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Two words that became one in Italian

You arrive at the rented apartment in Milan, and the landlady shows you around before handing over the keys.

The phrase

Dove metto le pastiglie per la lavastoviglie?
Where do I put the tablets for the dishwasher?

10 words10 sentences

The ten words

  1. lavastoviglie/lavastoˈviʎʎe/

    dishwashernoun

    A machine that washes dishes.

  2. asciugamano/aʃʃuɡaˈmano/

    towelnoun

    A piece of cloth you use to dry your hands or body.

  3. cassaforte/kassaˈfɔrte/

    safenoun

    A metal box where you lock up money and valuables.

  4. portafoglio/pɔrtaˈfɔʎʎo/

    walletnoun

    A small object that folds, where you keep money and cards.

  5. cavatappi/kavaˈtappi/

    corkscrewnoun

    A tool for pulling the cork out of bottles.

  6. grattacielo/ɡrattaˈtʃɛlo/

    skyscrapernoun

    A very tall building with very many floors.

  7. marciapiede/martʃaˈpjɛde/

    sidewalknoun

    The part of the street reserved for people on foot.

  8. francobollo/frankoˈbollo/

    postage stampnoun

    A small label you pay for and stick on a letter to send it.

  9. arcobaleno/arkobaˈleno/

    rainbownoun

    An arc of colors in the sky after the rain.

  10. benvenuto/benveˈnuto/

    welcomeadjective

    Received with pleasure.

Spell it1 of 3

Spell it: 10 words

The sentences

  1. Dove metto le pastiglie per la lavastoviglie?

    Where do I put the tablets for the dishwasher?

  2. Mi serve un altro asciugamano per la doccia.

    I need another towel for the shower.

  3. Il codice della cassaforte è scritto sul foglio.

    The safe code is written on the sheet.

  4. Un momento, prendo il portafoglio per la caparra.

    One moment, I'll get my wallet for the deposit.

  5. Scusi, sa dove trovo un cavatappi in cucina?

    Excuse me, do you know where I can find a corkscrew in the kitchen?

  6. Dal balcone si vede il grattacielo più alto della città.

    From the balcony you can see the tallest skyscraper in the city.

  7. Il martedì sera metta la spazzatura sul marciapiede, per favore.

    On Tuesday evenings, please put the trash out on the sidewalk.

  8. Sa dove posso comprare un francobollo qui vicino?

    Do you know where I can buy a stamp nearby?

  9. Dopo il temporale, dalla terrazza si vede spesso un arcobaleno.

    After a storm, you can often see a rainbow from the terrace.

  10. Allora benvenuto, queste sono le chiavi del portone.

    So, welcome. These are the keys to the main door.

Pronunciation

  • lavastoviglie/lavastoˈviʎʎe/

    The «gli» sounds as in «famiglia»: one long sound, not g plus l.

  • asciugamano/aʃʃuɡaˈmano/

    Sci- sounds like one long sound, and the stress falls on -ma-.

  • portafoglio/pɔrtaˈfɔʎʎo/

    The "gli" group sounds like the ll in "million" and is long; the stressed o is open.

  • grattacielo/ɡrattaˈtʃɛlo/

    The i of «cie» is not heard: the ending sounds «-cèlo», as in «cielo».

  • marciapiede/martʃaˈpjɛde/

    The stress falls on «pie», not on «mar»: marcia-PIÈ-de.

Good to know

caparra
When you rent, the owner usually asks for a deposit before handing over the keys. Keep your wallet at hand at the first meeting.
raccolta differenziata
In Italy waste is sorted into several types, and collection days change from area to area. Ask the landlady which ones apply and where to leave the bags.
Lei
With someone you don't know, like a landlady, people usually use the formal Lei. You switch to tu when she suggests it.

Questions

How do you say "dishwasher" in Italian?
It is lavastoviglie. In the collection you ask: "Dove metto le pastiglie per la lavastoviglie?"
What do you say to ask for a corkscrew in Italian?
You say cavatappi. For example: "Scusi, sa dove trovo un cavatappi in cucina?"
What does portafoglio mean?
It is a small object that folds, where you keep money and cards. In the scene you take it out for the deposit.

10 wordsabout 6 min