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© Text: Roberto Casiraghi - © Maria Paola Guerrato - ©
Translations: Crystal Jones
photo credit: Moe_

Gnocchi mit frischen Tomaten und Mozarella-Sauce

Italian has just a couple of sounds which are really really difficult to get right: GL and GN. Luckily, even if you don’t pronounce the GN sound correctly and replace it with the much easier NI sound (saying niocchi instead of gnocchi) it won’t prevent you from being understood at all. But for those who want to be sound perfect, here is a wonderful exercise: we have striven to concentrate as many Italian words having the GN sound as possible in a short story which no doubt will not secure us a Booker prize but, hopefully, will help you remember how to pronounce the “impossible” GN sound.

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The GN sound

Ò un amìko di Lavànnha, insennhànte annhòstiko, ké sa tùtto délle montànnhe dél rénnho di Spànnha, ma innhòra la Vàlle Imànnha.
Ho un amico di Lavagna, insegnante agnostico, che sa tutto delle montagne del regno di Spagna, ma ignora la Valle Imagna.

I_have a friend of Lavanga, teacher agnostic(~), who knows all of_the mountains of_the reign of Spain, but ignores the Valley Imagna(~).
I've got a friend from Lavagna who is an agnostic teacher, who knows all about the mountains of the Spanish kingdom but knows nothing of the Imagna Valley.

Délle montànnhe àma lé kastànnhe, lé pìnnhe, lé prùnnhe, il sóle ké si spénnhe, i sénnhi é i dizénnhi ké la natùra krèa, é persìno i rànnhi.
Delle montagne ama le castagne, le pigne, le prugne, il sole che si_spegne, i segni e i disegni che la natura crea, e persino i ragni.

Of_the mountains he_loves the chestnuts, the pine_cones, the plums, the sun that extinguishes_itself, the signs and the drawings that the nature creates, and even the spiders.
Of all the things he likes most in the mountains he loves chestnuts, pine cones, plums, the setting sun, the signs and the drawings that nature creates, and even spiders.

Ló védo a vòlte ké sónnha lé sùe montànnhe, lé sùe kastànnhe, i swòi rànnhi.
Lo vedo a volte che sogna le sue montagne, le sue castagne, i suoi ragni.
Him I_see at times that he_dreams the his mountains, the his chestnuts, the his spiders.
Occasionally I see him dreaming about his mountains, his chestnuts and his spiders.

Un jórno ké èra in montànnha féçe un sónnho: èra in kampànnha, antsiké in montànnha, é nón ç’èrano rànnhi ma sólo un annhèllo, un kàne, ùna kànnha é ùno nhòmo innhòbile ké swonàva la dzampónnha.
Un giorno che era in montagna fece un sogno: era in campagna, anziché in montagna, e non_c’erano ragni ma solo un agnello, un cane, una cagna e uno gnomo ignobile che suonava la zampogna.

One day that he_was in mountain he_made a dream: he_was(i) in country, instead_of in mountain, and there_weren't spiders but only a lamb, a dog, a bitch and a gnome despicable(~) who played(i) the bagpipes.
One day when he was in the mountains he had a dream: he was in the country instead of in the mountains, and there were no spiders but there was just a lamb, a male dog, a bitch and a despicable gnome who was playing the bagpipes.

Ç’èra ùno stànnho kón àkkwa stannhànte, un pèttso di lénnho ké gallejjàva é dappertùtto ùna pùttsa di fónnha: ùno spettàkolo davvéro indénnho, un’innhomìnya!
C’era uno stagno con acqua stagnante, un pezzo di legno che galleggiava e dappertutto una puzza di fogna: uno spettacolo davvero indegno, un’ignominia!

There_was(i) a pond with water stagnating(~), a pice of wood that floated(i) and everywhere a smell of sewers: a spectacle really unworthy(~), a shame (=something to be absolutely ashamed about)
There was a pond with stagnant water in it, a piece of wood which floated on it and everywhere there was a smell of sewage: it was a really unseemly sight, a real disgrace.

Ló nhòmo innhòbile, atténto a nón bannhàrsi, si lannhàva di avér fàme, voléva ùna pannhòtta, un pyàtto di nhòkki é un panettóne Alemànnha.
Lo gnomo ignobile, attento a non bagnarsi, si_lagnava di aver fame, voleva una pagnotta, un piatto di gnocchi e un panettone Alemagna.

The gnome despicable(~), careful at not to_wet_himself, moaned (r), he_wanted a loaf_of_bread, a plate of dumplings and a panettone Alemagna(~).
The despicable gnome, careful not to wet himself, moaned that he was hungry, that he wanted a loaf of bread, a plate of gnocchi and an Alemagna panettone.

Frinnhàva kóme ùna çikónnha, ajitàva il pùnnho ma nón jettàva la spùnnha.
Frignava come una cicogna, agitava il pugno ma non gettava la spugna.

He wimpered(i) like a stork, shook(i) the fist but didn't_throw(i) the sponge(=towel).
He wimpered like a stork, shook his fist, but didn't give in.

Allóra l’amìko di Lavànnha ké àma la montànnha, préze ùna kastànnha é lhéla diède diçèndo “Innhorànte, karónnha, mànnha la kastànnha“.
Allora l’amico di Lavagna che ama la montagna, prese una castagna e gliela diede dicendo “Ignorante, carogna, magna la castagna“.

So the friend of Lavagna who loves the mountain, took a chestnut and it_to_him gave saying "Ignorant person, very_nasty_person(lit. carrion), eat(s) the chestnut."
So, my friend from Lavagna who loves the mountains, picked up a chestnut and gave it to him saying: "Ignoramus, bastard, eat the chestnut."

Ma èra sólo un sónnho.
Ma era solo un sogno.

But it_was(i) only a dream.
But it was only a dream.

Innhàro di èssere nél sónnho, ló nhòmo innhòbile ké swòna la dzampónnha kontinwàva a lannhàrsi.
Ignaro di essere nel sogno, lo gnomo ignobile che suona la zampogna continuava a lagnarsi.

Unaware of to_be in_the dream, the gnome despicable(~) who plays the bagpipes continued at to_moan(r).
Not aware he was in a dream, the despicable gnome who played the bagpipes, continued to moan.

É l’amìko di Lavànnha sé né andò a fàrsi un bànnho.
E l’amico di Lavagna se_ne_andò a farsi_un_bagno.

And the fried of Lavagna went_away to have_a_bath (lit. to make himself a bath)
And my friend from Lavagna went away to have a bath.


PRONUNCIATION GUIDE ORIGINAL ITALIAN TEXT WORD-FOR-WORD  TRANSLATION GOOD ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Ò un amìko di Lavànnha, insennhànte annhòstiko, ké sa tùtto délle montànnhe dél rénnho di Spànnha, ma innhòra la Vàlle Imànnha. Ho un amico di Lavagna, insegnante agnostico, che sa tutto delle montagne del regno di Spagna, ma ignora la Valle Imagna. I_have a friend of Lavanga, teacher agnostic(~), who knows all of_the mountains of_the reign of Spain, but ignores the Valley Imagna(~). I've got a friend from Lavagna who is an agnostic teacher, who knows all about the mountains of the Spanish kingdom but knows nothing of the Imagna Valley.
Délle montànnhe àma lé kastànnhe, lé pìnnhe, lé prùnnhe, il sóle ké si spénnhe, i sénnhi é i dizénnhi ké la natùra krèa, é persìno i rànnhi. Delle montagne ama le castagne, le pigne, le prugne, il sole che si_spegne, i segni e i disegni che la natura crea, e persino i ragni. Of_the mountains he_loves the chestnuts, the pine_cones, the plums, the sun that extinguishes_itself, the signs and the drawings that the nature creates, and even the spiders. Of all the things he likes most in the mountains he loves chestnuts, pine cones, plums, the setting sun, the signs and the drawings that nature creates, and even spiders.
Ló védo a vòlte ké sónnha lé sùe montànnhe, lé sùe kastànnhe, i swòi rànnhi. Lo vedo a volte che sogna le sue montagne, le sue castagne, i suoi ragni. Him I_see at times that he_dreams the his mountains, the his chestnuts, the his spiders. Occasionally I see him dreaming about his mountains, his chestnuts and his spiders.
Un jórno ké èra in montànnha féçe un sónnho: èra in kampànnha, antsiké in montànnha, é nón ç’èrano rànnhi ma sólo un annhèllo, un kàne, ùna kànnha é ùno nhòmo innhòbile ké swonàva la dzampónnha. Un giorno che era in montagna fece un sogno: era in campagna, anziché in montagna, e non_c’erano ragni ma solo un agnello, un cane, una cagna e uno gnomo ignobile che suonava la zampogna. One day that he_was in mountain he_made a dream: he_was(i) in country, instead_of in mountain, and there_weren't spiders but only a lamb, a dog, a bitch and a gnome despicable(~) who played(i) the bagpipes. One day when he was in the mountains he had a dream: he was in the country instead of in the mountains, and there were no spiders but there was just a lamb, a male dog, a bitch and a despicable gnome who was playing the bagpipes.
Ç’èra ùno stànnho kón àkkwa stannhànte, un pèttso di lénnho ké gallejjàva é dappertùtto ùna pùttsa di fónnha: ùno spettàkolo davvéro indénnho, un’innhomìnya! C’era uno stagno con acqua stagnante, un pezzo di legno che galleggiava e dappertutto una puzza di fogna: uno spettacolo davvero indegno, un’ignominia! There_was(i) a pond with water stagnating(~), a pice of wood that floated(i) and everywhere a smell of sewers: a spectacle really unworthy(~), a shame (=something to be absolutely ashamed about) There was a pond with stagnant water in it, a piece of wood which floated on it and everywhere there was a smell of sewage: it was a really unseemly sight, a real disgrace.
Ló nhòmo innhòbile, atténto a nón bannhàrsi, si lannhàva di avér fàme, voléva ùna pannhòtta, un pyàtto di nhòkki é un panettóne Alemànnha. Lo gnomo ignobile, attento a non bagnarsi, si_lagnava di aver fame, voleva una pagnotta, un piatto di gnocchi e un panettone Alemagna. The gnome despicable(~), careful at not to_wet_himself, moaned (r), he_wanted a loaf_of_bread, a plate of dumplings and a panettone Alemagna(~). The despicable gnome, careful not to wet himself, moaned that he was hungry, that he wanted a loaf of bread, a plate of gnocchi and an Alemagna panettone.
Frinnhàva kóme ùna çikónnha, ajitàva il pùnnho ma nón jettàva la spùnnha. Frignava come una cicogna, agitava il pugno ma non gettava la spugna. He wimpered(i) like a stork, shook(i) the fist but didn't_throw(i) the sponge(=towel). He wimpered like a stork, shook his fist, but didn't give in.
Allóra l’amìko di Lavànnha ké àma la montànnha, préze ùna kastànnha é lhéla diède diçèndo “Innhorànte, karónnha, mànnha la kastànnha“. Allora l’amico di Lavagna che ama la montagna, prese una castagna e gliela diede dicendo “Ignorante, carogna, magna la castagna“. So the friend of Lavagna who loves the mountain, took a chestnut and it_to_him gave saying "Ignorant person, very_nasty_person(lit. carrion), eat(s) the chestnut." So, my friend from Lavagna who loves the mountains, picked up a chestnut and gave it to him saying: "Ignoramus, bastard, eat the chestnut."
Ma èra sólo un sónnho. Ma era solo un sogno. But it_was(i) only a dream. But it was only a dream.
Innhàro di èssere nél sónnho, ló nhòmo innhòbile ké swòna la dzampónnha kontinwàva a lannhàrsi. Ignaro di essere nel sogno, lo gnomo ignobile che suona la zampogna continuava a lagnarsi. Unaware of to_be in_the dream, the gnome despicable(~) who plays the bagpipes continued at to_moan(r). Not aware he was in a dream, the despicable gnome who played the bagpipes, continued to moan.
É l’amìko di Lavànnha sé né andò a fàrsi un bànnho. E l’amico di Lavagna se_ne_andò a farsi_un_bagno. And the fried of Lavagna went_away to have_a_bath (lit. to make himself a bath) And my friend from Lavagna went away to have a bath.

ORIGINAL ITALIAN TEXT


Ho un amico di Lavagna, insegnante agnostico, che sa tutto delle montagne del regno di Spagna, ma ignora la Valle Imagna.
Delle montagne ama le castagne, le pigne, le prugne, il sole che si spegne, i segni e i disegni che la natura crea, e persino i ragni.
Lo vedo a volte che sogna le sue montagne, le sue castagne, i suoi ragni.
Un giorno che era in montagna fece un sogno: era in campagna, anziché in montagna, e non c’erano ragni ma solo un agnello, un cane, una cagna e uno gnomo ignobile che suonava la zampogna.
C’era uno stagno con acqua stagnante, un pezzo di legno che galleggiava e dappertutto una puzza di fogna: uno spettacolo davvero indegno, un’ignominia!
Lo gnomo ignobile, attento a non bagnarsi, si lagnava di aver fame, voleva una pagnotta, un piatto di gnocchi e un panettone Alemagna.
Frignava come una cicogna, agitava il pugno ma non gettava la spugna.
Allora l’amico di Lavagna che ama la montagna, prese una castagna e gliela diede dicendo “Ignorante, carogna, magna la castagna“.
Ma era solo un sogno.
Ignaro di essere nel sogno, lo gnomo ignobile che suona la zampogna continuava a lagnarsi.
E l’amico di Lavagna se ne andò a farsi un bagno.


ENGLISH TRANSLATION


I've got a friend from Lavagna who is an agnostic teacher, who knows all about the mountains of the Spanish kingdom but knows nothing of the Imagna Valley.
Of all the things he likes most in the mountains he loves chestnuts, pine cones, plums, the setting sun, the signs and the drawings that nature creates, and even spiders.
Occasionally I see him dreaming about his mountains, his chestnuts and his spiders.
One day when he was in the mountains he had a dream: he was in the country instead of in the mountains, and there were no spiders but there was just a lamb, a male dog, a bitch and a despicable gnome who was playing the bagpipes.
There was a pond with stagnant water in it, a piece of wood which floated on it and everywhere there was a smell of sewage: it was a really unseemly sight, a real disgrace.
The despicable gnome, careful not to wet himself, moaned that he was hungry, that he wanted a loaf of bread, a plate of gnocchi and an Alemagna panettone.
He wimpered like a stork, shook his fist, but didn't give in.
So, my friend from Lavagna who loves the mountains, picked up a chestnut and gave it to him saying: "Ignoramus, bastard, eat the chestnut."
But it was only a dream.
Not aware he was in a dream, the despicable gnome who played the bagpipes, continued to moan.
And my friend from Lavagna went away to have a bath.


PRONUNCIATION GUIDE


Ò un amìko di Lavànnha, insennhànte annhòstiko, ké sa tùtto délle montànnhe dél rénnho di Spànnha, ma innhòra la Vàlle Imànnha. Délle montànnhe àma lé kastànnhe, lé pìnnhe, lé prùnnhe, il sóle ké si spénnhe, i sénnhi é i dizénnhi ké la natùra krèa, é persìno i rànnhi. Ló védo a vòlte ké sónnha lé sùe montànnhe, lé sùe kastànnhe, i swòi rànnhi.

Un jórno ké èra in montànnha féçe un sónnho: èra in kampànnha, antsiké in montànnha, é nón ç’èrano rànnhi ma sólo un annhèllo, un kàne, ùna kànnha é ùno nhòmo innhòbile ké swonàva la dzampónnha. Ç’èra ùno stànnho kón àkkwa stannhànte, un pèttso di lénnho ké gallejjàva é dappertùtto ùna pùttsa di fónnha: ùno spettàkolo davvéro indénnho, un’innhomìnya!

Ló nhòmo innhòbile, atténto a nón bannhàrsi, si lannhàva di avér fàme, voléva ùna pannhòtta, un pyàtto di nhòkki é un panettóne Alemànnha. Frinnhàva kóme ùna çikónnha, ajitàva il pùnnho ma nón jettàva la spùnnha. Allóra l’amìko di Lavànnha ké àma la montànnha, préze ùna kastànnha é lhéla diède diçèndo “Innhorànte, karónnha, mànnha la kastànnha“.

Ma èra sólo un sónnho. Innhàro di èssere nél sónnho, ló nhòmo innhòbile ké swòna la dzampónnha kontinwàva a lannhàrsi. É l’amìko di Lavànnha sé né andò a fàrsi un bànnho.


ORIGINAL ITALIAN TEXT + GOOD ENGLISH TRANSLATION


Ho un amico di Lavagna, insegnante agnostico, che sa tutto delle montagne del regno di Spagna, ma ignora la Valle Imagna.
I've got a friend from Lavagna who is an agnostic teacher, who knows all about the mountains of the Spanish kingdom but knows nothing of the Imagna Valley.

Delle montagne ama le castagne, le pigne, le prugne, il sole che si_spegne, i segni e i disegni che la natura crea, e persino i ragni.
Of all the things he likes most in the mountains he loves chestnuts, pine cones, plums, the setting sun, the signs and the drawings that nature creates, and even spiders.


Lo vedo a volte che sogna le sue montagne, le sue castagne, i suoi ragni.
Occasionally I see him dreaming about his mountains, his chestnuts and his spiders.

Un giorno che era in montagna fece un sogno: era in campagna, anziché in montagna, e non_c’erano ragni ma solo un agnello, un cane, una cagna e uno gnomo ignobile che suonava la zampogna.
One day when he was in the mountains he had a dream: he was in the country instead of in the mountains, and there were no spiders but there was just a lamb, a male dog, a bitch and a despicable gnome who was playing the bagpipes.

C’era uno stagno con acqua stagnante, un pezzo di legno che galleggiava e dappertutto una puzza di fogna: uno spettacolo davvero indegno, un’ignominia!
There was a pond with stagnant water in it, a piece of wood which floated on it and everywhere there was a smell of sewage: it was a really unseemly sight, a real disgrace.

Lo gnomo ignobile, attento a non bagnarsi, si_lagnava di aver fame, voleva una pagnotta, un piatto di gnocchi e un panettone Alemagna.
The despicable gnome, careful not to wet himself, moaned that he was hungry, that he wanted a loaf of bread, a plate of gnocchi and an Alemagna panettone.

Frignava come una cicogna, agitava il pugno ma non gettava la spugna.
He wimpered like a stork, shook his fist, but didn't give in.

Allora l’amico di Lavagna che ama la montagna, prese una castagna e gliela diede dicendo “Ignorante, carogna, magna la castagna“.
So, my friend from Lavagna who loves the mountains, picked up a chestnut and gave it to him saying: "Ignoramus, bastard, eat the chestnut."

Ma era solo un sogno.
But it was only a dream.

Ignaro di essere nel sogno, lo gnomo ignobile che suona la zampogna continuava a lagnarsi.
Not aware he was in a dream, the despicable gnome who played the bagpipes, continued to moan.

E l’amico di Lavagna se_ne_andò a farsi_un_bagno.
And my friend from Lavagna went away to have a bath.


   REFERENCE    

  1. GRAMMAR LISTS
    109 Italian Regular Verb Endings

    WORD LISTS
  2. Airport
  3. Animals
  4. Film World
  5. Gardening
  6. House-Related Adjectives
  7. Dishes and Kitchenware
  8. Months of the Year
  9. Numbers 1-400
  10. Punctuation and Typography
  11. Relatives
  12. Roads
  13. Transport Facilities

    THE SOUNDS OF ITALIAN
  14. Dictation: My Family
  15. The GN Sound
  16. Samples of Italian Voices

 

 

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