Learn Hardcore Italian: Il lampione vacilla quando la tempesta porta un vento fortissimo. - The streetlight flickers when the storm brings very strong wind.

Lampione is a street lamp or lamppost—an outdoor lighting fixture fixed on a pole. Lampada is a lamp in general (table lamp, desk lamp, etc.). You use lampione when talking about street lighting.

Why is there a definite article il before lampione?

Italian typically requires a definite article before singular, countable nouns when you refer to a specific object. Il lampione means the lamppost. Omitting it (Lampione vacilla…) sounds unnatural unless you’re using a headline or poetic style.

What does vacilla mean and why is it in the present indicative?

Vacilla is the third person singular present indicative of vacillare, meaning to sway, to wobble, or to waver. The simple present in Italian conveys general truths or actions happening now, much like the English present simple.

Could we use the subjunctive after quando instead of the indicative?

Yes, but the meaning changes slightly. With the indicative (quando la tempesta porta), you state a factual or habitual occurrence. With the subjunctive (quando la tempesta porti), you’d introduce a nuance of doubt, possibility, or a future event not yet certain.

What does porta un vento fortissimo translate to, and why use portare here?

Literally, porta is brings, so la tempesta porta un vento fortissimo = the storm brings a very strong wind. Portare is commonly used in Italian to describe a weather phenomenon carrying or unleashing something (rain, wind, snow).

Why is there an indefinite article un before vento?

Because vento is a countable noun here (“a gust of wind”), Italian requires an article in singular. Un vento fortissimo means a very strong wind. Omitting un would sound more abstract or poetic.

How is fortissimo formed and what does it indicate?

Fortissimo is the superlative form of forte created by dropping the final -e and adding -issimo. It intensifies the adjective to mean very strong or extremely strong.

Why is the adjective fortissimo placed after the noun vento?

In Italian the neutral word order is noun + adjective, so vento fortissimo is standard. Placing the adjective before the noun (fortissimo vento) is possible for stylistic emphasis or poetry but is less common in everyday speech.

Could we say quando la tempesta porterà un vento fortissimo to express the future?

Absolutely. Using the future tense porterà highlights that the action will occur later: “when the storm will bring a very strong wind.” The present tense can also denote future action in subordinate clauses, so both are correct with a slight nuance.