Light O' the Morning: The Story of an Irish Girl — Page 1

Vocabulary

Perché

Why; because — used for questions and explanations

dunque

Therefore, so, thus — connecting logical conclusions

signorina

Miss, young unmarried woman, polite address

Sì

Yes — basic affirmative response word

Non

Not — basic negation word in Italian

ha

Has — third person singular of avere

visto

Seen — past participle of vedere, to see

il

The — masculine singular definite article

padrone

Master, owner, boss of a household or business

passare

To pass, to go by, to cross through

da

From, by, since — versatile Italian preposition

questa

This — feminine singular demonstrative adjective

parte

Part, side, direction — common noun with many uses

Cosa

What, thing — used to ask questions

intendi

You mean, you intend — second person of intendere

intendi

You mean, you intend — second person of intendere

dire

To say, to tell — very common Italian verb

Papà

Dad, father — informal term of address for father

non

Not — basic negation particle in Italian

è

Is — third person singular of essere, to be

mai

Never, ever — used in negations and questions

a

At, to, in — basic Italian preposition of place

casa

House, home — very common everyday noun

quest'

This — shortened form of questo/questa before vowel

ora

Hour, time, now — common noun and adverb

Pensavo

I was thinking — first person imperfect of pensare

forse

Perhaps, maybe — common adverb expressing uncertainty

disse

Said — third person singular past of dire

Parlò

Spoke — third person singular past of parlare

con

With — basic Italian preposition of accompaniment

voce

Voice — the sound produced when someone speaks

esitante

Hesitant, faltering — adjective describing uncertain speech

arretrando

Moving back, stepping backward — gerund of arretrare

di

Of, from — very common Italian preposition

qualche

Some, a few — indefinite adjective before singular nouns

passo

Step, pace — movement of the foot walking

era

Was — third person singular imperfect of essere

una

A, an — feminine singular indefinite article

donna

Woman — adult female person, common noun

piccola

Small, little — feminine adjective describing size

e

And — basic coordinating conjunction linking words

tarchiata

Stocky, thickset — adjective describing a sturdy build

un

A, an — masculine singular indefinite article

tipo

Type, kind, sort — common noun for categorizing people

autenticamente

Authentically, genuinely — adverb meaning truly typical of

irlandese

Irish — adjective or noun relating to Ireland

Il

The — masculine singular definite article

naso

Nose — the facial feature used for smelling

all'

At the, to the — contracted form of a + la/lo

insù

Upward, turned up — adverb indicating upward direction

la

The — feminine singular definite article

bocca

Mouth — the opening in the face for eating speaking

larga

Wide, broad — feminine adjective describing size

gli

The — masculine plural definite article

occhi

Eyes — the organs used for seeing, plural of occhio

scuri

Dark — masculine plural adjective describing color

scintillanti

Sparkling, twinkling — adjective describing shining brightness

allegria

Joy, cheerfulness, merriment — noun for happy mood

Indossava

Was wearing — third person imperfect of indossare

corta

Short — feminine adjective describing length

rozza

Rough, coarse — adjective describing crude material quality

sottogonna

Petticoat, underskirt worn beneath a skirt

saia

Serge, twill fabric — a type of woven textile

sopra

Above, over, on top of — common preposition or adverb

quello

That — masculine singular demonstrative pronoun or adjective

che

That, which, who — versatile conjunction and pronoun

viene

Comes — third person singular present of venire

chiamato

Called, named — past participle of chiamare

camicione

Large shirt or smock worn as a sleeping garment

letto

Bed — the furniture used for sleeping

fatto

Made, done — past participle of fare

tela

Cloth, fabric, canvas — woven textile material

cotone

Cotton — natural fiber fabric material

righe

Stripes, lines — plural of riga, striped pattern

gialle

Yellow — feminine plural adjective describing color

rosse

Red — feminine plural adjective describing color

ed

And — variant of e used before vowels

stretto

Tight, narrow — adjective describing constricted fit

in

In, into — common Italian preposition of location

vita

Waist; life — noun with multiple common meanings

fascia

Band, sash, strip of fabric tied around body

dello

Of the — masculine singular contracted preposition article

stesso

Same — adjective indicating identity or sameness

tessuto

Fabric, textile, woven material or tissue

I

The — masculine plural definite article

capelli

Hair — the hairs on a person's head

tendevano

Tended, inclined — third person plural imperfect of tendere

decisamente

Decidedly, definitely — adverb expressing strong certainty

al

To the, at the — contracted masculine singular preposition

grigio

Gray — adjective describing the color gray

suo

His, her, its — masculine singular possessive adjective

viso

Face — the front part of a person's head

umoristico

Humorous, comic — adjective describing a funny expression

coperto

Covered — past participle of coprire, to cover

perfetta

Perfect — feminine adjective meaning complete or flawless

rete

Net, network — noun describing a net-like pattern

rughe

Wrinkles — lines on the skin from aging

Mostrò

Showed — third person singular past of mostrare

luccichio

Glimmer, sparkle — a shining or twinkling light effect

denti

Teeth — the hard structures in the mouth for chewing

candidi

White, pure — adjective describing bright white color

quel

That — masculine singular demonstrative adjective

momento

Moment — a brief point or period in time

mentre

While, whereas — conjunction indicating simultaneous actions

fissava

Was staring at — third person imperfect of fissare

giovane

Young — adjective or noun describing a young person

ragazza

Girl, young woman — common noun for a young female

alla

To the, at the — feminine contracted preposition article

quale

Which, who — relative pronoun used in formal Italian

si

Oneself — reflexive pronoun used with reflexive verbs

stava

Was — third person imperfect of stare, to be staying

rivolgendo

Turning to, addressing — gerund of rivolgersi

sono

I am, they are — present tense of essere

proprio

Really, just, exactly — adverb intensifying a statement

io

I — first person singular personal pronoun

mi

Me, myself — first person singular reflexive or object pronoun

dispiace

I'm sorry, it displeases — from dispiacere, to be sorry

per

For, through, because of — common Italian preposition

voi

You all — second person plural personal pronoun

Prima

Before, first — adverb indicating time or priority

potesse

Could — third person singular imperfect subjunctive of potere

proferire

To utter, to pronounce — formal verb for speaking words

parola

Word — a unit of spoken or written language

girata

Turned — past participle of girare, to turn around

sui

On the — masculine plural contracted preposition article

tacchi

Heels — the back parts of a shoe or foot

Torna

Come back, return — imperative or present of tornare

indietro

Back, backward — adverb indicating reverse direction

imperiosa

Imperious, commanding — adjective describing an authoritative manner

Subito

Immediately, at once — adverb meaning right away

tesoro

Treasure, darling — noun also used as term of endearment

i

The — masculine plural definite article

bambini

Children — plural of bambino, young child

sento

I hear, I feel — first person present of sentire

chiamarmi

Calling me — infinitive of chiamare with reflexive pronoun

Vengo

I'm coming — first person singular present of venire

caro

Dear, darling — adjective used as term of affection

vengo

I'm coming — first person singular present of venire

La

The — feminine singular definite article

figura

Figure, shape — a person's silhouette or form

volò

Flew, rushed — third person singular past of volare

giù

Down, downward — common adverb of direction

vialetto

Small path, lane — a narrow walkway or garden path

laterale

Side, lateral — adjective describing something at the side

conduceva

Led to, went toward — third person imperfect of condurre

recinto

Enclosure, fence, paddock — an enclosed area of land

oltre

Beyond, further on — preposition or adverb of position

c'

There is/are — contracted form of ci before è

tornello

Turnstile, gate — a rotating barrier controlling passage

estremità

End, extremity, tip — the farthest point of something

più

More, most — adverb of comparison and degree

lontana

Far, distant — feminine adjective describing distance

campo

Field, countryside — an open area of land

adiacente

Adjacent, neighboring — adjective describing a nearby location

capanna

Hut, cabin — a small simple rustic dwelling

fatta

Made of — feminine past participle of fare

fango

Mud — wet earth, used as building material

finestrella

Small window — diminutive of finestra, a tiny window

tetto

Roof — the top covering structure of a building

paglia

Straw, thatch — dried plant stalks used for roofing