PdG

scatenare

2009-11-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the transitive verb, scatenare, which means:

to trigger
to provoke

You can see the word used in its context below -- this word has popped up recently in the news/media as certain TV presenters and commentators have gone on the air in support of Berlusconi and his condemnation of the judiciary:

Il direttore del Tg1 ha scatenato una polemica quando ha difeso Berlusconi con il suo editoriale trasmesso stasera.

The director of Tg1 has triggered a controvery when he defended Berlusconi with his editorial transmitted tonight.

perdere di forza

2009-11-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, perdere di forza, which means:

to lose strength

The past participle of perdere is perso. Avere is used in compound tenses.

You'll see this verb expression used when talking about storms and hurricanes. See the context below:

Il centro nazionale statunitense per gli uragani riporta che l'urugano perde di forza e che non c'è pericolo.

The National Hurricane Center is reporting that the hurricane is losing strength and that there is no danger.

la sospensione per pioggia

2009-11-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

Today's Parola del giorno is the noun phrase, la sospensione per pioggia, which means:

rain delay

You can see the expression used in its context below:

Marco: Annalisa, la partita di tennis non è alla tv?
Annalisa: Marco, piove a Londra. Purtroppo c'è una sospensione per pioggia.

Marco: Annalisa, the tennis game isn't on TV?
Annalisa: Marco, it's raining in London. Unfortunately there's a rain delay.

melenso

2009-11-07T05:00:00.000-05:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, melenso, which means:

dopey
inane

You can see the word used in its context below:

Giovanna: Che melenso che è il nostro amico, Diego!
Giovanna: How dopey is our friend, Diego!

Marco: Hai ragione...quando s'innamora, è insopportabile!
Marco: You're right...when he's in love, he's unbearable!

lo schermo sensibile al tatto

2009-11-06T05:00:00.003-05:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, lo schermo sensibile al tatto, which means:

touchscreen

Touch screen are on almost everything these days -- computers, phones...where will it end? :)

See the word used below in its context:

Giovanna ha comprato un nuovo pc con uno schermo sensibile al tatto! Adesso riesce a usare il pc senza il mouse!

Giovanna bought a new pc with a touchscreen. Now she can use the PC without the mouse.

il cerotto

2009-11-05T05:00:00.001-05:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, il cerotto, which means:

band-aid
bandage
plaster (British English)

You can see the noun used in its context below:

Giovannino ha messo un cerotto sul taglio dopo che è caduto a terra.

Little Giovanni put a band-aid on his cut after he fell on the ground.

vessare

2009-11-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the transitive verb, vessare, which means:

to oppress

The past participle is vessato. Avere is used in compound tenses.

You can see the verb used in its context below:

La chiesa cattolica ha vessato le innovazioni e le idee di Galileo e di altri pensatori per secoli.

The Catholic Church oppressed the innovations and ideas of Galileo and other thinkers for centuries.

scherzare

2009-11-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the transitive verb, scherzare, which means:

to kid

You use the verb in this way when you want to show surprise at something someone has said, usually because you believe the opposite. See the context below:

Marco: Il programma di Vespa presenta argomenti in modo imparziale.
Marco: Vespa's program presents topics in an impartial way.

Martina: Scherzi? È un programma filo-berlusconiano!
Martina: Are you kidding? It's a pro-Berlusconi program.

fedifrago

2009-11-01T05:00:00.001-05:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, fedifrago, which means:

unfaithful

It is used to describe a person who is disloyal to their lover/wife/husband, etc.

See its context below:

Marco è tornato a casa ed era sorpreso quando ha visto sua moglie fedifraga a letto con un altro uomo.

Marco returned home and was surprised when he saw his unfaithful wife in bed with another man.

Is it tavola or tavolo?

2009-10-31T11:59:00.003-04:00

Ciao a tutti!

I started to write a blog post about the differences between la tavola and il tavolo, but today I found this great explanation online at Transparent Language's Italian Blog! Instead of re-inventing the wheel, just point your browsers to this post and have a read! It explains the differences quite well!

You can read about the differences here:

http://www.transparent.com/italian/tavolo-or-tavola

perdurare

2009-10-31T05:00:00.003-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the intransitive verb, perdurare, which means:

to last
to persist

Even though this verb is intransitive, avere is still used in compound tenses. Perdurato is the past participle.

You can see the verb used in its context below:

Anche se la crisi economica sembra di migliorare, i tagli occupazionli perdurano e molte persone perdono ancora i loro lavori.

Even though the economic crisis seems to be improving, job cuts are persisting and many people are still losing their jobs.

trapelato

2009-10-30T05:00:00.003-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, trapelato, which means:

leaked (out)

You'll often see this adjective, from the verb trapelare, to talk about news that has become news before it's probably supposed to have been:

Il nuovo film di Tarantino era trapelato in Cina prima di uscire in America.

The new Tarantino film was leaked out in China before premiering in America.

NB: This morning I published the incorrect version of this post. This is the correct one.

citofonare

2009-10-29T05:00:00.004-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the transitive verb, citofonare, which means:

to buzz someone
to call someone on an entry phone

Il citofono is the entry phone or buzzers found outside most apartment buildings in Italy (they're also common in other places). You press the button or number of the apartment that you want, it rings at your friend's place, they answer - when you do all that, you're "citofonando"!

The past participle is citofonato.

See the verb used in its context below:

Mentre parlavo con mia madre al telefono, la mia ragazza mi ha citofonato da giù. "Scusa, mamma, Annalisa è arrivata! A presto!" le ho detto.

While I was talking with my mother on the phone, my girlfriend buzzed me from downstairs. "Pardon, mom, Annalisa is here. Talk to you soon!" I told her.

risarcire

2009-10-28T05:00:00.004-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the transitive verb, risarcire, which means:

to compensate

This -ire verb is an -isc- verb, like preferire: risarcisco, risarcisci, risarcisce...risarciscono.

The past participle is risarcito. Avere is used in compound tenses.

See the verb used below in its context:

La azienda era ordinata dalla corte a risarcire tutti i clienti.

The company was ordered by the court to compensiate all of their clients.

È inconsueto che...

2009-10-27T05:00:00.000-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the expression, È inconsueto che..., which means:

It is unusual/uncommon that...

This expression requires the subjunctive when the subject of the dependent clause (which follows the che) is a subject different from the independent clause (everything before the che), as seen in the context below:

È inconsueto che Marcello non dica la verità. Quando mentisce c'è sempre una ragione.

It is unusual that Marcello doesn't tell the truth. When he lies, there is always a reason.

prendere un appuntamento

2009-10-26T05:00:00.000-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, prendere un appuntamento, which means:

to make an appointment

Also, rispettare un appuntamento (to keep an appointment) and mancare un appuntament (to break an appointment) are also good to know.

With all of the expressions above, avere is used in compound tenses.

See the example used in its context below:

Ieri ho preso un appuntamento con il medico, ma oggi mi sento meglio di ieri. Penso di non rispettare il mio appuntamento.

I made an appointment with the doctor, but today I feel better than yesterday. I think that I don't have to keep my appointment.

dietro le quinte

2009-10-25T05:00:00.000-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the expression, dietro le quinte, which means:

behind the scenes (of a film or movie set, etc. -- can also be used figuratively)
backstage (of a theater production, a play, etc.)

You can see the expression used in its context below:

Tutti gli attori sono dietro le quinte. Aspettano che il regista arrivi.
All the actors are backstage. They are waiting for the director to arrive.

I senatori lavoravano dietro le quinte per finire il disegno di legge.
The senators were working behind the scenes to finish the bill.

arenato

2009-10-24T05:00:00.001-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, arenato, which means:

stuck
stumped

It doesn't mean "stuck" in the literal sense (like you stepped in glue or something sticky and can't move), but "stuck" in the figurative sense -- like you can't figure something out.

You can see the adjective used in its context below:

Stasera la professoressa di matematica ci ha dato degli esercizi molto difficili . Sono arenato! Non riesco a svolgerli!

Tonight the math teacher gave us some very difficult exercises. I am stuck! I am unable to solve them!

ineludibile

2009-10-23T05:00:00.002-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, ineludibile, which means:

unavoidable
inescapable

You can see the word used in its context below:

"Purtroppo l'azienda non ha guadagnato abbastanza durante il terzo trimestre, e dobbiamo licenziare duecento dipendenti. Questa decisione è ineludibile," ha affermato il proprietario dell'azienda.

"Unfortunately, the company did not earn enough during the third quarter, and we have to fire 200 employees. This decision is unavoidable," declared the owner of the company.

crollare il mondo addosso

2009-10-22T05:00:00.001-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the dramatic expression, crollare il mondo addosso, which means:

The world is falling apart

If you want to say that your world is falling apart, you would say:

Mi crolla il mondo addosso
My world is falling apart

Or perhaps your dad's word is falling apart, you would say:

A tuo padre crolla il mondo addosso
Your dad's word is falling apart.

Gli crolla il mondo addosso
His world is falling apart.

Do you see the pattern yet? Use the indirect object pronoun to express possession or a + person (such as a tuo padre, a Giovanni, a Maria). Let's look at some more examples:

A Giovanni è crollato il mondo addosso la settimana scorsa. La sua ragazza l'ha lasciato e ha sposato un altro uomo. Adesso è depresso e abbattuto.

Giovanni's world fell apart last week. His girlfriend left him and married another man. Now he is depressed and despondent.

essere contrario [a + qualcosa]

2009-10-21T05:00:00.001-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, essere contrario [a + qualcosa], which means:

to be against something

This expression can be followed by a noun or an infinitive, but both must be preceeded by the preposition, a.

You can see the expression used below in its context:

Sono contrario a Berlusconi -- non mi piace il suo ruolo al governo. Ci sono politici che sono più bravi.

I am against Berlusconi -- I do not like his role in government. There are politicians that are more skillful.

Siamo contrari a comprare una nuova macchina. La nostra funziona bene. È solo un po' vecchia.

We are against buying a new car. Ours runs well. It is only a bit old.

altolà

2009-10-20T05:00:00.001-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun and interjection, altolà, which means:

Halt!
Stop right there!

As a noun, it is masculine and invariable: l'altolà.

You'll see this word in the press, often expressed by Berlusconi and his allies, who would like to see all these court cases against him stopped.

See the word used in its context below:

Berlusconi e i suoi alleati vorrebbero un altolà ai processi contro il premier.

Berlusconi and his allies would like to see a halt to the trials against the premier.

Altolà! Non riesco ad più ascoltare queste cazzate! Va' a letto!

Stop right there! I am not able to listen to anymore of this nonsense! Go to bed!

il vilipendio

2009-10-19T05:00:00.003-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, il vilipendio, which means:

contempt
scorn

But more commonly, you'll see this noun used in the press and in news report to refer to:

libel
defamation

Defamation can be considered a serious offense in Italy, often blurring the boundaries between freedom of speech/expression and slander, and many authors are sued for it in Italy because of things that they write or say, even American authors (Alexander Stille was sued for defamation by Berlusconi for a biography he wrote about Berlusconi). You can see the noun used below in its context:

Dopo aver scritto un articolo che ha criticato il governo, Pietro era informato dal suo capo che sarebbe stato indagato per vilipendio.

After having written an article that criticized the government, Pietro was told by his boss that he would be investigated for defamation.

prendere il toro per le corna

2009-10-18T05:00:00.002-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, prendere il toro per le corna, which means:

to take the bull by the horns

This expression is popping in the press quite a bit, as Berlusconi goes on the offensive and does all he can to protect his place in power now that Lodo Alfano has been overturned.

See the expression used in its context below:

Ho deciso di prendere il toro per le corna -- finalmente ho detto alla mia ragazza che è finita!

I decided to take the bull by the horns -- finally I told my girlfriend that it is over.

redatto (da)

2009-10-17T05:00:00.003-04:00

Today's Parola del Giorno is the adjective, redatto (da), which means:

compiled (by)
drawn up (by)

You can see the adjective used in its context (note the use of the preposition, da) below from a Wikipedia.it article on the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento:

La Valle dei Templi è un sito archeologico risalente al periodo della Magna Grecia, ubicato nei pressi di Agrigento, in Sicilia. Dal 1997 è stata inserita nella lista dei luoghi Patrimonio mondiale dell'umanità, redatta dall'UNESCO. È considerata un'ambita meta turistica, oltre alla più elevata fonte di turismo per l'intera città di Agrigento e una delle principali di tutta la Sicilia.

The Valley of The Temples is an archaeological site dating back to the Magna Greca period, located near Argigento in Sicily. Since 1997 it was inserted in the list of World Heritage Sites compiled by UNESCO. It is considered a sought-after tourist place, in addition to the most elevated source of toursim for the entire city of Agrigento and one of the principal ones in all of Sicily.