Words that change meaning with the stress in Italian

1. 1
   ancora/anˈkora/

   stilladverb

   Indicates that something is still going on now and hasn't finished.
2. 2
   subito/ˈsubito/

   right awayadverb

   Without waiting even a moment.
3. 3
   compito/komˈpito/

   well-manneredadjective

   Behaving with good manners and being kind to everyone.
4. 4
   ambito/amˈbito/

   covetedadjective

   Something many people would like to have, because it's worth a lot.
5. 5
   seguito/seˈɡwito/

   popularadjective

   Having a large audience and being liked by many people.
6. 6
   nocciolo/ˈnɔttʃolo/

   pitnoun

   The hard part at the center of certain fruits, with the seed inside.
7. 7
   meta/ˈmɛta/

   destinationnoun

   The place you want to reach at the end of a journey.
8. 8
   metà/meˈta/

   halfnoun

   One of the two equal parts something is divided into.
9. 9
   papa/ˈpapa/

   popenoun

   The head of the Catholic Church, who lives in Rome.
10. 10
    papà/paˈpa/

    dadnoun

    The father, called this affectionately.

The sentences

1. Aspetta un attimo, non ho ancora finito di leggere.

   Wait a second, I haven't finished reading yet.

2. Arrivo subito, sto già scendendo le scale.

   I'll be right there, I'm already coming down the stairs.

3. Alla cena si è mostrato gentile e compito con tutti.

   At dinner he was polite and well-mannered with everyone.

4. Quel premio è ambito da tutti i colleghi dell'ufficio.

   That prize is coveted by all the colleagues in the office.

5. Il tuo canale è seguito da migliaia di persone.

   Your channel is followed by thousands of people.

6. Fai attenzione al nocciolo quando mangi le ciliegie.

   Watch out for the pit when you eat cherries.

7. Questa spiaggia è la meta preferita delle famiglie.

   This beach is families' favorite destination.

8. Dividiamo il conto a metà, così siamo pari.

   Let's split the bill in half, so we're even.

9. Il papa è arrivato in piazza poco prima di mezzogiorno.

   The pope arrived in the square just before noon.

10. Mio papà mi aspetta fuori dalla stazione.

    My dad is waiting for me outside the station.

Pronunciation

• ancora/anˈkora/

  The stress falls on the second syllable, an-CO-ra; with the stress on the first it becomes àncora, the ship's anchor.

• subito/ˈsubito/

  The stress is on the first syllable: SU-bi-to.

• compito/komˈpito/

  The stress falls on the second syllable: com-PI-to.

• ambito/amˈbito/

  Here the stress falls on -bi-: am-BI-to.

• seguito/seˈɡwito/

  The stress falls on the i, and gui is read as a single syllable: se-gui-to.

• nocciolo/ˈnɔttʃolo/

  Stress on the first syllable, an open o, and a double c held long.

• meta/ˈmɛta/

  Stress on the first syllable and an open e: me-ta.

• metà/meˈta/

  The stress falls on the final a: without the accent it becomes meta, the place you're heading to.

• papa/ˈpapa/

  The stress falls on the first syllable: pa-pa.

• papà/paˈpa/

  The stress falls on the final a.

Questions

How do you say 'still' in Italian without saying 'anchor'?

Say ancora with the stress on the second syllable, an-CO-ra; if the stress falls on the first syllable instead it means àncora, the ship's anchor.

What's the difference between meta and metà in Italian?

Meta, stressed on the first syllable, means a destination, the place you want to reach; metà, stressed on the final a, means half, one of two equal parts.

How do you tell papa from papà in Italian?

Papa, stressed on the first syllable, means pope; papà, stressed on the final a, means dad.