beccare
Today’s Parola del Giorno is the transitive verb, beccare, which means to catch or to nab something – usually a thief. It can be used in a figurative sense to mean to catch as in, to catch someone for a chat. The past participle is beccato. Avere is used to compound tenses. In the first example, note the use of the reciprocal (ci becchiamo). In the second example, note the use of the passive (è stato beccato). See the verb used in its two contexts below:
“Arturo! Come stai? Mi fa tanto piacere rivederti… mi spiace ma ora vado di fretta. magari ci becchiamo un’altra volta! Magari nel fine settimana!”
“Arturo! How are you? I am delighted to see you again…I’m sorry, but now I am in a hurry. Perhaps we will catch each other another time. Perhaps on the weekend!”
or
Il noto ladro di gioielli è stato beccato a rubare in una famosa gioielleria del centro. Ora i suoi giorni di gloria sono finiti!
The notorious jewel thief has been caught stealing in a famous downtown jewelry store. Now his days of glory are finished!
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
la localizzazione
Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun, la localizzazione, which means location. Don’t confuse this word with la locazione which means lease. See the word used below in its context:
Molte multinazionali scelgono la localizzazione delle proprie aziende in funzione di un obiettivo strategico: abbattere i costi di produzione. Ecco perché spesso è possibile, ad esempio, trovare molte aziende italiane nell’europa dell’est.
Many multinationals choose the location of their companies for a strategic objective: lowering production costs. That’s why it is often possible, for example, to find many Italian companies in Eastern Europe.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
ingoiare il rospo
Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, ingoiare il rospo, which means to bite the bullet. See the expression used in its context below:
Non ritardare questa decisione! Ingoia il rospo e confessa la verità a Mariella. Dille che non vuoi più stare con lei.
Don’t put off this decision! Bite the bullet and tell Mariella the truth. Tell her that you do not want to be with her anymore.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
avercela con (qualcuno)
Today’s Parola del Giorno is the verb expression, avercela con (qualcuno), which means to have it in for (someone). Pronominal verbs that end in -cela always take avere in compound tenses, and the past participle always agrees with the feminine third personal singular (avuta). This site (in Italian) provides an excellent explanation of other verbs of this type. See the expression used below in its context:
Ogni volta che entro in classe il professore mi rimprovera per qualcosa. Sembra proprio che ce l’abbia con me!
Every time I go to class the teacher scolds me for something. It really seems like he has it in for me.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
osare
Today’s Parola del Giorno is the transitive verb, osare, which means to dare. Infinitives follow osare without a preposition (like the modals, piacere, preferire, etc.). Avere is used in compound tenses; the past participle is osato. See the verb used below in its context:
Che bravo che è Marco Travaglio! Osa criticare il governo per mettere in luce i problemi del nostro governo.
How good is Marco Travaglio! He dares to criticize the government in order to highlight our government’s problems.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
cibarsi
Today’s Parola del Giorno is the pronominal verb, cibarsi, that means to eat something (with people) or to feed on something for animals and plants. The past participle is cibato. Essere is used in compound tenses. See the context below:
Durante la guerra mio nonno fu costretto a cibarsi di sole patate (quando riusciva a procurarsele).
During the war my grandfather had been forced to eat only potatoes (when he was able to get a hold of them).
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
il prototipo
Today’s Parola del Giorno is the noun (or adjective), il prototipo, which means prototype. Note the location of the accent! See the noun used below in its context:
Gli ingenieri sono delusi perché il prototipo per la nuova macchina è fallito. Dovranno ricominciare tutto daccapo!
The engineers are disappointed, because the prototype for the new engine failed. They will have to go back to the drawing board!
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Email