The weather is the easiest thing to talk about with anyone, anywhere. This lesson shows you how to say what it's like outside, and how you feel in it.
On a hot afternoon, Karen says Ho caldo!, and Signor Greco says Fa caldo! What's the difference?
Ho caldo is I'm hot: how she feels. Fa caldo is it's hot: the weather. Italian uses avere for you and fare for the weather.
The main idea
The weather
In oggi (OD-jee) and giornata (jor-NA-ta, a day as you live it), g before i or e sounds like j, and the i of gio is silent. c'è is cheh, and piove is PYO-veh.
How you feel
On an October afternoon in the piazza:
Quick check
Karen is cold. What does she say?
How you feel takes ho: Ho freddo. Sono fredda would describe Karen herself, as a cold person.
Complete: It's nice weather today.
The weather takes fa: fa bel tempo. c'è bel tempo is also said.
Write what you hear.
giornata, day: gi is the j sound.
A morning in Lecce
Karen's morning in the piazza. Answer each time as Karen.
Signor Greco asks Lei è di qui? Say you're American, from Columbus, here on vacation.
Sono americana, di… (a man says Sono americano), then Sono qui in vacanza.
He tells you there's a concert in the piazza tonight. React.
Davvero?, Che bello! or Che fortuna!
He says you speak Italian really well. Answer modestly.
A thank-you, and that you're still learning.
He says Che caldo oggi! Agree, and say you're hot.
fa caldo for the weather, ho caldo for you.
Take with you
Fa caldo outside, ho caldo inside you: the weather is always a good start.