B2 · 54 words
Walking and mountain days in Italian
The path, the weather, the kit — and when to turn back.
Practise this list
From these 54 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
Two thirds of the way down sits la zecca, the tick you check your legs for after a wood. It has a twin with which it shares nothing but a spelling: la Zecca is also the mint, the works where coins are struck, and la Zecca dello Stato strikes the coins of the country. English is in no position to laugh, because its own « mint » is two words as well, the coin works and the herb. What makes the pair worth keeping is the phrase the coin one produced. Nuovo di zecca is fresh from the mint, and it is what Italian says of a car, a passport or a pair of boots that has never been used: « brand new ». English took the same picture and put it to a slightly different use. « In mint condition » says that a thing looks untouched, not that it is new, and it is normally said of old things — a stamp, a first edition, a bicycle from the seventies. The two idioms meet at the mint and part at once: one is about age, the other about wear.
The words
View
Adjective (1)
Grammar for these: Adjective agreement · Where the adjective stands
ripidosteepAdjectiveB2
Questo tratto è troppo ripido per il mio ginocchio.This stretch is too steep for my knee.
Phrase (7)
camminare in montagnato walk in the mountainsPhraseB2
Camminare in montagna d’inverno richiede attenzione.Walking in the mountains in winter calls for care.
carta e bussolamap and compassPhraseB2
Con carta e bussola trovo la strada anche nella nebbia.With map and compass I find the way even in fog.
avvisare qualcunoto let somebody knowPhraseB2
Prima di partire conviene avvisare qualcuno.Before setting off it is wise to let somebody know.
il dislivello in discesathe descent in metresPhraseB2
Il dislivello in discesa mette alla prova le ginocchia.The descent in metres is what tests the knees.
dormire in tenda nella naturato camp wildPhraseB2
Dormire in tenda nella natura richiede rispetto per il luogo.Camping wild calls for respect for the place.
prendere un azimutto take a bearingPhraseB2
Nella nebbia conviene prendere un azimut e contare i passi.In fog it is better to take a bearing and count your steps.
mirare di lato appostato aim off deliberatelyPhraseB2
Con la nebbia conviene mirare di lato apposta e poi girare.In fog it is better to aim off deliberately and then turn in.
Noun (f) (18)
Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno
l’escursionethe hikeNoun (f)B2
L’escursione dura tutto il giorno.The hike lasts all day.
l’ippoviathe bridlewayNoun (f)B2
L’ippovia attraversa il bosco di querce.The bridleway crosses the oak wood.
la scaletta del recintothe stileNoun (f)B2
La scaletta del recinto permette di passare senza aprire nulla.The stile lets you cross without opening anything.
la scheda dell’itinerariothe route cardNoun (f)B2
Lascio la scheda dell’itinerario a mia sorella.I leave the route card with my sister.
la salitathe ascentNoun (f)B2
La salita al rifugio richiede tre ore.The ascent to the hut takes three hours.
la pendenzathe gradientNoun (f)B2
La pendenza aumenta dopo il ponte.The gradient increases after the bridge.
la traversata di crestathe ridge traverseNoun (f)B2
La traversata di cresta è esposta al vento.The ridge traverse is exposed to the wind.
la vescicathe blisterNoun (f)B2
Una vescica al tallone rovina la giornata.A blister on the heel ruins the day.
la giacca impermeabilethe waterproof jacketNoun (f)B2
La giacca impermeabile sta sempre in fondo allo zaino.The waterproof jacket always sits at the bottom of the rucksack.
le ghettethe gaitersNoun (f)B2
Le ghette tengono la neve fuori dagli scarponi.Gaiters keep the snow out of your boots.
la lampada frontalethe head torchNoun (f)B2
Senza lampada frontale il rientro al buio è difficile.Without a head torch the way back in the dark is hard.
la finestra di bel tempothe weather windowNoun (f)B2
La finestra di bel tempo dura fino a mezzogiorno.The weather window lasts until midday.
l’ora di rientrothe turnaround timeNoun (f)B2
Fissiamo l’ora di rientro prima di partire.We fix the turnaround time before setting off.
la disidratazionethe dehydrationNoun (f)B2
La disidratazione si sente prima come stanchezza.Dehydration is felt first as tiredness.
la scottatura solarethe sunburnNoun (f)B2
In quota la scottatura solare arriva anche con le nuvole.High up, sunburn comes even with cloud.
la zeccathe tickNoun (f)B2
Dopo il bosco controllo se ho una zecca sulle gambe.After the wood I check whether I have a tick on my legs.
la linea guida sul terrenothe handrail featureNoun (f)B2
Un muretto è una buona linea guida sul terreno.A low wall makes a good handrail feature.
la nebbia biancathe whiteoutNoun (f)B2
Nella nebbia bianca sparisce ogni ombra.In a whiteout every shadow disappears.
Noun (m) (28)
Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno
l’escursionistathe hikerNoun (m)B2
Ogni escursionista firma il registro del rifugio.Every hiker signs the hut book.
il sentierothe footpathNoun (m)B2
Il sentiero sale dolcemente fino al lago.The footpath climbs gently to the lake.
il segnaviathe waymarkNoun (m)B2
Il segnavia bianco e rosso porta al passo.The white and red waymark leads to the pass.
il cartello indicatorethe signpostNoun (m)B2
Al bivio manca il cartello indicatore.There is no signpost at the fork.
il viottolothe narrow trackNoun (m)B2
Un viottolo stretto costeggia il campo.A narrow track runs along the edge of the field.
il valicothe passNoun (m)B2
Al valico soffia sempre un vento gelido.There is always an icy wind at the pass.
il ghiaionethe screeNoun (m)B2
Il ghiaione scivola sotto gli scarponi.The scree slides away under your boots.
il campo di massithe boulder fieldNoun (m)B2
Il campo di massi rallenta molto il passo.The boulder field slows the pace considerably.
l’attraversamento del torrentethe stream crossingNoun (m)B2
L’attraversamento del torrente riesce solo con poca acqua.The stream crossing only works when the water is low.
il guadothe fordNoun (m)B2
Dopo la pioggia il guado diventa pericoloso.After rain the ford becomes dangerous.
il rifugio alpinothe staffed mountain hutNoun (m)B2
Il rifugio alpino apre a giugno.The staffed mountain hut opens in June.
il bivaccothe unstaffed shelterNoun (m)B2
Il bivacco resta aperto tutto l’anno e non ha custode.The unstaffed shelter stays open all year and has no warden.
lo zaino da giornatathe day sackNoun (m)B2
Per questa gita basta lo zaino da giornata.For this outing the day sack is enough.
gli scarponi da trekkingthe walking bootsNoun (m)B2
Gli scarponi da trekking vanno provati prima della gita.Walking boots should be broken in before the outing.
lo strato di abbigliamentothe clothing layerNoun (m)B2
Tolgo uno strato di abbigliamento appena comincio a sudare.I take off a clothing layer as soon as I start to sweat.
il bastoncino da trekkingthe walking poleNoun (m)B2
Il bastoncino da trekking aiuta nelle discese ripide.The walking pole helps on steep descents.
il sacco da bivaccothe bivvy bagNoun (m)B2
Il sacco da bivacco pesa poco e scalda molto.The bivvy bag weighs little and keeps you very warm.
il fischiettothe whistleNoun (m)B2
Tre fischi con il fischietto sono il segnale di aiuto.Three blasts on the whistle are the distress signal.
l’orientamento in montagnahill navigationNoun (m)B2
L’orientamento in montagna si allena con calma.Hill navigation is best practised calmly.
l’azimut inversothe back bearingNoun (m)B2
L’azimut inverso riporta al punto di partenza.The back bearing leads you back to the starting point.
il conteggio dei passithe step countingNoun (m)B2
Il conteggio dei passi dice quanta strada è fatta.Step counting tells you how much ground you have covered.
il punto d’attaccothe attack pointNoun (m)B2
Scelgo un punto d’attacco vicino al lago.I choose an attack point near the lake.
l’assideramentothe frostbiteNoun (m)B2
L’assideramento colpisce per primo le dita.Frostbite strikes the fingers first.
il limite delle nevithe snow lineNoun (m)B2
In primavera il limite delle nevi sale in fretta.In spring the snow line rises quickly.
il soccorso alpinothe mountain rescueNoun (m)B2
Il soccorso alpino chiede la posizione esatta.Mountain rescue asks for the exact position.
il livello del torrentethe water levelNoun (m)B2
Il livello del torrente sale dopo il temporale.The water level in the stream rises after a thunderstorm.
il nevaiothe snowfieldNoun (m)B2
Il nevaio resta duro fino a tarda mattina.The snowfield stays hard until late morning.
il pendiothe slopeNoun (m)B2
Il pendio sopra il sentiero è coperto di erba alta.The slope above the path is covered in long grass.
Missing a word? Look it up in the dictionary
This list belongs to Free time and sport — 24 lists and 793 words that can also be practised as a whole.