Italian vocabulary related to PHONES (part 1 of 2)

This is a video for those who want to learn the Italian language.

More specifically, this video is aimed at those people who understand Italian, but would like to learn new words and idiomatic phrases.

To put it differently, this video is aimed at those amazing people who would like to expand their vocabulary to speak Italian like a native.

If you are looking for videos for learning Italian well, you've come to the right place!

(unlearningitalian - channel intro)

Hi, everybody! I'm Luca and in this epic video I wanted to explain many things about the Italian language starting from this object.

You have probably recognized this small object.

Well, I wanted to use this object as a starting point to explain several things about the Italian language. In other words, I would like to talk about a number of nouns and verbs which are directly or indirectly related to this object.

Before I start, I'd like to remind you that this channel is huge. It contains hundreds and thousands of videos. So, if you truly want to learn Italian well, you might wanna take a look at my channel page.

That being said, let's go back to our object. What is this?

In Italian this is referred to with the word "alimentatore". Specifically, this is called "alimentatore di un telefono", "l'alimentatore di un cellulare". If you have any kinds of phones, you will also have one "alimentatore".

Many people who are studying Italian as a second language say "il caricatore". However, the word "il caricatore" refers to something else.

"Il caricatore" essentially is a component of fire arms. The part where bullets are stored. The part containing ammunition. The part which in most guns is typically placed at the bottom. Well, that is called "il caricatore".

This one is not referred to as "un caricatore". At most you could say "il caricabatterie". That is, you could use a compound noun and call this object "caricabatterie". Surely not "caricatore".

I've also noticed that some non-native speakers who are learning Italian tend to call this object "carica" or "ricarica". They say: "Passami la ricarica" or "Passami la carica". However, "la ricarica" in fact means something different. So I suggest that you don't call this object "ricarica" or "carica".

What's this object for?

It is used for "ricaricare la batteria del cellulare". Or "ricaricare la batteria del telefono".

The phone battery can be either full or empty. When it is full, we say that is is "carica", when it is empty we say that it is "scarica". So there is one S in front of "carica".

So we have our phone, the battery is fully charged, the battery is "carica". Then we use our phone and the battery "si scarica". When the battery drains completely, we can say that the battery is "scarica".

By the way, the verb "scaricare" is very interesting. Because it can have two different meanings.

One the one hand, there is "scaricarsi" which is used in reference to batteries and means what I've just explained to you.

On the other hand, there is "scaricare qualcosa da Internet", which essentially means downloading something from the Internet to one's machine.

So, like I said, this object is referred to as "alimentatore" or "caricabatterie" and is used "per caricare la batteria del telefono".

I can say "per caricare" or "per ricaricare".

What's the difference?

If I say "ricaricare", I make a point that the battery was fully charged, then it drained, and I charge it again. If I say "caricare", I use a more general verb.

So, like I said, here I have my phone. The phone drained, its battery is drained, I'm gonna need this object to charge my phone.

In particular, this object allows me to connect my phone to the "rete elettrica". The electrical system in homes and houses is referred to with the phrase "la rete elettrica".

Like I said, it's clear that every phone has its own "alimentatore" or "caricabatterie".

Basically, the charger has 3 parts.

You have this long part that some call "filo". The word "filo" is improper, I'd say. Even if some Italians say "filo", I suggest that you call these objects "cavi".

So this can be called "un cavo". This one can be referred to as "il cavo dell'alimentatore". So the word I suggest that you use is "cavo". "Cavo" is singular, "cavi" is plural. If you wanted, you could call it "cavetto", if it's short. Meaning small "cavo".

"Filo" is a more general word and should be used to refer to objects made of a different type of material, for instance out of cloth. E.g. "Un filo di cotone". By contrast, when talking about electrical components, it's better to use the word "cavo".

So, this is called "il cavo".

This part is commonly referred to as "attacco". Because you connect it to the phone.

Next, there is this part here, I don't know how to call it, - the body of the charger, if you will. This small box. Which in the case of older chargers was quite big and heavy. In more recent models, though, this small box is really light.

Next, you have this part, the most interesting part, which should be plugged into the electrical system, which Italians tend to call "spina". So, if someone wants to ask you to plug this thing into the electrical system, they would typically tell you: "Inserisci la spina nella presa".

What does "presa" mean?

It refers to those "holes" into which you should plug these 2 things.

So you have "la spina" and "la presa". Let me say that "spina" and "presa" are not technical terms, quite the opposite. They are everyday terms. So it's clear that, say, an electrician or expert wouldn't use such terms. However, our main goal here is to learn everyday Italian words.

Basically, "la spina" is the object that is plugged into, whereas "la presa" is the object into which it is plugged.

To make it more clear, here I have a slightly different object. This is not a "alimentatore" or "caricabatterie". Because its purpose is not to charge the phone battery. This is referred to as "adattatore". This noun clearly comes from the verb "adattare".

You see? Here you have "una spina" and here you have "una presa". It is used to convert a plug type into a different plug type. In particular, a larger plug into a smaller plug.

Well, something that I'd like to point out is that here you have three "tips" coming outward, right?! But regardless in Italian this thing is referred to as "la spina". We don't say "le spine".

Here I have another object. This one is neither an adapter or charger. This object in Italian is called "prolunga". So we can say that this one is "una prolunga". Feminine noun. Clearly related to the verb "allungare".

Here, see, we have "la spina". Here we have "la presa". And here we have a very long cable. And that is the exact reason why this one is called "prolunga".

For instance, if we have a fixed object that we can't move, such as a televisor, and we need to plug it into the electrical system, but the televisor is quite far from the socket, we will need a power extension. We can use an extension cord.

So, to recap: this one is called "prolunga". This part is called "spina". So this one is called "la spina della prolunga".

If I do this, what am I doing? I'm plu... Well, it doesn't go... Well, whatever... I plug the extension cord plug into the "adattatore". This one is called "adattatore".

Alternatively, I could plug the adapter plug into the socket of the extension lead. No, I can't, because it doesn't fit

Go to the second part of this lesson