Learn Hardcore Italian: Ho stampato il volantino con il nostro nuovo indirizzo. - I printed the flyer with our new address.

In everyday Italian—both spoken and written—the passato prossimo (e.g. “Ho stampato”) is the default way to express a completed action in the recent past.

Passato remoto (“stampai”) is generally reserved for literary or historical contexts.
Imperfetto (“stampavo”) describes habitual or ongoing past actions, not a one-off event.

Why is there a definite article before “volantino” (“il volantino”)? Couldn’t we say “Ho stampato volantino”?

Italian normally requires an article (definite or indefinite) before singular, countable nouns.

“Ho stampato un volantino” = I printed a flyer (any flyer).
“Ho stampato il volantino” = I printed the flyer (that we both know about).
Omitting the article (“Ho stampato volantino”) is ungrammatical in standard Italian.

Why is the construction “con il nostro nuovo indirizzo” used? Could we replace “con” with “su”, “di”, or “per”?

Here “con” means “with,” indicating the flyer includes or carries the address. Alternative structures:

“Ho stampato il nostro nuovo indirizzo sul volantino.”
(I printed our new address on the flyer.)
“Ho stampato un volantino per il nostro nuovo indirizzo.”
(I printed a flyer to announce our new address.)
Using “di” (“volantino del nostro nuovo indirizzo”) would wrongly suggest the flyer belongs to the address.

Why is it “il nostro nuovo indirizzo” and not “con nostro nuovo indirizzo” (without the article before the possessive)?

In Italian, possessive adjectives require a definite article (il, la, i, le) except with singular unmodified family nouns (e.g. “mia madre”). Since “indirizzo” is not a family member, you must say “il nostro indirizzo”, hence “con il nostro nuovo indirizzo.”

What is the typical word order for possessive + adjective + noun in Italian? Why “il nostro nuovo indirizzo” and not “il nuovo nostro indirizzo”?

The normal order is: article + possessive + adjective + noun.
• “il nostro nuovo indirizzo”
This puts the possessive (nostro) immediately after the article and the descriptive adjective (nuovo) before the noun. Switching them (“il nuovo nostro indirizzo”) sounds awkward and uncommon in Italian.

What exactly does “volantino” mean? Is it the same as a brochure?

A volantino is a single-sheet flyer or leaflet, usually for advertising or quick info. A brochure (Italian “opuscolo” or “depliant”) is typically multi-page or folded, more detailed and formal.

Is “stampato” here a past participle? How does it work?

Yes. “Stampato” is the past participle of “stampare” (to print). With the auxiliary verb “avere” (ho), it forms the passato prossimo:
“Ho (auxiliary) + stampato (past participle) = Ho stampato.”

How do you pronounce “volantino” and where is the stress?

Pronounce it vo-lan-TEE-no, with the stress on the penultimate syllable: [vo.lanˈti.no].

What’s the difference between “Ho stampato il volantino” and “Ho fatto stampare il volantino”?

• “Ho stampato” means you printed it yourself (e.g. on your printer).
• “Ho fatto stampare” means you had someone else—like a print shop—do the printing for you.

Could “indirizzo” here mean an email address, or is it strictly a postal address?

“Indirizzo” can mean either, depending on context. If you just say “il nostro nuovo indirizzo”, it’s ambiguous. To specify:

Postal: “il nostro nuovo indirizzo di casa” or “postale”
Email: “il nostro nuovo indirizzo email” (or “di posta elettronica”)