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Lesson Introduction
Football is an essential part of Italian life. Just about everyone has his or her favorite team. In today's podcast you'll meet the one Italian who doesn't seem to know a bit about the sport. You'll also learn how to ask peoples' names.
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missworldtraveler says
June 25, 2008
Unfortunately, I don't know anything about soccer (or football -- as Europeans call it) to have a favorite player.
Out of curiosity, is cycling and diving the other top sports in Italy?
indusia says
June 25, 2008
Great dialogue!
I love football!
Catherine, Marco you're so funny. :)
soumaya says
June 25, 2008
very nice lesson once again! you're amazing guys!!! but I have some grammer questions. I would be very grateful if you could answer them:
why do we say come si chiama "quel" ragazzo, instead of "quello" ragazzo?
why do we say che "buon" vino, instead of "buono" vino?
why do we say "bel" goal, instead of "bello" goal?
is it because those words start with a consonant?
fabrizio says
June 25, 2008
It's a matter of euphony. Besides, the rule is a bit more complex: you can check here.
fabrizio says
June 25, 2008
In fact, the rule is even more complex than that site states. You have to use "lo/gli", "quello/quegli" and "bello/begli" also when the following word starts with "x" or with two consonants (unless the second one is a "l" or a "r").
lo xilofono, gli ftalati, quello psicologo, un bello pneumatico.
rickexodus says
June 26, 2008
bello , we use more in the contract form, bel.
So if i want to say "what a nice player"
we say "che BEL calciatore!"
it's more easy to say :)
christelateacher says
June 26, 2008
Il mio calciatore preferito e' Kaka' di AC Milan.
Chi e' il vostro calciatore preferito????
roscovanbasten says
June 26, 2008
Il mio calciatore preferito e' Robbie Keane..Forza Irlanda!
soumaya says
June 27, 2008
thanks a lot Fabrizio, those rules are very helpful!thanks rickexodus :)! very kind of you guys!
fabrizio says
June 27, 2008
You're welcome soumaya. Besides, I forgot another case when you have to use "uno", "lo/gli", "quello/quegli" and "bello/begli", i.e. when the word starts with a half-consonant "i" (i.e. when the "i" is followed by another vowel and has the same sound like the spanish "ll" in "pollo".
uno ioduro, lo Ionio, quello iettatore, ecc. ecc.
If the word is feminine , you use the articles you would use in front of a consonant:
una iattura, la iattura (NOT un'iattura, l'iattura)
chillosk says
June 27, 2008
Il mio calciatore preferito e' Diego Armando Maradona. He's a legend.
Now, you got to hand it to Lionel Messi and Euro 2008 hero Andrei Arshavin.
lunetta says
July 5, 2008
Ah Totti, also know as the llama in Denmark. (He spat at a Danish player in a match in the previous European Championship...)
In Italy he's been the butt of many jokes because of the way he speaks Italian. Some years ago he put together a small book called 'Tutte le barzellette su Totti (raccolte da me)' which became very popular.
Here's a video where he and il mio calciatore preferito, Alessandro del Piero, are enacting one of the jokes.
abgdevztiklmnopjrstopx1234567890 says
September 26, 2008
ciao tutti
WWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW
io amo ilo calcio molto-molto
il mio calciatore preferito e MICHAEL BALLACK.GILARDINO<INZAGHI<DEL PIERO ...
ole ole ole italia campione
there are misstakes but anywhere
ptitpiaf says
October 27, 2008
il mio calciatore preferito e Fabien Barteze
sorry i am french ;)
calciato is a ruff subjet to distut at my place... between me and my love (italian fellow).. so i'll just stop here
for today
mandakay016 says
November 5, 2008
il mio calciatore preferito e Cristiano Ronaldo!!
daboone says
February 18, 2009
Il mio calciatore preferito e' KaKa . :D
parressh says
December 15, 2009
Lionel Messi è il mio calciatore preferito. Sono eccitato per la prossima Coppa del mondo.
trungle2009 says
January 5, 2010
Il mio calciatore preferito è Ronaldo. Lui è veloce e forte.