Basic Verbs

1. andà

   To go

   Usage

   The basic verb "to go"; works with pointing at a destination

   Grammar Note

   Irregular verb. Present: vò, vai, và, andemu, andate, vanu. The ending -à corresponds to Italian -are

2. vene

   To come

   Usage

   The basic verb "to come"; also used to ask someone to come

   Grammar Note

   Irregular verb. Present: vengu, veni, vene, vinimu, vinite, venenu. The infinitive is also written venì; it has the same form as the 3sg vene

3. manghjà

   To eat

   Usage

   The basic verb "to eat", common in any meal situation

   Grammar Note

   Regular verb. Present: manghju, manghji, manghja, manghjemu, manghjate, manghjanu. Italian mangiare is not used; ghj is a palatal stop

4. beie

   To drink

   Usage

   The basic verb "to drink", used when ordering something to drink

   Grammar Note

   Irregular verb. Present: beiu, bei, beie, biimu, biite, beienu; participle bitu. Italian bere is not used

5. cumprà

   To buy

   Usage

   The basic verb "to buy", used when shopping

   Grammar Note

   Regular verb. Present: compru, compri, compra, cumpremu, cumprate, compranu. Also written comprà

6. vede

   To see

   Usage

   The basic verb "to see"

   Grammar Note

   Irregular verb. Present: vecu, vedi, vede, vidimu, vidite, vedenu; participle vistu. The noun vede means a view

7. aspettà

   To wait

   Usage

   The basic verb "to wait", used when asking someone to wait or when waiting

   Grammar Note

   Present: aspettu, aspetti, aspetta, aspittemu, aspittate, aspettanu; the stem alternates between aspett- and aspitt- with stress. Also written aspittà

8. Vogliu andà

   I want to go

   Usage

   Says that you want to go, before naming the destination

   Grammar Note

   The 1sg vogliu of vulè + an infinitive, with no à or di in between. Add pè piacè to sound polite. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

9. Vogliu manghjà

   I want to eat

   Usage

   To say that you want to eat

   Grammar Note

   The 1sg vogliu of vulè + the infinitive manghjà. "I am hungry" is Aghju fame. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

10. Vogliu questu

    I want this

    Usage

    To say which item you want, pointing at it in a shop

    Grammar Note

    The 1sg vogliu of vulè + the demonstrative questu. Add pè piacè so that it does not sound abrupt. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

11. Ùn ne aghju bisognu

    I don't need it

    Usage

    To decline something that is offered

    Grammar Note

    Avè bisognu di (to need) with "of it" taken up by ne. Word order: ùn + ne + aghju bisognu. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

12. U cercu

    I'm looking for it

    Usage

    To say that you are looking for something you lost or need

    Grammar Note

    U (it; a for a feminine thing) goes before the verb. Lu is an older southern form and is not used here. Cercu is the 1sg of circà (to look for), also written cercà. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

13. L'aghju

    I have it

    Usage

    To answer that you have the thing someone asked for

    Grammar Note

    L' (it) + aghju (1sg of avè); lu elides to l' before a vowel

14. Ùn l'aghju

    I don't have it

    Usage

    To answer that you do not have what was asked for

    Grammar Note

    Negative sentence ùn + l' + aghju. Keep the accent on ùn. For emphasis say Ùn l'aghju micca

15. Vogliu ritirà solli

    I want to withdraw money

    Usage

    To say at a bank that you want to take out money

    Grammar Note

    The 1sg vogliu of vulè + ritirà (to withdraw) + solli (money). Ritirà solli di banca means to take money out of the bank. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

16. Vogliu riservà

    I'll make a reservation

    Usage

    To say that you want to book a room or a seat

    Grammar Note

    The 1sg vogliu of vulè + riservà (to reserve). Used as in riservà una piazza nantu à u battellu (to reserve a place on the boat). Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

17. Mi pudete aiutà?

    Can you help me?

    Usage

    To ask for a hand with a task or a procedure

    Grammar Note

    Mi (me) + pudete (2pl of pudè) + the infinitive aiutà. A polite single addressee still takes the voi form. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

18. Ditemi, pè piacè

    Please tell me

    Usage

    To ask someone for an explanation or an answer

    Grammar Note

    The plural/polite imperative dite of dì with the clitic mi attached. With a friend, use Dimmi. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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