100 Italian Verbs Face-Off (Part 3)

[B] to inhabit | "Dove abiti?" is the Italian "Where do you live?" - but asking this too soon is considered prying. Location reveals social status!

[A] to fall | "Cadere dalle nuvole" (fall from the clouds) means being completely surprised. Italian has dozens of falling idioms - gravity gets poetic!

[A] to close | Past participle "chiuso" haunts tourists - everything closes for "pausa pranzo" (lunch break). Understanding Italian closing times requires a PhD!

[D] to leave | "Lascia stare!" (Let it be!) is Italian for "Forget about it!" Also "Lasciami in pace!" (Leave me in peace!) - drama included free!

[A] to choose | The GL sound is like "million" - tourists butcher this constantly! "L'imbarazzo della scelta" (embarrassment of choice) when facing 50 gelato flavors!

[D] to bring | Also means "wear" - "Cosa porti?" can mean "What are you bringing?" or "What are you wearing?" Context is everything!

[A] to receive | Formal receipts are "ricevute" - Italy's bureaucracy loves them! "Ricevere ospiti" (receive guests) is an art form in Italian homes.

[B] to clean | "Lavare i panni sporchi in famiglia" (wash dirty laundry in family) means keeping problems private - Italian omertà extends to housework!

[B] to respond | Takes "a" for people - "rispondere a Maria." Italian phone etiquette starts with "Pronto?" not "Hello!" - they're ready to respond!

[C] to sit | "Sedersi" (sit down) is more common than plain "sedere." "Prego, si sieda!" shows Italian hospitality - everyone must sit and stay awhile!

[B] to win | "Vincere o morire!" (Win or die!) - Italian competitive spirit in everything from soccer to who makes better pasta sauce!

[C] to pay | "Chi paga?" (Who pays?) starts negotiations. Italian generosity means fighting to pay the bill - letting someone pay too easily is rude!

[B] to get up | "Alzarsi presto" (get up early) is admired but rarely practiced. Italian morning starts when the coffee is ready, not when the alarm rings!

[A] to laugh | "Ride bene chi ride ultimo" (He who laughs last laughs best) - Italians love having the last laugh, especially in traffic disputes!

[D] to descend | Essential for public transport - "Scendo alla prossima!" (I'm getting off at the next one!) Get this wrong and tour the entire city!

[A] to encounter | "Ci incontriamo?" (Shall we meet?) starts every Italian social plan. Random encounters "per caso" are considered destiny!

[C] to offer | "Offro io!" (My treat!) is fighting words at Italian cafés. Offering coffee is sacred - accepting too quickly is insulting!

[D] to learn | "Sbagliando s'impara" (One learns by making mistakes) - Italian wisdom that makes errors educational rather than embarrassing!

[C] to forget | "Dimenticato" becomes an excuse for everything! "Ho dimenticato" (I forgot) - the universal Italian explanation for being late.

[D] to wake up | "Sveglia!" means both "Wake up!" and "alarm clock." Italian alarms are suggestions - the real wake-up is the espresso machine!

[C] to grow | Used for children, plants, and prices (unfortunately). "Crescere in fretta" - Italian kids grow fast on all that pasta!

[D] to sell | "Vendesi" (for sale) signs everywhere! Italian vendors are poets - they don't just sell, they "offer treasures" to discerning customers!

[A] to amuse | Reflexive "divertirsi" is how Italians have fun. "Ci siamo divertiti!" (We had fun!) ends every good Italian story!

[A] to become | Takes no preposition before professions - "diventare medico" not "un medico." Dreams of becoming something drive Italian ambitions!

[C] to place | Literary form - everyday Italian uses "mettere." But compounds like "proporre" (propose) and "comporre" (compose) are everywhere!

[D] to enter | "Entri!" (Come in!) is Italian hospitality. "Non c'entra!" (It doesn't enter/fit) means "It's irrelevant!" - logic through spatial metaphors!

[B] to fear | More literary than "avere paura" - Italians "temono" serious things like mother-in-law visits and running out of coffee!

[B] to clean | An -isc verb: "pulisco." "Pulizie di primavera" (spring cleaning) is when Italian homes get their annual deep clean!

[C] to dress | "Vestirsi" is getting dressed - an Italian art form! "Come ti vesti?" judges style. "L'abito non fa il monaco" (clothes don't make the monk) - but Italians dress like they do!

[D] to follow | Social media gave this ancient verb new life! "Seguimi!" means both "Follow me!" on streets and Instagram!

[B] to stay | "Resto qui" (I'm staying here) - the stubborn Italian declaration. Synonymous with "rimanere" but sounds more decisive!

[C] to change | "Cambiare idea" (change one's mind) happens constantly - Italian flexibility or indecision? Both! "Non cambi mai!" (You never change!) can be insult or compliment.

[D] to travel | The double 'g' is pronounced long - "vee-ah-JAH-reh." Italians "viaggiano" even to the corner store - every trip is a journey!

[A] to turn off | Irregular past "spento." "Spegni la luce!" (Turn off the light!) - Italian energy-saving starts at home, one switch at a time!

[C] to remember | "Ricordati!" (Remember!) starts every Italian reminder. "Mi ricorda..." (It reminds me...) launches nostalgic stories at every family dinner!

[A] to appear | More dramatic than "sembrare" (seem) - "apparire" is for grand entrances! Italian style means appearing, not just showing up!

[B] to help | "Aiuto!" (Help!) echoes through Italian kitchens when pasta water boils over. "Ti aiuto?" offers assistance Italian-style - expect to insist three times!

[B] to be silent | "Taci!" (Shut up!) is strong - use carefully! "Chi tace acconsente" (Who is silent consents) - Italian silence speaks volumes!

[D] to send | An -isc verb for shipping. "Spedire un pacco" (send a package) - Italian post office adventures require patience and prayers!

[C] to prepare | "Preparare la tavola" (set the table) is Italian meditation - every fork has its philosophy. "Prepararsi" (get ready) takes minimum 30 minutes, regardless of occasion!