Test – Azzurro – Italian Learning

Lyrics 5 lines

Azzurro, il pomeriggio è troppo azzurro e lungo per me.

Blue, the afternoon is too blue and long for me.

M accorgo di non avere più risorse, senza di te.

I realize I have no more resources, without you.

E allora, accendo la televisione

And so, I turn on the television

per passare il tempo e sto aspettando che ritorni,

to pass the time and I am waiting for you to return,

come tu sai fare con me.

as you know how to do with me.

Song Summary

This melancholic song expresses loneliness and longing in the absence of a loved one. The narrator struggles with empty afternoons, distracts themselves with television, and waits for their beloved's return, highlighting emotional dependence and the difficulty of being alone.

Key Vocabulary

azzurro blue
adjective; here used metaphorically to express sadness and melancholy

accorgersi to realize, to notice
reflexive verb; 'm accorgo' is first person singular present

risorse resources, strength
feminine plural noun; here meaning emotional or psychological strength

accendere to turn on, to light
regular verb; 'accendo' is first person singular present

passare to pass, to spend
regular verb; often used with 'tempo' meaning to spend time

aspettare to wait, to expect
regular verb; 'sto aspettando' is present progressive form

ritornare to return, to come back
regular verb; 'ritorni' is second person singular subjunctive/conditional

lungo long
adjective; here modifying time rather than physical distance

Useful Phrases

il pomeriggio è troppo azzurro e lungo

the afternoon is too blue and long

accendo la televisione

I turn on the television

per passare il tempo

to pass the time

senza di te

without you

come tu sai fare

as you know how to do

Colloquial Expressions

accorgersi di

to realize, to become aware of

e allora

and so, well then

Grammar Notes

Present progressive (stare + gerund)

The form 'sto aspettando' (I am waiting) uses present progressive to emphasize ongoing action. Example: 'sto aspettando che ritorni' means I am actively waiting for you to return.

Subjunctive mood

The verb 'ritorni' (that you return) is in subjunctive after 'aspettando che' because it expresses a dependent clause of purpose or expectation.

Reflexive verbs

The verb 'accorgersi' is reflexive; 'm accorgo' is the first person singular form, literally meaning I notice myself or I realize.

Prepositional phrase with di

The phrase 'senza di te' (without you) uses the prepositional marker 'di' before the pronoun 'te' for emphasis.

Practice Questions

1. Why does the narrator describe the afternoon as both blue and long? What do these adjectives suggest about their emotional state?

2. What action does the narrator take to cope with their loneliness, and what does this reveal about their state of mind?

3. What does the narrator mean by saying the loved one 'knows how to do this' with them, referring to making them wait?

Suggested Flashcards

azzurro → blue; sad, melancholic accorgersi → to realize, to notice risorse → resources, strength accendere la televisione → to turn on the television passare il tempo → to pass/spend time aspettare → to wait, to expect