Many tenses in Italian are formed by combining an auxiliary verb – either avere (to have) or essere (to be) – with the past participle of the main verb. These so-called compound tenses include the passato prossimo (present perfect), trapassato prossimo (pluperfect), futuro anteriore (future perfect), and trapassato remoto (preterite perfect). Whether the main verb …
The second Sunday of May is Mother’s Day in Italy, known as La Festa della Mamma in Italian. In addition to being a celebration honouring the mothers (mamme) in our lives, it is also a time to commemorate motherhood, maternal bonds, and the significant influence of mothers in our society. In recognition of this special …
One of the most effective ways of picking up a new language is through music and song. Not only does music make language learning more enjoyable, but it is also repetitive, allowing unfamiliar vocabulary and grammar patterns to sink in more quickly than if you heard them only a few times in conversation. Children, in …
One of the first terms everyone wants to learn how to say in Italian is beautiful, but unlike other words which have just one precise translation, this particular word can be expressed in multiple ways. In this article, we’ve listed six of the most common terms for beautiful you’ll come across while learning Italian. If …
If there is one thing Italy is renowned for besides Vespas, classic art and hand gestures, it is the delicious yet extraordinarily simple cuisine. From the various pasta dishes to the much-loved pizza, there is little that won’t send your taste buds into overdrive. Being able to paint a picture of these mouth-watering dishes with …
In Italian, there are a number of different ways you can translate the word “please” depending on what you are asking, who you are addressing and the level of formality the situation requires. Expressions range from the semi-casual to the very formal, while others still are mostly reserved for writing. Below you can find the …