Generally, one method to learn new Italian words is by grouping them meaningfully such as by categories like fruits, animals, transportation, etc. Another method is to learn new words in their context, for example while reading a book. However, the method I prefer is to start from a specific word and then learn all the other words containing the original word, or some of them.
So, today you’re going to learn seven new Italian words starting from the word pianta.
1. Pianta
Let’s start from the original word, pianta. The most common meanings of the word pianta in modern Italian are plant and floor plan.
Let’s see some examples:
a. Ieri Anna ha comprato una nuova pianta di ulivo
Anna bought a new olive tree yesterday
b. Prima di prendere una decisione mi piacerebbe vedere la pianta dell’appartamento
Before making a decision, I would like to see the floor plan of the apartment
2. Piantare
Piantare in Italian can have at least two possible meanings. The first one is easily guessable: to plant. The other one, is unexpected: to leave, to abandon. This second meaning is typical of informal Italian.
Let’s see two examples:
c. Ho deciso che quest’anno pianterò anche le zucchine
I have decided that I will also plant zucchini this year
d. Maria mi ha piantata di punto in bianco dopo 7 anni do matrimonio! Sono distrutta! E non ho nemmeno capito il perché!
Maria left me out of the blue after 7 years of marriage! I am devastated! And I didn’t even understand why!
3. Piantarla
Piantarla is a pronominal verb formed with the verb piantare + the particle la. It’s generally used in informal Italian and means to stop doing something.
Let’s see two examples:
e. Piantatela di urlare!
Stop yelling!
f. Piantala di lamentarti, e datti da fare!
Stop complaining and get busy!
Do you want to learn some other Italian pronominal verbs? Have a look at my book Sos Italian Pronominal verbs. It includes straightforward explanations of the verbs’ structures and conjugations, concise descriptions of their meanings, examples with English translations and exercises
4. Soppiantare
Soppiantare is a synonym of rimpiazzare, so it means to replace someone/something with someone/something else. When it’s used with people, it generally indicates that the person that was replaced was replaced using deception or unfair means.
Let’s see two examples:
g. I DVD hanno soppiantato del tutto il VHS
DVDs have completely supplanted VHS
h. E’ riuscito a soppiantare il suo avversario con calunnie
He has succeeded in supplanting his opponent with slanders
5. Spiantato
This Italian word means penniless and it’s generally used with a negative connotation. In general Italian I’d prefer saying “una persona senza mezzi/indigente” to indicate someone who’s penniless. I’d never use spiantato, unless I want to imply a really negative connotation.
Let’s see an example:
i. Non puoi sposare uno spiantato! Ti facevo più intelligente!
You can’t marry a penniless man! I thought you were smarter than that!
l. Si vantava sempre di fare la bella vita e adesso è uno spiantato
He was always bragging about living the good life, and now he’s a beggar
6. Piantonare
Piantonare means to guard certain places or individuals, never leaving them and never losing sight of them, as a security or police measure.
Examples:
m. Adesso l’omicida è ricoverato in ospedale, piantonato 24 su 24 dalla polizia
Now the murderer is hospitalized, guarded around the clock by police
n. La polizia sta piantonando l’ingresso dell’abitazione
Police are staking out the entrance to the home
7. Piantagrane
The final Italian word you can learn from the word pianta is piantagrane, which means troublemaker.
Let’s see two examples:
o. Francesco è un piantagrane, meglio starsene alla larga da lui
Francesco is a troublemaker, better to stay away from him
p. Ma perché devi sempre fare il piantagrane?
Why do you always have to be a troublemaker?
Did you already know all these Italian words or were some of them new to you?
And now why don’t you try to make some sentences, so that you can practice using these new Italian words?
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The witches of Benevento
