Piccolissima — Page 8

English → It Full Text Level 3/10

I have learned that one minute does not resemble another; that cold is near to heat, that light is near to darkness, and that sweet follows bitter.

Ho imparato che un minuto non assomiglia a un altro; che il freddo è vicino al caldo, che la luce è vicina all'oscurità, e che il dolce segue l'amaro.

It is now two hundred and twenty-one thousand, seven hundred and sixty-one minutes, and twenty-four seconds, since I broke my shell.

Sono ora duecentoventunomila, settecento sessantuno minuti e ventiquattro secondi che ho rotto il mio guscio.

This sun, which you now see so pale in the dusk, glowed then with more fervor, and sent every where more rays and sparkles than I can count seconds in my long life.

Questo sole, che voi vedete ora così pallido nel crepuscolo, brillava allora con più fervore, e mandava ovunque più raggi e scintille di quanti secondi io possa contare nella mia lunga vita.

I was all wet as you are now--poor, helpless thing; but I turned myself to some of those brilliant rays, and my wings directly became strong, as you now see them, embossed and painted with seven different, changing colors, reflections of the rays of the sun.

Ero tutta bagnata come voi siete ora -- povera, indifesa creatura; ma mi volsi verso alcuni di quei raggi brillanti, e le mie ali divennero subito forti, come le vedete ora, in rilievo e dipinte con sette colori diversi e cangianti, riflessi dei raggi del sole.

See! there is one of these rays now; come forth; spread thy moist wing, already shrunk and chill; thou shalt take thy part in the blessings which come from on high."

Guarda! ecco uno di questi raggi ora; vieni avanti; dispiega la tua ala umida, già raggrinzita e fredda; avrai la tua parte nelle benedizioni che vengono dall'alto."

Piccolissima, all attention and full of curiosity, looked around her, and saw coming out from the window frame two flies, who appeared to be talking together.

Piccolissima, tutta attenzione e piena di curiosità, si guardò intorno, e vide uscire dal telaio della finestra due mosche, che sembravano parlare insieme.

The wings of one of them remained stuck together on its back, and it made a great effort to extend them.

Le ali di una di esse rimasero appiccicate insieme sul dorso, e faceva un grande sforzo per distenderle.

Delighted at the discovery of companions in her solitude, companions, too, whose language she could understand, Piccolissima was eager to make their acquaintance; so she offered them her stick of candy.

Deliziata dalla scoperta di compagni nella sua solitudine, compagni, inoltre, la cui lingua poteva capire, Piccolissima era ansiosa di fare la loro conoscenza; così offrì loro il suo bastoncino di zucchero.

Vocabulary

Ho: o — I have; first person singular of avere
imparato: im-pa-RA-to — Learned; past participle of imparare
che: ke — That, which, who; common conjunction or pronoun
un: un — A, an; masculine indefinite article
minuto: mi-NU-to — Minute; unit of time equal to sixty seconds
non: non — Not; basic negation word in Italian
assomiglia: as-so-MI-lya — Resembles, looks like; third person singular
a: a — To, at; very common Italian preposition
altro: AL-tro — Other, another; refers to something different
il: il — The; masculine singular definite article
freddo: FRED-do — Cold; low temperature or cold feeling
è: è — Is; third person singular of essere
vicino: vi-CI-no — Near, close; indicating proximity in space
al: al — To the; contraction of a and il
caldo: KAL-do — Hot, warm; high temperature or warmth
la: la — The; feminine singular definite article
luce: LU-che — Light; illumination or brightness from a source
vicina: vi-CI-na — Near, close; feminine form of vicino
all': all — To the; contraction of a and la before vowel
oscurità: os-ku-ri-TÀ — Darkness; absence of light or obscurity
e: e — And; basic coordinating conjunction in Italian
dolce: DOL-che — Sweet; pleasant taste or gentle quality
segue: SE-gwe — Follows; third person singular of seguire
l': l — The; elided definite article before a vowel
amaro: a-MA-ro — Bitter; sharp unpleasant taste or feeling
Sono: SO-no — I am or they are; form of essere
ora: O-ra — Now, at this moment; also means hour
minuti: mi-NU-ti — Minutes; plural of minuto, units of time
ventiquattro: ven-ti-KWAT-tro — Twenty-four; numerical value
secondi: se-KON-di — Seconds; plural units of time
ho: o — I have; first person singular of avere
rotto: ROT-to — Broken; past participle of rompere
mio: MI-o — My; masculine singular possessive adjective
guscio: GU-sho — Shell; hard outer casing of egg or nut
Questo: KWES-to — This; masculine singular demonstrative adjective
sole: SO-le — Sun; the star at the center of our solar system
voi: voi — You; second person plural subject pronoun
vedete: ve-DE-te — You see; second person plural of vedere
così: ko-ZÌ — So, thus, like this; manner or degree
pallido: PAL-li-do — Pale; lacking color or brightness in appearance
nel: nel — In the; contraction of in and il
crepuscolo: kre-PUS-ko-lo — Twilight, dusk; dim light after sunset
brillava: bril-LA-va — Was shining, gleamed; imperfect of brillare
allora: al-LO-ra — Then, at that time; temporal reference word
con: kon — With; preposition indicating accompaniment
più: pyù — More; comparative adverb indicating greater degree
fervore: fer-VO-re — Fervor, ardor; intense enthusiasm or passion
mandava: man-DA-va — Was sending, emitting; imperfect of mandare
ovunque: o-VUN-kwe — Everywhere, anywhere; in all directions
raggi: RAD-ji — Rays, beams; plural of raggio, lines of light
scintille: shin-TIL-le — Sparks; small bright flashes of light
di: di — Of, from; very common Italian preposition
quanti: KWAN-ti — How many; masculine plural interrogative adjective
io: I-o — I; first person singular subject pronoun
possa: POS-sa — Can, may; present subjunctive of potere
contare: kon-TA-re — To count; to enumerate or calculate numbers
nella: NEL-la — In the; contraction of in and la
mia: MI-a — My; feminine singular possessive adjective
lunga: LUN-ga — Long; feminine adjective indicating great length
vita: VI-ta — Life; existence or the course of living
Ero: E-ro — I was; first person singular imperfect of essere
tutta: TUT-ta — All, entirely; feminine singular of tutto
bagnata: ba-NYA-ta — Wet, soaked; feminine past participle of bagnare
come: KO-me — As, like, how; comparison or manner conjunction
siete: SIE-te — You are; second person plural of essere
povera: PO-ve-ra — Poor; feminine adjective expressing lack or pity
indifesa: in-di-FE-za — Defenseless, helpless; without protection or defense
creatura: kre-a-TU-ra — Creature; a living being or created entity
ma: ma — But; basic adversative conjunction in Italian
mi: mi — Me, myself; first person singular object pronoun
volsi: VOL-si — I turned; first person singular past of volgere
verso: VER-so — Toward; preposition indicating direction or movement
alcuni: al-KU-ni — Some; masculine plural indefinite adjective
quei: KWEI — Those; masculine plural demonstrative adjective
brillanti: bril-LAN-ti — Bright, shining; plural adjective describing luminosity
le: le — The; feminine plural definite article
mie: MI-e — My; feminine plural possessive adjective
ali: A-li — Wings; plural of ala, limbs used for flying
divennero: di-VEN-ne-ro — Became; third person plural past of diventare
subito: SU-bi-to — Immediately, at once; without delay
forti: FOR-ti — Strong; plural adjective meaning powerful or sturdy
in: in — In, into; very common Italian preposition
rilievo: ri-LIE-vo — Relief, prominence; raised or highlighted quality
dipinte: di-PIN-te — Painted; feminine plural past participle of dipingere
sette: SET-te — Seven; cardinal number
colori: ko-LO-ri — Colors; plural of colore, hues or shades
diversi: di-VER-si — Different, various; masculine plural adjective
cangianti: kan-JAN-ti — Iridescent, shifting; colors that change with angle
riflessi: ri-FLES-si — Reflections; plural noun, light bounced off surface
dei: dei — Of the; contraction of di and i
del: del — Of the; contraction of di and il
Guarda: GWAR-da — Look!; imperative of guardare, directing attention
ecco: EK-ko — Here is, there is; interjection pointing something out
uno: U-no — One; masculine cardinal number or indefinite article
questi: KWES-ti — These; masculine plural demonstrative adjective
vieni: VIEN-ni — Come; second person singular imperative of venire
avanti: a-VAN-ti — Forward, come in; indicating movement ahead
dispiega: dis-PIE-ga — Unfold, spread; imperative of dispiegare
tua: TU-a — Your; feminine singular possessive adjective
ala: A-la — Wing; limb of a bird or insect for flying
umida: U-mi-da — Damp, moist; feminine adjective indicating wetness
già: già — Already; indicating something has occurred before now
raggrinzita: rag-grin-ZI-ta — Wrinkled, shriveled; feminine past participle
fredda: FRED-da — Cold; feminine singular adjective for low temperature
avrai: av-RAI — You will have; second person singular future of avere
parte: PAR-te — Part, share; participation in something
nelle: NEL-le — In the; contraction of in and le
benedizioni: be-ne-di-TSIO-ni — Blessings; plural noun, divine favor or grace
vengono: VEN-go-no — Come, they come; third person plural of venire
dall': dall — From the; contraction of da and l' before vowel
alto: AL-to — High, above; referring to height or elevated position
Piccolissima: pic-ko-LIS-si-ma — Very tiny; superlative feminine adjective of piccolo
attenzione: at-ten-TSIO-ne — Attention; act of noticing or focusing on something
piena: PIE-na — Full; feminine adjective meaning filled or complete
curiosità: ku-rio-si-TÀ — Curiosity; eager desire to know or learn things
si: si — Herself, itself; reflexive pronoun third person
guardò: gwar-DÒ — Looked; third person singular past of guardare
intorno: in-TOR-no — Around; in the surrounding area or vicinity
vide: VI-de — Saw; third person singular past of vedere
uscire: u-SHI-re — To exit, to go out; infinitive verb
dal: dal — From the; contraction of da and il
telaio: te-LA-io — Frame, loom; structural border of a window
della: DEL-la — Of the; contraction of di and la
finestra: fi-NES-tra — Window; opening in a wall for light and air
due: DU-e — Two; basic cardinal number
mosche: MOS-ke — Flies; plural of mosca, small flying insects
sembravano: sem-BRA-va-no — Seemed; third person plural imperfect of sembrare
parlare: par-LA-re — To speak, to talk; basic communication verb
insieme: in-SIE-me — Together; with each other at the same time
Le: le — To them, them; feminine plural indirect pronoun
una: U-na — One; feminine indefinite article or cardinal number
esse: ES-se — They; feminine third person plural subject pronoun
rimasero: ri-MA-ze-ro — Remained, stayed; third person plural past of rimanere
appiccicate: ap-pic-ci-CA-te — Stuck, glued; feminine plural past participle
sul: sul — On the; contraction of su and il
dorso: DOR-so — Back; the rear surface of a body or object
faceva: fa-CHE-va — Was doing, made; imperfect of fare
grande: Great, large; adjective indicating size or importance
sforzo: SFOR-tso — Effort, exertion; strenuous attempt to do something
per: per — For, in order to; common Italian preposition
distenderle: dis-TEN-der-le — To stretch them out; infinitive with pronoun attached
Deliziata: de-li-TSYA-ta — Delighted; feminine past participle, filled with joy
dalla: DAL-la — From the; contraction of da and la
scoperta: sko-PER-ta — Discovery; finding something new or unexpected
compagni: kom-PA-nyi — Companions, friends; plural of compagno
sua: SU-a — His, her, its; feminine singular possessive adjective
solitudine: so-li-TU-di-ne — Solitude; state of being alone or lonely
inoltre: in-OL-tre — Furthermore, moreover; adding additional information
cui: KU-i — Whose, whom, which; relative pronoun
lingua: LIN-gwa — Language, tongue; means of communication or organ
poteva: po-TE-va — Could, was able to; imperfect of potere
capire: ka-PI-re — To understand; to comprehend meaning or information
era: E-ra — Was; third person singular imperfect of essere
ansiosa: an-SIO-za — Eager, anxious; feminine adjective showing strong desire
fare: FA-re — To do, to make; very common Italian verb
loro: LO-ro — Their, them; third person plural pronoun or adjective
conoscenza: ko-no-SHEN-tsa — Acquaintance, knowledge; knowing someone or something
offrì: of-FRÌ — Offered; third person singular past of offrire
suo: SU-o — His, her, its; masculine singular possessive adjective
bastoncino: bas-ton-CHI-no — Small stick; diminutive of bastone
zucchero: TSUK-ke-ro — Sugar; sweet crystalline substance used in food

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