Learn Italian vocabulary

Hi, everybody! I'm Luca and this is an Italian lesson for non-native speakers. More specifically, this lesson is designed for those wonderful people who want to speak Italian well.

If you learned Italian as a foreign language, and want to speak Italian well, you've come to the right place!

In this video I'm gonna explain 5 words that are often mixed up by those learning Italian as a second language. By watching this video, you will learn how to use these 5 words like a pro.

If you want to speak Italian well, you might wanna subscribe to my channel, because here I regularly upload Italian lessons geared toward those who want to speak Italian naturally.

I often discuss various mistakes that are frequently made by non-native speakers studying Italian.

As I said, in this video I'll explain 5 nouns that are often mixed up.

This video is my reply to a request I received from one of my subscribers. Some time ago, this individual asked me to explain the difference between the word "manico" and the word "maniglia".

I originally planned to discuss just these 2 words, but afterwards I decided to add 3 similar nouns. So in this video I will discuss not only the difference between "manico" and "maniglia", but also the difference between the following (Italian) words: "manico", "maniglia", "manetta", "manopola" e "manovella".

These 5 nouns sound similar, they stem from the same root, and that's the reason why they tend to be mixed up.

Let's begin with the word "manico".

Alright. "Manico" is a masculine noun. So its singular form is "il manico", while its plural form is "i manici".

Without further ado, let's do an example!

The most typical case of "manico" is this. This is a knife, and this part here is what we call "manico del coltello". What does "manico" mean? Basically, it's the handle, the part of the knife that you grab. This part is called "lama", and this is called "manico".

I don't know if you know the Italian idiom "Avere il coltello dalla parte del manico", or "Tenere il coltello dalla parte del manico".

Some time ago I also made a video about this idiomatic phrase. Here you will find a card to that video. If you wish, check it out!

Similarly, this is a hammer and this is called "manico del martello". This wooden part is called "il manico del martello".

Similarly, this is a screwdriver, and this part is called "manico". "Il manico del cacciavite".

Another example could be this. This object is called "tazza". And this part here is called "il manico della tazza".

Similarly, this object is called "caffettiera" and this part here is called "il manico della caffettiera".

The same goes for this object. This is called "padella", or rather, I'd call it "padellina", because it's really small. This is called "padellina" and this part is called "manico".

So from the examples I gave you, you can see that "manico" is the handle by which you grab a given object.

Another less obvious, slightly less prototypical example with the word "manico" could be this. What is this? This object is "zaino" in Italian. This part right here is called "manico", this is what we call "il manico dello zaino".

In particular, backpacks typically have one "manico" and some "spallacci".

This is called "spallaccio". If my memory serves me right, this part is called "spallaccio". Because you put it on your shoulder ("spalla").

For this part, instead, we use the noun "manico". Because you use it grab your backpack, to grip your backpack, to lift your backpack.

Similarly, if you have a suitcase... suitcases typically have a grab handle that you can grab to lift them off.

Now let's move on to the next word, the word "maniglia".

The object called "maniglia" is usually found on doors, on windows, on car doors. "Maniglia" is the device used to open doors. So "maniglia" is related to the action of opening a door or a window.

Some people use the word "maniglia" also to refer to those objects that can be found, for instance, in a tram or subway train, right? Inside a subway car or tram you can find these handles that you can grab. So that you don't fall on the ground in case of sudden stops. If the tram suddenly hits the brakes, if it stops all of a sudden... then, if you are holding such handle, you won't fall on the ground.

In italian we also have the noun "maniglione". Usually "maniglione antipanico". This noun is used to refer to a special type of door handles. These are typically found in public buildings, such as schools hospitals, universities, ecc.

"Maniglione" has a function equivalent to that of "maniglia", i.e. it is used to open doors. To put it simply, "maniglione" denotes a bigger object operating with a slightly different mechanism, so that when you push it, the door opens.

I don't know if you know the phrase "le maniglie dell'amore". This phrase refers, I'd say in a humourous way, to a particular body part. We say "dell'amore" because the reference here is that, during... Well, you see what I mean!

The third word I wanted to discuss with you is "manopola".

Alright. The word "manopola" can refer to 3 different things.

First of all, "manopola" refers to a specific part of a suit of armor, the part protecting the hand. Basically, it's a kind of metal gauntlet, the only difference being that, unlike a glove, a "manopola" typically has these 4 fingers enclosed in a single section. You have this part here and then this part here for the thumb. So the first meaning of the word "manopola" is this: a specific part of a suit of armor.

Secondly, (the Italian noun) "manopola" could refer to a kind of glove used in extremely could climate (with fingers enclosed in a single section). So, as I said, the noun "manopola" refers to a type of glove, except that this section is fused together. You can't move your fingers. "Manopola" has a sheath for the thumb, while here you have a single section.

(The Italian word) "Manopola" also has 2 additional, completely unrelated meanings.

Alright, then. "Manopola" can refer to a device that can be found, for instance, on old radios, which basically is used to adjust their volume. "Manopola" is the control knob you can turn to adjust the volume. For instance, to turn the volume either up or down.

Some people also use the word "manopola" to refer to the part of a bike's handlebar on which you rest your hands. Some Italians call this part "manopola". On each bike's handlebar you have 2 of these "manopole".

Then you have the word "manovella", which is really easy to explain. "Manovella" is a rather particular mechanical device. I will add a picture, so that you understand what device I'm talking about. Basically, we use the noun "manovella" to refer to an object you should turn like so.

For instance, to put in motion old cars, I mean very, very old cars, you had a "manovella" in the front. To put the car in motion, you had to turn this crank. Similarly, old movie cameras also had a "manovella". Again, you had to turn it over and over and over.

Alright. Then we have the fifth word I wanted to discuss: "manetta".

(The word) "manetta" can be used in singular form (and it means something), but it's more commonly used in plural form (with a different meaning).

The noun "manette" refers to those objects put on the wrists of arrested people, upon arresting them. Or rather, put on the wrists of those who are considered dangerous. So the police, upon arresting somebody, in some cases put "manette" on the wrists of the arrested individual.

Keep in mind that in Italian we also have the verb "ammanettare" which refers exactly to this. So "ammanettare" means putting "manette" on someone's wrists.

Interestingly, we don't have a verb meaning the opposite, i.e. removing handcuffs and in Italian we in fact say "togliere le manette". So: "ammanettare" vs. "togliere le manette".

That's all with respect to the plural form "manette".

The singular form "manetta", instead, was used to refer to a mechanism found in motorcycles.

On a motorcycle's handlebar, you could find a device, I don't know if you can still find it, to be honest I'm not an expert... - in any case, the noun "manetta" refers to that thing you use to accelerate. That thing that sounds like "vum vum vum". I'm sure you see what I mean!

In Italian we also have the phrase "andare a manetta" which means going really fast. That is, moving at a high speed.

In Italian we also have the verb "smanettare", which originally meant exactly this, that is: performing this movement over and over.

Nowadays, however, the verb "smanettare" is mostly used to mean something else.

"Smanettare" is a verb mostly used in reference to computers and basically means experimenting with, and/or altering, something. In other words, "smanettare" is what computer geeks do.

As a matter of fact, in Italian we also have the noun "smanettone", which refers to an individual who genuinely loves computers and likes creating, altering, and experimenting different stuff on their computer.

Oh, yes! Lastly, I wanted to discuss a bonus word: "manica". So "la manica", "le maniche".

We call "manica" this part right here. In Italian this is called "la manica della felpa".

So it's important that you don't mix up the words "la manica" and "il manico".

In the comments section please let me know what you think about this video! And if you already knew all these words, or if you indeed mixed up some of them.

Here you can find a card to a video that I strongly suggest that you watch, if you want to speak good Italian. Please check it out!

Learn Italian Vocabulary with UnlearningItalian (Channel Outro)