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Bonus Episode 01 - Vocabulary for Dreamers - To preceed Episode 02

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🎧 Bonus Episode 01 - Vocabulary for Dreamers - To preceed Episode 02

Before diving into the next part of our story, let’s take a moment to strengthen our Italian vocabulary! In this special bonus episode, you’ll review key words and phrases that will help you follow along with ease.

🌟 Highlights:
✔️ Essential words from Episode 2, introduced in context.
✔️Active recall exercises to reinforce your memory.
✔️A mini quiz where you translate from English to Italian.
✔️Exclusive access to interactive vocabulary flashcards to practice anytime, anywhere!

🎯 Practice Makes Perfect:
Before hearing these words in the next episode, you have the opportunity to practice with me. First, listen as I introduce words in context. Then, test yourself with active recall exercises, a mini quiz, and interactive flashcards.

This is your chance to get comfortable with new vocabulary before hearing it in action. Listen, repeat, and build confidence at your own pace. 

📜 Care to follow along as you listen? Check out the transcript.

🎧 Take it slow, embrace the process, and immerse yourself in Italian—piano piano!

All content © 2025 Impariamo l’italiano piano piano – Un impegno quotidiano

🎧 Bonus Episode 01 - Vocabulary for Dreamers -  Vocabulary Boost before Episode 02
We Learn Italian - Step by Step

  Impariamo l'italiano piano piano - Un impegno quotidiano!

  Myra: Benvenuti alla nostra prima puntata bonus! 🎙️ Welcome to our first bonus episode!

Antonio (scoffing, unimpressed): Una puntata… solo sul vocabolario? Ma dai. Io conosco già tutte le parole.
[An entire episode… just for vocabulary? Come on. I already know all the words.]

Myra: I know you do, Antonio… but this episode isn’t for you. It’s for our listeners who are still learning.

Antonio (grumbling): Uff… va bene. Ma non è emozionante come la grammatica… o una buona storia d’amore.
[Fine. But it’s not as exciting as grammar… or a good love story.]

Myra: Patience, Antonio. Vocabulary is exciting when it helps you understand the next part of the mystery.

Antonio (sighing, dramatic): Se lo dici tu… ma alla fine voglio fare un quiz, capito?
[If you say so… but at the end I want to do a quiz, got it?]

Myra: Affare fatto. ...Deal. 

We will let you quiz us later. But for now… Entriamo nel vivo! 🎧

In Episode 1, we stepped into our story and began our exploration of the imperfetto tense. But before we continue, let’s take a moment to prepare for what’s coming next.

In this bonus episode, we’ll review key vocabulary that will help you better understand the next part of the story. 

The words in this vocabulary have been selected from the next part of the story that you will hear in Episode 2, grouped into useful categories, from dreams and goals to places and objects. You’ll hear them in natural sentences first, and then you’ll have a chance to practice. 

And remember, you have interactive flashcards to practice with outside of the podcast and you can use the chapter markers on the podcast to review any sections you want to return to. 

During the contextual introduction, there’s no need to respond, just listen carefully as I introduce each word in context, using a mix of English and Italian. Then, we’ll reinforce your understanding with a short recall exercise and a mini quiz similar to what we did in the introductory episode that preceded Episode 1.

Pronti? / Are you ready? - Let’s get started! / Iniziamo!

 🌙 Category 1: Dreams and Goals

🔹 Contextual Introduction

Many people sognano about a career that can truly soddisfi them. Finding a job that renda you happy is not always easy, but those who keep working toward [MR1] their dreams hope that one day, they realizzeranno.

And here is the contextual introduction again, completely in Italian, slowed down just a bit.

Molte persone sognano una carriera che le soddisfi veramente. Trovare un lavoro che ti renda felice non è sempre facile, ma coloro che continuano a lavorare per i loro sogni sperano che un giorno li realizzeranno.[MR2] 

And one more time at regular speed.

*contextual introduction repeats at normal speed*

Antonio: Un giorno… realizzerò il mio sogno più grande.
(One day… I will fulfill my greatest dream.)

Myra: Mmm, and what is that dream exactly, Antonio?

Antonio: Un giorno… ci sarà una statua in mio onore. In una piazza grande. Con una fontana, ovviamente.
[One day… there will be a statue in my honour. In a big piazza. With a fountain, of course.] 

Myra: Really? And what would this statue of you, in a big piazza, look like, exactly?

Antonio: Sarò in posa eroica, con una mano al cielo e l’altra… su un dizionario italiano. Una colomba volerà sopra la mia testa.
[I’ll be in a heroic pose—one hand to the sky, the other resting on an Italian dictionary. A dove will be flying above my head.]

Myra: A dictionary? But I thought you didn’t need dictionaries or vocabularies?

Antonio: È solo per scena. Simbolico. Io, ovviamente, conosco già tutte le parole.
[It’s just for show. Symbolic. I, obviously, already know all the words.]

Myra: Naturally. And what would the plaque below the statue say?

Antonio: “L’uomo a cui tutti si rivolgono… per le parole giuste.”

Myra: The man everyone turns to… for the right words. There is some truth to that.
C'è del vero in questo.

Antonio: No no… per le parole perfette.
[No no… for the perfect words.]

Myra: Naturally. Anything less would be beneath you and your statue.

Antonio: Esattamente.
[Exactly.]

🔹 Active Recall Exercise

1.           What is the Italian verb for “dreamed”?  → Sognava.

2.           How do you say “satisfies” in Italian?  → Soddisfi.

3.           Which verb means “makes” in phrases like “makes people happy”?  → Renda.

4.           What is the Italian word for “they will come true”?  → Realizzeranno.

🔹 Mini Quiz (English → Italian)

1.           "She dreamed of traveling the world."  → Sognava di viaggiare per il mondo.

2.           "I want a job that satisfies me."  → Voglio un lavoro che mi soddisfi.

3.           "This experience makes life exciting!"  → Questa esperienza rende la vita emozionante!

4.           "One day, their dreams will come true."  → Un giorno, i loro sogni si realizzeranno.
 
 

📘 Grammar Notes – Dreams & Goals

  • sognava – Imperfetto of sognare; 3rd person singular, used for habitual or background actions in the past.
  • soddisfi / renda – Congiuntivo presente; used in dependent clauses after expressions of desire or uncertainty (e.g., voglio un lavoro che...).
  • realizzeranno – Futuro semplice, 3rd person plural of realizzare = they will achieve/fulfill.

 

 👀 Category 2: Sharing and Observing

•             condividere = to share

•             sbirciando = peeking

•             cortili = courtyards

•             decorati = decorated

🔹 Contextual Introduction (Neutral & Engaging)

During a walk in a historic city, you might find yourself sbirciando through gates into beautiful cortili with decorati archways. If you love history and culture, you probably enjoy condividere your knowledge with others.

And completely in Italian at a speed slightly lower than normal:

Durante una passeggiata in una città storica, potresti ritrovarti sbirciando attraverso i cancelli in bellissimi cortili con archi decorati. Se ami la storia e la cultura, probabilmente ti piace condividere le tue conoscenze con gli altri.

And once again at regular speed.

*contextual introduction repeats at normal speed*

🔹 Active Recall Exercise

1.           What is the Italian verb for “to share”?  → Condividere.

2.           How do you say “peeking” in Italian?  → Sbirciando.

3.           What is the Italian word for “courtyards”?  → Cortili.

4.           How do you say “decorated” in Italian?  → Decorati.

🔹 Mini Quiz (English → Italian)

1.           "I like to share my ideas with my friends."  → Mi piace condividere le mie idee con i miei amici.

2.           "The child was peeking through the window."  → Il bambino stava sbirciando dalla finestra.

3.           "These houses have beautiful courtyards."  → Queste case hanno cortili bellissimi.

4.           "The walls were decorated with paintings."  → Le pareti erano decorate con quadri.

📘 Grammar Notes – Sharing & Observing

  • condividere – Irregular infinitive verb meaning “to share” (from dividere).
  • sbirciando – Gerund form of sbirciare (to peek); used for simultaneous or ongoing actions.
  • cortili – Plural of cortile (courtyard); masculine plural noun.
  • decorati – Past participle of decorare used as an adjective; agrees in gender/number (e.g., archi decorati).

 👩‍⚕️ Category 3: People and Expressions

•             infermiera = nurse

•             sorriso = smile

•             offerta volontaria = volunteer work

🔹 Contextual Introduction (Neutral & Engaging)

An infermiera works hard every day to take care of patients. Sometimes, a simple sorriso can brighten someone’s day. Many people also find meaning in doing volontariato, dedicating time to help others.

Completely in Italian at a sightly lower speed:

Un'infermiera lavora duramente ogni giorno per prendersi cura dei pazienti. A volte, un semplice sorriso può illuminare la giornata di qualcuno. Molte persone trovano anche significato nel fare volontariato, dedicando tempo per aiutare gli altri.

(Note: In Italian, we would typically say "volontariato" instead of "offerta volontaria" to express volunteering, so a more natural version would be: "Molte persone trovano anche significato nel fare volontariato, dedicando tempo per aiutare gli altri.")

And again at a normal speed.

*contextual introduction repeats at normal speed*

🔹 Active Recall Exercise

1.           What is the Italian word for “nurse”?  → Infermiera.

2.           How do you say “smile” in Italian?  → Sorriso.

3.           What is the Italian term for “volunteer work”?  → volontariato

🔹 Mini Quiz (English → Italian)

1.           "Her sister is a nurse at the hospital."  → Sua sorella è un’infermiera all’ospedale.

2.           "A smile can change your day." → Un sorriso può cambiare la tua giornata.

3.           "He does volunteer work every weekend."  → Fa volontariato ogni fine settimana.

📘 Grammar Notes – People & Expressions

  • infermiera – Feminine noun for “nurse”; masculine equivalent is infermiere.
  • sorriso – Masculine noun derived from sorridere (to smile).
  • volontariato – Noun meaning “volunteer work”; commonly used with fare → fare volontariato = to volunteer.
     
     

 🏛️ Category 4: Places and Objects

•             percorso = route, path

•             polverose = dusty

•             vuoto = empty

•             finestre alte = tall windows

🔹 Contextual Introduction (Neutral & Engaging)

When exploring a new city, you might take a percorso that leads past old buildings with finestre alte, allowing sunlight to stream inside. Some places are well-maintained, while others become polverosi over time. If no one takes care of them, they may remain vuoti for years, waiting to be restored.

And completely in Italian, slowed down a little:

Quando esplori una nuova città, potresti prendere un percorso che passa accanto a vecchi edifici con finestre alte, permettendo alla luce del sole di filtrare all'interno. Alcuni luoghi sono ben mantenuti, mentre altri diventano polverosi con il tempo. Se nessuno si prende cura di loro, potrebbero rimanere vuoti per anni, in attesa di essere restaurati.

And one more time, at regular speed.

*contextual introduction repeats at normal speed*

🔹 Active Recall Exercise

  1. What is the Italian word for “route” or “path”? (Pause for response) → Percorso.
  2. How do you say “dusty” in Italian? (Pause for response) → Polverosi.
  3. What word means “empty” in Italian? (Pause for response) → Vuoto.
  4. How do you say “tall windows” in Italian? (Pause for response) → Finestre alte.

🔹 Mini Quiz (English → Italian)

1.           "The route to the mountain is beautiful."  → Il percorso per la montagna è bellissimo.

2.           "These old rooms are dusty."  → Queste vecchie stanze sono polverose.

3.           "The house was completely empty."  → La casa era completamente vuota.

4.           "This palace has tall windows."  → Questo palazzo ha finestre alte.

📘 Grammar Notes – Places & Objects

  • percorso – Masculine noun meaning “route” or “path.”
  • polverose / polverosi – Adjective “dusty”; changes to match gender/number.
  • vuoto – Adjective “empty”; form shown here is masculine singular.
  • finestre alte – Finestre = feminine plural of finestra; alte = feminine plural form of alto.
     
     

 ⏳ Category 5: Time and Events

•             persino = even

•             mancata = passed away

•             catalogare = to catalog

•             ordinare = to organize

 🔹 Contextual Introduction (Neutral & Engaging)

Working in a library means spending time catalogare and ordinare books so that readers can find them easily. Some books are so precious that they are persino repaired instead of being replaced. Libraries often preserve the memory of those who loved them, even when someone special has mancata, leaving behind stories that continue to be told.

And now, completely in Italian, slowed down a little.

Lavorare in una biblioteca significa passare il tempo a catalogare e ordinare i libri in modo che i lettori possano trovarli facilmente. Alcuni libri sono così preziosi che vengono persino riparati invece di essere sostituiti. Le biblioteche spesso preservano la memoria di coloro che le hanno amate, anche quando qualcuno di speciale è mancata, lasciando dietro di sé storie che continuano ad essere raccontate.

And one more time at normal speed.

*contextual introduction repeats at normal speed*

I have to say that this passage will make more sense once you have listened to Episode 2. Just imagine a person who dedicated their life to the library, and in return, the library has, in some way, preserved the memory of that person.

🔹 Active Recall Exercise

  1. What is the Italian word for “even” in the sense of “even she helped”?  → Persino.
  2. How do you say “passed away” in Italian?  → Mancata.
  3. What verb means “to catalog” books?  → Catalogare.
  4. What is the Italian word for “to organize” things? → Ordinare.

🔹 Mini Quiz (English → Italian)

1.           "He even helped when he didn’t have to."  → Ha aiutato persino quando non doveva.

2.           "My grandmother passed away last year."  → Mia nonna è mancata l’anno scorso.

3.           "I have to catalog many books today."  → Devo catalogare molti libri oggi.

4.           "It’s important to organize your desk."  → È importante ordinare la tua scrivania.

📘 Grammar Notes – Time & Events

  • persino – Adverb meaning “even,” often used for emphasis.
  • mancata – Feminine past participle of mancare, used respectfully to mean “passed away.”
  • catalogare – Regular -are verb meaning “to catalog.”
  • ordinare – Regular -are verb meaning “to organize” or “to arrange.”

 

E questo è tutto per la nostra prima puntata bonus! 🎉

Now that you have had the chance to explore key vocabulary you are prepared to navigate the next part of our story with confidence. Remember, you can revisit [MR4] this bonus episode anytime to reinforce what you’ve learned, and you have the chapter markers in the podcast that allow you to jump to any particular exercise that you want to review, and don’t forget that you can also practice with the interactive flashcards.

--> Link to vocabulary flashcards for Chapter 1 Part 2 <-- 

In the next episode, we’ll continue our journey and uncover new discoveries—both in language and in the mystery unfolding with Mariella and her good friend, Zina.

Myra: Che cosa succederà? What will happen next? Tune in to Episode 2, available soon, to find out!

 Antonio: Fermi tutti! Prima che finiate… è il momento del mio quiz.
  Myra: Alright, quiz time. What have you got for us, Antonio?
Antonio: Vi darò quattro indovinelli… e voi dovrete indovinare la parola giusta. Pronti?
Myra: Quattro indovinelli—four riddles for us to guess. Cool. What do you say, listeners? Prontissimi?

🔹 Indovinello 1
Antonio: Mi trovi tra le pagine, ma non sono una parola. Sono un’azione che organizza il sapere. Cosa sono?
Myra: Mi trovi tra le pagine — You find me among the pages. You must be referring to our story, Pages of the Past.
Ma non sono una parola — I am not a word.
Sono un’azione che organizza il sapere — I am an action that organizes knowledge.
(pause)
Myra: Ah… to catalog books — Catalogare. Bravi!

🔹 Indovinello 2
Antonio: Mi puoi vedere, ma solo se nessuno sa che ci sei. Spii da dietro un angolo… Che cosa stai facendo?
Myra: Mi puoi vedere — You can see me.
Ma solo se nessuno sa che ci sei — But only if no one knows you’re there.
Spii da dietro un angolo… You’re spying from behind a corner.
Che cosa stai facendo? What are you doing?

Could you give us the whole thing, one more time again, Antonio?

*Antonio repeats the riddle*


  Myra : I’ve got it. You’ve got to be peering or … peeking…
Ascoltatori?  Sbirciando!

🔹 Indovinello 3
Antonio: Arrivo dopo una lunga vita. Porto silenzio ma lascio dietro di me ricordi. Chi sono?
Myra: Arrivo dopo una lunga vita — I come after a long life.
Porto silenzio ma lascio dietro di me ricordi — I bring silence, but leave memories behind.
Myra: Sorry Antonio, but do you mind just repeating this one also, the whole thing one more time for us, ancora una volta, per noi?

*Antonio repeats the riddle* 

Myra: OK… I think someone has passed away. So, dear listeners, what would that be?… Mancata.

(It means “passed away.” In Italian, it’s often used with respect when someone has died—especially someone close or important.)

Myra: I think we have time for just one more.

🔹 Indovinello 4
Antonio: Quando sogni… mi aspetti. Quando mi raggiungi… hai realizzato tutto. Chi sono?
Myra: Quando sogni… mi aspetti — When you dream, you wait for me.
Quando mi raggiungi… hai realizzato tutto — When you reach me, you’ve accomplished everything.

Myra: Ancora una volta per favore.

*Antonio repeats the riddle*

Myra: Ah si, I think we all hope our dreams will…They will come true. Ascoltatori?  Si realizzeranno.

 Antonio (pleased): Bravissimi! Avete risolto i miei indovinelli. Siete pronti per l’episodio due.
Myra: Sì, Professore Antonio. Direi che siamo pronti.

Antonio: Ma non dimenticate che impariamo l’italiano…
Myra: Piano piano… Un impegnio
Antonio: ...quotidiano!
Myra: Grazie ancora,  Professore. And thank you all for joining us.
See you soon! Ci sentiamo presto! 👋✨

📚 Vocabulary from Bonus Episode 01 – Vocabulary for Dreamers

🌙 Dreams & Goals

  • sognava (imperfetto) – dreamed
  • soddisfi (congiuntivo presente) – satisfies
  • renda (congiuntivo presente) – makes / renders
  • realizzeranno (futuro semplice) – they will come true

👀 Sharing & Observing

  • condividere (infinitive) – to share
  • sbirciando (gerund) – peeking
  • cortili (noun, masc. pl.) – courtyards
  • decorati (past participle) – decorated

👩‍⚕️ People & Expressions

  • infermiera (noun, fem.) – nurse
  • sorriso (noun, masc.) – smile
  • volontariato (noun, masc.) – volunteer work

🏛️ Places & Objects

  • percorso (noun, masc.) – route / path
  • polverose (adj., fem. pl.) – dusty
  • vuoto (adj., masc. sing.) – empty
  • finestre alte (noun phrase, fem. pl.) – tall windows

⏳ Time & Events

  • persino (adverb) – even
  • mancata (past participle, feminine) – passed away
  • catalogare (infinitive) – to catalog
  • ordinare (infinitive) – to organize