We learn Italian step by step | Impariamo l'italiano piano piano
Impariamo l’italiano piano piano is a story-based podcast for B1–B2 Italian learners who want to improve their grammar and vocabulary by following an ongoing mystery, rather than studying isolated lessons. Beginners are welcome too - everything unfolds piano piano, one step at a time.
Each episode advances a serialized story, Le Pagine del Passato, allowing you to experience Italian in context as meaning builds gradually through memory, dialogue, and investigation. Grammar structures such as the imperfetto, passato prossimo, congiuntivo, and object pronouns emerge naturally through the narrative, helping you recognize how Italian works in real situations.
Hosted by Myra, an instructional designer and adult language learner, the show is joined by Antonio - a dramatic, opinionated presence who interrupts, comments, and occasionally derails things, making the learning process both human and entertaining. Together, they guide listeners toward greater confidence in Italian, step by step.
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Full transcripts are shared through the Companion Series on Substack, where supporters can access episode texts and study materials:
https://welearnitalian.substack.com
🎙 Listen, learn, and improve your Italian fluency - one episode at a time!
We learn Italian step by step | Impariamo l'italiano piano piano
Episode 15 – Before or After? The Art of Italian Adjectives (Part B)
Episode 15 – Before or After? The Art of Italian Adjectives (Part B)
Meaning, Emphasis, and “Bel Film” Explained
In this episode, we continue our look at Italian adjective placement and explore what changes when an adjective comes before or after the noun.
Building on Episode 14, Part B focuses on adjectives that change meaning depending on position, expressive and literary word order, and a listener question from Studente Saggio Paul:
Why do we say bel film, but also film bellissimo?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How adjective placement can change meaning (grande, vecchio, caro, povero, solo, bravo, certo)
- When adjectives move before the noun to add emphasis or emotion
- Why bello follows the same patterns as definite articles
- How superlatives like bellissimo behave differently from bello
As the lesson unfolds, grammar slips into everyday life, where adjectives start stacking up, including a few tied to fishing gear (grande, robusto, impermeabile, gonfiabile, spettacolare), and things quickly turn into an amusing, slightly over-the-top situation.
The full story reread with English and Italian side-by-side will return in the next episode, as the mystery with Mariella and Zina continues.
🎧 Ideal for intermediate learners who want to sound more natural and expressive in Italian.
⏳ CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
2:26 Listener Question
2:53 The Fifth Category: Expressive Adjectives
4:44 Meaning-Changing Adjectives
12:27 Practice: Adjectives Before or After
14:06 Bel Film vs Film Bellissimo
15:08 Definite Articles Form the Patterns for Bello
21:18 Superlatives – Before or After
22:58 An Unexpected Visitor
23:47 Impastare – Presente Indicativo
25:04 Summary of Today’s Episode
31:04 Antonio’s Wrap-up
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🎙 Welcome to We learn Italian step by step / Impariamo l’italiano piano piano
🎧 Episode 15 – Before or After? The Art of Italian Adjectives (Part B)
📄 Episode Transcript & Study Materials
For this episode, the full transcript is available on Substack, where it’s easier to read, search, and follow along with the explanations.
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