Italian · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 8 of 12
Idioms and everyday speech
Modi di dire
Understand everyday spoken Italian: common idioms, fillers like cioè, tipo and boh, spoken short forms, and mica.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Understand and use common Italian idioms
- Recognise fillers and discourse markers
- Understand spoken short forms like 'sta and c'ho
- Wish someone luck the Italian way
Listen
In Pavia, Greta meets her friend Alessio the evening before her first job interview. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Alessio
Ehi, Greta! Come mai 'sta faccia? Cos'è successo?
Hey, Greta. Why the long face? What's happened?
Greta
Boh, sono nervosa. Domani ho il colloquio in quell'agenzia di Milano, e non vedo l'ora che sia finito.
I don't know, I'm nervous. Tomorrow I've got the interview at that agency in Milan, and I can't wait for it to be over.
Alessio
Ma dai, andrà benissimo. Sei in gamba, lo sanno tutti.
Oh come on, it'll go really well. You're good at what you do, everyone knows that.
Greta
Speriamo. E poi sono al verde: con l'affitto e le bollette, questo mese non mi è rimasto niente. E la giacca per il colloquio mi è costata un occhio della testa.
Let's hope so. And I'm broke: with the rent and the bills, I've got nothing left this month. And the jacket for the interview cost me an arm and a leg.
Alessio
Tipo quanto?
Like, how much?
Greta
Tipo duecento euro. Vabbè, almeno la metto anche al matrimonio di mia sorella: così prendo due piccioni con una fava.
Like two hundred euros. Oh well, at least I'll wear it to my sister's wedding too: that way I'll kill two birds with one stone.
Alessio
Ottima idea. E il lavoro com'è? Cioè, cosa dovresti fare?
Great idea. And what's the job like? I mean, what would you have to do?
Greta
Praticamente il marketing per un'azienda di bici. Ma acqua in bocca, eh: non l'ho ancora detto a nessuno, neanche ai miei.
Basically marketing for a bike company. But keep it to yourself, OK? I haven't told anyone yet, not even my parents.
Alessio
Tranquilla, non dico niente. Ma mica vorrai fare le ore piccole stasera, eh?
Don't worry, I won't say a word. But you're not going to stay up late tonight, are you?
Greta
No, no, stasera a letto presto. C'ho il treno alle sette e mezza.
No, no, early to bed tonight. I've got the train at half past seven.
Alessio
Allora in bocca al lupo! Poi mi racconti com'è andata.
Good luck, then. Tell me how it went afterwards.
Greta
Crepi! Ti scrivo appena esco, promesso.
Thanks! I'll text you as soon as I come out, I promise.
Understand
Idioms
An idiom () is a fixed phrase whose meaning isn't the sum of its words. is literally “to cost an eye from the head”: English says “an arm and a leg”. Learn idioms as whole phrases, and don't change their words.
(literally “into the wolf's mouth”) is how Italians wish someone luck before an exam, an interview or a performance. The answer is or (May the wolf die!).
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| / | can't wait to / for |
| to be capable, to be good at things | |
| to be broke | |
| to cost an arm and a leg | |
| to kill two birds with one stone | |
| keep it to yourself, mum's the word | |
| to stay up very late |
Fillers and discourse markers
Spoken Italian is full of small words that give you time to think or show how you feel. (I mean) corrects or explains. (basically) and (well, in short) sum up. (short for ) means “oh well, never mind”. is a shrug: “I don't know, no idea”. encourages or protests:
(like) is very common among younger people, both for examples and before numbers: . It's fine with friends, but avoid it in an interview.
| Italian | English | Use |
|---|---|---|
| I mean, that is | to explain or correct | |
| basically | to sum up | |
| oh well, never mind | to accept something | |
| no idea | to show you don't know | |
| like, about | informal, for examples and numbers | |
| OK? right? | at the end of a sentence, to insist |
Short forms and mica
In fast speech, / often lose their first syllable: (this face), (this job). With , many people add : (I've got the train), (have you got time?). These forms are normal in speech, but in writing use and .
makes a negative stronger, a bit like “not at all”, “really”, “you know” or “you're not…, are you?”: (It isn't easy at all), (You're not going to go out, are you?). means “not bad at all”. means “my parents”.
- Non sono mica stupido.I'm not stupid, you know.
- Il film? Mica male.The film? Not bad at all.
- Stasera vado a cena dai miei.Tonight I'm having dinner at my parents'.
New words
- Come mai?How come? Why?
- la facciaface
- non vedo l'oraI can't wait · = I can't wait to leave
- essere in gambato be capable, to be good at things
- essere al verdeto be broke
- costare un occhio della testato cost an arm and a leg
- tipolike, about (informal)
- vabbèoh well, never mind · short for
- prendere due piccioni con una favato kill two birds with one stone · literally: to catch two pigeons with one bean
- praticamentebasically, practically
- acqua in boccakeep it to yourself, don't tell anyone
- mica(makes a negative stronger) not at all, really
- fare le ore piccoleto stay up very late
- In bocca al lupo! – Crepi!Good luck! – Thanks! · literally: into the wolf's mouth – may it die
Practise
1.A friend has an exam tomorrow. What do you say?
2.Match the idioms with their meanings.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
3.Complete the idiom: I can't wait to leave.
I can't wait to leave.
4.Rewrite the spoken form for a written message:
I've got the train at seven.
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.That way I'll kill two birds with one stone.
6.Your friend asks where the station is, and you have no idea. What's the most natural short answer among friends?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
In bocca al lupo per domani!
Good luck for tomorrow!
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.