We the Italians December 28, 2014 - 50 | Page 28

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# 50 • DECEMBER 28 , 2014

# 50 • DECEMBER 28 , 2014

us), “scuoiare” (to skin), “scuola” (school),
“percuotere” (to beat), “scuotere” (to shake),
“cuoio” (leather), “innocuo” (innocuous),
“vacuo” (vacuous), “promiscuo” (promiscuous), “riscuotere” (to collect), “circuito” (circuit),
“acuire” (to sharpen).

read more about #Italian Language

ITALIAN LANGUAGE:

HOW TO USE “ACQUA”
AND THE LETTER Q

W

e start today to explore the linguistic heritage
of our beautiful language
with the word "acqua”
(water), to show you a few
ways how to use it in the
common language. Let's
start with the saying “l'acqua cheta rovina i ponti”
(literally, still water ruins
the bridges): it is a way of
meaning that who works
in secret and in silence is
often more dangerous.
Specifically, this expression
is used to refer to someone
who apparently seems not
to create problems (still
water is always static) but
suddenly or unexpectedly
could change attitude and

When the sound / ku / (which, as we said,
graphically corresponds both to "qu" and
"cu") is followed by a consonant, the rule
wants us to use only "cu": so we will write “cugino” (cousin), “cucina” (kitchen), “cura” (cure),
“curiosità” (curiosity), “cupola” (dome) etc.

there’s a saying that goes “l’acqua va al mare”
(literally, water goes to the sea), meaning that
luck always happens to those who have less
need.
upset all (then, ruining the bridges). When there are economic
difficulties or you are in trouble
you can say that you are "in
cattive acque” (literally, in bad
waters), and with a similar meaning of being in trouble or having limited time available, you
can use the expression “avere
l’acqua alla gola” (literally, to be
in water up to your throat).

In situations where someone
is claiming only his/her own
interests, can be said that
he/she is "tirando l’acqua al
suo mulino” (literally, pulling
water to his/her mill); while
facing an obvious observation
or answer someone can ironically answer "hai scoperto
l’acqua calda!” (literally, you
discovered hot water!).

If someone says "acqua in
bocca!” (literally, water in the
mouth!), he/she is inviting you
not to speak or not to reveal a
secret; and if we do something
and our effort is useless
because we did not get any
results, we can say that we have
done "un buco nell’acqua”
(literally, a hole in the water).

To say that before reaching a
particular purpose or a certain situation we have to wait
for a long time, we say that
“deve passarne di acqua sotto
i ponti” (literally, a lot of water
has to run under the bridges).
And finally, for a last glimpse
of popular wisdom to discover another of our proverbs,

Even today we face with another dilemma
of the Italian language: when to use "qu",
"cu" or "cqu"? First it should be noted that
in terms of the language sequence "q + u +
vowel" is useless because it coincides with
phonetically "c + u + vowel": both are pronounced with the velar / k /. Yet, although
redundant and annoying, the letter "q" exists
and we must face it. But when to use one or
the other? Let's explore this puzzle.
The sequence "qu" is always followed by a
vowel and so the only possible combinations
are “qua”, “que”, “qui”, “quo” such as in “quaderno” (notebook), "quattro" (four), “quindi”
(therefore), quota" (share), "querela” (lawsuit)
etc. But this is only a general rule, which still
has exceptions. In some words where the rule
would want "qu + vowel", in fact, the exception wants us to use the sequence "cu +
vowel", like in “cuore” (heart), “cuoco” (cook),
“cuocere” (to bake), “cospicuo” (conspicuo-

And then you will wonder: ok, but when do
we use "cqu"? When the sound / k / doubles,
"qq" becomes "cq", with the one exception of
the word "soqquadro” (disarray). More concretely, we go back to the beginning of our
article, because we find "cqu" the word "acqua” (water) and its derivatives: “acquazzone”
(shower), “acquerello” (watercolor), “acquario” (aquarium), “risciacquare” (to rinse) etc.
Also, “cqu” is used in the verb “acquistare”
(to buy) and in the past tense, first and third
person singular and third person plural, of
the verbs “piacere” (to like, i.e. “piacque”), “tacere” (to keep quiet, i.e. tacque), “giacere” (to
rest, i.e. giacque), “nascere” (to be born, i.e.
nacque) and “nuocere” (to harm, i.e. nocque).
A few but important things to remember, to
avoid spelling mistakes and to never write,
even for distraction, erroneous and nonexistent words like “squola”.

BY MANUELA BIANCHI
FOR LEARNITALYGROUP.COM
IMAGES © HTTP://PIXABAY.COM/IT/
CERCHI-DI-ONDE-ACQUA-ONDACIRCLE-64168/, HTTP://COMMONS.
WIKIMEDIA.ORG/WIKI/FILE:LATIN_Q.
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