Learn Hardcore Italian: Dopo la cena, preparo un sorbetto all’anguria davvero rinfrescante. - After dinner, I prepare a truly refreshing watermelon sorbet.

In Italian, a comma often separates an introductory adverbial phrase from the main clause. Here Dopo la cena (“after dinner”) sets the time, and the comma makes the sentence clearer by marking the break before the main verb. It isn’t absolutely mandatory (especially in very short phrases), but it’s good style.

Can I say Dopo cena instead of Dopo la cena?

Yes. In everyday speech Italians often drop the article in time expressions: dopo pranzo, dopo cena, prima colazione. Both Dopo cena preparo… and Dopo la cena preparo… are correct. The version with la feels slightly more formal or emphatic, while the version without is perfectly natural.

What exactly does all’anguria mean, and why not di anguria?

All’anguria is the combination of the preposition a + the definite article l’ (“a + l’anguria”), used idiomatically to indicate flavor. So sorbetto all’anguria = “watermelon-flavored sorbet.” You could say sorbetto di anguria (“sorbet of watermelon”), and it’s understandable, but Italians usually use a + article (gelato al cioccolato, tè alla menta, sorbetto all’anguria) to list flavors.

Why is it all’ and not al or alla?

Al = a + il, alla = a + la. Since anguria is feminine and starts with a vowel, you use a + l’ (the apostrophe marks the elision of l). Thus all’anguria. You would never mix al (masculine) with anguria, nor use alla without elision before a vowel.

Could I say un sorbetto di anguria instead of un sorbetto all’anguria?

Yes, sorbetto di anguria is grammatically fine and emphasizes the ingredient. However, for flavors Italians favour al/alla/all’. Using di may sound slightly more “technical” (focusing on composition) rather than simply naming the flavor.

What role does davvero play here, and can I replace it with veramente or molto?

Davvero is an adverb meaning “really/truly” and intensifies rinfrescante. You can swap in veramente with virtually no change in meaning: veramente rinfrescante. Molto rinfrescante (“very refreshing”) also works, but molto grades the quality, whereas davvero/veramente adds a sense of personal conviction.

What part of speech is rinfrescante, and does it change with gender or number?

Rinfrescante is an adjective formed from the present participle of rinfrescare (“to refresh”). Adjectives ending in -ante (and -ente) have one form for masculine and feminine singular (rinfrescante) and plural -anti (rinfrescanti). Here it modifies un sorbetto (masculine singular), so rinfrescante is correct.

Why use preparo here? Could I say faccio instead of preparo?

Preparo is the first-person singular present of preparare (“to prepare”), emphasizing the act of getting the sorbet ready. Faccio un sorbetto all’anguria (“I make a watermelon sorbet”) is equally idiomatic and more colloquial. The nuance is that preparare is a bit more specific/cooking-oriented, while fare is the general verb “to make/do.”