A Tale of Two Cities — Page 1

Vocabulary

Libro

LEE-broh — A bound publication containing written or printed text.

Primo

PREE-moh — First in order, rank, or importance.

Richiamato

ree-kyah-MAH-toh — Called back, recalled, or summoned again.

alla

AHL-lah — Contraction of 'a' and 'la,' meaning 'to the.'

Vita

VEE-tah — Life, existence, or the state of being alive.

CAPITOLO

kah-PEE-toh-loh — A numbered division or chapter within a book.

I

ee — Roman numeral one; also the Italian word 'the' (plural masculine).

Il

eel — Definite article 'the' for singular masculine nouns.

Periodo

peh-REE-oh-doh — A span of time or a grammatical sentence period.

La

lah — Definite article 'the' for singular feminine nouns.

Posta

POH-stah — Mail, postal service, or a post or position.

Le

leh — Definite article 'the' for plural feminine nouns.

Ombre

OHM-breh — Shadows or shades cast by blocking light.

della

DEHL-lah — Contraction of 'di' and 'la,' meaning 'of the.'

Notte

NOHT-teh — The period of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

Preparazione

preh-pah-rah-TSYOH-neh — The act of making ready or preparing something.

Bottega

boht-TEH-gah — A small shop, workshop, or artisan's studio.

del

dehl — Contraction of 'di' and 'il,' meaning 'of the.'

Vino

VEE-noh — An alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes.

Calzolaio

kahl-tsoh-LAH-yoh — A craftsman who makes or repairs shoes.

Secondo

seh-KOHN-doh — Second in order; also means 'according to.'

il

eel — Definite article 'the' for singular masculine nouns.

Filo

FEE-loh — A thin thread or wire used for sewing or binding.

d'

d — Elided form of 'di,' meaning 'of' before a vowel.

Oro

OH-roh — The precious yellow metal gold.

Cinque

CHEEN-kweh — The number five in Italian.

Anni

AHN-nee — Plural of 'anno,' meaning years of time.

Dopo

DOH-poh — After or later in time or sequence.

Una

OO-nah — Indefinite article 'a' or 'an' for feminine nouns.

Visione

vee-ZYOH-neh — A vision, dream-like sight, or imaginative experience.

Delusione

deh-loo-ZYOH-neh — A feeling of disappointment when expectations are unmet.

Di

dee — Preposition meaning 'of,' 'from,' or 'about.'

Congratulazioni

kohn-grah-too-lah-TSYOH-nee — An expression of praise or joy for someone's success.

Lo

loh — Definite article 'the' before certain masculine consonants.

Sciacallo

shah-KAHL-loh — A jackal; also metaphor for an opportunistic scavenger.

Centinaia

chehn-tee-NAH-yah — Hundreds, a large number in the hundreds range.

di

dee — Preposition meaning 'of,' 'from,' or 'about.'

Persone

pehr-SOH-neh — People or individual human beings.

Monsignore

mohn-see-NYOH-reh — An honorific title for a high-ranking Catholic clergyman.

in

een — Preposition meaning 'in,' 'into,' or 'at.'

Città

cheet-TAH — A city or large urban settlement.

Campagna

kahm-PAH-nyah — The countryside or rural landscape outside a city.

Testa

TEH-stah — The head, the uppermost part of the human body.

Gorgone

gohr-GOH-neh — A Gorgon, a monstrous female figure from Greek mythology.

Due

DOO-eh — The number two in Italian.

Promesse

proh-MEHS-seh — Plural of 'promessa,' meaning pledges or commitments made.

Un

oon — Indefinite article 'a' or 'an' for masculine nouns.

Quadro

KWAH-droh — A painting, picture, or framed visual artwork.

Complementare

kohm-pleh-mehn-TAH-reh — Serving to complete or supplement something else.

L'

l — Elided definite article 'the' before a vowel sound.

Uomo

WOH-moh — A man or adult male human being.

Delicatezza

deh-lee-kah-TEHT-tsah — Delicacy, gentleness, or refined sensitivity in manner.

senza

SEHN-tsah — Without; indicating the absence of something or someone.

Onesto

oh-NEHS-toh — Honest, truthful, and morally upright in character.

Commerciante

kohm-mehr-CHAHN-teh — A merchant or trader who buys and sells goods.

A

ah — Preposition meaning 'to,' 'at,' or 'in.'

Maglia

MAH-lyah — A knitted garment, mesh, or stitch in knitting.

Ancora

ahn-KOH-rah — Again, still, or yet; also means 'anchor' as noun.

a

ah — Preposition meaning 'to,' 'at,' or 'in.'

Nove

NOH-veh — The number nine in Italian.

Giorni

JOHR-nee — Plural of 'giorno,' meaning days of the week.

Un'

oon — Elided feminine indefinite article 'an' before vowels.

Opinione

oh-pee-NYOH-neh — A personal view or judgment about something.

Supplica

SOOP-plee-kah — An earnest plea, petition, or humble request.

Passi

PAHS-see — Steps or footsteps; plural of 'passo.'

Risonanti

ree-zoh-NAHN-tee — Resonating or echoing; producing a loud reverberating sound.

Mare

MAH-reh — The sea or large body of saltwater.

si

see — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or impersonal 'one.'

Solleva

sohl-LEH-vah — Rises, lifts, or raises upward; third-person singular.

Fuoco

FWOH-koh — Fire, flame, or intense heat and light.

Attratto

aht-TRAHT-toh — Attracted or drawn toward something by force or desire.

verso

VEHR-soh — Toward or in the direction of something.

la

lah — Definite article 'the' for singular feminine nouns.

Roccia

ROHCH-chah — A rock or large mass of stone.

Magnetica

mah-NYEH-tee-kah — Magnetic; having the property of attracting certain metals.

Terzo

TEHR-tsoh — Third in order or position in a sequence.

Scia

SHAH — A wake or trail left behind by a moving vessel.

una

OO-nah — Indefinite article 'a' or 'an' for feminine nouns.

Tempesta

tehm-PEH-stah — A storm with strong winds, rain, or turbulent weather.

In

een — Preposition meaning 'in,' 'into,' or 'at.'

Segreto

seh-GREH-toh — A secret; something kept hidden or confidential.

Mola

MOH-lah — A grindstone or millstone used for sharpening or grinding.

Ombra

OHM-brah — A shadow or shade cast by an object blocking light.

Calma

KAHL-mah — Calmness, tranquility, or a state of peaceful stillness.

nella

NEHL-lah — Contraction of 'in' and 'la,' meaning 'in the.'

Segatore

seh-gah-TOH-reh — A sawyer; a person who cuts wood with a saw.

Legna

LEH-nyah — Firewood or cut wood used as fuel for burning.

Trionfo

tree-OHN-foh — A triumph or great victory achieved after struggle.

Bussare

boos-SAH-reh — To knock on a door to announce one's presence.

Porta

POHR-tah — A door or gate providing entry to a space.

Mano

MAH-noh — The hand, the part of the arm below the wrist.

Carte

KAHR-teh — Cards, papers, or playing cards used in games.

Partita

pahr-TEE-tah — A game, match, or round of play in sports or cards.

Fatta

FAHT-tah — Done, made, or completed; feminine past participle of 'fare.'

Sostanza

sohs-TAHN-tsah — Substance, matter, or the essential quality of something.

dell'

dehl — Elided contraction of 'di' and 'il/la' before vowels.

Crepuscolo

kreh-POOS-koh-loh — Twilight, the dim light just after sunset or before sunrise.

Oscurità

oh-skoo-ree-TAH — Darkness or the absence of light; obscurity.

Cinquantadue

cheen-kwahn-tah-DOO-eh — The number fifty-two in Italian.

Finita

fee-NEE-tah — Finished, ended, or completed; feminine past participle.

Si

see — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or impersonal 'one.'

Spengono

SPEHN-goh-noh — They go out or are extinguished; lights or flames dying.

per

pehr — Preposition meaning 'for,' 'through,' or 'by.'

Sempre

SEHM-preh — Always or forever; at all times without exception.