Italian language

Learn Italian Through Signs

December 4, 2011

Here where the Archbishop of Milan held court, where with the bitter duel of Ramengo and Lupo amidst the jokes and songs of Tremacoldo, T. Grossi [the author?] gave a life of courtesy and tragic passions to Ottorino and Bice, a faithful portrait of an ungrateful age in which will dominate the figure of Marco [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: I Watussi

March 2, 2010

One of the most popular songs of all time in Italy, written and recorded by Edoardo Vianello. Outside of Italy, the lyrics don’t stand up to today’s politically-correct scrutiny, but keep in mind that, when this first came out in 1963, Americans were dancing "The Watusi," and it was still okay to call black people [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Volare

March 1, 2010

To Fly The original, as sung by Domenico Modugno fifty years ago at the Eurovision song contest. The Dean Martin version is far from a literal translation. I have trouble hearing this song without picturing Ricardo Montalbano singing about a car with "rrrrrich Corrrinthian leather."     Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai [...]

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Learn Italian in Signs: E’ Stato Bello

February 1, 2010

March, 2008 ^ This restaurant in Lecco was named Malpensata: “badly thought of” or “badly thought out.” Apparently either or both was the case – it’s for sale. ^ “BHW mortage, the German mortgage that protects your house. BHW: The German bank specialized in home mortgages at fixed interest rates.” Pastore tedesco = German shepherd [...]

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Learn Italian in Signs: Horses and Dogs

January 31, 2010

^ Milan billboard advertising a van: “Milanese Proverb. The master commands, the horse [he] trots.” ^ This sign on a train has been altered from “service rooms” to “torture rooms”. ^ I don’t remember where I took this picture, but it says “Dogs have the right to make dirty [poop], masters have the duty to [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Gianna

January 31, 2010

Gianna by Rino Gaetano This song is difficult to translate because it’s essentially nonsense (or is it?). But it’s a fun, bouncy tune that I can’t resist. (It sounds a lot better in the recording than in the above concert version.) Gianna Gianna Gianna sosteneva, tesi e illusioni Gianna Gianna Gianna supported theses and illusions [...]

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Learn Italian in Signs

January 30, 2010

Piazza Gambara, Milano Vorrei svegliarti ogni mattina con un bacio – “I’d like to wake you every morning with a kiss.” This sign mysteriously appeared on a bus stop in Lecco. I haven’t seen any others like it, and have no idea who’s responsible, whether it’s one it a series…? It says: “When you take [...]

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Everyday Italian: Signs of the Times

January 29, 2010

^ Occasione means “For sale, great deal!” (And no wonder…) ^ June 14, 2006 – This new shop in Lecco is “opening soon” (prossima = soon or next, apertura = opening [noun]). But maybe it’ll close soon after? ^ English education in Italy clearly never includes proper use of the apostrophe (a common mistake among [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: L’Emozione non ha Voce

January 28, 2010

Emotion has No Voice Adriano Celentano. The video above comes from Rockpolitik, a variety show hosted by Celentano in 2006. Io non so parlar d’amore l’emozione non ha voce E mi manca un po il respiro se ci sei c’e troppa luce La mia anima si spande come musica d’estate poi la voglia sai mi [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: E la Barca Tornò Sola

January 27, 2010

And the Ship Returned Alone Renato Carosone (1960) Erano tre fratelli pescatori, con una mamma bianca, con una barca nera e con tre cuori ancora da creatura… Il mare urlava cupo quella sera e il legno della incognita straniera cercava aiuto in tutto quell’orrore. “Chi rischierà la vita per salvare la bionda forestiera, chi sarà?” [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Due su Due

January 26, 2010

Song by Articolo 31. Once again, the theme of family and mamma. Two on Two ritornello: refrain: io non so cosa pensavi quelle notti con papà I don’t know what you were thinking those nights with Dad ma grazie mamma ne hai fatti due su due Thanks, Mom, you made two on two [two alike?] [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: La Coppia Piu’ Bella del Mondo

January 25, 2010

by Adriano Celentano with Mina This is often played as a waltz at town festivals featuringballo liscio (“smooth dancing” – ballroom), and all the couples, from the youngest to the oldest, pile onto the dance floor, each singing lustily that they are “the most beautiful couple in the world.” Unfortunately, this video leaves off the [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Una Su Un Milione

January 24, 2010

by Alex Britti Una Su Un Milione One in a Million Accettami così Accept me just like this ti prego non guardare I beg you not to look nella mia testa inside my head c’è un mondo da ignorare there’s a world to ignore Voglio che tu sia I want you to be mia complice [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Il Ragazzo della via Gluck

January 24, 2010

The Boy from Gluck Street A supposedly autobiographical song by Adriano Celentano which may have been Italy’s first environmental protest song, presented at the San Remo music festival in 1966. Note: Via Gluck in Milan, like many Italian streets, is named for someone famous, in this case composer Christoph Gluck. The further you go from [...]

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Thinking Badly of Others in Italy

January 24, 2010

A very indicative Italian saying: A pensare male si fa peccato, ma si indovina [quasi] sempre. This translates roughly as: “To think badly [of others] is a sin – but you’re nearly always right.”

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Italian for English Speakers – in 1611

January 24, 2010

A fascinating old dictionary.

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Itlish: English Words in “Common” Use in Italian

January 24, 2010

Italian, like English and many others, accretes words from other languages. Often these are modern terms which have no easy equivalent in antique Latin or Greek roots. For example: Ten years ago, Italians didn’t know how to refer to the process of scanning (a page, a photograph) using a scanner. The correct word – digitalizzare [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Donne

January 24, 2010

Recorded by Neri per Caso. Donne Women Donne in cerca di guai Women in search of trouble(s) Donne a un telefono che non suona mai Women at a telephone that never rings Donne in mezzo a una via Women in the middle of a street Donne allo sbando senza compagnia Women out of control without [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: USA for Italy

July 27, 2009

USA for Italy Produced in 1985 by the satirical music group Squallor, this song now appears uncomfortably prophetic. Caro Michael Jackson, tu che mandi i soldi in Africa, Perché la speranza torni a vivere, Ricordati di noi che stiamo a Napoli E un disco faccelo anche per noi E poi, mandaci i danari Tanti danari [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Pensieri e Parole

March 30, 2009

Thoughts and Words Lucio Battisti, 1971 Che ne sai di un bambino che rubava e soltanto nel buio giocava e del sole che trafigge i solai, che ne sai e di un mondo tutto chiuso in una via e di un cinema di periferia che ne sai della nostra ferrovia, che ne sai. Conosci me [...]

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