Blog

Italian Numbers: A Guide for Beginners

Italian Numbers: A Guide for Beginners

My English teacher at university was an Irish woman who had lived in Italy for over a decade. One day, she admitted to us that numbers were still a pain for her. Having learned several languages myself, I know firsthand how difficult it is to master numbers in a...

Italian Question Words: A Simple Guide

Italian Question Words: A Simple Guide

Question words are those used at the beginning of a sentence to form a question. In English, these include words such as 'Who?', 'What?', and 'When?'. In Italian, equivalent words are 'Chi?', 'Cosa?', and 'Quando? Italian Question Words Che cosa / Cosa / CheWhatChe...

Italian Simple and Articulated Prepositions: A Guide

Italian Simple and Articulated Prepositions: A Guide

What's a preposition in Italian? I like to describe prepositions as the glue that holds words together in a sentence. A preposition is a small word that connects different parts of a sentence and affects the meaning of a noun, adjective, or verb. Common prepositions...

What does “CI SI” mean in Italian?

What does “CI SI” mean in Italian?

If you have come across "ci si" in Italian and felt confused, this post is for you. The Impersonal Form  “Ci si” is a very peculiar form of Italian that occurs when a reflexive verb (a verb like rilassarsi, divertirsi, or annoiarsi) is used in the impersonal...

Imperfetto Congiuntivo: A Comprehensive Guide

Imperfetto Congiuntivo: A Comprehensive Guide

This article is suitable for intermediate and advanced learners. What Is the Subjunctive (Congiuntivo)? The subjunctive (congiuntivo) is a common mood in Italian used to express hope, wishes, opinions, or someone else's point of view regarding an action. The Italian...

Dare del Tu vs. Dare del Lei in Italian

Dare del Tu vs. Dare del Lei in Italian

The sentence "Dare del tu" in Italian refers to the act of transitioning from formal to informal speech. Literally translated, it means "to give the tu". "Tu" is the singular and informal personal pronoun for "you" in Italian. If someone says "Possiamo darci del tu,"...

Italian Reflexive Verbs: A Simple Guide

Italian Reflexive Verbs: A Simple Guide

What are reflexive verbs in Italian? Reflexive verbs are verbs that require a reflexive pronoun in their conjugation and their default form (the infinitive). The reflexive pronoun reflects the action of the verb back to the subject. For example: Svegliarsi = to wake...

What does “ti va” mean in Italian?

What does “ti va” mean in Italian?

In Italian, ‘ti va‘ is a colloquial expression that can be translated into English as ‘do you want to do something or want something?’ Hence, it’s used to ask someone if they are interested in doing something or if they would like to participate in some activity. The...

The Verb ‘Uscire’ in Italian 

The Verb ‘Uscire’ in Italian 

The verb 'uscire' is irregular. Irregular verbs are those that change their stem as we conjugate them. That's why, in the first person singular, we don't say "usco," but "esco". How to Conjugate 'uscire' in the present tense:...