Learn Hardcore Italian: Vorrei preparare delle frittelle dolci con zucchero a velo. - I would like to make some sweet fritters with powdered sugar.

Vorrei is the first-person singular form of the verb volere in the conditional mood. It translates to "I would like" in English. This form is commonly used to express a polite desire or intention, which is why it's used in the sentence to indicate that the speaker would like to prepare something.

Why is the verb preparare in its infinitive form following vorrei?

In Italian, when expressing a desire with a modal construction like vorrei, the following verb is usually placed in the infinitive form. This structure indicates that the speaker intends to perform the action, similar to saying "I would like to prepare..." in English.

What is the function of delle in delle frittelle dolci?

Delle is a partitive article used before a feminine plural noun to indicate an unspecific quantity, meaning "some." In this case, it modifies frittelle, showing that the speaker wishes to prepare an unspecified amount of sweet fritters.

Why does the adjective dolci come after frittelle, and does the position of adjectives matter in Italian?

In Italian, adjectives can either precede or follow the noun, but the position often changes the emphasis or nuance. Here, dolci comes after frittelle simply to describe what kind of fritters they are—sweet fritters. This is the standard descriptive placement, although certain adjectives placed before the noun could evoke a different connotation.

What does the expression zucchero a velo mean, and why is it equivalent to "powdered sugar" in English?

Zucchero a velo literally translates to "sugar in dust" or "sugar like dust." This idiomatic expression refers to the fine, powdery texture of the sugar, which is why it is equivalent to "powdered sugar" in English.

Why isn’t the subject pronoun io explicitly stated in this sentence?

Italian often omits subject pronouns because the verb ending already indicates the subject. In vorrei, the ending implies that the speaker is referring to "I" (io), so there’s no need to include the pronoun explicitly unless for emphasis or clarity.

What role does the preposition con play in the phrase con zucchero a velo?

The preposition con translates to "with" in English. In this sentence, it connects the main action of preparing the fritters with the addition of powdered sugar, clarifying that powdered sugar is used as an ingredient or topping in the recipe.