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A2  ·  50 words

In the flat in Italian

Floor, ceiling, pipe, cupboard — the things you only have to name once something breaks.

Practise this list

From these 50 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

Near the end of the list stands il portone, and a reader who knows la porta will make two mistakes with it at once. The first is size. -one is the augmentative suffix, so the word looks as though it should mean « a big door », and instead it names one particular door: the street door of a block of flats, the one that shuts at ten. The second mistake is gender. La porta is feminine; il portone is masculine, because in Italian the suffix settles the gender and the base word has no say in it. This list holds two more of these. Il piumone is built on la piuma, the feather, and it is not a large feather but a duvet, and it is masculine. Il campanello is built on la campana, the bell, with the diminutive -ello, and it is not a small bell but the doorbell, and it is masculine too. English has nothing that behaves like this, so the habit has to be built from scratch: read the suffix first, then the stem, and expect a different object rather than a different size.

The words

Noun (m) (29)

Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno

il pavimentothe floorNoun (m)A2
Il pavimento scricchiola quando si cammina.The floor creaks when you walk on it.
il gradinothe stepNoun (m)A2
Attenzione all’ultimo gradino.Mind the last step.
il corrimanothe handrailNoun (m)A2
Tieniti al corrimano.Hold on to the handrail.
il pianerottolothe landingNoun (m)A2
Le biciclette sono sul pianerottolo.The bicycles are on the landing.
il parquetthe parquet floorNoun (m)A2
Il parquet è stato rifatto l’anno scorso.The parquet floor was redone last year.
il termosifonethe radiatorNoun (m)A2
Il termosifone della camera non scalda.The radiator in the bedroom does not heat up.
il lavellothe kitchen sinkNoun (m)A2
Il lavello è otturato.The kitchen sink is blocked.
il lavandinothe washbasinNoun (m)A2
C’è una perdita sotto il lavandino.There is a leak under the washbasin.
l’armadio a murothe fitted cupboardNoun (m)A2
I piatti sono nell’armadio a muro in alto.The plates are in the top fitted cupboard.
il guardarobathe wardrobeNoun (m)A2
La tua giacca è nel guardaroba.Your jacket is in the wardrobe.
il guancialethe pillowNoun (m)A2
Il guanciale è troppo duro.The pillow is too hard.
il piumonethe duvetNoun (m)A2
Il piumone invernale è in soffitta.The winter duvet is up in the loft.
il lenzuolothe sheetNoun (m)A2
Cambio le lenzuola il sabato.I change the sheets on Saturdays.
il comodinothe bedside tableNoun (m)A2
I miei occhiali sono sul comodino.My glasses are on the bedside table.
il chiavistellothe boltNoun (m)A2
Metti il chiavistello la sera.Put the bolt across in the evening.
lo spioncinothe peepholeNoun (m)A2
Guarda dallo spioncino prima di aprire.Look through the peephole before you open.
il campanellothe doorbellNoun (m)A2
Il campanello non funziona.The doorbell does not work.
lo zerbinothe doormatNoun (m)A2
Pulisciti i piedi sullo zerbino.Wipe your feet on the doormat.
l’ingressothe entranceNoun (m)A2
L’ingresso è dal lato del cortile.The entrance is on the courtyard side.
il cortilethe courtyardNoun (m)A2
I bidoni sono nel cortile.The bins are in the courtyard.
il cancellothe gateNoun (m)A2
Il cancello si chiude da solo.The gate closes by itself.
il caminothe chimneyNoun (m)A2
Il camino deve essere pulito.The chimney has to be swept.
il vano scalethe stairwellNoun (m)A2
Le cassette postali sono nel vano scale.The letterboxes are in the stairwell.
il ripostigliothe box roomNoun (m)A2
Le valigie sono nel ripostiglio.The suitcases are in the box room.
l’aspirapolverethe vacuum cleanerNoun (m)A2
Passa l’aspirapolvere in salotto.Run the vacuum cleaner in the sitting room.
lo sgabuzzinothe lumber roomNoun (m)A2
Gli attrezzi sono nello sgabuzzino.The tools are in the lumber room.
il davanzalethe windowsillNoun (m)A2
Le piante sono sul davanzale.The plants are on the windowsill.
il portonethe main door of the buildingNoun (m)A2
Il portone si chiude alle dieci.The main door of the building closes at ten.
lo stracciothe clothNoun (m)A2
Passa uno straccio sul tavolo.Give the table a wipe with a cloth.

Noun (f) (21)

Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno

la parete divisoriathe partition wallNoun (f)A2
La parete divisoria fra le due stanze è sottile.The partition wall between the two rooms is thin.
la travethe beamNoun (f)A2
Il soffitto ha vecchie travi.The ceiling has old beams.
la sogliathe thresholdNoun (f)A2
Non lasciare la borsa sulla soglia.Do not leave the bag on the threshold.
la persianathe shutterNoun (f)A2
Chiudi le persiane, fa caldo.Close the shutters, it is hot.
la tapparellathe roller blindNoun (f)A2
La tapparella è rotta dall’estate.The roller blind has been broken since the summer.
la moquettethe fitted carpetNoun (f)A2
La moquette è macchiata sotto la finestra.The fitted carpet is stained under the window.
le piastrellethe tilesNoun (f)A2
Le piastrelle del bagno sono fredde.The bathroom tiles are cold.
la prolungathe extension leadNoun (f)A2
Serve una prolunga per la lampada.The lamp needs an extension lead.
la vascathe bathtubNoun (f)A2
La vasca occupa tutto lo spazio.The bathtub takes up all the space.
la docciathe showerNoun (f)A2
La doccia è più pratica la mattina.The shower is more practical in the morning.
la grucciathe coat hangerNoun (f)A2
Non ci sono più grucce libere.There are no free coat hangers left.
la lampada da comodinothe bedside lampNoun (f)A2
La lampada da comodino non si accende più.The bedside lamp no longer switches on.
la cornicethe picture frameNoun (f)A2
La cornice è storta.The picture frame is crooked.
la manigliathe door handleNoun (f)A2
La maniglia della porta è allentata.The door handle is loose.
la recinzionethe fenceNoun (f)A2
La recinzione è caduta durante il temporale.The fence came down in the storm.
la grondaiathe gutterNoun (f)A2
La grondaia trabocca quando piove forte.The gutter overflows when it rains hard.
la facciatathe facadeNoun (f)A2
La facciata sarà ridipinta in primavera.The facade will be repainted in the spring.
la lavanderiathe laundry roomNoun (f)A2
La lavatrice è in lavanderia.The washing machine is in the laundry room.
la spugnathe spongeNoun (f)A2
La spugna è vicino al lavello.The sponge is next to the kitchen sink.
la presa di correntethe socketNoun (f)A2
Non c’è una presa di corrente in bagno.There is no socket in the bathroom.
la cassetta della postathe letterboxNoun (f)A2
La cassetta della posta è piena.The letterbox is full.

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This list belongs to Home, clothes and the body — 16 lists and 548 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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