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In this preview of Le piccole parole – Episodio 6 – Parte 2, we continue our exploration of the Italian preposition CON.

How does CON help us describe people more naturally? And how does this little word become part of expressions Italians use all the time?

We’ll also return to the mercatino, where Paolo’s grandmother’s handwritten recipes are beginning to reveal why they’re worth preserving.

--> Link to Post for Transcript for this episode <--

Piano piano, one little word at a time.

⏳ CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
3:44 Comprehension Questions
5:17 Previously at the Mercatino
7:50 Comprehension Answers
10:51 Free Preview Wrap-up

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CON means “with”... but that’s only the beginning.

In Parte 1B of our exploration of the Italian preposition con, we move beyond the basics and look at some of the places where this little word becomes part of everyday Italian.

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We’ll explore con in weather expressions, including con questo freddo and con la pioggia, the articulated forms col and coi, and fixed expressions such as con piacere, con il tempo, and con le mani in mano. We’ll also look at verbs and expressions that naturally reach for con, including parlare con, stare con, uscire con, and farcela con. 

Then we return to the mercatino estivo, where Matteo arrives carrying something old and fragile. What begins as a repair becomes something much more meaningful, approached con cura, con delicatezza, con attenzione. 

As always, listen for the patterns rather than trying to memorize a list. Little by little, con will begin to feel less like a word you have to translate and more like a natural part of the Italian you speak.

⏳ CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
1:06 Podcast Frame – Matteo Arrives
2:55 CON in Weather Expressions
6:56 Articulated Forms of CON
9:48 Le Locuzioni Fisse
11:44 Di chi è questo verbo?
17:59 Transition to La Scena
18:56 La Scena – Con Cura
25:03 La Scena – Senza Interruzioni
27:31 Listener Challenge
30:25 Wrap-up

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Voice Credits
Special thanks to voice actor Joshua Hess for lending his voice to Impariamo l'Italiano Piano Piano. - Contact: [email protected]

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Studente Saggio Paul from Cold Lake, Alberta, has sent in his latest prediction. What will be the next object to arrive at the banco delle riparazioni?

Listen to Paul's prediction, make your own, and then come back for Le piccole parole – Episodio 6, Parte 1B to discover whether he was right.

And this time, there's a little incentive to join in: send me your prediction and I'll send you the study guide and answer keys for the entire Le piccole parole series, (once it is finished) including practice exercises and full episode transcripts.

Send your prediction here: https://www.speakpipe.com/WeLearnItalian 

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I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano!
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Special thanks to voice actor Joshua Hess for lending his voice to Impariamo l'Italiano Piano Piano. - Contact: [email protected]

All content © 2026 Impariamo l’italiano piano piano – Un impegno quotidiano

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In this episode of Le piccole parole, we begin exploring the Italian preposition CON, a little word that has a wonderful way of bringing things together.

We look at three essential uses of CON: being with someone, using a tool or instrument to do something, and describing the way something is done.

Con Marco. Con il coltello. Con cura.

Along the way, we'll explore natural expressions such as con calma, con pazienza, con attenzione and con amore, and look at why Italian sometimes gives these expressions a little extra weight with the indefinite article.

--> Link to Post for Transcript for this episode <--

⏳ CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
1:56 Con for Accompaniment
3:58 Con for Instrument or Means
6:01 Con for Manner
10:16 Wrap-up

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I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano!
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• Read my blog here
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Voice Credits
Special thanks to voice actor Joshua Hess for lending his voice to Impariamo l'Italiano Piano Piano. - Contact: [email protected]

All content © 2026 Impariamo l’italiano piano piano – Un impegno quotidiano

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Support the show

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano!
Here are a few ways you can connect with me:

• Read my blog here
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Voice Credits
Special thanks to voice actor Joshua Hess for lending his voice to Impariamo l'Italiano Piano Piano. - Contact: [email protected]

All content © 2026 Impariamo l’italiano piano piano – Un impegno quotidiano

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In Part 1B of our exploration of the Italian preposition IN, we go beyond the basics.

We build the articulated forms nel, nello, nella, nell’, nei, negli and nelle, see how IN can express movement into a space, and add useful everyday expressions such as in fretta, in ritardo, in anticipo, in punto, in fondo and in giro.

Then it’s time for Di chi è questo verbo?, with verbs including credere in, sperare in, specializzarsi in, consistere in and imbattersi in.

Finally, we return to the mercatino, where someone we’ve met before comes back for the damaged picture frame, and Carlo seems to have been waiting for just the right moment.

More IN, more story, and a few more pieces of the puzzle.

 --> Link to Post for Transcript for this episode <-- 

Un pezzetto alla volta.

⏳ CHAPTERS

1:07 Articulated Forms
3:36 In as "Into"
5:38 Le Locuzioni Fisse
8:49 Di chi è questo verbo?
11:48 Transition to La Scena
12:28 La Scena: Il Ritorno
16:57 La Scena Senza Interruzioni
19:43 Listener Challenge
22:43 Wrap-up

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I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano!
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• Read my blog here
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Voice Credits
Special thanks to voice actor Joshua Hess for lending his voice to Impariamo l'Italiano Piano Piano. - Contact: [email protected]

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In Episode 5, we turn our attention to IN, another of Italian’s piccole parole that seems to turn up everywhere.

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In Part 1A, we explore some of its most common uses: IN with countries and regions, rooms and enclosed spaces, time expressions, and means of transport. Why do we say in Italia, in cucina and in treno? And why is it a piedi but also in piedi?

Along the way, Paolo is rummaging around in the garage, Antonio helps us keep the rules straight, and we hear from one of our Studenti Saggi, who has a prediction about what might happen next at the mercatino.

One small preposition. A lot of places where it belongs.

Un pezzetto alla volta.

⏳ CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction
3:12 In with Countries and Regions
7:38 In with Rooms and Enclosed Spaces
10:15 In with Months and Years
13:46 In with Means of Transport
16:37 Le Vostre Previsioni
17:13 Paul’s SpeakPipe Message
19:10 Wrap-up

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I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano!
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Voice Credits
Special thanks to voice actor Joshua Hess for lending his voice to Impariamo l'Italiano Piano Piano. - Contact: [email protected]

All content © 2026 Impariamo l’italiano piano piano – Un impegno quotidiano

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Carlo can fix almost anything. But when Matteo and his grandfather bring an old transistor radio to the repair stall, something unexpected happens. For once, Carlo doesn’t know what to do. Someone else does.

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In this free preview of Le piccole parole – Episodio 4 – Parte 2: Quando DA fa tutto, we return to the mercatino with comprehension questions, listen again to the scene, and go through the answers together. And one listener’s prediction turns out to have been remarkably close!

The full episode for show supporters continues our exploration of DA, with more uses, verbs, descriptions, and locuzioni fisse.

Un pezzetto alla volta.

⏳ CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
5:55 Comprehension Questions
7:12 Previously at the Mercatino...
11:30 Comprehension Answers
14:25 Listener Paul's Prediction
17:45 Free Version Wrap-up

Support the show

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano!
Here are a few ways you can connect with me:

• Read my blog here
• -->Leave me a voice message<-- 
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• Take the listener survey
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Email: [email protected]

Voice Credits
Special thanks to voice actor Joshua Hess for lending his voice to Impariamo l'Italiano Piano Piano. - Contact: [email protected]

All content © 2026 Impariamo l’italiano piano piano – Un impegno quotidiano

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Paolo is in the kitchen. Something smells wonderful.

He doesn't know it yet, but he's just given us three perfect examples of the most important use of da in this episode.

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In Part 1B we go further with the preposition da.  Into duration, passive constructions, fixed expressions, and the verbs that reach for da when they need what comes next. We also look at why Italian stays in the present tense where English would reach for the past, and what that tells us about how Italian thinks about time.

And at the mercatino, something arrives at the repair stall that stops Carlo completely in his tracks. For the first time since the stall opened, there is something he cannot fix.

A small word. A very big job.

Piano piano. Vivendo e imparando.

⏳ CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
0:30 DA for Duration
4:20 DA in Passive Constructions
6:25 Le Locuzioni Fisse
8:39 Di chi è questo verbo?
12:00 Transition to La Scena
12:37 La Scena – Il Momento del Silenzio
19:59 La Scena – Senza Interruzioni
24:17 Listener Challenge
27:04 Wrap-up

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Support the show

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano!
Here are a few ways you can connect with me:

• Read my blog here
• -->Leave me a voice message<-- 
  You might even be featured on the show! 
• Take the listener survey
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Email: [email protected]

Voice Credits
Special thanks to voice actor Joshua Hess for lending his voice to Impariamo l'Italiano Piano Piano. - Contact: [email protected]

All content © 2026 Impariamo l’italiano piano piano – Un impegno quotidiano

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Episode 4 – Preposition DA – Part 1A

Most learners first meet da when talking about where someone comes from. But that's only the beginning.

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In this episode, we explore three of the most common uses of da. You'll learn how it marks the source of a letter, a message or a journey, how it tells us where movement begins, and why Italians say vado da Marco or sono dal dottore without ever mentioning the word "place."

As always, the grammar grows naturally through conversation between Myra and Antonio, with plenty of examples, comparisons with English, and opportunities to notice the patterns that native speakers use every day.

One small word. Three big jobs.

⏳ CHAPTERS 

0:00 Introduction
1:56 DA for Origin and Source
3:44 DA for Movement Away from a Place
6:23 DA for Person-Centred Locations
8:56 Wrap-up

Support the show

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano!
Here are a few ways you can connect with me:

• Read my blog here
• -->Leave me a voice message<-- 
  You might even be featured on the show! 
• Take the listener survey
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Email: [email protected]

Voice Credits
Special thanks to voice actor Joshua Hess for lending his voice to Impariamo l'Italiano Piano Piano. - Contact: [email protected]

All content © 2026 Impariamo l’italiano piano piano – Un impegno quotidiano