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False friends: Italian words Assistere & Pretendere – sound similar to English words but have different meanings

By Melissa Muldoon
Thursday, January 28th, 2016

false-friends-italian-words-assistere-pretendere-sound-similar-english-different-meanings“Scambiamo due parole” è una bella espressione che significa “parlare” o “scherzare”. Si può anche dire: “Fare due chiacchiere”, “fare quattro chiacchiere” e così via .

“Scambiamo due parole” is a great little expression that means “to talk” or “to joke around”. You can also say : “Fare due chiacchiere” and yet again, “farsi quattro chiacchiere”.

Ci sono tanti modi di esprimersi nella lingua italiana e la strada per capire meglio tutte queste sfumature può essere molto divertente…e sì… qualche volta scoraggiante.

There are many ways of expressing oneself in the Italian language and the path to understanding the many nuances can be very entertaining…and yes… sometimes frustrating.

false-friends-italian-words-assistere-pretendere-sound-similar-english-different-meanings

Naturalmente ci sono alcune parole facili da ricordare…e poi ce ne sono altre che sono un po’ più complicate. Per quanto mi riguarda, le parole che assomigliano alle parole inglesi sono qualche volta quelle più difficili da distinguere e ricordare bene. Direi che queste parole sono “falsi amici”.

Naturally there are many words that are easy to remember…and then there are a few others that are a little more complicated. For me, the words that resemble an English word at times are the words that are more difficult to distinguish and remember. I would say that these words are “false friends”.

Per esempio oggi voglio chiarificare due parole che sono in questa categoria / For example today I wanted to clarify two words that fall into this category:

“Assistere” e “Pretendere” / They are “Assistere” e “Pretendere”

false-friends-italian-words-assistere-pretendere-sound-similar-english-different-meanings

Assistere… che vuol dire questa parola? Assistere in Italiano significa: essere presente…partecipare…andare a…testimoniare.

Assistere…what does this word mean? Assistere in Italian means: to be present…to participate…to go to…to witness.

Per esempio: / For example:

Ieri sera ho assistito allo spettacolo di una persona che ammiro moltissimo, come attore, scrittore, comico e come uomo.”

Last night I attended the performance of a person I admire very much, as an actor, writer, comedian and as a man.

Raramente ho assistito a un esempio d’ipocrisia peggiore di quello che sentiamo oggi.

I have rarely seen an example of hypocrisy worse than what we are experiencing today.

Ha acquisito un modo nuovo di vedere e guardare il mondo, ed io assisto ogni giorno a questo straordinario miracolo.

He has acquired a new way of seeing and looking at the world and everyday I witness this extraordinary miracle.

La difficoltà o la confusione per madrelingua inglese è questa: la parola “assist” è usata nel senso di aiutare qualcuno a fare qualcosa.

The problem or the confusion for English speakers is this: the word “assist” is used in the sense of helping someone do something.

Ma in Italiano per comunicare il concetto inglese di “assist” or “help” usiamo “aiutare” o “prestare assistenza.”

“Eva aiuta gli alunni di scuola elementare a fare i compititi ogni martedì pomeriggio.”

“Eva helps the elementary students with their homework every Tuesday afternoon.”

“L’agente Smith ha prestato assistenza nelle indagini sul recente omicidio.”

“Agent Smith helped in the investigation of the recent homicide.”

false-friends-italian-words-assistere-pretendere-sound-similar-english-different-meanings

Per quanto riguarda “Pretendere”…che vuol dire questa parola? Pretendere in Italiano significa: esigere…richiedere ad ogni costo. Chiedere qualcosa con decisione, rivendicare qualcosa a cui si ritiene di avere diritto.

Pretendere in Italian means: to demand…to insiste…to claim something

Per esempio: / For example:

Il giorno delle donne, che pretendono il rispetto dei propri diritti.

On the day of the women, who demand respect for their rights.

Pretende di imparare il lavoro in due giorni.

He claims to learn the job in two days.

Io pretendo la mia felicità – ho pagato tanto e adesso me la merito!

I demand my happiness – I paid my dues and now I deserve it!

La difficoltà o la confusione per madrelingua inglese è questa: la parola “pretend” è usata nel senso di “fare finta”… “fingere”…”immaginare”.

The problem or the confusion for English speakers is this: the word “pretend” is used in the sense of pretending … to act like … to fake something

“Lui è bravo a fingere di essere innocente”.

“He is very good at pretending to be innocent.”

Facilissimo no? Questo è tutto in poche parole. Domande? Allora lasciatami alcune frasi usando le parole “assistere” e “pretendere” nel box dei commenti!

Easy right? That’s it in a just a few words (perhaps a bit more than 2 or 4!). Questions? So…leave me some phrases using the words “assistere” and “pretendere” in the comment box below!

false-friends-italian-words-assistere-pretendere-sound-similar-english-different-meanings

  

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Categories : language learning
Tags : assistere, falsi amici, Italian Immersion, Learn Italian, pretendere, Studentessa Matta

Comments

  1. Carolina says:
    January 29, 2016 at 7:35 am

    Allora, capisco “pretender to the throne”!

    Reply
  2. Dennis Bianchi says:
    January 31, 2016 at 10:01 pm

    Questo posto era non solo interessante, ma anche divertiti. Grazie.

    Reply
  3. Dennis Bianchi says:
    January 31, 2016 at 10:04 pm

    divertenti. Mi scusa.

    Reply

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