assai

Today's Parola del Giorno is the adverb, assai, which means:

• very (when used with an adjective)
• considerably (when modifying a comparative or verb)
  
• much (when modifying a comparative or verb)

Assai is synonymous with molto.

You can see the adverb used in its context below:

I ricercatori credono che i nostri comportamenti siano assai più prevedibili quando siamo al ristorante e scegliamo cosa mangiare. (read the news story here)

Researchers believe that our behaviors are considerably more predictable at restaurants when we choose our dishes.

In the example above, it's modifying a comparative (più prevedibili).

Here's an example of assai modifying a verb:

Ho mangiato assai in vacanza. Adesso devo tornare in palestra per dimagrire un po'.

I ate considerably on vacation. Now I have to return to the gym to lose a bit of weight.

Here's an example of assai modifying an adjective:

Ho tentato di spiegare bene il problema ma purtroppo è assai complesso.

I attempted to explain the problem well, but unfortunately it is very complex.

il canone

Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, il canone, which means:

• license fee

Note the stress on the first vowel!

In Italy, residents must pay a yearly licensing fee to Rai. Many Italians dislike paying this, and there's been a movement for many years to have it abolished. A recent piece on RepubblicaTV was quite good.

See the word used below in its context:

Ogni anno i cittadini devono pagare un canone a Rai. Non è una sorpresa che gli italiano lo vogliano abolire.

Every year the citizens have to pay a license fee to Rai. It is no surprise that Italians want to abolish it.

la campagna di fango

Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun expression, la campagna di fango, which means:

• mudslinging campaign

You can see the noun expression used in its context below:

I politici partecipano ad una campagna di fango -- è difficile scoprire la verità durante queste elezioni.

The politicians are engaging in a mudslinging campaign -- it is difficult to discover the truth during these elections.

PS: Thanks to those users who alerted me to the typo's -- I've correct them. I inadvertently published the wrong version last night.

la macchina mangiasoldi

Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, la macchina mangiasoldi, which means:

• slot machine

The adjective, mangiasoldi, is always invariable. You might also see la macchinetta mangiasoldi for slot machine as well. You might also see the English used, la slot machine.

You can see the word used in its context below:

A mia nonna piace andare al casinò con le sue amiche. Lo scorso weekend ha giocato alle macchine mangiasoldi e ha vinto 1000 dollari!

My grandmother likes to go to the casino with her friends. Last weekend she played the slots and won 1000 dollars!

last updated: 01/12/2010

la mongolfiera

Today's Parola del giorno is the noun, la mongolfiera, which means:

• hot air balloon

You can see the word used below in its context:

"Guarda!" ha esclamato mio figlio. "C'è una mongolfiera in cielo! Che bella!"

"Look!" exclaimed my son. "There's a hot air balloon in the sky! How beautiful!"

l'istruttoria

Today's Parola del Giorno is the noun, l'istruttoria, which means:

• preliminary investigation
• preliminary inquiry

You can see the verb used in its context below:

Il Partito Democratico è arrabbiato perché il governo vuole aprire un'istruttoria contro il programma, AnnoZero.

The Democratic Party is angry because the government wants to open a preliminary investigation against the program, AnnoZero.