Latest / Learn Italian with Fexingo / Italian Winter Slang & Idioms
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Italian with Fexingo. I am Lucas. Luna: And I am Luna. It is good to be here again. Lucas: It is good to see you. We left off talking about winter activities last time. Luna: Yes. We talked about skiing and walking on snow. Lucas: Right. And we talked about the night sky being clear. Luna: That was very peaceful. But today, it feels different outside. Lucas: How so? Luna: The wind is blowing hard. It feels very cold. Lucas: I know. In Italy, when it is very cold, people do not just say it is cold. Luna: No? What do they say? Lucas: They use a special phrase. It is very common. Listen. Lucas: Fa un freddo cane. Luna: Fa un freddo cane. Lucas: Yes. Fa un freddo cane. Luna: Fa un freddo cane. Lucas: Let us look at the meaning. 'Fa' means it makes or it is. Luna: Okay. Lucas: 'Un freddo' means a cold. Luna: A cold. Lucas: 'Cane' means dog. Luna: Dog. Lucas: So literally, it is 'it makes a cold dog.' Or 'there is a cold dog.' Luna: Oh. A cold dog. Lucas: But it does not mean there is an actual dog. Luna: Right. Lucas: It means the cold is intense. Like biting cold. Luna: I see. So it is strong cold. Lucas: Exactly. It is the standard way to say it is freezing. Luna: Okay. Let me try. Fa un freddo cane. Lucas: Good. Try it again. Slowly. Luna: Fa un freddo cane. Lucas: Perfect. Now, imagine you are standing outside. Luna: Yes. Lucas: You feel your hands getting numb. Luna: My hands are very cold. Lucas: In English, you might say my hands are frozen. Luna: Yes. Lucas: In Italian, there is a nice phrase for that. Lucas: Ho le mani ghiacciate. Luna: Ho le mani ghiacciate. Lucas: Yes. Ho le mani ghiacciate. Luna: Ho le mani ghiacciate. Lucas: Let us break it down. 'Ho' means I have. Luna: I have. Lucas: 'Le mani' means the hands. Luna: The hands. Lucas: 'Ghiacciate' comes from 'ghiaccio,' which is ice. Luna: Ice. Lucas: So, I have hands that are icy. Luna: That is very clear. Lucas: Very descriptive. Let us try it together. Luna: Ho le mani ghiacciate. Lucas: Again. From the start. Luna: Ho le mani ghiacciate. Lucas: Beautiful. You are getting used to these long phrases. Luna: It feels good to have specific words. Lucas: It does. Now, what happens when it is really cold? Luna: Like when you shiver? Lucas: Yes. Your teeth might chatter. Luna: Oh, yes. That can happen. Lucas: There is a phrase for that too. Lucas: Mi tremano i denti. Luna: Mi tremano i denti. Lucas: Yes. Mi tremano i denti. Luna: Mi tremano i denti. Lucas: 'Mi' means to me or my. Luna: To me. Lucas: 'Tremano' means they tremble or shake. Luna: Tremble. Lucas: 'I denti' means the teeth. Luna: The teeth. Lucas: So, my teeth are trembling. Luna: That sounds uncomfortable. Lucas: It is. But it is true. Let us say it. Luna: Mi tremano i denti. Lucas: Again. Slow and steady. Luna: Mi tremano i denti. Lucas: Good. You are speaking naturally now. Luna: Thank you. I feel colder just saying it. Lucas: Well, almost never laugh. But yes. Luna: Stop it. Lucas: Okay. One last one for today. This is a funny image. Luna: What is it? Lucas: Sometimes you stand still so long, you feel like ice. Luna: Like a statue? Lucas: Exactly. A statue made of ice. Lucas: Sono una statua di ghiaccio. Luna: Sono una statua di ghiaccio. Lucas: Yes. Sono una statua di ghiaccio. Luna: Sono una statua di ghiaccio. Lucas: 'Sono' means I am. Luna: I am. Lucas: 'Una statua' means a statue. Luna: A statue. Lucas: 'Di ghiaccio' means of ice. Luna: Of ice. Lucas: So, I am a statue of ice. Luna: I love that. It is very visual. Lucas: It is. And Italians use it often when waiting for a bus in winter. Luna: Oh, I can see that. Lucas: Let us practice the whole set. Start with the first one. Luna: Fa un freddo cane. Lucas: Next. Luna: Ho le mani ghiacciate. Lucas: Next. Luna: Mi tremano i denti. Lucas: Last one. Luna: Sono una statua di ghiaccio. Lucas: Excellent. You remembered them all. Luna: It helped to have the story. Lucas: Stories help memory. That is why we tell them. Luna: Do you think listeners will use these? Lucas: I hope so. They make conversation much richer. Luna: Richer. Yes. More fun. Lucas: Before we go, I want to mention something important. Luna: What is it? Lucas: This show is free because of people like you. Luna: Right. Listener support. Lucas: If Fexingo has been helping you make progress, consider supporting us. Luna: It keeps the episodes coming. Lucas: You can find us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: Just a small gesture helps a lot. Lucas: It does. And it keeps this ad-free space safe. Luna: Thank you for listening. Lucas: Now, let us get back to our warm room. Luna: Yes. The coffee is hot. Lucas: Tell me, did you use any of these phrases yesterday? Luna: I did. I said ho le mani ghiacciated to my friend. Lucas: Really? Did she understand? Luna: She laughed. She said yes, fa un freddo cane outside. Lucas: That is perfect. Real life usage. Luna: It felt natural. Lucas: That is the goal. Natural communication. Luna: I want to keep practicing. Lucas: Then come back next time. Luna: We will have more phrases. Lucas: More ways to describe the world around you. Luna: Until then, stay warm. Lucas: Stay warm. And keep speaking Italian. Luna: Ciao for now. Lucas: Ciao.