The Italian word combinare can be used in different ways. Today, I’m going to list all the main uses of the Italian word combinare.
Combinare
1. The first meaning of the Italian word combinare is to unite things according to a criterion or for a specific purpose.
Examples:
a. Se combiniamo il giallo con il blu, otteniamo il verde
a. If we combine yellow and blue, we get green
b. Questa cravatta si combina bene con la tua camicia
b. This tie matches well with your shirt
2. The second meaning of the Italian word combinare is to organize something with other people. This is generally used in informal Italian.
Examples:
c. Che ne dite? Combiniamo un viaggio tutti insieme?
c. How about we plan a trip together? What do you say?
d. Ieri abbiamo combinato un incontro con gli investitori cinesi
d. Yesterday we organized a meeting with the Chinese investors
3. Another meaning of the Italian verb combinare is to coincide, to correspond.
Examples:
e. Dobbiamo combinare estetica e funzionalità
e. We must combine aesthetics with functionality
4. In informal Italian combinare can be used to say that someone made something negative. We generally have very specific expressions like:
– Combinare un pasticcio = To make a mess/to cause a lot of trouble
f. Mamma, Davide ha combinato un pasticcio! Ha versato tutto il succo d’arancia per terra!
f. Mom, Davide made a mess! He spilled all the orange juice on the floor!
– Combinarne delle belle = To cause a lot of mischief
g. Francesco ultimamente ne combina proprio delle belle!
g. Francesco is causing a lot of mischief lately
– Combinarne di tutti i colori = To cause a lot of mischief
h. Francesco ultimamente ne combina di tutti i colori!
h. Francesco is causing a lot of mischief lately
– Combinarne di cotte e di crude = To cause a lot of mischief
i. Francesco ultimamente ne combina di cotte e di crude!
i. Francesco is causing a lot of mischief lately
– Combinarla grossa = to make a big mess
l. Oggi Francesco l’ha combinata proprio grossa! Ha rotto tutto un servizio di piatti!
l. Today Francesco made a real mess! He broke a whole dish set!
To add another expression, it should be clear by now that Francesco is probably a combinaguai, is probably troublemaker.
– Non combinare nulla = To get nothing done
m. Oggi al lavoro non ho combinato nulla
m. Today I didn’t get anything done at work
Combinare can also be used in its reflexive form, combinarsi. In this case, the Italian verb combinarsi has at least two main meanings.
5. The first meaning of combinarsi is to dress, to present yourself and carries a negative meaning.
Example:
n. Guarda come si è combinata Giorgia oggi!
n. Look at how Giorgia is dressed today!
6. The second meaning of the verb combinarsi is to find an agreement with someone.
Example:
o. Volevo quell’auto ma alla fine non ci siamo combinati sul prezzo
o. I wanted that car but we didn’t agree on the price in the end
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Credits
Original image by 12019
The legend about the origins of Turin
