"It is true, European basketball is interesting."

Translation: È vero, la pallacanestro europea è interessante.

[MarksAaron]

Why is it "la pallacanestro" instead of "il"?

[kvargman]

It's a contraction of la palla a canestro.

[LesterOlso]

Thanks for your helpful comment

[chartsman]

My thoughts exactly...

[thedob]

In Italy they use the word 'basket' alot for basketball as well as pallacanestro. I don't know if this is 'proper' language or a bastardization, but it ought to be accepted.

[LovroV]

Best joke ever.

[jonestk]

i agree. i live in Italy and basket is a very common term - more common that palacanestro.

[therealpalumbo]

It really is.

[Mico_di_Ostia]

Why not "la pallacanestro d'europea"?

[TomTorchia]

Makes sense

[Bill98991]

Perhaps in this example, "europea" is used as an adjective rather than a noun. "European basketball" rather than "Basketball of Europe." https://www.wordreference.com/iten/europea

[LeSKIpourVIE303]

Do you have to say la for pallacanestro? You can simply just say pallacanestro

[Turtlerider]

For once I feel inclined to agree with you Duo!

[Jae633849]

È vero?

[iulia622918]

This is very wrong! Il pallacanestro (is the correct one) europeo!!!!

[BrendaFree3]

This is odd. I check Cassell's dictionery. It has pallacanestro as a masculine noun. Some clarification would be appreciated.

[SimonWerman]

what is the difference between "è vero" and "davero"?

[chartsman]

"è vero" is a sentence (meaning "it is true") and "davvero" is an adverb (meaning "really", "truly", "for sure"); "davero" doesn't exist.

[Slaughcl]

I think "fundamentally sound" would be more appropriate than "interesting"

[GuerraAmanda]

What? Why?