Breakdown of Ogni domenica nuoto in piscina con un amico.
io
I
ogni
every
in
in
con
with
l'amico
the friend
nuotare
to swim
la domenica
the Sunday
la piscina
the pool
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Italian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Ogni domenica nuoto in piscina con un amico.
What part of speech is ogni, and why is there no article before domenica?
ogni is a distributive determiner meaning every/each. It directly modifies a singular noun to express repetition, so you don’t use another article before domenica.
Why is domenica in the singular, not plural?
Because with ogni you always use the singular form (ogni domenica = “every Sunday”). To use a plural you would switch to a different structure (e.g. tutte le domeniche = “all Sundays”).
Does ogni domenica mean “every Sunday” or “on Sundays,” and are those interchangeable?
It literally means “every Sunday.” In English you might translate it as “on Sundays” when talking about a habitual action. Both convey the same idea of repetition.
Why is there no subject pronoun io (“I”) at the start?
Italian is a pro-drop language: the verb ending nuoto already tells you the subject is “I.” Adding io is possible (for emphasis) but not required.
What person, number, and tense is nuoto, and what is its infinitive verb?
nuoto is the first person singular, present indicative of the verb nuotare (“to swim”). It means “I swim.”
Why do we say in piscina instead of al piscina?
Italian uses in for places understood as enclosed or defined (like a swimming pool). al (a + il) would be “to the,” but with activities in a location Italians say in piscina.
What does con un amico mean, and why is the article un used instead of uno?
con un amico means “with a friend.” You use un before masculine nouns starting with a vowel (like amico). uno is reserved for masculine nouns beginning with s+consonant (uno studente) or z, gn, ps, etc.
What is the difference between using nuotare (as in nuoto) and the expression fare nuoto?
Both mean “to swim,” but nuotare is far more common. fare nuoto (“to do swimming”) is grammatical but sounds more formal or bookish.
Can I change the word order, for example put ogni domenica at the end of the sentence?
Yes. Italian word order is flexible. Nuoto in piscina con un amico ogni domenica is perfectly acceptable; placing ogni domenica at the start simply emphasizes the time.
Where is the stress in domenica, and how do I pronounce the whole sentence?
domenica is stressed on the second syllable: do-MÈ-ni-ca. A rough phonetic for the full sentence is: oh-ny do-MÈ-ni-ka NOO-o-toh in pee-CHEE-nah kon oon ah-MEE-koh.