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From these 35 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 Ricordare un nome sits near the end of this list, and the verb inside it does two English jobs that we keep well apart. Left alone with a direct object, ricordare is « remember »: ricordo il suo nome , non ricordo dove ci siamo conosciuti . Give it a person in the dative as well and it becomes the other verb entirely. Ricordami il suo nome is not « I remember » but « remind me of his name », and gli ho ricordato l’appuntamento says that somebody was reminded of the appointment, not that the speaker managed to recall it. The rule is mechanical: whoever turns up in the dative is the one being told. Beside both stands the reflexive, ricordarsi di , which is the ordinary spoken way of saying « remember » when the thing remembered arrives behind a preposition: ti ricordi di lui? , non mi sono ricordato di chiedere . So a single Italian verb covers what English divides between « remember » and « remind », and what decides between them is not the meaning at all but the shape of the sentence around it.
The words
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Verb (3)
rispecchiare to mirror Verb C1 Rispecchia il tono di chi ha davanti. She mirrors the tone of the person in front of her.
congedarsi to take one’s leave Verb C1 Si è congedato prima del dolce. He took his leave before the pudding.
sdrammatizzare to take the drama out of something Verb C1 Ha sdrammatizzato con una battuta su di sé. He took the drama out of it with a joke against himself.
Adjective (1)
Grammar for these: Adjective agreement · Where the adjective stands
autoironico self-deprecating Adjective C1 Un tono autoironico toglie peso alla figuraccia. A self-deprecating tone takes the weight off an embarrassment.
Phrase (11)
chiacchiere di circostanza small talk Phrase C1 Sono state solo chiacchiere di circostanza davanti all’ascensore. It was only small talk in front of the lift.
rompere il ghiaccio to break the ice Phrase C1 Ha rotto il ghiaccio con una domanda banale. He broke the ice with a banal question.
cambiare argomento to change the subject Phrase C1 Ha cambiato argomento con eleganza. He changed the subject elegantly.
essere messo in difficoltà to be put on the spot Phrase C1 È stato messo in difficoltà da una domanda diretta. He was put on the spot by a direct question.
raccontare troppo di sé to give too much away about oneself Phrase C1 Al primo incontro è meglio non raccontare troppo di sé. At a first meeting it is better not to give too much away about oneself.
capire l’aria che tira to read the room Phrase C1 Ha capito subito l’aria che tirava e ha taciuto. She read the room at once and said nothing.
presentare qualcuno to introduce somebody Phrase C1 Mi ha presentato qualcuno del reparto vicino. She introduced me to somebody from the neighbouring department.
ricordare un nome to remember a name Phrase C1 Ricordare un nome è il complimento più economico che esista. Remembering a name is the cheapest compliment there is.
mantenere un tono leggero to keep the tone light Phrase C1 Alla cena aziendale conviene mantenere un tono leggero. At the company dinner it is as well to keep the tone light.
mostrare interesse to show interest Phrase C1 Basta mostrare interesse per farsi ricordare. Showing interest is enough to be remembered.
farsi vivo più tardi to get in touch later Phrase C1 Ha promesso di farsi vivo più tardi e non l’ha fatto. He promised to get in touch later and did not.
Noun (f) (8)
Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno
la frase di apertura the opening line Noun (f) C1 La frase di apertura decide se l’altro resta o va. The opening line decides whether the other person stays or goes.
la domanda aperta the open question Noun (f) C1 Una domanda aperta obbliga a raccontare qualcosa. An open question forces somebody to tell you something.
la domanda di rilancio the follow-up question Noun (f) C1 Senza una domanda di rilancio il discorso si spegne. Without a follow-up question the conversation goes out.
la frase per chiudere the exit line Noun (f) C1 Tieni pronta una frase per chiudere. Keep an exit line ready.
la storia da raccontare the story worth telling Noun (f) C1 Chi ha una storia da raccontare non resta mai solo. Anyone with a story worth telling is never left alone.
la differenza culturale the cultural difference Noun (f) C1 La differenza culturale si vede nei silenzi, non nelle parole. The cultural difference shows in the silences, not in the words.
la stretta di mano decisa the firm handshake Noun (f) C1 Una stretta di mano decisa vale più di una frase. A firm handshake is worth more than a sentence.
la prima impressione the first impression Noun (f) C1 La prima impressione si corregge con fatica. A first impression is corrected only with difficulty.
Noun (m) (12)
Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno
il punto in comune the common ground Noun (m) C1 Abbiamo trovato subito un punto in comune. We found common ground at once.
l’argomento neutro the safe topic Noun (m) C1 Il viaggio è sempre un argomento neutro. The journey there is always a safe topic.
l’ascolto attivo active listening Noun (m) C1 L’ascolto attivo si nota dalle pause che uno lascia. Active listening shows in the pauses a person leaves.
lo sfoggio di conoscenze name-dropping Noun (m) C1 Lo sfoggio di conoscenze si sente lontano un chilometro. Name-dropping can be heard a mile off.
il silenzio imbarazzante the awkward silence Noun (m) C1 Dopo quella battuta è calato un silenzio imbarazzante. After that remark an awkward silence fell.
l’interlocutore the person you are talking to Noun (m) C1 L’interlocutore guardava altrove tutto il tempo. The person he was talking to looked elsewhere the whole time.
lo spazio personale personal space Noun (m) C1 Lo spazio personale qui è più stretto che al nord. Personal space is narrower here than in the north.
il contatto visivo eye contact Noun (m) C1 Il contatto visivo va tenuto, non imposto. Eye contact is to be held, not imposed.
il discorso sul tempo the talk about the weather Noun (m) C1 Il discorso sul tempo dura giusto il viaggio in ascensore. The talk about the weather lasts exactly the ride in the lift.
il discorso tra addetti ai lavori shop talk Noun (m) C1 Il discorso tra addetti ai lavori esclude tutti gli altri. Shop talk shuts everybody else out.
il dissenso garbato the courteous disagreement Noun (m) C1 Il dissenso garbato apre più porte del silenzio. Courteous disagreement opens more doors than silence.
l’incontro di networking the networking event Noun (m) C1 All’incontro di networking si parla in piedi e con il bicchiere in mano. At a networking event people talk standing up with a glass in hand.
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