The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse — Page 3

Vocabulary

Sono

I am; first person singular of 'essere'

sicura

Sure, certain; feminine adjective expressing confidence

di

Of, from; very common Italian preposition

poter

To be able to; infinitive form of 'potere'

vedere

To see; common infinitive verb of perception

le

The (feminine plural) or indirect pronoun 'her'

impronte

Footprints, marks, impressions left on a surface

piccoli

Small, little; masculine plural adjective

piedini

Little feet; diminutive plural of 'piede'

sporchi

Dirty, soiled; masculine plural adjective

Illustrazione

Illustration, picture accompanying a text

Impronte

Prints, marks; plural of 'impronta'

piedi

Feet; plural of 'piede', body part

All'improvviso

Suddenly, all at once; common adverbial phrase

dietro

Behind, after; preposition indicating position

un

A, an; masculine indefinite article

angolo

Corner, angle; point where two surfaces meet

incontrò

He/she met, encountered; past tense of 'incontrare'

disse

Said, told; past tense of 'dire'

il

The; masculine singular definite article

calabrone

Hornet; large stinging insect related to wasps

La

The (feminine singular) or direct pronoun 'her'

signora

Mrs., lady; polite title for a woman

la

Her, it; feminine direct object pronoun

guardò

Looked at, watched; past tense of 'guardare'

severamente

Severely, sternly; adverb expressing strict manner

Avrebbe

Would have; conditional form of 'avere'

voluto

Wanted, wished; past participle of 'volere'

avere

To have; fundamental auxiliary and main verb

una

A, an; feminine indefinite article

scopa

Broom; tool used for sweeping floors

Buongiorno

Good morning, good day; common Italian greeting

sarei

I would be; conditional of 'essere'

lieta

Glad, happy; feminine adjective expressing pleasure

comprare

To buy, purchase; common shopping-related verb

po'

A little, a bit; shortened form of 'poco'

cera

Wax; substance produced by bees or used for polish

d'api

Of bees; genitive phrase referring to bees

Ma

But; common coordinating conjunction

cosa

What, thing; interrogative pronoun or noun

stai

You are (doing); second person of 'stare'

facendo

Doing, making; gerund of 'fare'

quaggiù

Down here; adverb indicating lower position nearby

Perché

Why, because; interrogative or conjunction

entri

You enter; second person of 'entrare'

sempre

Always, ever; common frequency adverb

dalla

From the; contraction of 'da' and 'la'

finestra

Window; opening in a wall for light and air

e

And; basic coordinating conjunction

dici

You say; second person singular of 'dire'

cominciò

Began, started; past tense of 'cominciare'

ad

To, at; preposition used before vowel sounds

arrabbiarsi

To get angry; reflexive verb expressing irritation

rispose

Replied, answered; past tense of 'rispondere'

con

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or manner

cigolìo

Squeaking, creaking; high-pitched grating sound

stizzoso

Irritable, peevish; adjective describing touchy manner

Si

Himself/herself/itself; reflexive pronoun

mosse

Moved, stirred; past tense of 'muovere'

furtivamente

Furtively, stealthily; moving in a sneaky manner

lungo

Along, long; preposition or adjective of length

corridoio

Corridor, hallway; passage connecting rooms

sparì

Disappeared, vanished; past tense of 'sparire'

in

In, into; very common Italian preposition

ripostiglio

Closet, storage room; small room for storing things

che

That, which, who; relative pronoun or conjunction

era

Was, were; imperfect tense of 'essere'

stato

Been; past participle of 'essere'

usato

Used; past participle of 'usare'

per

For, through; common Italian preposition

ghiande

Acorns; small nuts produced by oak trees

aveva

Had; imperfect tense of 'avere'

mangiato

Eaten; past participle of 'mangiare'

prima

Before, first; adverb or adjective of time

Natale

Christmas; major winter holiday celebration

avrebbe

Would have; conditional of 'avere'

dovuto

Should have, ought; past participle of 'dovere'

essere

To be; fundamental Italian auxiliary verb

vuoto

Empty, vacant; adjective describing lack of contents

pieno

Full, filled; adjective describing complete contents

muschio

Moss; small green plant growing on damp surfaces

secco

Dry, dried; adjective describing lack of moisture

disordinato

Messy, untidy; adjective describing disordered state

Pieno

Full; adjective meaning completely filled with something

Nido

Nest; structure built by insects or birds

api

Bees; plural of 'ape', honey-producing insects

a

At, to; very common Italian preposition

tirare

To pull, draw; verb of physical movement

fuori

Out, outside; adverb indicating exterior position

Tre

Three; cardinal number

o

Or; disjunctive coordinating conjunction

quattro

Four; cardinal number

altre

Other, others; feminine plural indefinite adjective

sporsero

Leaned out, stuck out; past tense of 'sporgersi'

testa

Head; upper body part containing the brain

ronzarono

Buzzed, hummed; past tense of 'ronzare'

furiosamente

Furiously, angrily; adverb expressing intense anger

Non

Not; basic negation word in Italian

sono

I am / they are; form of 'essere'

abituata

Accustomed, used to; feminine past participle of 'abituare'

affittare

To rent, let; verb related to property rental

alloggi

Lodgings, accommodations; plural noun for rooms

questa

This; feminine singular demonstrative pronoun

è

Is; third person singular of 'essere'

un'intrusione

An intrusion, trespass; unwelcome entry into a place

Li

Them; masculine plural direct object pronoun

farò

I will make/do; future tense of 'fare'

cacciare

To chase away, hunt; verb meaning to drive out

via

Away, off; adverb indicating departure or removal

Mi

Me, myself; first person reflexive/object pronoun

chiedo

I wonder, I ask; first person of 'chiedere'

chi

Who; interrogative pronoun referring to a person

mi

Me; first person singular object pronoun

potrebbe

Could, might; conditional of 'potere'

aiutare

To help, assist; verb expressing aid to someone

voglio

I want; first person singular of 'volere'

signor

Mr., sir; polite title for a man

non

Not; standard Italian negation particle

si

Himself, herself, oneself; reflexive pronoun

pulisce

Cleans, wipes; third person of 'pulire'

mai

Never, ever; adverb of time or frequency

i

The; masculine plural definite article

decise

Decided; past tense of 'decidere'

lasciare

To leave, let; verb meaning to allow or abandon

fino

Until, up to; preposition indicating limit in time

dopo

After, later; preposition or adverb of time

cena

Dinner, supper; main evening meal

Quando

When; temporal conjunction or interrogative adverb

tornò

Returned, came back; past tense of 'tornare'

nel

In the; contraction of 'in' and 'il'

salotto

Living room, parlour; main reception room of house

sentì

Heard, felt; past tense of 'sentire'

qualcuno

Someone, somebody; indefinite pronoun for a person

tossire

To cough; verb describing respiratory reflex action

voce

Voice; sound produced by a person speaking

grassa

Fat, thick; feminine adjective describing heavy quality

lì

There; adverb indicating a nearby specific location

sedeva

Was sitting; imperfect tense of 'sedere'

persona

Person, individual; human being in general sense