White nights, and other stories — Page 3

Vocabulary

Ecco

Here is; used to point out or present something

perché

Because; also used to mean 'why'

ci

Us; ourselves; there; a versatile pronoun/adverb

salutiamo

We greet each other; first person plural of salutare

quasi

Almost; nearly; expressing approximation

con

With; a common Italian preposition

un

A; an; indefinite article for masculine nouns

inchino

A bow; a gesture of greeting or respect

specialmente

Especially; particularly; used to emphasize a case

quando

When; used to introduce a time clause

siamo

We are; first person plural of essere

entrambi

Both; referring to two people or things together

di

Of; from; a very common Italian preposition

buon

Good; shortened form of buono before masculine nouns

umore

Mood; humor; one's emotional state

L'

The; elided definite article before a vowel

altro

Other; another; different

giorno

Day; a unit of time lasting 24 hours

non

Not; the standard Italian negation word

essendoci

Having been there; gerund of essere combined with ci

visti

Seen; past participle of vedere, masculine plural

per

For; by; through; a common Italian preposition

due

Two; the cardinal number 2

giorni

Days; plural of giorno

e

And; the basic Italian coordinating conjunction

incontrandoci

Meeting each other; gerund of incontrare with ci

al

At the; to the; contraction of a + il

terzo

Third; the ordinal number following secondo

stavamo

We were; imperfect of stare, first person plural

addirittura

Even; absolutely; used for emphasis or surprise

toccarci

To touch each other; infinitive of toccare with ci

il

The; definite article for masculine singular nouns

cappello

Hat; a head covering worn as accessory or tradition

ma

But; however; a coordinating conjunction of contrast

accorgendocene

Realizing it in time; gerund of accorgersi with ne/ce

in

In; into; a very common Italian preposition

tempo

Time; also weather; a very common Italian noun

abbassамmo

We lowered; past tense of abbassare, first person plural

le

The; definite article for feminine plural nouns

mani

Hands; plural of mano

passammo

We passed; past tense of passare, first person plural

accanto

Next to; beside; nearby

uno

One; a; indefinite article or number

sguardo

A glance; a look; a gaze

interesse

Interest; curiosity; concern about something

Conosco

I know; first person singular of conoscere

anche

Also; too; even; used to add information

case

Houses; homes; plural of casa

Mentre

While; whereas; used to introduce a simultaneous action

cammino

I walk; also path or journey

sembrano

They seem; third person plural of sembrare

correre

To run; to move quickly

avanti

Forward; ahead; onward

nelle

In the; contraction of in + le for feminine plural

strade

Streets; roads; plural of strada

guardarmi

To look at me; infinitive of guardare with mi

da

From; by; since; a very common Italian preposition

ogni

Every; each; used before singular nouns

finestra

Window; an opening in a wall with glass

dire

To say; to tell; a very common Italian verb

Buongiorno

Good morning; good day; a common Italian greeting

Come

How; as; like; a versatile Italian word

sta

Is; you are; third person singular of stare

Sto

I am; first person singular of stare

benissimo

Very well; extremely well; superlative of bene

grazie

Thank you; thanks; a very common Italian expression

a

At; to; a very common Italian preposition

Dio

God; the supreme deity

maggio

May; the fifth month of the year

avrò

I will have; future tense of avere, first person

nuovo

New; recent; not previously existing

piano

Floor; plan; also piano the instrument

oppure

Or else; otherwise; used to introduce an alternative

va

Goes; is going; third person singular of andare

Domani

Tomorrow; the day following today

mi

Me; myself; first person singular object pronoun

ridipingono

They repaint; third person plural of ridipingere

Per

For; by; through; a common Italian preposition

poco

Little; a small amount; almost

sono

I am; they are; form of essere

bruciata

Burned; past participle of bruciare, feminine form

ho

I have; first person singular of avere

avuto

Had; past participle of avere

una

A; an; indefinite article for feminine nouns

tale

Such; such a; so great; used for emphasis

paura

Fear; fright; a feeling of being scared

così

So; thus; like this; in this way

via

Away; street; road; also used as 'go away'

Tra

Among; between; within; a common Italian preposition

esse

Them; third person feminine plural pronoun

mie

My; possessive adjective, feminine plural form

preferite

Favorite; preferred; feminine plural past participle

alcune

Some; a few; indefinite adjective, feminine plural

care

Dear; beloved; feminine plural of caro

amiche

Friends; female friends; plural of amica

loro

Their; them; they; third person plural pronoun

intende

Intends; means; third person singular of intendere

farsi

To have done to oneself; reflexive infinitive of fare

curare

To treat; to care for; to renovate

dall'

From the; by the; elided contraction of da + l'

architetto

Architect; a professional who designs buildings

quest'

This; demonstrative adjective elided before a vowel

estate

Summer; the warm season of the year

Andrò

I will go; future tense of andare, first person

apposta

On purpose; deliberately; especially for that reason

assicurarmi

To make sure; reflexive infinitive of assicurare

che

That; which; who; a very common Italian conjunction

l'

The; elided definite article before a vowel

operazione

Operation; procedure; renovation work

fallisca

Fails; subjunctive of fallire, third person singular

voglia

Want; subjunctive of volere; also desire or wish

Ma

But; however; a coordinating conjunction of contrast

dimenticherò

I will forget; future tense of dimenticare

mai

Never; ever; used in negative or interrogative contexts

episodio

Episode; event; an occurrence or incident

legato

Linked; tied; connected; past participle of legare

graziosa

Pretty; charming; graceful; feminine form of grazioso

casetta

Little house; a small and charming home

delicato

Delicate; subtle; soft; gentle

colore

Color; hue; shade of a visual tone

rosa

Pink; also rose; a color or a flower

Era

It was; she was; imperfect of essere, third person

mattoni

Bricks; plural of mattone; building material

deliziosa

Delightful; delicious; charming; feminine of delizioso

guardava

It looked; was looking; imperfect of guardare

tanta

So much; such a lot; feminine form of tanto

ospitalità

Hospitality; welcoming warmth toward guests

tanto

So much; a lot; used to intensify or quantify

orgoglio

Pride; a sense of dignity and self-respect

ai

To the; contraction of a + i for masculine plural

suoi

Its; his; her; possessive adjective masculine plural

goffi

Clumsy; awkward; ungainly; masculine plural of goffo

vicini

Neighbors; nearby; masculine plural of vicino

mio

My; possessive adjective, masculine singular form

cuore

Heart; the organ or seat of emotions

si

Oneself; reflexive pronoun; also yes in Italian

rallegrava

Rejoiced; cheered up; imperfect of rallegrare

volta

Time; occasion; instance; as in 'ogni volta'

capitava

It happened; it occurred; imperfect of capitare

passarle

To pass by it; infinitive of passare with le

davanti

In front; ahead; before something

Improvvisamente

Suddenly; unexpectedly; all at once

la

The; definite article for feminine singular nouns

settimana

Week; a period of seven days

scorsa

Last; past; feminine form of scorso

stavo

I was; imperfect of stare, first person singular

camminando

Walking; gerund of camminare

strada

Street; road; a public path for travel

guardai

I looked; past tense of guardare, first person

mia

My; possessive adjective, feminine singular form

amica

Friend; a female friend or companion

udii

I heard; past tense of udire, first person singular

lamento

Lament; moan; a cry of distress or complaint

Mi

Me; myself; first person singular object pronoun

stanno

They are; third person plural of stare

dipingendo

Painting; gerund of dipingere

giallo

Yellow; the bright primary color

I

The; definite article for masculine plural nouns

mascalzoni

Scoundrels; rascals; plural of mascalzone

barbari

Barbarians; savages; plural of barbaro