HSC Italian Beginners (NSW) key terms

The group of people you are related to, such as parents, children, grandparents and siblings. It is a common topic in personal descriptions and is often used with possessive words like 'mia' or 'mio'.

The mother and father of a child, considered together as a pair. The word is plural; the singular forms are 'il padre' and 'la madre'. It often appears when talking about who you live with.

The sons and daughters of the same parents, seen from the point of view of one another. In Italian the masculine plural can include both brothers and sisters, while 'le sorelle' refers only to sisters.

The parents of your mother or father. The singular forms are 'il nonno' and 'la nonna'. Grandparents often appear in descriptions of family life and in texts about where people spend their holidays.

The female parent of a child. It is a feminine noun ending in -e, so its plural is 'le madri'. A more informal word used in everyday speech is 'la mamma'.

The male parent of a child. It is a masculine noun ending in -e, with the plural 'i padri'. The everyday spoken form is 'il papà', which is common in listening texts about family.

The building or place where someone lives. It is used in phrases such as 'a casa' (at home) and 'tornare a casa' (to go back home), which appear often in short listening passages about daily routines.

A room in a house, especially a bedroom. Note that 'la camera da letto' means bedroom, while 'la camera' alone can mean a room in a hotel. Do not confuse it with 'la stanza', a general word for room.

The room in a house containing a bath, shower, sink and toilet. It is also the word for the act of bathing. In descriptions of a home it usually appears with 'c'è' or 'ci sono'.

A district or neighbourhood within a town or city, with its own streets, shops and character. It is useful when describing where you live and what facilities are nearby, such as parks or markets.

The whole of a day, thought of as a period of time with its own rhythm and activities. It differs from 'il giorno', which can also mean daytime or a single calendar day. Common in routine descriptions.

The clock or device that wakes you in the morning, or the act of waking up. The verb 'svegliarsi' means to wake oneself up. These words appear in texts about morning routines and school days.

The first meal of the day, eaten in the morning. In Italy it is often light, for example coffee and a pastry. It is commonly used with the verb 'fare' as in 'fare colazione' (to have breakfast).

The main evening meal, usually eaten with family or friends. The related verb is 'cenare' (to have dinner). It often appears with time expressions such as 'alle otto di sera' in daily routine texts.

The midday meal. In Italy it can be a substantial meal, though habits vary by region and family. The verb 'pranzare' means to have lunch. It appears in texts about school breaks and weekend plans.

A school subject on the timetable, such as history, maths or Italian. It is a feminine noun. Students often say which subject they like or find difficult, using verbs like 'piacere' and 'trovare'.

The place where students go to learn, or the institution of education itself. In Italian it can refer to primary or secondary school. Phrases like 'a scuola' and 'dopo scuola' are frequent in listening tasks.

A piece of work set by a teacher, such as homework or an exercise. It can also mean a task in general. Students often talk about having 'molti compiti' or finishing homework before going out.

A person you know well and like, who is not part of your family. The feminine form is 'l'amica' and the plural forms are 'gli amici' and 'le amiche'. Central to descriptions of your social world.

The hours when you are not working or studying and can choose what to do. It is used in questions about hobbies and weekend activities, often with verbs like 'passare' or 'dedicarsi a'.

Physical activity done for exercise, competition or fun, such as football, swimming or tennis. The phrase 'fare sport' means to do sport. Note the unusual plural 'gli sport', which does not change.

A single game or match in a sport. It is used with verbs like 'giocare' and 'vedere', for example watching a football match. It differs from 'la squadra', which means the team itself.

A group of players who compete together in a sport. It can also mean a team at work. Fans often say which team they support using the verb 'tifare per', common in leisure and community texts.

A journey or trip from one place to another, often over some distance. It is used with verbs like 'fare' and 'organizzare'. Related words include 'viaggiare' (to travel) and 'il viaggiatore' (traveller).

A period of time away from work or school, spent resting or travelling. Italians often talk about 'le vacanze estive' (summer holidays). It appears in reading texts about travel plans and past trips.

A small printed card or ticket that allows you to travel, enter a place or attend an event. It is used for trains, buses, cinemas and museums. Buying one often involves asking 'Quanto costa?'

A railway vehicle made of carriages that carries passengers or goods along tracks. Common phrases include 'prendere il treno' and 'il binario' (platform). Useful in travel dialogues and timetables.

The place where trains or buses stop so passengers can get on and off. It can also mean a season of the year. In travel contexts it is usually 'la stazione ferroviaria' or 'la stazione degli autobus'.

A building where travellers pay to sleep and sometimes eat. Another common word is 'l'hotel'. Useful phrases include 'prenotare una camera' and 'la pensione completa', which appear in holiday reading tasks.

A celebration or party, either private or public. It can refer to a birthday party or a religious and national holiday. The verb 'festeggiare' means to celebrate, and appears in customs and community texts.

A custom or practice passed down through generations, such as a special food eaten at a particular festival. The adjective 'tradizionale' describes something done in the old familiar way.

Anything people eat, considered as a general category. It is used in texts about regional cooking, markets and meals. Related words include 'il piatto' (dish) and 'la specialità' (speciality).

A place where meals are cooked and served to paying customers. Useful phrases include 'prenotare un tavolo' and 'il conto' (the bill). It appears in listening tasks involving ordering food or making a booking.

The list of dishes and prices offered in a restaurant. In Italian the plural is 'i menù' because the final vowel carries an accent. Reading one requires recognising food words and prices.

An object given to someone on a special occasion without asking for payment. It is used with 'fare' as in 'fare un regalo'. Common in texts about birthdays, Christmas and other celebrations.

The yearly date on which a person was born and which is celebrated. The phrase 'Buon compleanno!' means happy birthday. It often appears with dates and ages in personal descriptions.

Saturday and Sunday, seen as a block of free time. It is a masculine noun borrowed from English and is invariable in the plural. It often appears in questions about plans and leisure activities.

The middle part of a town or city, where shops, squares and public buildings are usually found. The phrase 'in centro' means in the town centre and is common in directions and shopping texts.