Italian All-in-One For Dummies (36 page)

il piatto piano
(eel
pyaht
-toh
pyah
-noh) (
plate
)

la sedia
(lah
seh
-dyah) (
chair
)

il tavolo da pranzo
(eel
tah
-voh-loh dah
prahn
-tzoh) (
dining table
)

la tazzina da caffé
(lah taht-
tsee
-nah dah kahf-
feh
) (
cup
)

la tovaglia
(lah toh-
vah
-lyah) (
tablecloth
)

il tovagliolo
(eel toh-vah-
lyoh
-loh) (
napkin
)

Did you know that some of the most beautiful ceramics in the world are produced in Italy? Many are hand-painted works of art unto themselves. Some towns well known for their ceramics include Faenza (Emilia Romagna), Deruta (Umbria), Vietri (Amalfi Coast), Grottaglie (Apulia), and Caltagirone (Sicily). If you find yourself visiting these towns, you'll probably find yourself buying a new set of dinnerware!

Talkin' the Talk

Salvatore and his mother are preparing for dinner. Mamma asks him to set the table and sweep the floor in the
sala da pranzo
(
sah
-lah dah
prahn
-tzoh) (
dining room
) before their guests arrive.

Mamma:
Salvatore, per favore, passa la scopa prima che arrivino gli ospiti.

sahl-vah-
toh
-reh, pehr fah-
voh
-reh,
pahs
-sah lah
skoh
-pah
pree
-mah keh ahr-
ree-
vee-noh lyee
ohs
-pee-tee.

Salvatore, please sweep the floor before the guests arrive.

Salvatore:
Va bene, mamma.

vah
beh
-neh,
mahm
-mah.

Okay, Mom.

Che altro?

keh
ahl-
troh?

Anything else?

Mamma:
Apparecchia il tavolo, caro.

ahp-pah-
rek
-kyah eel
tah
-voh-loh,
kah
-roh.

Set the table, dear.

Salvatore:
Cosa ci metto?

koh
-zah chee
meht
-toh?

What should I put out?

Mamma:
Metti la tovaglia con i limoni con i suoi tovaglioli.

meht
-tee lah toh-
vah
-lyah kohn ee lee-
moh
-nee kohn ee swohy toh-vahl-
yoh
-lee.

Put out the tablecloth with the lemons and the matching napkins.

Salvatore:
Quali piatti?

kwah
-lee
pyaht
-tee?

Which dishes?

Mamma:
Quelli di Faenza, il piano e il fondo.

kwehl
-lee dee fah-
ehn
-tsah, eel
pyah
-noh eh eel
fohn
-doh.

The ones from Faenza, the flat ones, and the bowls.

Non dimenticare forchette, coltelli, e cucchiai per il brodetto.

nohn dee-mehn-tee-
kah
-reh fohr-
keht
-teh, kohl-
tehl-
lee, eh koohk-
kyahy
pehr eel broh-
deht
-toh.

Don't forget forks, knives, and spoons for the fish stew.

Salvatore:
Mamma, non bastano i bicchieri per l'acqua.

mahm
-mah, nohn
bahs
-tah-noh ee beek-
kyeh-
ree pehr
lahk
-wah.

Mom, there aren't enough water glasses.

Mamma:
Non importa. Li ho qui nella lavastoviglie.

nohn eem-
pohr
-tah. lee oh kwee
nehl
-lah lah-vah-stoh-
veel
-yeh.

That's okay. I have them here in the dishwasher.

Aggiungiamo anche i bicchieri da vino. Grazie.

aj-joohn-
jah
-moh
ahn
-keh ee beek-
kyeh
-ree dah
vee
-noh.
grah-
tsyeh.

Let's add wine glasses, too. Thanks.

 

La camera da letto: The bedroom

La camera da letto
(lah
kah
-meh-rah dah
leht
-toh) (
the bedroom
) is the space where you get to relax and unwind, and it may have as much or as little stuff in it as you want. It's your personal space, after all! Here's what you commonly find in the bedroom:

l'armadio
(lahr-
mah
-dyoh) (
armoire
)

il comò
(eel koh-
moh
) (
dresser
)

il comodino
(eel koh-moh-
dee
-noh) (
nightstand
)