Hiking & Trekking

1. Induve porta stu caminu?

   Where does this path lead?

   Usage

   At a fork or an unmarked path, ask a local where it comes out

   Grammar Note

   Caminu is a masculine noun for any road or path. Porta, from purtà (to carry, to take), is used here for a path that leads somewhere. Chjassu is another word for a small path. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

2. Quantu hè longu u caminu?

   How long is the trail?

   Usage

   Before setting off, ask the length to judge whether it is a day hike

   Grammar Note

   Quantu + hè + adjective asks for degree (Quantu hè altu? "how high"). Longu agrees with masculine caminu; a feminine noun would take longa. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Ci hè una carta di u caminu?

   Is there a map of the trail?

   Usage

   At a tourist office or mountain hut, ask whether a hiking map is available

   Grammar Note

   Carta is a feminine noun for paper, map or menu, and is also used for a town map. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Quantu hè alta a vetta?

   How high is the summit?

   Usage

   Ask the height of the peak before climbing, to judge effort and gear

   Grammar Note

   Vetta is a feminine noun for a summit, so the adjective is alta. It is also written veta, and cima is a word with the same meaning. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

5. U caminu hè apertu oghje?

   Is the trail open today?

   Usage

   Check that the trail has not been closed for weather, fire risk or works

   Grammar Note

   Apertu means "open" and the opposite is chjosu ("closed"). Keep the word order and raise your voice at the end to make it a question. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Sò stancu / stanca. Ripusemu un mumentu

   I'm tired. Let's rest a moment

   Usage

   Tell your companions or guide that you need to stop and rest

   Grammar Note

   Use stancu for a man and stanca for a woman. Ripusemu is the "we" form used as an invitation. Ripusà is also written riposà. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

7. Quale hè u dislivellu?

   What is the elevation gain?

   Usage

   Ask the height difference between start and finish to gauge how steep the walk is

   Grammar Note

   Dislivellu, also written slivellu, is a masculine noun for the height difference between two points. The answer usually comes in metres. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

8. Possu piglià una guida?

   Can I hire a guide?

   Usage

   At a tourist office, ask about hiring a guide for a hard or unfamiliar route

   Grammar Note

   Piglià means "to take" and also works for taking on a guide. Guida is a feminine noun, used for a guide of either sex. No word for "local" is added, to keep it simple. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Mi sò fattu male à u talorcu. Aghju bisognu d'aiutu

   I've hurt my ankle. I need help

   Usage

   If you are hurt on a trail, ask other hikers for help; in an emergency call 112

   Grammar Note

   "I hurt myself" is the reflexive Mi sò fattu male, with esse as the auxiliary. Talorcu is a masculine noun for the ankle, also written talurcu. "I need X" is Aghju bisognu di + noun. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. Hè questu u caminu ghjustu pè a vetta?

    Is this the right path to the summit?

    Usage

    At a junction, check that the path goes to your summit; replace vetta with another place name if needed

    Grammar Note

    Ghjustu means "right, correct" and is also written ghiustu. Its ghj spelling differs from the Italian gi- of giusto. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. Ci sò animali periculosi in stu locu?

    Are there dangerous animals in this area?

    Usage

    Before entering the mountains or woods, ask about animals to watch for, such as snakes or wild boar

    Grammar Note

    The plural of animale is animali and the adjective is plural periculosi (singular periculosu). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. Mi sò persu / persa. Induve hè l'entrata di u caminu?

    I'm lost. Where is the start of the trail?

    Usage

    If you are lost, ask someone how to get back to the start of the trail

    Grammar Note

    "To get lost" is the reflexive perdesi; the participle persu agrees with the speaker (persu m, persa f) and the auxiliary is esse (Mi sò). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

13. Quantu ci vole sin'à a vetta?

    How long is it to the summit?

    Usage

    Halfway up, ask how much time is left to the top

    Grammar Note

    Quantu ci vole? asks how much time or effort is needed. Sin'à means "as far as"; the apostrophe is a plain ASCII one. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

14. Ci hè un rifugiu o un bivaccu quì vicinu?

    Is there a refuge or a bivouac nearby?

    Usage

    When daylight or weather is running out, ask about a place to stay or shelter

    Grammar Note

    Rifugiu is a mountain hut or shelter and bivaccu a simple camp or emergency shelter. Quì vicinu ("nearby") works in many questions about places. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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