“Dire” vs “Parlare” in Italian
In Italian, both dire and parlare relate to the act of speaking, but they are used differently and have distinct meanings. Let me guide you through the uses of these two verbs to see the difference between dire and parlare.
Parlare is an intransitive verb that means “to speak” or “to talk”. It focuses more on the act of speaking itself rather than the specific words or content. It is often used in broader contexts, like to:
- Indicate conversing or discussing:
Stiamo parlando del film.
We are talking about the movie.
- Indicate the ability of speaking a language (this is an exception, as it behaves as a transitive verb taking the language one speaks as a direct object):
Parlo italiano.
I speak Italian.
- Refer to speaking in general:
Non capisco nulla, parla troppo velocemente.
I do not understand anything, he/she speaks too quickly.
Dire is both a transitive and intransitive verb that means “to say” or “to tell”. It focuses on the content of what is being said rather than the act of speaking itself. It is typically used to:
- Express what someone says in report speech or to introduce direct speech.
Lui dice che arriverà tardi.
He says he will be late.
Luigi mi ha detto: sei l’amore della mia vita.
Luigi told me: you are the love of my life.
- Ask or inquire, like when asking someone to provide information.
Cosa mi dici di questa città?
What do you say about this city?
Let me now show you a brief comparison between these two verbs:
| Dire | Parlare |
|---|---|
| Focuses on what is said (the content of the speech). | Focuses on the act of speaking or having a conversation. |
| Often used with direct and indirect speech (quotations, reports). | Used to refer to speaking languages or discussing topics. |
| Used to tell or command someone to do something. | Used to indicate the act of conversing or communicating. |
Common Expressions With “Parlare” and “Dire” in Italian
Common Expressions with “Parlare”
- Parlare del più e del meno (to make small talk, talk about this and that): it is used when people are talking about general, non-specific topics.
- Parlare chiaro (to speak clearly, to be straightforward): used when someone wants to be direct or clear about something.
- Parlare a vanvera (to talk nonsense, to talk without thinking): it refers to speaking in a disorganized or senseless way.
- Parlare con il cuore in mano (to speak sincerely, to speak from the heart): used to express that someone is speaking openly and honestly.
Common Expressions with “Dire”
- Dire la verità/una bugia (to tell the truth/a lie).
- Dire sul serio (to be serious, to mean it): used to express that someone is not joking and is being serious.
- Dire pane al pane e vino al vino (to call a spade a spade): used to describe someone who speaks frankly and calls things by their names.
- Dire la propria (to speak one’s mind, to give one’s opinion): used when someone wants to express their opinion or viewpoint
