Breakdown of Il vento gelido entra dalla finestra.
la finestra
the window
entrare
to enter
il vento
the wind
gelido
icy
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Questions & Answers about Il vento gelido entra dalla finestra.
Why is there a definite article il before vento when in English we often say just “cold wind” without “the”?
Italian generally requires a definite article before singular, countable nouns in contexts where English might omit it. So il vento translates literally as “the wind.” If you drop the article in Italian, it would sound ungrammatical or would change the sense (e.g. vento gelido might feel like a label or title, not a statement).
Why does the adjective gelido come after vento instead of before it?
Most descriptive adjectives in Italian follow the noun they modify. Placing gelido after vento—vento gelido—is the standard order. Some short or poetic adjectives can precede the noun, but gelido is normally post-nominal.
What nuance does gelido carry compared to freddo?
Gelido means “icy” or “bitingly cold,” suggesting very low temperature or an uncomfortable chill. Freddo simply means “cold” and is more neutral. So vento gelido is stronger than vento freddo.
What is dalla composed of, and why not just use da or per?
Dalla is the contraction of da + la (from the). We pick da to indicate origin (“from the window”), not per (“through”) because da stresses the starting point of the wind’s movement. Using per (entra per la finestra) would be understood, but it slightly shifts focus to the path or means (“through the window”) rather than “out of / from” it.
Could I also say entra attraverso la finestra?
Yes. Attraverso means “through” or “across,” so il vento gelido entra attraverso la finestra is correct but a bit more formal or literary. Dalla is more colloquial and direct.
What is the tense and person of entra here?
Entra is the present indicative, third-person singular of entrare (“to enter”). It agrees with the singular subject il vento.
How do you pronounce gelido, and where is the stress?
Pronounce it as [ˈdʒɛ.li.do]. The stress is on the first syllable: GEL-i-do.
Can the noun finestra ever change gender or form here?
No. Finestra is always feminine singular. That’s why you use la in dalla. If you had finestre (the plural), you would say dalle finestre (“from the windows”).