Learn some phrases your professor won't teach you
Now Playing: Lesson Audio
Unlock Lesson Notes and Transcripts for every single lesson. Sign Up for a Free Lifetime Account and Get 7 Days of Premium Access.
| Marco: All About Italian Lesson 13 - Top Ten Italian Phrases Your Teacher Will Never Teach You |
| Marco: "Buongiorno," and welcome back to All About Italian lessons! I'm here again in the studio with… |
| Laura: Hey, "ciao! Sono la vostra Laura!" |
| Marco: "Ciao Laura!" |
| Laura: Oh, Marco, today's lesson is really fun! |
| Marco: Really? Why? |
| Laura: Because we are going to teach our listeners phrases a normal teacher will never teach them! |
| Marco: Ah, ah, you mean Italian slang! |
| Laura: Yes! As we have mentioned many times, Italian dialects can have thousands of different words with actually the same meaning for each region… |
| Marco: That's true, but today's sentences and words are part of the standard Italian! |
| Laura: This means that any Italian understands and uses them in daily life. |
| Marco: We'll see some of the most fun and useful expressions taken from Italian normal conversation. |
| Laura: Because our listeners know how it can be important to get past the slang barrier. |
| Marco: These phrases are hard to find in a dictionary and are definitely rarely mentioned during an Italian class. |
| Laura: So let's jump in! |
| Marco: Yes, let's get started! |
| ************ |
| "Tipo"/"Tipa" |
| Marco: The first word we'll go over is… |
| Laura: "Tipo," masculine, and "tipa," feminine. |
| Marco: Meaning "guy" or "girl" in English. |
| Laura: When referring to a third party, it is common to use "un tipo" or "una tipa." For example, "ho conosciuto una tipa interessante…" |
| Marco: That means "I met an interesting girl." Any other examples? |
| Laura: Sure, "il mio capo è un tipo severo," meaning... |
| Marco: "My boss is a strict guy." |
| Laura: "Tipo" substitutes for the word "ragazzo," which is quite a long word, don't you think, Marco? |
| Marco: "Ra-ga-zzo," "ti-po." Yeah, you're right! "Ragazzo" is longer! Next we have... |
| Laura: "Forte!" |
| Marco: Oh, I remember "forte." That means "cool," right? |
| Laura: Yep, when we consider it an exclamation it means "cool." However, it also has another meaning in Italian… |
| Marco: It also means "strong." |
| Laura: "Forte" is an adjective ending in "-e," which we use both for feminine and masculine nouns. Consequently, in both cases, the plural form is "forti." |
| Marco: It is a very normal exclamation that always expresses a positive opinion. Laura, let's see some practical examples… |
| Laura: Okay, "questa macchina fotografica è proprio forte!" |
| Marco: "This camera is really cool" or… |
| Laura: When someone says "parto per la Sardegna domani..." |
| Marco: "Tomorrow I'm leaving for Sardinia…" |
| Laura: You can simply answer with "forte!" |
| Marco: "Cool!" as normally happens during a conversation in English. |
| Laura: So, Marco, how is ItalianPod101.com? |
| Marco: Ah, ah, "forte!" |
| Laura: Oh, the next one is a very informal expression! |
| Marco: Really? What expression are you talking about? |
| Laura: That's "roba da matti!" |
| Marco: Ah, ah, in English, the literal meaning is "stuff for crazy!" |
| Laura: That's because it indicates someone, something, or a situation that is really bizarre. It means crazy, whether dangerous or disappointing. |
| Marco: And when should we use it? |
| Laura: Mmm, in many different situations. We can give a list of some of those moments in which you can use the exclamation "roba da matti!" |
| Marco: Oh, that's useful! Let's start! |
| Laura: When you are stuck in a traffic jam. |
| Marco: When you hear news on TV. |
| Laura: When someone is acting bizarrely. |
| Marco: When you're listening to a fun story. |
| Laura: When you are in a crowded place. |
| Marco: When you receive something unexpected. |
| Laura: During all of these moments, you can say with an irritated tone, "Roba da matti!" |
| Marco: Or in a more upbeat tone, "Sì… roba da matti!" |
| Laura: If you've lived in Italy, I'm sure you've heard someone saying "roba da matti" at least once! |
| Marco: Definitely! It is often used in casual but also formal conversations! |
| Laura: We should move to the next one… |
| Marco: Okay, that is "pedala!" |
| Laura: "Pedala" comes from the verb "pedalare…" |
| Marco: Which means "to pedal" or "to ride a bicycle." |
| Laura: "Pedala" is conveyed at the imperative form, precisely referring to "tu," which is Italian for "you." |
| Marco: The whole expression is longer. |
| Laura: Yes, Marco, that's a proverb, "hai voluto la bicicletta, adesso pedala!" |
| Marco: Literally, "You wanted a bicycle, now you have to ride it!" |
| Laura: Meaning "Don't express complaints for consequences of a choice you yourself have made." What could fit with this expression in English, Marco? |
| Marco: Mmm… Oh, I know! What probably better fits with this proverb is "you made your bed, now lie in it" or "practice what you preach." |
| Laura: Oh, interesting! Now, we can also use "pedala!" as pep talk in place of "move on" or "hurry to do something." |
| Marco: It’s a sort of provocation, but it depends on the way it is said. |
| Laura: That's totally true! Listen… (hilarious way) "pedala, pedala!" |
| Marco: Or… (Angry) "Pedala!" |
| Laura: Oh, that's scary! |
| Marco: Ah, ah! I was thinking about a friend, he's always lazy…! |
| Laura: Okay, it's time for the next slang word… |
| Marco: Ah, this one has a very fun sound. "Abbiocco!" |
| Laura: Eh? A funny sound? |
| Marco: Mmm, never mind… |
| Laura: "Abbiocco" comes from the reflexive verb "abbioccarsi…" |
| Marco: Which means "being in a state of drowsiness." |
| Laura: When someone says "che abbiocco" in Italian, it means that he or she is going "to fall asleep" or "doze off." |
| Marco: Another way it is often used is "non ti abbioccare!" meaning "Don't fall asleep!" or "Wake up!" Actually, I was told this many times in Italy! |
| Laura: Really? Why? |
| Marco: Because I was eating a lot at lunch every day, and after a heavy meal it's easier to get sleepy… |
| Laura: Ah, ah, I see! |
| Marco: Okay, next is… |
| Laura: "Beccare qualcuno." |
| Marco: Since "beccare" in Italian means "to peck" and "qualcuno" is "someone…" |
| Laura: "Beccare qualcuno" can only have the meaning of… |
| Marco: "To hit someone" or "to pick someone in a peculiar situation." |
| Laura: Usually it is used when you find out someone else did something wrong. |
| Marco: For example? |
| Laura: Mmm…okay, for example when you catch a friend who is stealing your chocolate from the fridge, you can yell… |
| Marco: "Beccato!" |
| Laura: Exactly! |
| Marco: Another example? |
| Laura: Let me think, oh, when you catch your sister taking something from your bag, you can say… |
| Marco: "Beccata!" |
| Laura: But a more passionate situation can be one where you find your boyfriend or girlfriend out with someone else! |
| Marco: Uh-oh! |
| Laura: In this case, you can shout "ti ho beccato!" |
| Marco: Or "ti ho beccata" in the case of a girlfriend! |
| Laura: Right. |
| Marco: Okay, I hope our listeners don't need to use the verb "beccare" for this specific situation! |
| Laura: Eeeeeehh, you never know… |
| Marco: Okay, now, let's go on. |
| Laura: Next is… |
| Marco: "Essere di fuori!" or “essere fuori”. |
| Laura: Yep! That means "to be a little wacky" or "to be high…" |
| Marco: Literally, it means "to be out." And trust me, it's used very, very much! |
| Laura: Oh, you can say that! |
| Marco: When can we hear it? |
| Laura: A fitting situation is when someone is doing or saying something very odd. |
| Marco: For instance? |
| Laura: If you are wearing a pair of shoes the wrong way… |
| Marco: Or if you are saying something obviously untrue, you can be told… |
| Laura: "Ma sei di fuori!" or “ma sei fuori”! |
| Marco: "Are you out of your mind?" |
| Laura: But besides this last meaning, "essere fuori" can also stand for "to be drunk." |
| Marco: "Laura ha bevuto troppo, è fuori!" means "Laura has drunk too much; she's drunk!" |
| Laura: Ah, ah, it isn't funny! "Non sono fuori!" |
| Marco: Okay, okay, we know! I was just joking! |
| Laura: I'll forgive you if you tell me the next expression! |
| Marco: Sure! That is…"mettersi insieme!" |
| Laura: "Mettersi insieme" is used when someone is starting a serious relationship. |
| Marco: The literal meaning is pretty fun…"to put together." |
| Laura: However, it is important to point out that this expression is always used at the past tense. |
| Marco: For example? |
| Laura: "Carla si è messa insieme a Nicola." |
| Marco: "Carla started a relationship with Nicola." |
| Laura: Or "mi sono messo con lei un anno fa," meaning "I started my relationship with her a year ago." Or "mi sono messo con lui un anno fa," meaning "I started my relationship with him a year ago." |
| Marco: This can be very useful when talking about relationships! |
| Laura: Yes, yes. Let's go on, now… |
| Marco: What's next? |
| Laura: The next one is "quattro gatti!" |
| Marco: If you are students of the Italian language, you probably know these two words… |
| Laura: "Quattro" |
| Marco: The number "four," and… |
| Laura: "Gatti" |
| Marco: "Cats." |
| Laura: All together, "quattro gatti" is a very common and nice expression that means.. |
| Marco: "Only a few people." |
| Laura: When you are talking about a party where there were "only a few people," you can say… |
| Marco: "Eravamo quattro gatti." |
| Laura: Or, in a normal conversation on the phone, you can say… |
| Marco: "Ciao, com'è il locale?" meaning "How is the club?" |
| Laura: "Ma…, ci sono solo quattro gatti!" meaning "There are only a few people! |
| Marco: That's fun if you imagine four cats dancing in a club! |
| Laura: Hey, Marco, don't waste time. We have the last slang word for today! |
| Marco: Oh, no! We reached the last one! What is it? |
| Laura: That's the verb "spettegolare." |
| Marco: "Spettegolare" is a slang verb, and it means "to gossip" or "to tattle." |
| Laura: One thing that many Italians really like to do. |
| Marco: Let's make an example using this verb… |
| Laura: Okay, "Alla mia amica piace proprio spettegolare." |
| Marco: "My friend really likes to gossip." |
| Laura: The person who likes to "spettegolare" is called a "pettegolo" if masculine or "pettegola" if feminine. So, Marco, you are a "pettegolo!" |
| Marco: Hey, hey, "la pettegola qui sei tu!" |
| Laura: "No, non sono pettegola io!" |
| Marco: All right, all right. Let's finish this explanation…gossip is… |
| Laura: "Pettegolezzo." |
| Marco: So the previous phrase "alla mia amica piace proprio spettegolare" can be replaced with... |
| Laura:"La mia amica è proprio una pettegola." |
| Marco: "My friend is really a gossiper." |
| Laura: This does it for today! |
| Marco: We'll be waiting for you in our next "All About Italian" lesson! |
| Laura: Stay tuned! "Ciao!" |
Comments
HideCiao debra moran,
glad to hear you enjoy the lesson! 😎
Grazie!
Valentina
Team ItalianPod101.com
Grazie. Questa lezione è roba da matti !!!
Hi Mei,
That's interesting! So you can also speak Cantonese? :smile:
Secondo me la lingua cantonese è difficilissima!
I think that Cantonese is really difficult!
Grazie e a presto!
Ofelia
Team ItalianPod101.com
Interesting! Cantonese, (not Mandarin-formal Chinese) has a slang exactly like Italian "quattro gatti" in terms of usage and expression. I'll never forget this one.
Hi John Mattson,
Yes, your translation is definitely a good option!
Grazie mille!
Ofelia
Team ItalianPod101.com
Good parallel in English would be, in my humble opinion
"hai voluto la bicicletta, adesso pedala!" "You made your bed, now sleep in it."
Hi Mick,
Thank you for posting!
We are glad to hear that you are enjoying our lessons :smile:
Please, find the lesson notes over the title, under the tab: Download PDFs > Lesson Notes.
If you cannot open it please send us an email to contactus@ItalianPod101.com
Including information about the issue, the device you are using to access to our site, and your username.
Kind regards,
Laura
Team ItalianPod101.com
This was a very good lesson! I would like to see the lesson notes on this section.
Ciao Steven,
Thank you for posting!
If you have other questions, please let us know! :smile::thumbsup:
Grazie,
Ofelia
Team ItalianPod101.com
Disregard my question. Previous comments (which answered it) didn't show up until after I posted it.
The phrase for "stuff for crazy" sounds like they are saying "roba da masti" but I can't find "masti/masto" in a dictionary. What word is it they are using?
Ciao Jamilet Bryant
grazie! :laughing:
Your Italian is very good :thumbsup:
A presto
Ofelia
Team ItalianPod101.com
:thumbsup:
Mi piace molto questa lezione. (I really like this lesson.) Voglio capire le frasi idiomatice e lo slang italiano. (I want to understand Italian idiomatic expressions and slang.)
Please correct my errors. I am still an absolute beginner.
Thanks, Luca. Valuable information.
"tipo"
(not really weird, just slightly informal)
"forte"
(use it with care, may make you sound uncouth or slight rough around the edges)
"roba da matti"
(it's a bit of a older expression, but DON'T use it in formal discussions!)
"pedala"
(very informal and may draw some upset reaction if not used with friends or someone who knows you well. Depend really on the tone, but I wouldn't use it with an acquaintance.)
"abbiocco"
(it's a dialectal expression and again, avoid it in formal discussions. It's not derogatory however)
"beccare"
(may be used in the sense of "hitting upon someone" - ie "ero in giro a beccare")
"essere fuori"
(again, DO NOT USE IT in formal or even slightly formal situations! Can be very rude even with friends!)
"mettersi insieme"
(the meaning is always "to start a relationship outside marriage" - ie does not refer to wed couples)
"quattro gatti"
(it's almost always used in a derogatory sense or to express disappointment that there were not enough people, so don't use it when referring - for instance - to your friend's party.)
"spettegolare"
(It's not slang! Normally associated with female/girl talk)