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The Italian “Ci”: A Simple Guide
The use of ci can be tricky because in Italian, we use this one small word in various ways, each with different English equivalents. So, the particle "ci" doesn’t have a single fixed meaning; its meaning changes depending on the context. As with many challenging...
60 Most Common Italian Verbs
Verbs are the core of every language because they carry the meaning or action. Conjugating verbs is the cornerstone of speaking any language. But how many verbs are there in Italian? Thousands? And how many do you actually use on a daily basis? Just a few of...
How Long Does It Take to Learn Italian?
Are you dreaming of speaking Italian? One of the first questions I’ve always gotten asked as an Italian language teacher: how long will it take? While there’s no universal answer, the time needed depends on factors like your native language, study habits, and exposure...
How to Say “To Join” in Italian
If you're learning Italian, you might have noticed that the English verb “to join” is tricky to translate directly, as it doesn’t have just one equivalent in Italian. Instead, several options exist, each depending on the context. Here are some of the most common ways...
Andare, Andarsene and Andarci: The Difference
Let’s break down the differences between "me ne vado," "vado," and "ci vado." Vado (andare) "Vado" means “I’m going” and is the most neutral of the three. It can stand alone when you’re simply stating that you’re going somewhere, without further details, or it’s used...
The Placement of Italian Pronouns in Sentences
1. What Are Pronouns? Pronouns in Italian, like in English, are little words that we use to replace a noun. These include direct and indirect object pronouns, as well as the particles “ci” and “ne,” which are also considered pronouns. PronounMeaningMime / to meTiyou /...
Incontrare vs. Incontrarsi. The Difference Explained.
The verb incontrare (to meet) can be used with the auxiliary avere: ho incontrato and with the auxiliary essere in its reflexive form: ci siamo incontrati. One of the most recurring questions I get in my private classes is whether there’s any difference between...
È stato vs. era: Which one to choose?
Passato Prossimo vs. Imperfetto of essere If you’re learning Italian as a native English speaker, you might be wondering when to use è stato or è stata versus era. È stato/a is the third person singular of the passato prossimo tense of the...
Mastering Italian Vocabulary: Main Uses of ‘Pure’
What does pure mean? The word "pure," often used in spoken Italian, has two main meanings in Italian. The first meaning is "also" or "too." The second meaning is more nuanced and typically accompanies an action, indicating that it can be done without hesitation or...
Italian Partitive Articles (How to say “some” in Italian)
What is a partitive article? Partitive articles are an essential part of the Italian language and the easiest way to translate "some" in English. Unlike in English, they change their shape depending on the noun they precede because they are a combination of "di" plus...