Breakdown of Sento l’eco della mia voce nel bosco.
io
I
di
of
mia
my
il bosco
the woods
sentire
to hear
la voce
the voice
l’eco
the echo
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Questions & Answers about Sento l’eco della mia voce nel bosco.
What does sento mean in this sentence?
sento is the first-person singular present indicative of sentire, which can mean both “to hear” and “to feel.” Here, because we’re talking about an echo, it means “I hear.” Context tells you which sense of sentire is meant.
Why is it l’eco instead of il eco or just eco?
eco is a feminine noun (la eco). Before a vowel, the feminine singular article la elides to l’ to avoid two vowels in a row. So la eco → l’eco. You cannot drop the article entirely here.
What is the role of della in della mia voce?
della is the contraction of di + la. You need di to express “of,” and since voce is feminine singular, la voce becomes della voce. With the possessive it’s della mia voce = “of my voice.”
Why is it mia voce and not mio voce?
Possessive adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Voce is feminine singular, so “my voice” = mia voce (not mio).
Why don’t we see another article before mia voce, like la mia voce?
Normally you would say la mia voce. Here the article la is already merged into della (di + la). You don’t add a second article inside the prepositional phrase della mia voce.
Why is it nel bosco and not in bosco or in il bosco?
nel is the contraction of in + il (bosco is masculine singular). Italian generally requires the definite article after most locative prepositions, so in + il bosco → nel bosco. You can’t say in bosco here.
What’s the difference between bosco and foresta?
Both translate as “forest/woods,” but:
- bosco often implies a smaller wood or grove, more tame or local.
- foresta usually refers to a larger, wilder forest.
Choosing one or the other depends on size and tone.
Could you use ascolto or udisco instead of sento here?
Yes, but with nuance:
- ascolto (from ascoltare) means “I actively listen” or “I’m paying attention.”
- udisco (from udire) is more formal/literary for “I hear.”
sento is the everyday verb for “I hear” (or “I feel”), so it’s the most natural choice in casual speech.
How is eco pronounced in Italian?
eco is pronounced /ˈɛ.ko/. The c before o is a hard [k] sound, and the stress is on the first syllable.