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  #1  
Old 10-23-2007, 03:55 AM
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Thumbs up Italian words with more than one meaning!

The word "PIANO" has three meanings: "slowly", "piano"
(the musical instrument), and "floor".

Examples:
"Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano"
"He who goes slowly goes safely and goes far"

"Suona il piano benissimo"
"He plays piano very well"

"L'appartamento e' al secondo piano"
"The apartment is on the second floor"

Maybe some of us can think of other words with multiple meanings?
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Old 10-24-2007, 08:24 PM
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Default Italian words with double meanings

I am glad this words exists so we can have jokes.
Here is a series of double meanings from newspaper columns.

"SI E' SPENTO L'UOMO CHE SI E' DATO FUOCO"
(Giornale di Sicilia, 1998)

"TROMBA MARINA PER UN QUARTO D'ORA."
(Corriere del Mezzogiorno, 1997)


"INCREDIBILE! ALL'AEROPORTO SPARISCONO LE VALIGE DEL MAGO SILVAN"
(Il Messaggero del 29/08/01)

"CINQUECENTO CONTRO UN ALBERO, TUTTI MORTI."
(La Provincia Pavese)

"VENDO GIOCHI E SERVIZI DI CARNEVALE. ASTENERSI BURLONI PERDITEMPO."

"QUESTA MACELLERIA RIMANE APERTA LA DOMENICA SOLO PER I POLLI"
(Insegna di un negozio di Roma)

"QUI CHIAVI IN 5 MINUTI."
(Insegna di un negozio di Cuneo)

SI AFFITTA L'ABITAZIONE DEL TERZO PIANO, LA SIGNORA DEL SECONDO LA FA VEDERE A TUTTI."
(Inserzione in una strada di Trapani)

"PER OGNI TAGLIO DI CAPELLI VI FAREMO UNA LAVATA DI CAPO GRATIS."
(Insegna di un negozio di Reggio Calabria)

"VENDO TUTTO PER ESAURIMENTO."
(Insegna in un negozio di Brescia)

"ELIMINAZIONE TOTALE BAMBINI A SOLE 29.000."
(Insegna in un negozio di abbigliamento di Trieste)

"SI FANNO GIACCHE ANCHE CON LA PELLE DEI CLIENTI.
(cartello in un negozio di confezioni di Latina)

"SI AVVERTE IL PUBBLICO CHE I GIORNI FISSATI PER LE MORTI SONO IL MARTEDI' E GIOVEDI'.
(Ufficio anagrafe di Reggio Calabria)

Last edited by paolo; 10-25-2007 at 02:49 PM.
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  #3  
Old 04-15-2009, 08:31 AM
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Default Re: Italian words with more than one meaning!

Che significa "le morti" nell'ultima frase?
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Old 04-15-2009, 02:04 PM
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Default Re: Italian words with more than one meaning!

Penso intendessero "per registrare i decessi"
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Old 04-15-2009, 05:49 PM
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Default Re: Italian words with more than one meaning!

Invece di dire le persone morte, le morti. Pero' non mi piace come suona-non lo trovo cosi' colloquiale. Beh, forse sono io!
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Old 04-15-2009, 06:40 PM
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Default Re: Italian words with more than one meaning!

How about the Italian word nipote? Nipote can mean nephew, niece, grandson and grandaughter. It's also singular and plural.

So there is really not a word for just grandson or granddaughter or nephew or niece. Nipote mean all four of them.

nipote noun, masculine
(di zii) nephew;
(di nonni) grandson, grandchild;
nipoti pl (collettivo) grandchildren, nephews and nieces

noun, feminine
(di zii) niece;
(di nonni) granddaughter, grandchild

nipote=grandchild - granddaughter - grandson - nephew - niece

In Spanish per esempio you have a word for each one of these words. granddaughter=nieta, grandson=nieto, nephew=sobrino,
niece=sobrina - plural=nietas, nietos, sobrinos, sobrinas

Last edited by Villa; 04-15-2009 at 06:50 PM.
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Old 04-15-2009, 07:00 PM
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Default Re: Italian words with more than one meaning!

C'ho altre due parole che hanno piu' di un significato (una mia studentessa me le ha date) lingua e vita

LINGUA
Io ho la lingua lunga (I have a long TONGUE - translated literally - in reality it means I talk a lot)

Mi piace imparare nuove lingue (I like to learn new LANGUAGES)
VITA
Da quando ci sei tu, la mia vita e' piu' bella (From the moment you came into my LIFE, everything is more beautiful)

Ha un giro VITA da invidia (Her WAISTLINE is enviable - something to be envious of)
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