Let's Speak Italian Podcast: Learn in Minutes a Day

Inghilterra = England

Germania = Germany

Francia = France

Spagna = Spain

Svizzera = Switzerland

Irlanda = Ireland

Stati Uniti = United States

legno = wood

plastica = plastic

oro = gold

argento = silver

vetro = glass

amore = love

pace = peace

coraggio = courage

bottiglia = bottle

scatola = box

ombrello = umbrella

appartamento = apartment

palazzo = apartment building

conoscere = to know

io conosco = I know

tu conosci = you know (informal)

Lei conosce = you know (formal)

lui/lei conosce = he/she knows

noi conosciamo = we know

voi conoscete = you know (plural)

loro conoscono = they know

sapere = to know

io so = I know

tu sai = you know (informal)

Lei sa = you know (formal)

lui/lei sa = he/she knows

noi sappiamo = we know

voi sapete = you know (plural)

loro sanno = they know

Io so la risposta. = I know the answer

Chi conosce una donna italiana? = Who knows an Italian woman?

Tu sai suonare il pianoforte? = Do you (informal) know how to play the piano?

Lei conosce Roberto Benigni? = Do you (formal) know Roberto Benigni?

Noi sappiamo che il ragazzo e' povero. = We know the boy is poor.

Voi conoscete la ragazza arribbiata. = You (plural) know the angry girl.

Loro sanno parlare inglese bene. = They know how to speak English well.

Noi conosciamo il presidente. = We know the president.

Voi sapete quando viene Aldo? = Do you (plural) know when Aldo is coming?

Loro conoscono questa citta'. = They know this city.

Quel ragazzo e' forte = That boy is strong.

Vogliono essere insegnanti buoni. = They want to be good teachers.

Il dottore non e' povero = The doctor is not poor.

Hai visto quella chiesa alta? = Did you see that tall church?

Ho mangiato troppi biscotti. = I ate too many cookies.

Lui e' povero, ma bello. = He is poor, but handsome.

Quell'insegnante e' sposato? = Is that teacher married?

Il cane grasso dorme sempre. = The fat dog always sleeps.

Quella signora bionda e' bella. = That blonde lady is pretty.

Lui e' alto, scuro e bello. = He is tall, dark and handsome.

Loro portano camicie grandi. = They are wearing large shirts.

Io ho mangiato la mela rossa. = I ate the red apple.

Adjectives are words which modify or describe nouns. Since they tell us about a noun, they must agree in number and gender with the noun they are describing.

Numbers and adjectives which tell how many, precede the nouns they modify:

tre arance = three oranges

molti libri = many books

troppo rumore = too much noise

Adjectives of color always follow the nouns they modify:

una casa rossa = a red house

una penna gialla = a yellow pen

Most other adjectives will follow the nouns they modify, but you will learn through conversation that some are flexible and may come either before or after the noun:

una donna intelligente = an intelligent woman

un uomo gentile = a kind man

Adjectives ending in 'o' agree in both number and gender with the noun they modify. Adjectives ending in 'e' only agree in number:

ragazzo alto = tall boy

ragazzi alti = tall boys

ragazza alta = tall girl

ragazze alte = tall girls

uomo forte = strong man

uomini forti = strong men

donna forte = strong woman

donne forti = strong women

alto = tall

basso = short

magro = thin

grasso = fat

simpatico = likeable

antipatico = unlikeable

biondo = blonde

scuro = dark

forte = strong

debole = weak

brutto = ugly

gentile = kind

giovane = young

vecchio = old

nuovo = new

grande = big

piccolo = little

sposato = married

vero = true

povero = poor