- Forum >
- Topic: Italian >
- "Dove passerai le vacanze?"
54 Comments
That has a direct equivalent in the Italian "dove andrai in vacanza?". The difference is that I might not go anywhere on my holidays, and simply spend them at home.
"spend your vacation" may be technically correct, but I don't think I've ever heard anyone actually ask that in American English. If they did they would sound overly formal. "Where will you go on vacation" is what's actually said.
UK english speaker here, so I don't use Vacation, but I"m assuming the US origins refer to 'vacating / being vacant from work', in which case 'where' is largely irrelevant.
It's grammatically plural but can be translated as a singular as others have suggested.
Where will you spend "the vacation"? or Where will you "vacation"? or "Where will you "holiday"? or "Where will you spend "the holiday/s"?
I've lived in many American states for a long lifetime and I've never heard or read this phrase. Where is it used and by what group?
1223
I've lived in many American states too, for a long lifetime, and heard it frequently. I have lived most of my life in California--both northern and southern. Also, "where will you spend your three day weekend?"
callsharon: it's hard to know what 'this phrase' refers to if you don't specify it. Several users have suggested one or another possibility and unless you're clearer it's pretty hard for anyone to respond.
Sorry--on my computer, "Reply" always produces a comment indented beneath the item being responded to. So I thought it would be clear that I was asking about usage of the phrase I was replying to, "Where will you spend vacation?" and to Sivo's comment that it is correct American English. Who says that and where? (Maybe it's like "where did you graduate high school?," which has recently lost the once-necessary preposition "from" with many speakers.)
callsharon: no problem. I hear "Where will you spend vacation" or "...your vacation" all the time. Call it shorthand, since "your" is understood. As for 'where did you graduate high school, it too is very common. As far as where? I've heard it in many parts of America.
I have lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, California and Texas, and I have never heard anyone say, 'Where will you spend vacation?" (saying instead "... your vacation?").
Regardless of whether it's used, which I have to say, I really don't think it is, it's still pretty bad English. I don't think it should be accepted
"Where will you take your vacation" is also very commonly asked in Canadian English. This translation seems closer to the Italian meaning than "spend". Reported
In England you would never say where will you pass the holidays like the answer gives. Too literal a translation. We would say where will you take or where will you spend the holiday.
Have lived in America for 67 years and have never said or heard "pass the vacation" used.
I wrote, "Where will you go on vacation?" To me, it would elicit the same response, e.g. "In Italy." I do sometimes ask "How will you spend your vacation?" In which case the answer might be, "I'm painting the house." I'll try to pay more attention to give a more literal response.
I am English, not American and so I would not say DL's translation! I go on holiday - I don't spend a vacation.
I'm not native English and that is the reason for my question: does this expression "pass the vacation" exist at all?
Pass the vacation sounds a bit awkward and non standard, though it'd be understood.
- 2339
pass time is equivalent to spend time in English. It is idiomatic because the words are not always synonymous (non sempre sinomino). For instance one would not say i spend a car while driving by but I pass a car...
padulli: Perhaps not in England, but it's a common alternative to 'spending' the holidays in America.
dagreenkat: A 'break' & a vacation are different.Granted "spring break" in the US is a college traditional vacation, but normally a break isn't necessarily synonymous with a vacation. E.g there are 'coffee breaks,' 'afternoon breaks', etc. which aren't vacations.
Whoever says "where will you pass your vacation" in the English speaking countries?
Where will you take your vacation was not accepted, even though it's a common way to say this in English
why your vacation rather than the vacation??? what is proper to you about the words le vacanze???
- 686
You is implied with passerai (you will spend YOUR vacation), just as in the previous medical module.
I put 'where will you go on your holidays?' and it said it was wrong, it said 'where will you spend your holidays'. Same thing as far as I am concerned!
John...In a real life situation I totally agree with you, but in a language site like this, where accuracy's important, I can see why you were marked wrong. I might be going to Europe for the holidays, spending them in Italy. Or I might be asked "Where are you spending the holidays" Ans: I'm going to Europe. Question, "Great, but where exactly are you spending your vacation?" So I think there is a difference.
Hey, thanks for your reply. I know what you mean but I am not totally convinced. I just had another example on a different lesson: 'prego', I put 'it's a pleasure', apparently wrong, it should be 'you're welcome', again both equally correct from my understanding of 62 years of being English. Anyway, apart from a few minor niggles, I am very happy with Duolingo and I am learning a lot of Italian
John, I definitely see your point. If nothing else we're expanding our vocabulary to include 'passare' and understanding how it can be used as an alternative to 'andare'.
Owl ... I appreciate the nature of what Duolingo does, and I'm really grateful for it. BUT, despite a reputation that is justified, we Brits do like to learn/speak another language. Learning can't motivational if simple CORRECT phrases are rejected. NO self-respecting Brit would ever translate "le vacanze" as "vacation". Is there any way you can balance out the algorithms so that British English has fighting chance? Grazie.
debplatt: The "your" is superfluous. No one would ask you: "Where will you spend their, his, her, our vacation." The 'your' is understood, absent a clearer context. You may not have ever heard it in the 4 states you've lived, but trust me, it's common in the other 46.
German..., we aren't talking about whether people will understand you but rather what is accepted as Standard English. "Where are you going on vacation? " is Standard and common, but "where will you spend (or pass) vacation?" is not Standard, even though it may be said by many. Even you said "pass the vacation" in an earlier posting, and that IS standard. Now back to Italian, OK?
callsharon: "Where will you spend vacation?" is just as standard as "where are you going on vacation?" I've heard both from the time I was a child, going on vacation with my family or spending vacation at home.