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Mini-Story: Discovering the reality of Italian stereotypes Pt 2

August 28, 2013 By Cher

This episode’s audio doesn’t exist, and we have technology to blame (poof! gone into cyberspace!). Instead of listening to this episode, feel free to use the notes below to learn more about the topic. And if you’re like, “CHER, NO. I NEED THIS EPISODE,” then let me know in the comments below. I’ll put it on my list to record again!

Story transcript:30 Minute Italian Podcast Episode 21

Ho anche ascoltato musica italiana, e mi è sembrata triste. Ho immaginato che gli italiani si innamorano e si lasciano continuamente.

Poi, alcune persone mi hanno detto che gli uomini italiani fischiano alle donne e le infastidischono.

Tutti quanti mi hanno consigliato di fare attenzione.

Prima di arrivare, ho anche imparato qualche parola in italiano e ho studiato le regioni d’italia per sapere dove andare.

Quando sono arrivata in Italia, ho odiato il caffè, ma comunque, l’ho provato.

Dimenticavo che un altro stereotipo diffuso negli stati uniti è che molte persone pensano che tutti gli italiani sono mafiosi.

Invece, questo stereotipo è falso.

Infatti, dopo ho incontrato i miei amici italiani e ho scoperto la realtà.

Key phrase: Poi alcune persone – Then some people

Alcune – some

Persone – people

Key collocation: Fischiano alle donne e le infastidischono – They whistle at and bother women.

Fischiano comes from the verb fischiare.

and infastidischono comes from the verb infastidire.

Le regioni d’italia – Regions of italy

Notice how DI is contracted straight into Italia since it starts with an I.

Notice too that even though regioni ends in I  – meaning it’s supposed to be masculine, but it’s actually a feminine noun – so LE regioni.

Examples:

— Vanno anche nelle regioni del Sud e nelle Isole. – They also go in the southern regions and in the islands.

— La Toscana è la più bella regione del mondo – Tuscany is the most beautiful region in the world.

Key grammar: Mi hanno detto che – They told me that…

This is formed using the passato prossimo, or past tense, in Italian and take note of how this is formed.

The ‘mi’ goes first and then the construction ‘hanno detto’ comes next.

In English, this literally sounds like ‘me they told’, which is a common construction in Italian.

Three other examples where it’s used

— Vi hanno detto. – They told all of you.

— Ti ho detto. – I told you.

— Le ho detto. – I told her.

Mi hanno consigliato – They advised me.

The verb consigliare is to advise or recommend.

Other examples:

1.) La mia amica mi ha consigliato di chiedere anche a te. – My friend advised me to ask you too.

Consiglio is a noun meaning advice that stems from the verb and you could use it to say:

1.) Dammi un consiglio – Give me some advice.

Your task:

Create a sentence in the comments using this construction – Alcune persone say that I’m…and enter something that people think about you.

Per esempio:

Alcune persone say that I’m really really enthusiastic about Italian.

Resources mentioned:

The Past Tense in Italian (because even though we shouldn’t live in it, we need to talk about it)

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Filed Under: 30 Minute Italian Podcast, Expressions, Grammar, Italian Tagged With: 30 Minute Italian Podcast, cher hale, Iceberg Project, italian, Podcast, show notes

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About Cher

Cher is the founder of The Iceberg Project and a passionate learner of the Italian, Mandarin and Spanish languages. In a little town called Vegas, you can find her searching the Internet for Doctor Who and Parks & Rec memes, drinking bubble tea, or talking about how much she loves grammar.

« Mini-Story: Discovering the reality of Italian stereotypes Pt 1
Mini-Story: Discovering the reality of Italian stereotypes Pt 3 »

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