peeled,' but can also refer to someone who is bald. How does Hagrid's accent get translated into Italian? (I've been wondering that for a while, now.)

Thanks!

Also, I was wondering if you could give me some Italian slang. The only thing I really know is 'pelato,' which means 'peeled,' but can also refer to someone who is bald. How does Hagrid's accent get translated into Italian? (I've been wondering that for a while, now.)
In Italian edition, Hagrid has not a real accent: he simply makes many mistakes!
I cannot give you many Italian slangs because I don't know them: I like speaking pure Italian, without accents or wrong words! Anyway...for example, in Rome, young people say "Bella!" when they want to say "Ciao!" (Hello!) ...I don't know why!
If I remember someone else, I will write them!!

I was just thinking about taking up Italian for Beginners the other day, and then I come across this thread! I've also been watching Francesco someone or other's BBC tour around Italy - the language sounds so beautiful!

Can anyone tell me, is the general word order in Italian Subject, Verb, Object? ie I (subject) hit (verb) the dog (object).

Also, what does "prego" mean? I've heard it used a lot and can never work out if it's an hello, goodbye or just an OK....

Can anyone tell me, is the general word order in Italian Subject, Verb, Object? ie I (subject) hit (verb) the dog (object).
Perfect! The subject is the person, animal or thing that makes an action, the verb is the action, the object is who endures the action.

Also, what does "prego" mean? I've heard it used a lot and can never work out if it's an hello, goodbye or just an OK....
"Prego" is a word that we use as answer to "Thanks" (Grazie!): in English a similar word doesn't exist. In German it is translated with "bitte"!

Bella Idril! :lol:
nice thread, I'm actually dreadful at English, but I'll keep an eye on this thread, I may be useful in some way.

Thanks Idril - so prego should be used as a kind of acknowledgement of receiving thanks from someone.

What about giving us a really good insult in Italian? One that will baffle English speakers?

"Prego" is equivalent to "you're welcome," but it can also be used as "please." For example, if a celebrity was walking through an airport, his or her guards would probably yell, "Avanti, prego!" to get people to move. (I think "avanti" means "come in," so I'm not sure how that makes sense, but that's what my teacher taught us.)


Idril, with the word order, can't you also say:

"Giocano a tennis Luigi e Pietro," as "Peter and Luis are playing tennis"?

Or would it be, "Giocano Luigi e Pietro a tennis,"

or, "Luigi e Pietro stanno giocando a tennis"?

Or even, "Stanno giocando a tennis Luigi e Pietro"

Or, LASTLY, "Giocano Luigi e Pietro a tennis"?


And why is this sometimes written?:

Quando parti tu? (At least, I've seen it written. It may not be proper.)

What about giving us a really good insult in Italian? One that will baffle English speakers?

Here's a curse:
"Vaffunculo." (Basically means "EFF YOU.")

Idril, with the word order, can't you also say:

"Giocano a tennis Luigi e Pietro," as "Peter and Luis are playing tennis"?

Or would it be, "Giocano Luigi e Pietro a tennis,"

or, "Luigi e Pietro stanno giocando a tennis"?

Or even, "Stanno giocando a tennis Luigi e Pietro"

Or, LASTLY, "Giocano Luigi e Pietro a tennis"?
"Peter and Luis are playing tennis"? is "Luigi e Pietro stanno giocando a tennis"?: the others are formally correct, but we usually put the subject at the beginning (this is not a real rule, but usually we do it!)


And why is this sometimes written?:

Quando parti tu? (At least, I've seen it written. It may not be proper.)
It's not very used...maybe, sometimes, when you ask to somebody "when will you leave?" and then, you ask tha same thing to another person, "And you, when you will leave?"...but, as I said, it's not very used!

Here's a curse:
"Vaffunculo." (Basically means "EFF YOU.")
Well, this is a quite rude word ^^!!! If you say this to someone, he wil become very, very angry!

Hey, I'll give it a go.......vaffunculo! Sounds deliciously rude!:lol:

I shouldn't help you.... :angel:



ok, the correct word has an a instead of the u :evil:

Ok, I know this has nothing to do with this thread, but italians are hot! Physically and the way they talk! :lol:

Ok, I know this has nothing to do with this thread, but italians are hot! Physically and the way they talk! :lol:


Not all of them. Sadly, I do not fit into that category.

Excuse the lack of accent marks in this attempt at Italian here, I'm just too lazy:

Sono italiana, ma penso che sono brutta. Parlavo italiano quando ero bambina, ma quando ho comminciato la scuola, ho fermato di parlarlo. L'ho studiato all'universita per un anno. Ho provato a parlare solo italiano a casa per qualche mese ma adesso parlo inglese un'altra volta, perche e l'estate e sono pigra.

There's something I've been wondering since I took up Italian. Mario's classic phrase is "Mamma mia", and on Everybody Loves Raymond, sometimes they'll say "fratello mio". But the proper way is Mia mamma, and Mio fratello, right? Why/when is it proper to switch it around?

"fratello mio" is a vocative form; commonly it is correct to put the possessive adjective before the name, so if you want to say "my brother is 16", you must say "mio fratello ha 16 anni".
"Mamma mia!" is an expression that means "good heavens!". If you want to use it as subjet or object in a phrase, it's more correct to say "mia madre" (my mother), or "mamma" (mum).

Thank you! But what's a vocative form?
Maybe I should learn my own language before I learn Italian. :lol:

that's a difficult question, dunno how to explain myself :blush:
I'll try to give you some examplese and put in Italic the vocative in the phrase:

- brother, you know you can count on me!

- come on brothers!

- what's the matter, brother?

"fratello mio" is a vocative form; commonly it is correct to put the possessive adjective before the name, so if you want to say "my brother is 16", you must say "mio fratello ha 16 anni".
"Mamma mia!" is an expression that means "good heavens!". If you want to use it as subjet or object in a phrase, it's more correct to say "mia madre" (my mother), or "mamma" (mum).

This is correct, I think. But remember with other words (not family words like mom, dad, etc.) you need an article in front. It would be correct to either say La mia mela e rossa (my apple is red) or La mela mia e rossa. I believe the first example is more common. But I'm really not an authority on Italian at all (shame on me).

I shouldn't help you.... :angel:



ok, the correct word has an a instead of the u :evil:

Well, personally, I was hoping for more Italian swearwords but you'll be glad to know I've used "Vaffuncolo" twice today. Once at an idiot driver and once at my PC.

Next time, I'll be sure to say it with an "a":lol: Vaffanculo, right?

My dictionary has it as vaffanculo!, which means "EFF off!"

Also, there's fottere, which is a verb meaning "to eff-yew-see-kay," and va' a farti fottere, which means, "Go eff-yew-see-kay yourself."


Also, I've learned that perchè can mean both "why" and "because" depending on the context of the sentence, but recently I've seen perchè used as "why" and perché used soley for "because." Which way is right?

But remember with other words (not family words like mom, dad, etc.) you need an article in front. It would be correct to either say La mia mela e rossa (my apple is red) or La mela mia e rossa. I believe the first example is more common. But I'm really not an authority on Italian at all (shame on me).
your're right :tu:
"La mela mia è rossa" is not incorrect, but I wouldn't use it.



Also, I've learned that perchè can mean both "why" and "because" depending on the context of the sentence, but recently I've seen perchè used as "why" and perché used soley for "because." Which way is right?

perché, with acute accent mark, is the only correct form, both for why and because.
Perchè, with grave accent mark, doesn't exist but it's a common mistake. :)


and.. let's drop the swearwords thing, it doesn't fit the board rules ;)

LOL, sorry. I understand. The words don't hold the same weight for non-Italians, so it really hasn't offended me. But I can understand how you could be offended. Mi dispiace.

Oh, that reminds me ...

Which is more common:

Mi dispiace or sono spiacento?

Which is more common:

Mi dispiace or sono spiacento?

I dunno about regular Italians, but my teacher uses "Mi dispiace".
As for perchè -- that's the first thing I learned in Italian. My teacher said that it's the only argument you can have in Italian using only one word. :p

And thanks for the help, i miei amici.

no offense at all pottercomics :tu:
in fact I can be slightly foul mouthed sometimes, so i don't mind too much swearwords, but this is a family-friendly board ;)

Which is more common:

Mi dispiace or sono spiacento?

mi dispiace is more common; sono spiacente is more formal.


And thanks for the help, i miei amici.
n this case "my friends" is neither the subject, nor the object in the phrase; it's a vocative form, so you have to say "thanks for the help, amici miei" :)

you're welcome!

n this case "my friends" is neither the subject, nor the object in the phrase; it's a vocative form, so you have to say "thanks for the help, amici miei" :)

you're welcome!

:lol: I am never going to be able to tell when something is a vocative form. From now on, I'm just going to be incredibly formal in Italian.

For those who are interesting in that...the traslation of "Champions of the World" is "Campioni del Mondo"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:clap: :clap: :clap:

Sorry, the temptation was too strong :D !!!

For those who are interesting in that...the traslation of "Champions of the World" is "Campioni del Mondo"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:clap: :clap: :clap:

Sorry, the temptation was too strong :D !!!

:lol: Congratulations!! (translation ¿?) :clap:

:lol: I just learned a swear word in Italian. Interesting :lol:

:lol: Congratulations!! (translation ¿?) :clap:
"Congratulazioni" or "Complimenti" :D :clap: !!!

COMPLIMENTI, AMICI MIEI ITALIANI!!

(Hope I got that whole vocative thing right.)

I'm so happy Italy won! FORZA AZZURI!

very good pottercomics :tu:

and thank you :D

COMPLIMENTI, AMICI MIEI ITALIANI!!

(Hope I got that whole vocative thing right.)

I'm so happy Italy won! FORZA AZZURI!
Thanks, thanks :D !!!

However, it's "azzurri" (double "r")!

No, thank you. What I really wish to learn is to speak French. My friend Wendy, however, speaks fluent Italian, for her mother was born and raised in Italy. :D

-Kait

Ciao a tutti! Non sono italiana, ma ho famiglia in Italia, allora l'ho so un poco... Non sono brava, ma è abbastanza, la mia cugina capisci :lol: (sorry I have so problems with the conjugation, I never learned it...)...
Sono stata l'anno scorso in Roma per una settimana, poi sono stata in la mia famiglia quindici giorni, allora ho apreso l'italiano... Ma non l'ho parlo molto, allora l'ho dimenticato... mi dispiace per gli italieni che hanno letto questo... :nc:

Forgive me!

Helly FrenchHermy :) you make yourself understood very well :tu:

Actually, your Italian is much better than my English :lol: and you learned it in only three weeks :wow:

Thanks, thanks :D !!!

However, it's "azzurri" (double "r")!
:blush:

Helly FrenchHermy :) you make yourself understood very well :tu:

Actually, your Italian is much better than my English :lol: and you learned it in only three weeks :wow:

Thank you :blush: o Grazie, come vuoi! I learned it in three weeks, but Italian is very close to french... in fact, you put a "o" or a "a" at the end of french words and you get a italian one, most of the time :rotfl: I think your English is good ! Why do you say it isn't? And by the way, totally off topic, but please go to my last post at Football General Discussion, I've got a question for you!

I've answered you in the other discussion :)
I say my English is very poor because I couldn't write a word without my faithful and excellent electronic dictionary :D
It's a bit like cheating from a certain point of view.. :whistle:

I've answered you in the other discussion :)
I say my English is very poor because I couldn't write a word without my faithful and excellent electronic dictionary :D
It's a bit like cheating from a certain point of view.. :whistle:

:lol: What would we do without our marvelous dictionary? :lol:
Don't worry, I'll be the only one to know, with those here who're reading this thread... I won't betray you ! :p

Ciao a tutti! Non sono italiana, ma ho famiglia in Italia, allora l'ho so un poco... Non sono brava, ma è abbastanza, la mia cugina capisci :lol: (sorry I have so problems with the conjugation, I never learned it...)...
Sono stata l'anno scorso in Roma per una settimana, poi sono stata in la mia famiglia quindici giorni, allora ho apreso l'italiano... Ma non l'ho parlo molto, allora l'ho dimenticato... mi dispiace per gli italieni che hanno letto questo... :nc:

Forgive me!

Mind if I attempt to translate?

Hey everyone! I'm not Italian, but I have family in Italy, so I know a bit of it. I'm not very good, but it's enough, my cousin understands. Last year, I was in Rome for a week, then I was [with] my family [for] fifteen days, so I learned Italian. But I didn't speak it very well, so I forgot it. I'm sorry for the Italians who read this ...

Your Italian is very good, if I can understand it. I've spoken the language for ten months, and everything you wrote was a good review of what I learned. In fact, it was the exact material I was taught: conjugation of verbs, pluralization, il passato prossimo (the past tense you used), etc. Very good!

There are only a few errors:

Ciao a tutti! Non sono italiana, ma ho famiglia in italia {I don't believe we capitalize the 'I'}, allora l'ho saputo {you wrote 'so,' which is present tense; 'saputo' is the passato prossimo form of the verb, meaning, 'known.'} un poco... Non sono brava, ma è abbastanza per {that would make a little more sense} la mia cugina capisce {you'd written 'la mia cugina capisci,' which translates to 'my cousin understand.' 'Capsice' is more correct.}
Sono stata l'anno scorso a {in Italian, you replace 'in' with 'a' if you're referring to a city/province} Roma per una settimana, poi sono stata nella {'in la' becomes 'nella'; but how can you be 'in' your family for fifteen days?} mia famiglia per quindici giorni, allora ho appreso {you left one of the 'P's out} l'italiano... Ma non l'ho parlato {you wrote 'ho parlo,' which means 'I have I spoke'; I believe you meant to be speaking in the past tense, so you should have written 'ho parlato.'} molto, allora l'ho dimenticato... mi dispiace per gli italiani {you spelled 'italiani' as 'italieni'} che hanno letto questo...

Your Italian, again, is awesome. For not knowing much, you learned a lot in such a small amount of time. You and I are on the same level, basically, but I've been studying for months.

I hope my edit didn't come off as show-offy, because it really just helps me with the language.

Mind if I attempt to translate?

Hey everyone! I'm not Italian, but I have family in Italy, so I know a bit of it. I'm not very good, but it's enough, my cousin understands. Last year, I was in Rome for a week, then I was [with] my family [for] fifteen days, so I learned Italian. But I didn't speak it very well, so I forgot it. I'm sorry for the Italians who read this ...

Your Italian is very good, if I can understand it. I've spoken the language for ten months, and everything you wrote was a good review of what I learned. In fact, it was the exact material I was taught: conjugation of verbs, pluralization, il passato prossimo (the past tense you used), etc. Very good!

There are only a few errors:

Ciao a tutti! Non sono italiana, ma ho famiglia in italia {I don't believe we capitalize the 'I'}, allora l'ho saputo {you wrote 'so,' which is present tense; 'saputo' is the passato prossimo form of the verb, meaning, 'known.'} un poco... Non sono brava, ma è abbastanza per {that would make a little more sense} la mia cugina capisce {you'd written 'la mia cugina capisci,' which translates to 'my cousin understand.' 'Capsice' is more correct.}
Sono stata l'anno scorso a {in Italian, you replace 'in' with 'a' if you're referring to a city/province} Roma per una settimana, poi sono stata nella {'in la' becomes 'nella'; but how can you be 'in' your family for fifteen days?} mia famiglia per quindici giorni, allora ho appreso {you left one of the 'P's out} l'italiano... Ma non l'ho parlato {you wrote 'ho parlo,' which means 'I have I spoke'; I believe you meant to be speaking in the past tense, so you should have written 'ho parlato.'} molto, allora l'ho dimenticato... mi dispiace per gli italiani {you spelled 'italiani' as 'italieni'} che hanno letto questo...

Your Italian, again, is awesome. For not knowing much, you learned a lot in such a small amount of time. You and I are on the same level, basically, but I've been studying for months.

I hope my edit didn't come off as show-offy, because it really just helps me with the language.

Thank you pottercomics! I hope I won't forget anymore...If only I could speak Italian regularly, I wouldn't forget it... But, I've only spoken Italian, never wrote it :) And I made the conjugation by myself, just how I wanted, so I've never known the real one :D I think I'll never know them...
But don't worry, I wasn't angry at all for you correcting me! By the way, you could also correct my English :)

LOL. Well, I am a writer, so language is in my blood.

You get it very well, pottercomics, but I think in this passage
Ma non l'ho parlo molto
FrenchHermy wanted to write ma non lo parlo molto - But I didn't speak it much.



may I correct something, pottercomics?
There are only a few errors:

Ciao a tutti! Non sono italiana, ma ho famiglia in italia {I don't believe we capitalize the 'I'},
Country names are capitalized, so Italia is right. :)

allora l'ho saputo {you wrote 'so,' which is present tense; 'saputo' is the passato prossimo form of the verb, meaning, 'known.'} un poco...
same as above, I think she wanted to write allora lo so un poco - so I know a bit of it, as you translated

Non sono brava, ma è abbastanza per {that would make a little more sense}
no, here it's the same as English: ma è abbastanza (without per) - but it's enough , is enough :p

la mia cugina capisce {you'd written 'la mia cugina capisci,' which translates to 'my cousin understand.' 'Capsice' is more correct.}
you're right, capisce is correct.
It's better to omit the article in this case, as well, so it would be mia cugina capisce


Sono stata l'anno scorso a {in Italian, you replace 'in' with 'a' if you're referring to a city/province} Roma per una settimana,
:tu:


poi sono stata nella {'in la' becomes 'nella'; but how can you be 'in' your family for fifteen days?} mia famiglia per quindici giorni,
here you must use con la mia famiglia, rather than nella mia famiglia, because it's not a physical place, it's intended to mean in her family's company.



allora ho appreso {you left one of the 'P's out} l'italiano... Ma non l'ho parlato {you wrote 'ho parlo,' which means 'I have I spoke'; I believe you meant to be speaking in the past tense, so you should have written 'ho parlato.'} molto, allora l'ho dimenticato...

same as above again, if she wanted to say I dont't speak it often, translation is non lo parlo molto



wow, I'm starting to feel a bit like a teacher, so be careful because my favourite one is Snape :evil:


:D

no, here it's the same as English: ma è abbastanza (without per) - but it's enough , is enough :p

I made a typo. I meant to write, "ma è abbastanza per mia cugina per capire" --> "but it's enough for my cousin to understand." I wrote, "ma è abbastanza per, la mia cugina capisce." Sorry 'bout that.


wow, I'm starting to feel a bit like a teacher, so be careful because my favourite one is Snape :evil:
You and Idril are doing a great job, Professor Sna-- I mean, luny ... :tu:

Thanks for clearing that capitalization thing up. Sometimes I get confused. You capitalize the place, but not the language. So that's ... io sono americano, but sono d'America.

Can anyone explain this to me:

Si dice 'da fare' e 'da mangiare,' ma si dice 'per capire' e 'per andare,' ed anche 'a giocare' e 'a pattinare'? Come si sa quale per usare? (Cioè 'a,' 'per,' 'da'.)

I made a typo. I meant to write, "ma è abbastanza per mia cugina per capire" --> "but it's enough for my cousin to understand." that's a better way to express the idea, than to use two separate phrases, but the way FrenchHermy put it is correct all the same :)
the exact translation of "it's enough for my cousin to understand." is a bit tricky because it requires the use of the subjunctive, a mood that is not very used in English: è abbastanza perché/affinché mia cugina capisca


You capitalize the place, but not the language. So that's ... io sono americano, but sono d'America. That's right :tu:
we capitalize the proper name of the Country, but not the language nor the adjective.

Can anyone explain this to me:

Si dice 'da fare' e 'da mangiare,' ma si dice 'per capire' e 'per andare,' ed anche 'a giocare' e 'a pattinare'? Come si sa quale per usare? (Cioè 'a,' 'per,' 'da'.)
mmh... I'll have to think a bit about it. I automatically use the preposition which sounds better to me, but obviously there must be a rule for it :lol:

You and Idril are doing a great job, Professor Sna-- I mean, luny ... :tu:
Thanks! So, you also have a professor McGrannit...she's my favourite one ^^!!

Can anyone explain this to me:

Si dice 'da fare' e 'da mangiare,' ma si dice 'per capire' e 'per andare,' ed anche 'a giocare' e 'a pattinare'? Come si sa quale per usare? (Cioè 'a,' 'per,' 'da'.)
Actually, there isn't a real rule...or, if it exists, it will be very hard to explain!!
The use of "per, da, a" principally depends on the meaning of the phrase...this is what we call "analisi del periodo" (analysis of phrase)...and it is the most complex part of our grammar! For example:

"I go to eat" (Is it correct?)= Vado a mangiare
"I prepare to eat" = Preparo da mangiare

I should search my old grammar books and translate them ^^!!!

Se Professoressa McGrannit è Professoressa McGonagall, anche lei è la mia preferita!

"I go to eat" is perfectly correct, though it's more likely you'd hear someone say, "I am going to eat," which would be: Sto andando a mangiare. (Well, I think that's what it'd be.) So, I probably wouldn't be wrong (necessarily) if I write 'a capire' or 'da andare'?

Also, I've been wondering about the placement of 'quello' in a sentence:

I've heard of the SPQR joke, "Sono Pazzi Quei Romani," in fact it was in our textbook, but since that translates to (literally), "They are crazy those Romans," (which makes sense in English, but would be better written, "They are crazy, those Romans"), how do I know where to put the "quello"? I almost understand this, but it's been on my mind because wouldn't it be just as correct to write, "Quei romani sono pazzi"?

This is related:

I write "Ho visto un bel film" --> "I saw a good movie."
But if I wrote it "Ho visto un film ..." and put the 'bello' after 'film,' would I write 'un film bel' o 'un film bello'?

Se Professoressa McGrannit è Professoressa McGonagall, anche lei è la mia preferita!
Oh, yes...McGonagall...in Italian version, she's McGrannit ^^" !!

I've heard of the SPQR joke, "Sono Pazzi Quei Romani," in fact it was in our textbook, but since that translates to (literally), "They are crazy those Romans," (which makes sense in English, but would be better written, "They are crazy, those Romans"), how do I know where to put the "quello"? I almost understand this, but it's been on my mind because wouldn't it be just as correct to write, "Quei romani sono pazzi"?
"Quei Romani sono pazzi" is correct and it's the most usual form. "Sono pazzi, quei Romani!" is a sort of intensifying form. However, the meaning is the same!

This is related:
I write "Ho visto un bel film" --> "I saw a good movie."
But if I wrote it "Ho visto un film ..." and put the 'bello' after 'film,' would I write 'un film bel' o 'un film bello'?
'Un film bello' is the correct form!

Wow, what a great job you all did just with what I've written! By the way, you were right luny I meant lo so, and not l'ho saputo! We have so good teachers here, I hope I am like you on Beauxbatons : The place to improve your French (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=38615) !

I have a little confusion about "molto" and it's variants. For example, if I were saying "the house is cold", I would say "la casa è molto/a freddo/a" I'm not sure if molto changes from o/i to a/e when the subject changes from feminine to masculine. The same goes for freddo. It's an adjective, so should it be freddo/a according to the subject? I'm almost positive you change freddo to fit the subject, because it is an adjective, but does molto change?

In your example "molto" does't change. "Freddo" is the adjective and the word that changes

I'll make an example:
"I'm very thirsty" can be translated into

"ho molta sete"
or
"sono molto assetata"

in the first case sete is substantive feminine and molto changes into molta because is the adjective of sete, so you have to change it according to the genre and number of the substantive it's used with.
in the second one assetata is the adjective and molto is adverb of quantity, so you don't have to change it.

here's another way of putting that:

When you want to say 'very,' you only use 'molto.'

When you want to say 'much' or many':

much = molto, molta
many = molte, molti

bump

italian seems a lot like spanish(espaniol)even the numbers
uno dos thres quato cinco .....ect

I was expecting to be bored this summer, so I bought this Basic-learning Italian course on the computer. It turned out to be really fun, and yes, I thought some of it really sounds like Spanish, and French, actually, which is great for me as I am French. The only problem with the course is that it taught me pre-fabricated sentences "Dov'e la spiaggia?" Or "Posso aiutarLa?" But I didn't learn how to build my own sentences, like I didn't learn enough verbs and how to conjugate them. But anyway, I'm just looking forward to practising it someday, in Italy :cool:

Meanwhile, I'll hang around here to pick some tricks :)

I was expecting to be bored this summer, so I bought this Basic-learning Italian course on the computer. It turned out to be really fun, and yes, I thought some of it really sounds like Spanish, and French, actually, which is great for me as I am French. The only problem with the course is that it taught me pre-fabricated sentences "Dov'e la spiaggia?" Or "Posso aiutarLa?" But I didn't learn how to build my own sentences, like I didn't learn enough verbs and how to conjugate them. But anyway, I'm just looking forward to practising it someday, in Italy :cool:

Meanwhile, I'll hang around here to pick some tricks :)

I know what you mean. I couldn't truly form an Italian sentence for months into the school year. I think Italian has a very unique sound, and is the sister language of French, Spanish, and Romanian. I can help you with your pre-fabricated sentences, if you need it:

Dov'è . . . ? = Where is . . . ?
---> This comes from two words being combined so it is easier to say:
DOVE (WHERE) + È (IS).
It would be easier to say, "DOH-veh," versus "DOH-vay eh."
It wouldn't be wrong at all, though, to say "Dove è?" though.

Posso ---> comes from the verb POTERE, meaning "to be able to" (or "can"):

I can (or: am able to) --> io posso
You can (or: are able to) --> tu puoi
She/he/it can (or: is able to) --> lei/lui può
We can (or: are able to) --> noi possiamo
You can (plural) (or: are able to) --> voi potete
They can (or: are able to) --> loro possono

"AiutarLa" is a polite/formal way of saying "Help you," coming from the verb "aiutare" ---> "to help":

I help --> io aiuto
You help --> tu aiuti
She/he/it helps --> lei/lui aiuta
We help --> noi aiutiamo
You help (plr.) --> voi aiutate
They help --> loro aiutano

When speaking to a stranger or someone of importance, you replace the "tu" form of the verb with "lei," and the "voi" form with "loro." So . . . instead of saying, "Posso ti aiutare?" (which you would use to a friend/someone you know well), if you are speaking to a stranger, or want to be polite, you would say, "Posso aiutarLa?" "La" being the formal version of "te."

For the record, I'm American.

wow you guys are really good i am not i try but i know some because my band teacher always speaks in italian like inpoco oops i mean unpoco(i think)
ciao(i think that means hi or bye right pottercomics i think i need to study some more.\
astalawego!!!