Little Women — Page 2
I agree not to expect anything from Mother or you, but I do want to buy _Undine and Sintran_ for myself. I've wanted it so long," said Jo, who was a bookworm.
Accetto di non aspettarmi nulla dalla Mamma o da voi, ma voglio comprare _Undine e Sintran_ per me stessa. Lo desideravo da così tanto tempo," disse Jo, che era una divoratrice di libri.
"I planned to spend mine in new music," said Beth, with a little sigh, which no one heard but the hearth brush and kettle-holder.
«Avevo pensato di spendere i miei in nuova musica,» disse Beth, con un piccolo sospiro, che nessuno udì tranne lo spazzolino del focolare e il prestolle.
"I shall get a nice box of Faber's drawing pencils; I really need them," said Amy decidedly.
«Comprerò una bella scatola di matite da disegno Faber; ne ho davvero bisogno,» disse Amy con decisione.
"Mother didn't say anything about our money, and she won't wish us to give up everything. Let's each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I'm sure we work hard enough to earn it," cried Jo, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner.
«La Mamma non ha detto nulla riguardo ai nostri soldi, e non vorrà che rinunciamo a tutto. Compriamo ciascuna quello che vogliamo e divertiamoci un po'; sono sicura che lavoriamo abbastanza duramente per guadagnarcelo,» esclamò Jo, esaminando i tacchi delle sue scarpe in modo signorile.
"I know I do—teaching those tiresome children nearly all day, when I'm longing to enjoy myself at home," began Meg, in the complaining tone again.
«Lo so bene—insegnare a quei bambini noiosi quasi tutto il giorno, quando muoio dalla voglia di godermi la casa,» cominciò Meg, tornando al tono lamentoso.
"You don't have half such a hard time as I do," said Jo. "How would you like to be shut up for hours with a nervous, fussy old lady, who keeps you trotting, is never satisfied, and worries you till you're ready to fly out the window or cry?"
«Non hai nemmeno la metà delle difficoltà che ho io,» disse Jo. «Come ti piacerebbe essere rinchiusa per ore con una vecchia signora nervosa e pignola, che ti tiene sempre in movimento, non è mai soddisfatta e ti fa preoccupare finché sei pronta a volare fuori dalla finestra o a piangere?»
"It's naughty to fret, but I do think washing dishes and keeping things tidy is the worst work in the world. It makes me cross, and my hands get so stiff, I can't practice well at all.
«È brutto lamentarsi, ma penso davvero che lavare i piatti e tenere le cose in ordine sia il lavoro peggiore del mondo. Mi fa diventare irritabile, e le mie mani si irrigidiscono talmente che non riesco a esercitarmi per niente bene.
Vocabulary
- Accetto
- ah-CHET-toh — I accept; first person singular of accettare
- di
- dee — Of, from; very common Italian preposition
- non
- nohn — Not; basic Italian negation word
- aspettarmi
- ah-spet-TAR-mee — To expect from me; reflexive infinitive of aspettare
- nulla
- NOOL-lah — Nothing; pronoun indicating absence of anything
- dalla
- DAL-lah — From the; contraction of da and la
- Mamma
- MAM-mah — Mom, mother; informal term for one's mother
- o
- oh — Or; conjunction presenting an alternative
- da
- dah — From, by; Italian preposition of origin or agency
- voi
- voy — You all; second person plural pronoun
- ma
- mah — But; conjunction expressing contrast or opposition
- voglio
- VOH-lyoh — I want; first person singular of volere
- comprare
- kohm-PRAH-reh — To buy; infinitive verb meaning to purchase something
- per
- pehr — For; preposition indicating purpose or recipient
- me
- meh — Me; first person singular object pronoun
- stessa
- STES-sah — Herself, myself; feminine reflexive intensifier pronoun
- Lo
- loh — It, him; masculine singular direct object pronoun
- desideravo
- deh-zee-deh-RAH-voh — I desired, I had been wanting; imperfect of desiderare
- così
- koh-ZEE — So, thus; adverb indicating manner or degree
- tanto
- TAHN-toh — So much, a lot; indicates large quantity or degree
- tempo
- TEM-poh — Time; noun referring to duration or a period
- disse
- DEES-seh — Said, told; third person singular past of dire
- che
- keh — That, who, which; versatile conjunction or pronoun
- era
- EH-rah — Was, were; third person singular imperfect of essere
- una
- OO-nah — A, an; feminine indefinite article
- divoratrice
- dee-voh-rah-TREE-cheh — Devourer; feminine noun for one who devours eagerly
- libri
- LEE-bree — Books; plural of libro, printed reading material
- Avevo
- ah-VEH-voh — I had; first person singular imperfect of avere
- pensato
- pen-SAH-toh — Thought; past participle of pensare, to think
- spendere
- SPEN-deh-reh — To spend; infinitive referring to spending money
- i
- ee — The; masculine plural definite article
- miei
- MYEH-ee — My, mine; masculine plural possessive pronoun
- in
- een — In, into; basic preposition of location or direction
- nuova
- NWOH-vah — New; feminine adjective meaning recently made or fresh
- musica
- MOO-zee-kah — Music; art form combining sound and rhythm
- con
- kohn — With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means
- un
- oon — A, an; masculine singular indefinite article
- piccolo
- PEE-koh-loh — Small, little; adjective describing small size
- sospiro
- sohs-PEE-roh — Sigh; a long, deep audible exhalation of breath
- nessuno
- nes-SOO-noh — Nobody, no one; pronoun indicating absence of people
- udì
- oo-DEE — Heard; third person singular simple past of udire
- tranne
- TRAHN-neh — Except, apart from; preposition of exclusion
- lo
- loh — The, it; masculine singular article or object pronoun
- spazzolino
- spats-oh-LEE-noh — Small brush; diminutive of spazzola, a brush
- del
- del — Of the; masculine singular contracted preposition
- focolare
- foh-koh-LAH-reh — Hearth, fireplace; central fire area in a home
- il
- eel — The; masculine singular definite article
- Comprerò
- kohm-preh-ROH — I will buy; first person singular future of comprare
- bella
- BEL-lah — Beautiful, lovely; feminine adjective of beauty
- scatola
- SKAH-toh-lah — Box, case; container used to store or carry items
- matite
- mah-TEE-teh — Pencils; plural of matita, a writing or drawing pencil
- disegno
- dee-ZEH-nyoh — Drawing, design; sketch or artistic illustration
- ne
- neh — Of it, of them; partitive or pronominal particle
- ho
- oh — I have; first person singular present of avere
- davvero
- dav-VEH-roh — Really, truly; adverb emphasizing truth or sincerity
- bisogno
- bee-ZOH-nyoh — Need; noun indicating a necessity or requirement
- decisione
- deh-chee-ZYOH-neh — Decision; a choice made after consideration
- La
- lah — The; feminine singular definite article
- ha
- ah — Has, have; third person singular present of avere
- detto
- DET-toh — Said, told; past participle of dire
- riguardo
- ree-GWAHR-doh — Regarding, about; preposition concerning a topic
- ai
- ah-ee — To the; masculine plural contracted preposition
- nostri
- NOH-stree — Our; masculine plural possessive adjective
- soldi
- SOHL-dee — Money; informal plural noun for coins or cash
- vorrà
- vohr-RAH — Will want; third person singular future of volere
- rinunciamo
- ree-noon-CHAH-moh — We give up, we renounce; first person plural of rinunciare
- a
- ah — To, at; very common Italian preposition
- tutto
- TOOT-toh — Everything, all; pronoun or adjective of totality
- Compriamo
- kohm-PRYAH-moh — We buy, let's buy; first person plural of comprare
- ciascuna
- chah-SKOO-nah — Each one; feminine pronoun meaning each individual person
- quello
- KWEL-loh — That, what; demonstrative pronoun or adjective
- divertiamoci
- dee-ver-TYAH-moh-chee — Let's enjoy ourselves; reflexive hortative of divertirsi
- po'
- poh — A little, a bit; truncated form of poco
- sono
- SOH-noh — I am, they are; present tense of essere
- sicura
- see-KOO-rah — Sure, certain; feminine adjective expressing certainty
- lavoriamo
- lah-voh-RYAH-moh — We work; first person plural present of lavorare
- abbastanza
- ab-bah-STAHN-tsah — Enough, quite; adverb of sufficient quantity or degree
- duramente
- doo-rah-MEN-teh — Hardly, hard; adverb meaning in a difficult manner
- guadagnarcelo
- gwah-dah-NYAR-cheh-loh — To earn it for ourselves; reflexive infinitive with pronoun
- esclamò
- eh-sklah-MOH — Exclaimed; third person singular past of esclamare
- esaminando
- eh-zah-mee-NAHN-doh — Examining; gerund of esaminare, to inspect closely
- tacchi
- TAK-kee — Heels; plural of tacco, the heel of a shoe
- delle
- DEL-leh — Of the; feminine plural contracted preposition
- sue
- SOO-eh — Her, hers; feminine plural possessive adjective
- scarpe
- SKAR-peh — Shoes; plural of scarpa, footwear
- modo
- MOH-doh — Way, manner; noun indicating a style or method
- signorile
- see-nyoh-REE-leh — Elegant, refined; adjective suggesting noble or classy manner
- so
- soh — I know; first person singular present of sapere
- bene
- BEH-neh — Well, good; common adverb expressing quality or health
- insegnare
- een-seh-NYAH-reh — To teach; infinitive verb meaning to instruct others
- quei
- KWEH-ee — Those; masculine plural demonstrative adjective
- bambini
- bam-BEE-nee — Children, kids; plural of bambino
- noiosi
- noh-YOH-zee — Boring, annoying; masculine plural adjective of tedium
- quasi
- KWAH-zee — Almost, nearly; adverb indicating near completeness
- giorno
- JOHR-noh — Day; noun referring to a 24-hour period
- quando
- KWAHN-doh — When; conjunction or adverb of time
- muoio
- MWOH-yoh — I die, I am dying; first person singular of morire
- voglia
- VOH-lyah — Desire, craving; noun or subjunctive of volere
- godermi
- goh-DEHR-mee — To enjoy for myself; reflexive infinitive of godere
- la
- lah — The, her; feminine singular article or object pronoun
- casa
- KAH-zah — House, home; place where one lives
- cominciò
- koh-meen-CHOH — Started, began; third person singular past of cominciare
- tornando
- tohr-NAHN-doh — Returning, going back; gerund of tornare
- al
- ahl — To the, at the; masculine singular contracted preposition
- tono
- TOH-noh — Tone; quality or manner of voice or expression
- lamentoso
- lah-men-TOH-zoh — Lamenting, whining; adjective describing a complaining tone
- Non
- nohn — Not; basic Italian negation word
- hai
- ah-ee — You have; second person singular present of avere
- nemmeno
- nem-MEH-noh — Not even; adverb strengthening a negative statement
- metà
- meh-TAH — Half; noun meaning one of two equal parts
- difficoltà
- Difficulty, hardship; state of being hard or challenging
- io
- EE-oh — I; first person singular subject pronoun
- Come
- KOH-meh — How, like; interrogative or comparative adverb
- ti
- tee — You, yourself; second person singular pronoun
- piacerebbe
- pyah-cheh-REB-beh — Would please, would like; conditional of piacere
- essere
- ES-seh-reh — To be; fundamental Italian infinitive linking verb
- rinchiusa
- reen-KYOO-zah — Locked in, shut in; feminine past participle of rinchiudere
- ore
- OH-reh — Hours; plural of ora, unit of time measurement
- vecchia
- VEK-kyah — Old; feminine adjective describing advanced age
- signora
- see-NYOH-rah — Lady, ma'am; polite title or noun for a woman
- nervosa
- nehr-VOH-zah — Nervous, irritable; feminine adjective of anxious disposition
- pignola
- pee-NYOH-lah — Fussy, picky; feminine adjective meaning overly meticulous
- tiene
- TYEH-neh — Keeps, holds; third person singular present of tenere
- sempre
- SEM-preh — Always; adverb indicating continuous or constant action
- movimento
- moh-vee-MEN-toh — Movement, motion; noun describing physical or active motion
- è
- eh — Is; third person singular present of essere
- mai
- mah-ee — Never, ever; adverb of negation or emphasis in time
- soddisfatta
- sod-dees-FAT-tah — Satisfied, content; feminine past participle of soddisfare
- fa
- fah — Makes, does; third person singular present of fare
- preoccupare
- preh-ok-koo-PAH-reh — To worry, to concern; infinitive verb expressing anxiety
- finché
- feen-KEH — Until, as long as; conjunction of time or condition
- sei
- say — You are; second person singular present of essere
- pronta
- PROHN-tah — Ready; feminine adjective meaning prepared for action
- volare
- voh-LAH-reh — To fly; infinitive verb meaning to move through air
- fuori
- FWOH-ree — Outside, out; adverb or preposition of exterior location
- finestra
- fee-NES-trah — Window; opening in a wall for light and air
- piangere
- PYAN-jeh-reh — To cry, to weep; infinitive verb expressing sadness
- È
- eh — Is; third person singular present of essere
- brutto
- BROOT-toh — Bad, ugly, unpleasant; adjective of negative quality
- lamentarsi
- lah-men-TAR-see — To complain, to whine; reflexive infinitive of lamentare
- penso
- PEN-soh — I think; first person singular present of pensare
- lavare
- lah-VAH-reh — To wash; infinitive verb meaning to clean with water
- piatti
- PYAT-tee — Dishes, plates; plural of piatto, a flat eating vessel
- tenere
- teh-NEH-reh — To keep, to hold; infinitive verb of maintaining possession
- le
- leh — The, them; feminine plural article or object pronoun
- cose
- KOH-zeh — Things; plural of cosa, general noun for objects
- ordine
- OHR-dee-neh — Order, tidiness; noun describing neat arrangement
- sia
- SEE-ah — Is, be; third person singular subjunctive of essere
- lavoro
- lah-VOH-roh — Work, job; noun referring to labor or employment
- peggiore
- ped-JOH-reh — Worse, worst; comparative adjective of negative quality
- mondo
- MOHN-doh — World; noun referring to the earth or all existence
- Mi
- mee — Me, myself; first person singular reflexive pronoun
- diventare
- dee-ven-TAH-reh — To become; infinitive verb meaning to change into something
- irritabile
- eer-ree-TAH-bee-leh — Irritable, easily annoyed; adjective of short temper
- mie
- MEE-eh — My, mine; feminine plural possessive adjective
- mani
- MAH-nee — Hands; plural of mano, body part used for grasping
- si
- see — Himself, herself, oneself; reflexive pronoun
- irrigidiscono
- eer-ree-jee-DEE-skoh-noh — They stiffen, become rigid; third person plural of irrigidirsi
- talmente
- tal-MEN-teh — So much, to such a degree; intensifying adverb
- riesco
- RYEHS-koh — I manage, I succeed; first person singular of riuscire
- esercitarmi
- eh-zer-chee-TAR-mee — To practice for myself; reflexive infinitive of esercitarsi
- niente
- NYEN-teh — Nothing; pronoun indicating complete absence of anything
Unlock audio playback, vocabulary games, and reading progress tracking.
Create free account →