In calzoleria risuolano la scarpa.

Risuolano is the 3rd person plural, present tense of risuolare.

So grammatically it means they resole.

In Italian, this 3rd person plural is often used in a very general way, where English might say:

• they
• people
• one
• or just use a passive like shoes are resoled

So here risuolano does not necessarily mean a specific group of people. It often means something like that’s what they do there or that is done there.

The subject is understood, not expressed.

Italian often leaves out subject pronouns when the verb ending already makes the person clear. Since -ano shows 3rd person plural, Italian does not need to say loro.

So the sentence does not need an explicit subject. The idea is simply:

• In a shoe repair shop, they resole shoes
• or At the cobbler’s, shoes get resoled

This is very common in Italian.

In calzoleria tells you the place where the action happens.

It literally means in a shoe repair shop / at the cobbler’s.

In Italian, in is often used with shops, businesses, and places of activity. Here it sets the scene first:

• In calzoleria = in that kind of place
• risuolano la scarpa = that is where they do the resoling

So the structure is basically:

[place] + [what people do there]

Because Italian often omits the article when talking about a place in a general, institutional, or typical sense.

So in calzoleria sounds like:

• at the cobbler’s
• in a shoe repair shop
• in that type of establishment

If you wanted to refer to a specific shop, you might say something like:

• nella calzoleria sotto casa = in the shoe repair shop downstairs / near my house
• in una calzoleria del centro = in a shoe repair shop in the city center

Without an article, the phrase sounds more general.

Risuolare is the infinitive verb. It means to put a new sole on or to resole.

It is built from:

• ri- = again / מחדש in the sense of doing again
• suola = sole
• so risuolare = to re-sole

The sentence uses the present-tense form:

• io risuolo
• tu risuoli
• lui/lei risuola
• loro risuolano

So risuolano is simply the present plural form of that verb.

Good question. La scarpa is singular because Italian can use the singular noun in a general or representative sense.

So la scarpa here can mean something like:

• the shoe as a category
• a shoe
• or footwear of that kind

Italian often uses the singular where English might prefer a plural or a more abstract phrasing.

That said, in real life, you may also hear or see:

• risuolano le scarpe
• rimettono le suole alle scarpe
• riparano le scarpe

Those can sound more natural depending on context. But la scarpa is grammatically fine as a generic singular.

Not exactly.

• calzolaio = the cobbler, the person
• calzoleria = the cobbler’s shop / shoe repair shop, the place

So in this sentence, calzoleria refers to the business or location, not the worker.

Compare:

• Il calzolaio risuola le scarpe. = The cobbler resoles shoes.
• In calzoleria risuolano la scarpa. = At the cobbler’s / In the shoe repair shop, they resole shoes.

Yes. A very common alternative would be:

In calzoleria si risuola la scarpa.

This uses si impersonale, which is another very common way in Italian to express a general action, similar to:

• one resoles shoes
• shoes are resoled
• they resole shoes

Both structures are possible:

• risuolano = general they
• si risuola = impersonal one / people / it is done

The sentence with si may sound especially neutral and impersonal.

Yes, the word order is normal.

Italian often puts the place expression first when it wants to frame the statement by location:

• In farmacia vendono medicinali.
• In panetteria fanno il pane.
• In calzoleria risuolano la scarpa.

This gives the sentence a kind of dictionary-style or general descriptive feel: first the place, then what happens there.

You could change the order, but the original is perfectly natural for a general statement.

Yes, a little.

Italian often uses an active verb where English might prefer:

• a passive structure
• a general they
• or a noun phrase

So while Italian says risuolano la scarpa, English might more naturally say:

• they resole shoes there
• shoes are resoled there
• it’s a shoe repair shop

This is a common difference in style between the two languages.

A practical pronunciation guide:

• risuolano ≈ ree-SWO-la-no
• calzoleria ≈ kal-dzo-le-REE-a

A few tips:

• In risuolano, the suo is pronounced as a combined sequence, roughly swo
• In calzoleria, the stress falls on -ri-
• The z in calzoleria is pronounced like dz in many standard pronunciations

You do not pronounce every vowel as loosely as in English; Italian vowels are usually clearer and more distinct.

It is grammatical, but it sounds a bit descriptive or dictionary-like, as if explaining what happens in that type of shop.

In everyday speech, people might more often say things like:

• Il calzolaio risuola le scarpe.
• In calzoleria riparano le scarpe.
• Porto le scarpe dal calzolaio a farle risuolare.

So the sentence is useful for learning vocabulary and structure, even if it is not the most conversational way to say it.