Italian · BeginnerScegliere un regaloBuying a Gift

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00:00Intro
Hi Marco! Why are you looking at that colored box, with so much curiosity?
Hi Giulia! I am looking for an idea, for a friend's birthday!
Ah, I understand very well! It is not always easy to find the right item!
Very true! For me it is a real challenge, every single year!
Then today we have the perfect topic, for our episode!
Today we learn six very useful phrases, to make a great impression on everyone!
Our main phrase of today is: Scegliere un regalo.
In other words, it means looking for and finding the ideal gift, for a loved one!
We also learn five other natural phrases, for every moment of the party!
The first phrase is: Fare un regalo.
Then we have two wonderful actions: Aprire il pacchetto, and Scrivere un biglietto.
And two more great traditions: Comprare i pasticcini, and Portare una bottiglia!
In addition, today we discover a curious rule, about gifts in Italy!
An important rule about flowers, that everyone must know well!
Listen carefully to our story, to learn all the details!
Marco, tell us your special story, from last Saturday!
Gladly! On Saturday evening I was invited to dinner, at my friend Matteo's house.
What a nice occasion! Was it a big party, with many guests?
It was his birthday party, with ten dear friends.
Did you want to choose a special gift, to celebrate together?
Exactly, I wanted to choose a useful gift, and very nice!
And what nice thing did you do, during the afternoon?
I walked through the historic center, for three whole hours.
Three hours on foot? Did you have many different ideas, in your head?
I had too many options, and I was very confused and undecided!
Did you go into many different shops, along the main street?
I went into a flower shop, and I saw beautiful yellow flowers.
But yellow flowers or chrysanthemums, are not always suitable!
Luckily I met my neighbor Lucia, outside the shop!
And what did Lucia tell you, to help you with the choice?
Lucia told me: In Italy we have precise traditions, for dinners at home!
What precious advice did she give you, Mrs. Lucia?
She told me: Buy fresh pastries, or get some good red wine!
A wise and typical piece of advice, of Italian culture!
So I immediately went, to the best pastry shop in the neighborhood.
And what good thing did you choose, inside the pastry shop?
I decided to buy cream pastries, and chocolate ones!
What a delicious treat! Fresh pastries always make everyone happy!
And I also decided to bring a bottle, of great Tuscan wine!
And what did Matteo say, when you arrived at his house?
Matteo smiled a lot, and was very happy with the surprise!
We all ate the pastries together, with great joy!
It was an unforgettable evening, full of laughter and good food!
Now let's talk about our curious fact, about Italian customs!
In Italy there are ancient rules, when giving gifts!
First important rule: when giving flowers as a gift, they must be an odd number!
Exactly, three, five or seven flowers, but never an even number!
And second golden rule: never give chrysanthemums, for a birthday party!
In Italy chrysanthemums are used, only to remember the deceased in November.
So for a happy dinner, pastries and good wine are always perfect!
Small traditional rules, but precious for making a great impression!
Now let's look at all six phrases together, with calm and simplicity!
Our queen phrase of today is: Scegliere un regalo.
It means looking carefully, and deciding what to buy for someone.
The second useful phrase is: Fare un regalo.
It means giving an item with affection, to show our friendship.
The third fun phrase is: Aprire il pacchetto.
It is the exciting moment, when we remove the colored paper and the ribbon!
The fourth typical phrase is: Comprare i pasticcini.
We go to the pastry counter, to pick up fresh little treats!
The fifth classic phrase is: Portare una bottiglia.
We take a good wine, to share together at the table during dinner.
And the sixth special phrase is: Scrivere un biglietto.
It means writing sweet and kind words, on a small greeting card!
But tell me the truth, Marco: how do you usually prepare your gifts?
I am a spontaneous person: I buy gifts at the last minute, on the same day!
Really? I prepare everything well in advance instead, and I make detailed lists!
So you are part of Team Giulia, super organized and careful!
And you are part of Team Marco, always creative and last-minute!
Two different ways of experiencing the celebration, but both full of heart!
Marco, I read a very interesting fact, about gifts in Italy!
What kind of fact? Tell us right away, I am very curious!
Guess: how many Italians prefer receiving food or sweets, as a gift?
Maybe forty percent of people?
No, much more! I read that it is around sixty-five percent!
A truly remarkable percentage! Good food always wins over everything!
Because eating together, is the most beautiful gift in the world!
Choosing a gift with love, always brings great joy to everyone!
A simple gesture, that makes the person who receives it feel special!
Now Marco, the time has come for our practical game!
I am very ready, for all your situations of today!
Situation number one: you are in a big shop, and looking for a gift for your mom.
I reply right away: I am here to choose a special gift for mom!
Very good! Situation number two: it is the graduation party, of your best friend.
I say with joy: Today I want to give an important gift to my friend!
Perfect! Situation number three: the birthday person has a box, with a red ribbon in hand.
I tell him with enthusiasm: Come on, it is time to open the package and look inside!
Great! Situation number four: you are invited to lunch, by your friendly aunt and uncle.
I immediately go to the bakery, to buy fresh Sunday pastries!
Very well! Situation number five: we go to dinner at the house of work colleagues.
I take an elegant bag, to bring a bottle of white wine!
Excellent! Situation number six: you bought a book, but a personal dedication is missing.
I take the pen on the table, to write a greeting card with affection!
Situation number seven: your cousin does not know what to buy for his wife.
I give him a hand: I gladly help you choose an elegant gift for her!
Situation number eight: all the guests are seated around the living room table.
I say to the host: I brought a bottle of good wine to toast together!
Situation number nine: we see a beautiful box on the party table.
We say with great curiosity: We want to open the package all together!
Situation number ten: on Sunday morning you walk past the historic pastry shop downtown.
I enter with a smile, to buy pastries for the family!
Situation number eleven: you buy a beautiful gift and want to attach a message.
I sit at the desk, to write a card with sweet words!
Situation number twelve: a friend warmly thanks you for the surprise received.
I answer from the heart: For me it is a pleasure, to give a gift to a dear friend!
You answered impeccably, to all twelve situations!
It was a fantastic training, to remember all our phrases!
Now let's give our special task, for tomorrow!
A practical and fun task, to speak Italian right away at home!
Tomorrow morning, in front of the mirror, do this very useful exercise!
What exactly do we need to say, in front of the mirror?
Look at your reflection, and say out loud three times with energy!
Which phrase do we have to repeat with strength, three times?
Say with a nice smile: Today I want to choose a special gift!
Repeating phrases out loud three times, trains pronunciation and memory!
And always remember our golden rules, on gifts in Italy!
Bring fresh pastries or good wine, and always choose flowers in an odd number!
And what about you at home? Are you on Team Marco, or Team Giulia?
Write your opinion, in the comments below this video!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone, for listening to this wonderful episode!
Have a great day everyone, give gifts from the heart and see you soon!

Key phrases

6 to keep
Scegliere un regaloScegliere un regalo
choose a gift
Devo scegliere un regalo per il compleanno di mia sorella.I have to choose a gift for my sister's birthday.
Fare un regaloFare un regalo
give a gift
Vorrei fare un regalo semplice ma utile ai miei genitori.I'd like to give my parents a simple but useful gift.
Aprire il pacchettoAprire il pacchetto
open the package
Posso aprire il pacchetto adesso o aspetto tutti?Can I open the package now or should I wait for everyone?
Comprare i pasticciniComprare i pasticcini
buy pastries
Passo in pasticceria a comprare i pasticcini per la colazione.I'll stop by the pastry shop to buy pastries for breakfast.
Portare una bottigliaPortare una bottiglia
bring a bottle
Alla cena di stasera conviene portare una bottiglia di vino.For tonight's dinner it's a good idea to bring a bottle of wine.
Scrivere un bigliettoScrivere un biglietto
write a card
Prima di consegnare il regalo, voglio scrivere un biglietto.Before I hand over the gift, I want to write a card.

Tocca a te

Your turn
dillo ad alta voce
Today's small task

Now let's give our special task, for tomorrow!Now let's give our special task, for tomorrow!

cocoaScegliere un regalo
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