l’uccello del malaugurio

Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun expression, l’uccello del malaugurio, which means bird of ill omen or calamity howler.  It is often used to describe a person who is always predicting impending disaster of some kind.  See the word used below in its context:

Georgia a volte è proprio un uccello del malaugurio!  Ogni volta che sa che devo uscire con un uomo è sicura che sia un diastro.  Forse farei bene a non dirle niente quando ho un appuntamento galante.

At times Georgia is really a calamity howler!  Every time that she knows I have to go out with a guy, she is sure that it will be a disaster! Perhaps It would do well not to tell her anything with I have a date.

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piazzarsi

Today’s Parola del Giorno is the pronominal verb, piazzarsi, which means to place, such as placing on a ranking or, with soccer, how one ranks on the ladder.  The past participle is piazzato; essere is used in compound tenses.  See the verb used below in its context:

Il Napoli spera di piazzarsi tra le prime cinque posizioni del campionato ma sta subendo un sacco di sconfitte e se continua così rischia di non riuscirci!

Naples hopes the place within the first five championship positions, but it is suffering a ton of defeats and, if it continues in this way, it risks not being able to make it.

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il soppalco

Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun, il soppalco (plural: i soppalchi), which means loft.  See the noun used below in its context:

Mia zia ha fatto costruire un soppalco nel salone in modo da ricavare un’altra piccola camera.

My aunt had a loft constructed in her living room so that she gained another small room.

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l’ala (le ali)

Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun, l’ala (plural: le ali), which means wing.  The noun can refer to the wing of a bird, insect or a plane. In soccer, it can refer to one of the positions on the field, the wing(er).  See the noun used below in its context:

La mia parte preferita del pollo è l’ala. La mangio sempre per prima, mi piace molto perché è molto croccante.

My favorite part of the chicken is the wing.  I always eat it first, and I like it a lot because it is very crispy.

or

Roberto Donadoni è stato l’ala destra della nazionale italiana per tanti anni.

Robert Donadoni was the right winger of the Italian national team for many years.

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la spina

Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun, la spina, which can mean thorn, like the thorns on a rose.  See the noun used below in its context:

Attento a quelle rose!!!  Le spine sono molto appuntite e rischi di tagliarti!

Be careful of those roses!!!  The thorns are very sharp and you risk cutting yourself!

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il bronzo

Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun, il bronzo, which means bronze.

È difficile trovare intatta un’antica statua di bronzoIl bronzo era un metallo molto utile per le armi e le armature!  Ogni volta che troviamo una statua di bronzo, è proprio una grande scoperta!

It is difficult to find an ancient bronze statue intact.  Broze was a very useful metal for weapons and armor.  Every time that we find a bronze statue, it is really a great discovery!

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pernottare

Today’s Parola del Giorno is the intransitive verb, pernottare, which means to spend the night.  The past participle is pernottato; avere is used in compound tenses. See the verb used below in its context:

Mia moglie non vuole pernottare in questo albergo!  Crede che sia un posto orribile e sporco, ma che cosa possiamo mai trovare adesso a mezzanotte!?!  Che palle!

My wife doesn’t want to spend the night in this hotel!  She thinks it is a horrible and dirty place, but what can we ever find now at midnight!?!  What a drag!

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