- Forum >
- Topic: Italian >
- "Sono particolari."
27 Comments
Yes, "particolare" in Italian can mean both "specific" and "special" depending on context; some usages of "particular" don't even translate to "particolare", for instance "he's particular about his food" (that would be "schizzinoso" or "esigente").
680
Under particolare in my Oxford Paravia italian dictionary, nowhere does it include the word 'perculiar'. However looking up the word 'Peculiar' it does define it as particolare used for exceptional situations and circumstances. Here, It doesn't seem to me to fit this case as it is undefined.
- 1074
I think a better translation would be something like "They are special."
You would probably be considered rude if you in italian say Sono peculiare/bizzarro/strano = They are peculiar/bizarr/strange
According to Merriam Webster dictionary:
- Particular = concerned with details, specific
- Peculiar = not normal, unusual, strange
According to Word Reference (Eng - Ital):
- Particular = Particulare, specifico, preciso
- Peculiar = Peculiare, bizzarro, strano
I found that "particular" and "peculiar" can be synonymous (as well as "special", "specific", perhaps "strange"), but the dictionary stated "before noun".
I have never heard particular used to mean strange or peculiar. If someone is "very particular" about something, it means they will only have it one way. If someone is particular about their food, it means they choose what they eat very carefully. This use of particolare must be very Italian!
I use "particular" to me "very specific." I use "peculiar" to me "oddly out of the ordinary." A "particular" type of rare performance tire could be used on an expensive car. But if the tires were square, I'd say they are "peculiar."
How can I know in this sentence that it is referring to "They are" instead of "I am", because "Sono" can mean both. For this reason, I answered "I am particular", and that was incorrect. And, the Italian word "Particolari" can mean either "particular" or "peculiar." :((
The ending of 'particolari' <- i indicates the plural of 'particlare'
(Io) sono particolare.
(Loro) sono particolari.
Why couldn't it be "I am particular?" The way it is pronounced, the word could be either "particolari" or "particolare" whichn would make the "I" just as logical.
I agree that it is a challenge to hear that last vowel, which makes the difference between the two translations!
I was having a look at this word on Wiktionary and it says it can be used as a euphemism for homosexual - just wondering if this is fairly common? If you were to describe someone as particolari would the first interpretation for a native speaker be 'peculiar' or 'gay'?
The ending of particolari <-- the "i" indicates it is plural.
"Sono particolare" is the single version.
Perhaps a look at WordReference definitions might help clear up the confusion.
https://www.wordreference.com/iten/particolari
:) KK
21 agosto 2020
My dictionary days that Peculiar in Italian is Peculiare not Particulare. The words have totally different meanings in English and I suspect in Italian also.
