September 14, 2017

Ciao mundo! Sono Mika, e voglio imparare l'italiano.

Hello world! I am Mika, and I want to learn Italian.

ciao = hello

mundo = world

sono = I am. The 1st person singular present tense for essere, "to be"

Mika is my name!

e = and

voglio = I want. The 1st person singular present tense for volere, "to want"

imparare = to learn. This is the infinitive form, or default, of any verb.

l'italiano = Italian. Literally, "the Italian (language)"

A few years ago, a friend, D., taught me to say these words. Just last month, I was lucky enough to see him get married in his native Sicily and fell hard and fast for his homeland. With his help and the help of a few other Italian friends, I am documenting my journey to understanding and speaking Italian. Andiamo! Let's go!

Postscript: I was told that ciao mundo doesn't really translate the same way, but I enjoy the reference to entering a new world, just like the first program one learns when learning to code.