Alice's Adventures in Wonderland — Page 4

English → It CHAPTER I. Level 5/10

Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think—" (for, you see, Alice had learnt several things of this sort in her lessons in the schoolroom, and though this was not a _very_ good opportunity for showing off her knowledge, as there was no one to listen to her, still it was good practice to say it over) "—yes, that's about the right distance—but then I wonder what Latitude or Longitude I've got to?"

Vediamo: sarebbero quattromila miglia in giù, credo—" (perché, vedete, Alice aveva imparato diverse cose di questo genere nelle sue lezioni in classe, e sebbene questa non fosse una _molto_ buona opportunità per mettere in mostra le sue conoscenze, dato che non c'era nessuno ad ascoltarla, era comunque un buon esercizio ripeterlo) "—sì, è più o meno la distanza giusta—ma allora mi chiedo a quale Latitudine o Longitudine sono arrivata?"

(Alice had no idea what Latitude was, or Longitude either, but thought they were nice grand words to say.)

(Alice non aveva alcuna idea di cosa fosse la Latitudine, né la Longitudine, ma pensava che fossero belle parole altisonanti da pronunciare.)

Presently she began again. "I wonder if I shall fall right _through_ the earth!

Poco dopo ricominciò. "Mi chiedo se cadrò proprio _attraverso_ la terra!

How funny it'll seem to come out among the people that walk with their heads downward!

Che strano sembrerà uscire tra la gente che cammina con la testa in giù!

The Antipathies, I think—" (she was rather glad there _was_ no one listening, this time, as it didn't sound at all the right word)

Gli Antipodi, credo—" (era piuttosto contenta che _non_ ci fosse nessuno ad ascoltare, questa volta, poiché non sembrava affatto la parola giusta)

"—but I shall have to ask them what the name of the country is, you know.

"—ma dovrò chiedere loro come si chiama il paese, sapete.

Please, Ma'am, is this New Zealand or Australia?"

Per favore, Signora, questo è la Nuova Zelanda o l'Australia?"

(and she tried to curtsey as she spoke—fancy _curtseying_ as you're falling through the air! Do you think you could manage it?)

(e cercò di fare una riverenza mentre parlava—immaginate di fare una _riverenza_ mentre cadete nell'aria! Credete di riuscirci?)

"And what an ignorant little girl she'll think me for asking!

"E che bambina ignorante penserà che io sia per aver chiesto!

No, it'll never do to ask: perhaps I shall see it written up somewhere."

No, non va bene chiedere: forse lo vedrò scritto da qualche parte."

Down, down, down. There was nothing else to do, so Alice soon began talking again.

Giù, giù, giù. Non c'era nient'altro da fare, così Alice ricominciò presto a parlare.

"Dinah'll miss me very much to-night, I should think!

"Dinah mi mancherà moltissimo stasera, credo!

Vocabulary

Vediamo: veh-DYAH-moh — Let's see; used to introduce speculation or consideration
sarebbero: sah-REB-beh-roh — They would be; third person plural conditional of essere
quattromila: kwat-troh-MEE-lah — Four thousand; the number 4000
miglia: MEEL-yah — Miles; plural unit of distance measurement
in: een — In, into; common preposition indicating location or direction
giù: joo — Down, downward; directional adverb
credo: KREH-doh — I believe, I think; first person singular of credere
perché: pehr-KEH — Because, why; causal conjunction or interrogative adverb
vedete: veh-DEH-teh — You see; second person plural present of vedere
aveva: ah-VEH-vah — She/he had; third person singular imperfect of avere
imparato: eem-pah-RAH-toh — Learned; past participle of imparare, to learn
diverse: dee-VEHR-seh — Various, several, different; adjective describing multiple things
cose: KOH-zeh — Things; plural of cosa, general noun for objects or matters
di: dee — Of, from; very common Italian preposition
questo: KWES-toh — This; demonstrative adjective or pronoun, masculine singular
genere: JEH-neh-reh — Kind, type, genre; noun indicating category or sort
nelle: NEL-leh — In the; contraction of in and le, prepositional article
sue: SOO-eh — Her, his; feminine plural possessive adjective
lezioni: leh-TSYOH-nee — Lessons; plural noun referring to learning sessions
classe: KLAS-seh — Class, classroom; noun for a school setting or group
e: eh — And; basic coordinating conjunction
sebbene: seb-BEH-neh — Although, even though; concessive conjunction
questa: KWES-tah — This; demonstrative adjective or pronoun, feminine singular
non: nohn — Not; basic negation adverb
fosse: FOS-seh — Were; third person singular imperfect subjunctive of essere
una: OO-nah — A, an; feminine indefinite article
_molto_: MOHL-toh — Very, much; adverb or adjective indicating high degree
buona: BWOH-nah — Good; feminine adjective indicating quality or suitability
opportunità: op-por-too-nee-TAH — Opportunity, chance; noun for a favorable occasion
per: pehr — For, in order to; preposition indicating purpose or duration
mettere: MET-teh-reh — To put, to place; common infinitive verb
mostra: MOH-strah — Display, show; noun or verb form meaning to show
le: leh — The; feminine plural definite article
conoscenze: koh-noh-SHEN-tseh — Knowledge, acquaintances; plural noun for things known
dato: DAH-toh — Given; past participle used in expressions like dato che
c': chee — There; clitic pronoun, contraction of ci before a vowel
era: EH-rah — There was, was; third person singular imperfect of essere
nessuno: nes-SOO-noh — Nobody, no one; indefinite pronoun of negation
ad: ahd — To, at; preposition a before a vowel for euphony
ascoltarla: ah-skohl-TAR-lah — To listen to her; infinitive with direct object pronoun
comunque: koh-MOON-kweh — Anyway, however, regardless; concessive or adversative adverb
un: oon — A, an; masculine indefinite article
buon: bwohn — Good; masculine adjective before a consonant, elided form
esercizio: eh-sehr-CHEE-tsyoh — Exercise, practice; noun for a training or drill activity
ripeterlo: ree-PEH-tehr-loh — To repeat it; infinitive with direct object pronoun lo
sì: see — Yes; affirmative response particle
è: eh — Is; third person singular present of essere, to be
più: pyoo — More; adverb of comparison or quantity
o: oh — Or; basic disjunctive conjunction
meno: MEH-noh — Less; adverb of comparison indicating lesser degree
la: lah — The; feminine singular definite article
distanza: dee-STAN-tsah — Distance; noun measuring space between two points
giusta: JOOS-tah — Right, correct, fair; feminine adjective of accuracy
ma: mah — But; basic adversative conjunction
allora: al-LOH-rah — Then, so, at that time; temporal or consequential adverb
mi: mee — Me, myself; first person singular reflexive or object pronoun
chiedo: KYEH-doh — I wonder, I ask; first person singular of chiedere
a: ah — To, at; very common Italian preposition
quale: KWAH-leh — Which, what; interrogative or relative adjective and pronoun
Latitudine: lah-tee-TOO-dee-neh — Latitude; geographic coordinate measuring north-south position
Longitudine: lohn-jee-TOO-dee-neh — Longitude; geographic coordinate measuring east-west position
sono: SOH-noh — I am, they are; first or third person of essere
arrivata: ar-ree-VAH-tah — Arrived; feminine past participle of arrivare
alcuna: al-KOO-nah — Any, some; feminine indefinite adjective in negative context
idea: ee-DEH-ah — Idea; noun for a thought, concept, or notion
cosa: KOH-zah — Thing, what; noun or interrogative pronoun
né: neh — Neither, nor; negative correlative conjunction
pensava: pen-SAH-vah — She thought, was thinking; imperfect of pensare
fossero: FOS-seh-roh — Were; third person plural imperfect subjunctive of essere
belle: BEL-leh — Beautiful, lovely; feminine plural adjective
parole: pah-ROH-leh — Words; plural noun for spoken or written words
altisonanti: al-tee-soh-NAHN-tee — High-sounding, pompous; adjective for grandiose impressive words
da: dah — From, by, since; versatile Italian preposition
pronunciare: proh-noon-CHAH-reh — To pronounce, to utter; infinitive verb for speech
Poco: POH-koh — Little, a bit; adverb or adjective of small quantity
dopo: DOH-poh — After, later; preposition or adverb of time
ricominciò: ree-koh-meen-CHOH — She began again; third person singular passato remoto of ricominciare
Mi: mee — Me, myself; first person singular pronoun
se: seh — If; conditional conjunction introducing hypothetical clauses
cadrò: kah-DROH — I will fall; first person singular future of cadere
proprio: PROH-pryoh — Really, exactly, own; adverb or adjective for emphasis
_attraverso_: at-trah-VEHR-soh — Through; preposition indicating passage from one side
terra: TEHR-rah — Earth, land, ground; noun for the planet or soil
Che: keh — What, how, that; exclamatory, relative, or conjunctive word
strano: STRAH-noh — Strange, odd, weird; adjective for something unusual
sembrerà: sem-breh-RAH — It will seem; third person singular future of sembrare
uscire: oo-SHEE-reh — To exit, to go out; infinitive verb of movement
tra: trah — Among, between, within; preposition of position or time
gente: JEN-teh — People; collective noun for a group of persons
cammina: kam-MEE-nah — Walks; third person singular present of camminare
con: kohn — With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means
testa: TES-tah — Head; noun for the upper part of the body
Gli: lyee — The; masculine plural definite article before vowel or s+consonant
Antipodi: an-TEE-poh-dee — Antipodes; points on Earth diametrically opposite each other
piuttosto: pyoot-TOHS-toh — Rather, quite, instead; adverb of preference or degree
contenta: kohn-TEN-tah — Happy, pleased, content; feminine adjective of satisfaction
_non_: nohn — Not; negation adverb, here emphasized with italics
ci: chee — There, us, ourselves; versatile pronoun and locative adverb
ascoltare: ah-skohl-TAH-reh — To listen; infinitive verb for hearing attentively
volta: VOHL-tah — Time, turn, occasion; noun for an instance or occurrence
poiché: poy-KEH — Since, because; causal conjunction introducing reason
sembrava: sem-BRAH-vah — It seemed; third person singular imperfect of sembrare
affatto: af-FAT-toh — At all, entirely; adverb used with negation for emphasis
parola: pah-ROH-lah — Word; singular noun for a unit of speech or writing
dovrò: doh-VROH — I will have to; first person singular future of dovere
chiedere: KYEH-deh-reh — To ask, to request; common infinitive verb
loro: LOH-roh — They, them, their; third person plural pronoun or adjective
come: KOH-meh — How, like, as; interrogative adverb or comparative conjunction
si: see — Oneself, each other; reflexive and impersonal pronoun
chiama: KYAH-mah — Is called, calls; third person singular present of chiamare
il: eel — The; masculine singular definite article
paese: pah-EH-zeh — Country, village, town; noun for a nation or small place
sapete: sah-PEH-teh — You know; second person plural present of sapere
Per: pehr — For, please; preposition used in polite expressions
favore: fah-VOH-reh — Favor; noun used in per favore meaning please
Signora: see-NYOH-rah — Madam, Mrs., Lady; formal title for an adult woman
Nuova: NWOH-vah — New; feminine adjective, part of Nuova Zelanda
l': l — The; elided definite article before a vowel
cercò: chehr-KOH — She tried, she looked for; passato remoto of cercare
fare: FAH-reh — To do, to make; very common and versatile Italian verb
riverenza: ree-veh-REN-tsah — Curtsy, reverence, bow; gesture of respect or greeting
mentre: MEN-treh — While, whereas; temporal or adversative conjunction
parlava: par-LAH-vah — She was speaking; third person singular imperfect of parlare
immaginate: eem-mah-jee-NAH-teh — Imagine; second person plural imperative of immaginare
_riverenza_: ree-veh-REN-tsah — A curtsy; emphasized noun for a bow of respect
cadete: kah-DEH-teh — You fall; second person plural present of cadere
nell': nell — In the; contraction of in and l' before a vowel
aria: AH-ryah — Air; noun for atmosphere or the open space around us
Credete: kreh-DEH-teh — Do you believe; second person plural present of credere
riuscirci: ryoo-SHEER-chee — To manage it, to succeed in it; infinitive with particle ci
E: eh — And; basic coordinating conjunction
bambina: bam-BEE-nah — Little girl, child; feminine noun for a female child
ignorante: ee-gnoh-RAN-teh — Ignorant, unaware; adjective for lack of knowledge
penserà: pen-seh-RAH — She will think; third person singular future of pensare
io: EE-oh — I; first person singular subject pronoun
sia: SEE-ah — Is, be; third person singular present subjunctive of essere
aver: ah-VEHR — To have; infinitive of avere, elided before consonant
chiesto: KYES-toh — Asked; past participle of chiedere, to ask
No: noh — No; basic negative response particle
va: vah — Goes, is going; third person singular present of andare
bene: BEH-neh — Well, fine, good; adverb of manner or noun for wellbeing
forse: FOHR-seh — Maybe, perhaps; adverb of uncertainty or possibility
lo: loh — It, him; masculine singular direct object pronoun
vedrò: veh-DROH — I will see; first person singular future of vedere
scritto: SKRIT-toh — Written; past participle of scrivere, to write
qualche: KWAL-keh — Some, a few; indefinite adjective always singular
parte: PAR-teh — Part, place; noun for a portion or somewhere
Giù: joo — Down, downward; directional adverb
Non: nohn — Not; basic negation adverb
nient': nyent — Nothing; elided form of niente before altro
altro: AL-troh — Other, else, more; adjective or pronoun of difference
così: So, thus, like this; adverb of manner or degree
presto: PRES-toh — Soon, quickly, early; adverb of time or speed
parlare: par-LAH-reh — To speak, to talk; common infinitive verb
mancherà: man-keh-RAH — Will be missed; third person singular future of mancare
moltissimo: mohl-TIS-see-moh — Very much, a great deal; superlative adverb of molto
stasera: stah-SEH-rah — This evening, tonight; temporal adverb for the current evening

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