Page 22 - Italian American Herald - May 2022

22 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | MAY2022 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD ITALIAN MADE FUN & SIMPLE
The past several lessons were basically holiday themes: Valentine’s Day, Carnevale and Easter. This lesson be a more serious lesson as we learn a basic, but important, verb, essere (to be). To be is the most-used verb in almost any language and in Italian, its forms are irregular as they are in English. If you haven’t learned the forms of essere, here’s the chance to do so. Here is a review of how the verb is conjugated.
It is from Naples.
Napolitano: ‘Ntiempo ‘e tempesta, ogne pertuso è puorte.
Italiano: Nel tempo di tempesta, ogni buco è porto.
English: During a storm, every small ravine can become a port, (Literal) English equivalent: Any port in a storm.
This month’s falso amico
It is carattere, which doesn’t mean character. In Italian, it means personality. Character in Italian is personaggio.
Io sono
Tu sei
Lei è Luiorleiè Noi siamo Voi siete Loro sono
Iam
You are (informal)
You are (formal)
(He or she is)
We are
You are more (than one person) They are
Now it’s time see essere as used in Italian with basic sentences
Look at these sentences.
Giovanni é un amico. Giovanni is a friend.
The sentence in Italian is structured like English. There is a subject+verb+indefinite
article+noun.
Now look at these sentences.
Giovanni é cameriere. Giovanni is a waiter.
Something is missing! The little word un is missing before the name of the profession. OK, it’s not a mistake. In Italian we do not use the indefinite article un, uno, una un’
with an occupation, trade, profession, religion, or nationality after a form of essere to be. However, if you look at the next sentence, you’ll see when you do need the indefinite article. Giovanni é un cameriere simpatico. Giovanni is a nice waiter.
The indefinite article is needed with an occupation, trade, profession, religion, or nationality
when it is accompanied by an adjective.
Let’s test the usage of essere. Fill in the blanks with the correct form. (ANSWERS BELOW) 1. Lui ____ simpatico.
2. Loro ______ dentisti.
3. Io ______ avvocato.
4. Giovanni e Paola _________ professori. 5. Roberto e io _______ italiani.
1.è
2. sono 3. sono 4. sono 5. siamo
Now let’s try a few sentences. Fill in the blank with the necessary missing words. 1. Giuseppe ___________ postino
2. Maria ___________ professoressa simpatico.
3. Lei non _________ cameriera.
4. Lui _______ medico buono. 5. Loro _______ giornalisti.
1.è
2.èuna 3.è 4.èun 5. sono
Here some familiar descriptive adjectives that you should learn to make more colorful sentences.
PINTO – This surname derives from the Italian adjective “dipinto,” meaning painted, already used as a nickname in the Middle Ages. It is among the leading surnames in Italy, recorded in the Bureau of Vital Statistics in all of Italy’s 20 regions. It has its largest presence in Puglia and least in Val d’Aosta.
PIROCCHI – This surname derives from the Abruzzo and Molise dialect word “peroccha,” meaning stick; also derived from the Calabria and Sicily dialect word “piroc- chio,” meaning common louse, mean. It is among the lesser surnames in Italy recorded in the Bureau of Vital Statistics in only eight of Italy’s 20 regions.
PISANO – This surname derives from the town of Pisa in the Tuscany region. It also is among the leading surnames in Italy, recorded in the Bureau of Vital Statistics in all of Italy’s 20 regions. It has its largest presence in Sardegna and least in Umbria. Variations: Pisa, Pisani, Pisano, Pisanello, Pisaniello.
PESCI – This surname derives from the Italian word “pesce,” meaning fish. It is a common surname in Italy, recorded in the Bureau of Vital Statistics in 18 of Italy’s 20 regions. The two region\s where it is not present are Basilicata and Molise. Variations: Pescio, Piscitelli, Pescetto, Pescini, Pescione, Pesciolini, Pisciella.
PISEGNA – This surname derives from the Greek word “pisos,” meaning irrigated place. Maybe it has more presence in a varia- tion form in Greece, because it has a very small presence in Italy. It is among the lesser surnames in Italy, recorded in the Bureau of
Vital Statistics in only five of Italy’s 20 regions. Variations: Pisegni, Pisegno.
PISTILLI – This surname derives from the word “pistillo,” meaning pistil flower. It is a surname recorded in the Bureau of Vital Statistics in all of Italy’s 20 regions, but in very small numbers.
PIZZOFERRATO –This surname derives from the name of the Abruzzese town of Pizzoferrato in the province of Chieti, which in turn is derived from the word “pizzo” meaning high summit, peak. This surname is not common, being present in only 11 regions in sparse numbers. Variations: Pizzo, Pizzi.
PIZZUTO – This surname derives from the South Italy adjective “pizzuto,” meaning pointed, sharp. It is a somewhat common surname in Italy, recorded in the Bureau of Vital Statistics in 18 of Italy’s 20 regions. It is most present in Sicilia and least in Trentino- Alto Adige. The two regions where it is not registered are Sardegna and Val d’Aosta.
PLESCIA – This surname derives from the Latin word “plexa,” meaning twisted or from the Albania word “plesht,” meaning flea. This surname is not common being present in only 12 regions in sparse numbers. It is most present in Sicilia and least in Calabria.
POLIDORI – This surname is from the first name Polidoro, derived from the Greek first name Polydoros, consisting of “polys,” meaning a lot, and “doron,” meaning gift. This surname is present in 19 of Italy’s 20 regions. The sole region that shows no presence is Sicilia. Variation: Polidoro.
You can research your surname on these two websites:
• surnames.behindthename.com/names/usage/italian/ • cognomix.it/mappe-dei-cognomi-italiani.
This month’s proverb
Azzurro Bianco Giallo Grigio Nero Rosso Arancione
Do you know these colors?
Verde Rosa Marrone Viola Blu Beige