Dracula — Page 13

English → It CHAPTER I Level 7/10

One of my companions touched my arm as we swept round the base of a hill and opened up the lofty, snow-covered peak of a mountain, which seemed, as we wound on our serpentine way, to be right before us:--

Uno dei miei compagni mi toccò il braccio mentre giravamo attorno alla base di una collina e scoprivamo l'alta vetta innevata di una montagna, che sembrava, mentre procedevamo lungo il nostro cammino serpeggiante, essere proprio davanti a noi:--

"Look! Isten szek!"--"God's seat!"--and he crossed himself reverently.

"Guarda! Isten szek!"--"Il trono di Dio!"--e si fece il segno della croce con reverenza.

As we wound on our endless way, and the sun sank lower and lower behind us, the shadows of the evening began to creep round us.

Mentre procedevamo lungo il nostro interminabile cammino, e il sole scendeva sempre più basso dietro di noi, le ombre della sera cominciarono a strisciare intorno a noi.

This was emphasised by the fact that the snowy mountain-top still held the sunset, and seemed to glow out with a delicate cool pink.

Ciò era sottolineato dal fatto che la vetta innevata della montagna tratteneva ancora il tramonto, e sembrava risplendere di un delicato rosa freddo.

Here and there we passed Cszeks and Slovaks, all in picturesque attire, but I noticed that goitre was painfully prevalent.

Qua e là incontravamo Cechi e Slovacchi, tutti in pittoreschi abiti tradizionali, ma notai che il gozzo era dolorosamente diffuso.

By the roadside were many crosses, and as we swept by, my companions all crossed themselves.

Lungo la strada vi erano molte croci, e mentre passavamo di corsa, i miei compagni si facevano tutti il segno della croce.

Here and there was a peasant man or woman kneeling before a shrine, who did not even turn round as we approached, but seemed in the self-surrender of devotion to have neither eyes nor ears for the outer world.

Qua e là vi era un uomo o una donna di campagna inginocchiati davanti a un'edicola votiva, che non si voltavano nemmeno al nostro avvicinarci, ma sembravano, nell'abbandono totale della devozione, non avere né occhi né orecchi per il mondo esterno.

There were many things new to me: for instance, hay-ricks in the trees, and here and there very beautiful masses of weeping birch, their white stems shining like silver through the delicate green of the leaves.

Vi erano molte cose nuove per me: per esempio, pagliai sugli alberi, e qua e là bellissime masse di betulle piangenti, i cui tronchi bianchi brillavano come argento attraverso il delicato verde delle foglie.

Now and again we passed a leiter-wagon--the ordinary peasant's cart--with its long, snake-like vertebra, calculated to suit the inequalities of the road.

Di tanto in tanto superavamo un leiter-wagon--il comune carro del contadino--con la sua lunga vertebra simile a un serpente, concepita per adattarsi alle irregolarità della strada.

Vocabulary

Uno: OO-no — The number one; indefinite article 'a/an'
dei: DEH-ee — Of the; some (partitive article, masculine plural)
miei: MYEH-ee — My (possessive adjective, masculine plural)
compagni: kom-PAN-yee — Companions, friends, or fellow travelers
mi: mee — Me; reflexive/object pronoun first person singular
toccò: tok-KO — Touched; past tense of toccare
il: eel — The; definite article masculine singular
braccio: BRAT-cho — Arm; the upper limb of the human body
mentre: MEN-tre — While; conjunction indicating simultaneous actions
giravamo: jee-RAH-vah-mo — We were turning or going around something
attorno: at-TOR-no — Around; in a circle surrounding something
alla: AL-la — To the; preposition combined with feminine article
base: BAH-ze — Base, bottom, or foundation of something
di: dee — Of, from; very common Italian preposition
una: OO-na — A/an; indefinite article feminine singular
collina: kol-LEE-na — Hill; a raised area of land, smaller than a mountain
e: eh — And; the most common Italian conjunction
scoprivamo: sko-pree-VAH-mo — We were discovering or revealing something new
l'alta: LAL-ta — The high; elided article with feminine adjective
vetta: VET-ta — Summit, peak; the very top of a mountain
innevata: in-ne-VAH-ta — Snow-covered; adjective describing a snowy surface
montagna: mon-TAN-ya — Mountain; a large elevated landform
che: keh — That, which, who; very common Italian conjunction/pronoun
sembrava: sem-BRAH-va — Seemed, appeared; imperfect tense of sembrare
procedevamo: pro-che-de-VAH-mo — We were proceeding or moving forward along a path
lungo: LOON-go — Along; also means long as an adjective
nostro: NOS-tro — Our; possessive adjective first person plural
cammino: kam-MEE-no — Path, way, journey; the road one travels
serpeggiante: ser-ped-JAHN-te — Winding, serpentine; twisting like a snake
essere: ES-se-re — To be; the fundamental Italian auxiliary verb
proprio: PRO-pryo — Right, exactly, own; emphasizing something directly
davanti: da-VAHN-tee — In front of; indicating position ahead of someone
a: ah — To, at; very common Italian preposition
noi: NOY — Us, we; first person plural personal pronoun
Guarda: GWAHR-da — Look! Imperative form of guardare, to look
Il: eel — The; definite article masculine singular
trono: TRO-no — Throne; a ceremonial seat of a ruler or deity
Dio: DEE-o — God; the supreme deity in monotheistic religion
si: see — Himself/herself/itself; reflexive pronoun third person
fece: FEH-che — Made, did; past tense of fare
segno: SEN-yo — Sign; farsi il segno della croce means to cross oneself
della: DEL-la — Of the; preposition combined with feminine article
croce: KRO-che — Cross; the Christian religious symbol
con: kon — With; indicating accompaniment or manner
reverenza: re-ve-REN-za — Reverence, respect; deep veneration or awe
Mentre: MEN-tre — While; conjunction indicating simultaneous actions
interminabile: in-ter-mee-NAH-bee-le — Endless, interminable; seemingly without end
sole: SO-le — Sun; the star at the center of our solar system
scendeva: shen-DEH-va — Was descending, going down; imperfect of scendere
sempre: SEM-pre — Always; indicating continuity or constant action
più: pyoo — More; comparative adverb used with adjectives
basso: BAS-so — Low; describing something at a low position or level
dietro: DYEH-tro — Behind, after; indicating position at the back
le: leh — The; definite article feminine plural
ombre: OM-bre — Shadows, shades; dark areas caused by blocking light
sera: SEH-ra — Evening; the time of day after afternoon
cominciarono: ko-min-CHA-ro-no — They began; past tense of cominciare
strisciare: stri-SHAH-re — To creep, crawl, slither; moving low and slowly
intorno: in-TOR-no — Around; surrounding or encircling something
Ciò: cho — This, that; demonstrative pronoun for a fact or thing
era: EH-ra — Was; imperfect tense of essere, third person singular
sottolineato: sot-to-lee-NEH-ah-to — Underlined, emphasized; past participle of sottolineare
dal: dal — From the; preposition di combined with article il
fatto: FAT-to — Fact; also past participle of fare, to do/make
la: la — The; definite article feminine singular
tratteneva: trat-te-NEH-va — Was holding back, retaining; imperfect of trattenere
ancora: an-KO-ra — Still, yet, again; common Italian adverb
tramonto: tra-MON-to — Sunset; the moment the sun disappears below the horizon
risplendere: ree-SPLEN-de-re — To shine, gleam; to emit or reflect brilliant light
un: oon — A/an; indefinite article masculine singular
delicato: de-lee-KAH-to — Delicate, gentle; soft and subtle in quality
rosa: RO-za — Pink; also means rose (flower) in Italian
freddo: FRED-do — Cold; describing low temperature or a cold sensation
Qua: kwah — Here; indicating this place or location
là: lah — There; indicating a place away from the speaker
incontravamo: in-kon-TRAH-vah-mo — We were meeting or encountering people along the way
tutti: TOOT-tee — All, everyone; encompassing every person or thing
in: een — In, into; preposition indicating location or state
pittoreschi: pit-to-RES-kee — Picturesque; visually charming and quaint in appearance
abiti: AH-bee-tee — Clothes, garments; items of clothing worn by people
tradizionali: tra-dit-syo-NAH-lee — Traditional; relating to long-established customs or styles
ma: ma — But; conjunction expressing contrast or exception
notai: no-TAH-ee — I noticed; past tense of notare, first person singular
dolorosamente: do-lo-ro-zah-MEN-te — Painfully; in a manner causing or showing pain
diffuso: dif-FOO-zo — Widespread, diffuse; spread broadly across an area
Lungo: LOON-go — Along; also means long as an adjective
strada: STRAH-da — Road, street; a path used for travel
vi: vee — There; adverb of place, also indirect pronoun
erano: EH-ra-no — There were; imperfect of essere, third person plural
molte: MOL-te — Many; indicating a large number, feminine plural
croci: KRO-chee — Crosses; plural of croce, Christian religious symbols
passavamo: pas-SAH-vah-mo — We were passing; imperfect tense of passare
corsa: KOR-sa — Running, race; in corsa means at speed, rushing past
i: ee — The; definite article masculine plural
facevano: fa-CHE-va-no — They were doing/making; imperfect of fare
uomo: WO-mo — Man; an adult male human being
o: oh — Or; conjunction expressing an alternative
donna: DON-na — Woman; an adult female human being
campagna: kam-PAN-ya — Countryside; rural land outside of cities and towns
inginocchiati: in-ji-nok-KYAH-tee — Kneeling; past participle of inginocchiarsi, to kneel
un': oon — A/an; elided indefinite article before a vowel
edicola: e-DEE-ko-la — Wayside shrine; small religious niche or newsstand
votiva: vo-TEE-va — Votive; relating to a vow or religious offering
non: non — Not; the standard Italian negation adverb
voltavano: vol-TAH-vah-no — They were turning; imperfect tense of voltare
nemmeno: nem-MEH-no — Not even; emphatic negation meaning not even slightly
al: al — To the; preposition a combined with article il
avvicinarci: av-vi-chi-NAR-chee — Our approaching; reflexive infinitive of avvicinarsi
sembravano: sem-BRAH-vah-no — They seemed; imperfect tense of sembrare, third plural
nell': nel — In the; preposition in combined with elided article
abbandono: ab-ban-DO-no — Abandonment; also means total surrender or absorption
totale: to-TAH-le — Total, complete; encompassing everything entirely
devozione: de-vot-TSYO-ne — Devotion; deep religious dedication and pious attachment
avere: a-VEH-re — To have; fundamental Italian auxiliary and main verb
né: neh — Neither/nor; used in negative correlative constructions
occhi: OK-kee — Eyes; the organs of sight, plural of occhio
orecchi: o-REK-kee — Ears; the organs of hearing, plural of orecchio
per: pehr — For, through; preposition with many common uses
mondo: MON-do — World; the earth and everything existing around us
esterno: es-TER-no — External, outer; belonging to the outside world
Vi: vee — There; adverb of place, also indirect pronoun
cose: KO-ze — Things; objects or matters, plural of cosa
nuove: NWO-ve — New; recently encountered or not seen before
me: meh — Me; stressed personal pronoun first person singular
esempio: e-ZEM-pyo — Example; a representative instance illustrating something
sugli: SOOL-yee — On the; preposition su combined with plural article gli
alberi: AL-be-ree — Trees; tall woody plants, plural of albero
qua: kwah — Here; indicating this place or nearby location
bellissime: bel-LIS-see-me — Very beautiful; superlative form of bella, feminine plural
masse: MAS-se — Masses, clusters; large quantities or groupings of things
piangenti: pyan-JEN-tee — Weeping; describing drooping branches like a weeping willow
cui: kwee — Whose, of which; relative pronoun indicating possession
tronchi: TRON-kee — Trunks; the main woody stems of trees
bianchi: BYAN-kee — White; describing something of a white color
brillavano: bril-LAH-vah-no — They shone, sparkled; imperfect of brillare
come: KO-me — Like, as, how; conjunction and adverb of comparison
argento: ar-JEN-to — Silver; the shiny precious metal or its color
attraverso: at-tra-VER-so — Through; indicating passage from one side to another
verde: VER-de — Green; the color between blue and yellow
delle: DEL-le — Of the; preposition di combined with feminine plural article
foglie: FOL-ye — Leaves; the flat green parts of a plant or tree
Di: dee — Of, from; very common Italian preposition
tanto: TAN-to — So much; di tanto in tanto means every now and then
superavamo: soo-pe-RAH-vah-mo — We were passing, overtaking; imperfect of superare
comune: ko-MOO-ne — Common, ordinary; shared by many or widely used
carro: KAR-ro — Cart, wagon; a wheeled vehicle for carrying loads
del: del — Of the; preposition di combined with masculine article il
contadino: kon-ta-DEE-no — Peasant, farmer; a rural agricultural worker
sua: SOO-a — His/her/its; possessive adjective third person singular feminine
lunga: LOON-ga — Long; feminine adjective describing extended length
simile: SEE-mee-le — Similar, like; resembling something else in appearance
serpente: ser-PEN-te — Snake, serpent; a limbless reptile that slithers
concepita: kon-che-PEE-ta — Conceived, designed; past participle of concepire
adattarsi: a-dat-TAR-see — To adapt itself; reflexive infinitive of adattare
alle: AL-le — To the; preposition a combined with feminine plural article
irregolarità: ir-re-go-la-ri-TAH — Irregularities; uneven features or unevenness of terrain

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