Breakdown of Lasciamo essiccare la brocca finché non è pronta per il forno.
essere
to be
per
for
non
not
pronto
ready
Questions & Answers about Lasciamo essiccare la brocca finché non è pronta per il forno.
What does lasciamo mean here? Is it we leave or let’s leave?
It can be either, depending on context.
Lasciamo is the 1st person plural form of lasciare. So it can mean:
- we leave / we let
- let’s leave / let’s let
In an instructional or procedural context, Italian often uses this form the way English uses let’s. So the sentence may sound like an instruction shared with the listener, not necessarily a statement about what we are doing.
Why is essiccare in the infinitive?
Because Italian often uses lasciare + infinitive to mean to let something happen or to leave something to do something.
So:
- lasciare essiccare = to let dry
- lasciare raffreddare = to let cool
- lasciare riposare = to let rest
In this sentence, lasciamo essiccare la brocca means that we are leaving the jug alone so that it can dry out.
Why use essiccare instead of the more common asciugare?