Learn Hardcore Italian: Accendo il bollitore e preparo il tè alla menta.

Italian is a “pro‑drop” language: subject pronouns are usually omitted because the verb ending already tells you the subject. The ending -o in accendo and preparo marks the first person singular, so io is understood. You can add Io accendo… for emphasis or contrast, but it’s not needed in neutral statements.

Does the Italian present tense here mean “I’m turning on / I’m making” (progressive), or strictly “I turn on / I make”?

Both readings are possible. Italian commonly uses the simple present (accendo, preparo) for actions happening right now. The progressive exists (sto accendendo, sto preparando), but it’s used when you really want to highlight the ongoing nature of the action. In everyday speech, the simple present is usually more natural: Accendo il bollitore e preparo il tè… comfortably covers “I’m turning on… and I’m making…”.

Is Accendo il bollitore idiomatic? What if it’s a stovetop kettle?

Accendere is perfect for devices you switch on, like an electric kettle: Accendo il bollitore.
For a stovetop kettle, Italians more often say:
- Metto su l’acqua (per il tè).
- Metto il bollitore sul fuoco.
- Metto a bollire l’acqua. Saying Accendo l’acqua is not idiomatic; you turn on the appliance or put the water on the stove.

Why do we need the article il before bollitore?

Singular concrete count nouns normally take an article in Italian. So you say il bollitore, not bare bollitore. You could also use another determiner: il mio bollitore, un bollitore, etc. Leaving it out sounds ungrammatical in standard Italian.

What gender is bollitore? What’s the plural?

Bollitore is masculine: il bollitore.
Plural: i bollitori. If you need to be specific, you can say bollitore elettrico (electric kettle) or bollitore a fischio (whistling stovetop kettle).

Can I use fare instead of preparare?

Yes. Fare is very common in everyday speech:

Preparo il tè alla menta. (a bit more neutral/formal)
Faccio il tè alla menta. (very common)
Mi faccio un tè alla menta. (“I’ll make myself a mint tea,” slightly more casual and personal)

Should it be il tè, un tè, or del tè?

All are possible; the choice depends on meaning:

Il tè = a specific/known tea (or a habitual activity): Preparo il tè (e.g., the tea we’re expecting to drink now).
Un tè = one serving/cup: Mi faccio un tè.
Del tè = an unspecified amount (some tea): Preparo del tè (often implies a pot to share).

What’s the accent in tè for? Is it necessary?

Yes. Tè (with grave accent) means “tea” and is masculine. Without the accent, te is the unstressed pronoun “you.” The accent also indicates the stressed, open vowel. Plural i tè is invariable (it doesn’t change).

Why alla menta and not di menta or con la menta?

al/alla + ingredient is the usual way to express flavors: tè alla menta, gelato alla fragola, pasta al pesto.
di menta is used in some fixed expressions or for substances/essences (olio di menta, sciroppo di menta). Tè di menta is understood but less idiomatic in Italy for a flavored tea.
con la menta emphasizes the physical presence of mint leaves: tè con la menta (“tea with mint in it”). It’s fine if that’s your focus.

What exactly is alla?

It’s the contraction of the preposition a + the feminine singular article la. Common contractions:

al (a + il), allo (a + lo), all’ (a + l’),
ai (a + i), agli (a + gli), alle (a + le). Here menta is feminine singular, so alla menta.

Could I reorder things like Preparo il tè… e accendo il bollitore or add poi?

Grammatically yes, but you usually describe the real sequence. Natural options:

Accendo il bollitore e poi preparo il tè alla menta.
Prima accendo il bollitore, poi preparo il tè alla menta. Reversing the order might sound odd unless you’re narrating steps out of sequence.

How would I replace il bollitore with a pronoun?

Use the direct object pronoun lo (masculine singular):

Lo accendo e preparo il tè alla menta. With compound tenses, it comes before the auxiliary and triggers agreement on the past participle:
L’ho acceso. (“I switched it on.”)

How do I tell someone to do this (imperative)?

Informal singular (tu): Accendi il bollitore e prepara il tè alla menta.
Formal singular (Lei): Accenda il bollitore e prepari il tè alla menta.
Plural (voi): Accendete il bollitore e preparate il tè alla menta.

If there’s no actual tea (Camellia sinensis), should I avoid tè?

Yes, in Italy people usually distinguish:

tè = tea (black/green/white, etc.).
tisana / infuso = herbal infusion. So you’d say tisana alla menta or infuso di menta if it’s just mint leaves in hot water.

Any quick pronunciation tips for the tricky parts?

Accendo: the double cc before e sounds like a long “ch” [t͡ʃ], stress on the second syllable: a-CCÈN-do.
Bollitore: double ll is held slightly longer: bol-li-TÓ-re.
Tè: open “eh” sound, short and stressed.
Menta: straightforward MEN-ta. Doubling consonants (cc, ll) is audible in Italian; try to hold them a bit longer than in English.