WTI Magazine #45    2014 October, 15
Author : Manuela Bianchi for learnitalygroup.com      Translation by:

Today we continue to explore our Italian language getting back to the "false friends" which, as we already said, help us not only to avoid errors but also to become more confident and to enrich our vocabulary. "Case", for example, is in Italian the plural of "casa" (home), while in English can mean box or suitcase. For the lovers of gambling an english word very known is "casino" which means what in Italian we pronounce with a final accent like the French: "casinò".

In Italian, instead, "casino" (without accent) takes on other meanings that you should know: in the family may mean signifying confusion or disorder as in the phrase "nella tua cameretta c'e un gran casino"(in your bedroom there is a big mess) or noise: for example you can say that someone "sta facendo molto casino"(is doing a lot of noise). But it does not end there, because "casino" in Italian also means brothel or house of tolerance, so we always have to pay attention to the context in which it is used. Other words such as "stampa" (print) and "stamp" seem very close but they mean different things. The Italian word "stampa" is also used to translate the word "press".

We conclude with two other words: "caution" and "cauzione". The first in its noun form is translated in Italian with "cautela" or "attenzione"; while the Italian word "cauzione" means "bail" or "deposit".

"Non lo sapevo mica" (I didn't know!)
Today we also want to introduce the use and meaning of an expression that often awakens the curiosity of many who study the Italian language. I'm talking about the adverb "mica", used mostly in oral forms to strengthen a negation. In some cases it can take meanings and functions similar to "at all", "by no means" and is located after the verb. For instance, to say that we did not break the antique porcelain vase that stood for years in the living room we could defend ourselves against the accusations and say "non sono stato io!"(it wasn't me!): but if we want to use more emphasis, we can say "non sono stato mica io!" (it wasn't me, at all!).

Again, to say "non siamo fidanzati" (we're not engaged) in a more convinced and emphasized way, we can say "non siamo mica fidanzati!" (we're not engaged, by no means!). Another example: to stress more and more the phrase "non ho capito dove devo andare" (I didn't get where I have to go) we can add "mica" and say "non ho mica capito dove devo andare!" (I didn't get where I have to go, at all!).

Sometimes "mica" is used in sentences in which there the word "non" (not) isn't used, but just implied; and is positioned after the verb. Some examples: "Mario non mi guardava mica"(Mario wasn't looking at me at all) can become "mica mi guardava, Mario". "Non lo so mica se ti interessa" (I don't know at all if you're interested into it) can become "mica lo so se ti interessa". And so on.

This particular adverbial form is also used in place of "forse" (maybe), "per caso" (by chance) to introduce assumptions. For example: "hai mica incontrato Lucia?"(did you meet Lucia, by any chance?); "hai mica comprato il pane" (did you maybe buy some bread?); "non ti sarai mica offeso?"(you haven't offended, have you?).

We then have the expression "mica male" (not bad), used to indicate a favorable condition or judgment related to something or someone. If someone asks "come ti è sembrato quel film?"(what do you think about that movie?) we can answer "mica male" (not bad), if we mean that it seemed quite good.

A little curiosity: the word "mica" is derived from the Latin word "mīca" (m) which means crumb or very small part of something, and it took time and an extensive use to get to the current meaning. This adverbial particle is mainly considered part of the spoken Italian, not the written one; but it is still widely used, and so it is good to know.