Summer is finally here! For many Italians Summer means hot weather, fun, relaxation, holidays, evening dinners in the garden with friends, and so on.
So, since summer is here, my idea for this article is to introduce you to Italian words related to summer.
Let’s start.
As I’ve just mentioned above, summer is the time of vacanze – holidays – for the majority of Italians.
Italians usually have their holidays between June and August, when in Italy is alta stagione – high season.
Many Italians stay in Italy, others, instead, prefer to go all’estero – abroad.
The majority of Italians prefer to go al mare – to the sea – some Italians choose la montagna – the mountains – and others choose to visit big European cities – le grandi città Europee. People who can’t afford holidays, finally, rimangono a casa – stay at home.
Let’s see today some Italian words related to Summer for people who choose to go to the sea.
SEA LOVERS
The first thing you’ll need if you’re spending your holidays at sea is crema solare – sunscreen. This is essential to prevent scottature – sunburn – and skin cancer.
Then, you’ll have to buy one or more costumi – swimwear. There are many types of costumi. However, for women’s bathing suits the most common distinction is between costume intero and bikini – one-piece bathing suit and bikini. Click the following link if you want to know how the many different types of swimwear are called in Italian.
For men, instead, the general distinction is between boxer, shorts/pantaloncini and slip – trunks, square-cut shorts and swim briefs.
Ok. Now you have il costume and la crema solare. If you’re visiting a spiaggia libera – public beach with no facilities – the next things you may want to buy, or rent, are un ombrellone and un lettino or una sedia da spiaggia – a beach umbrella and a beach lounger or a beach chair.
If you prefer to feel the sand under your back, then you can simply opt for a telo mare – beach towel – instead of lettino and sedia.
If, instead, you’re going to a spiaggia privata or una spiaggia attrezzata – private beach or public beach with facilities – then, simply bring with you a telo mare.
If you like to walk on the beach, I strongly suggest to bring with you also occhiali da sole – sunglasses – and un cappellino or una bandana – a hat/cap or a bandana.
One of the last things to bring with you is una borsa or uno zainetto – a bag or a small backpack – where to put la crema solare, il telo mare, una bottiglia d’acqua and dei panini – a bottle of water and some sandwiches.
Good. Now you know some useful Italian words related to Summer if you’re spending time at the sea.
The last Italian words you’re going to learn today are those related to the activities you can do on the beach.
If you spend part of the day at the beach, you can nuotare, prendere il sole, leggere un libro – swim, sunbathing, reading a book. You can also giocare a palla, frisbee o a racchettoni – play with a ball, with frisbee or play beach tennis.
Did you already know these Italian words related to Summer? Do you like to go to the sea? What do you bring with you?
Credits
Original image by Simon
Traditional wear in Trentino Alto Adige
