Riscaldo la zuppa nel microonde.

I heat the soup in the microwave.

Breakdown of Riscaldo la zuppa nel microonde.

• io: I
• nel: in
• la zuppa: the soup
• riscaldare: to heat
• il microonde: the microwave

Questions & Answers about Riscaldo la zuppa nel microonde.

Why is there no subject pronoun? Can I say Io riscaldo la zuppa nel microonde?

Italian usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the subject. Riscaldo (= I reheat) clearly indicates first person singular. You can add Io for emphasis or contrast, e.g., Io riscaldo la zuppa, tu apparecchia (I’ll reheat the soup; you set the table).

What’s the difference between riscaldare and scaldare? Could I say Scaldo la zuppa?

• Scaldare = to heat/warm (no implication of “again”).
• Riscaldare = to heat again / to heat up, often used for leftovers or something already cooked. In everyday speech, both appear with food; if the soup is previously cooked and now cold, riscaldare is the natural choice. If you’re bringing something from cold to warm for the first time, scaldare fits, but many speakers still use riscaldare.

How do I say “I’m reheating the soup (right now)”? Is Sto riscaldando okay?

Yes:

• Sto riscaldando la zuppa nel microonde.
• With a pronoun: La sto riscaldando nel microonde or Sto riscaldandola nel microonde. Note: Italian often uses the simple present (Riscaldo…) for actions happening now; the progressive adds emphasis to the ongoing nature.

How do I replace la zuppa with a pronoun?

Use the direct-object pronoun la (feminine singular):

• Neutral: La riscaldo nel microonde.
• With a modal: La devo riscaldare / Devo riscaldarla.
• Progressive: La sto riscaldando / Sto riscaldandola.
• Imperative: Riscaldala nel microonde!; negative: Non riscaldarla nel microonde!

Why is it nel and not just in? What is nel exactly?

Nel = in + il (“in the”). You use it before a specific, countable noun that takes the definite article: nel microonde (“in the microwave”). Bare in without an article occurs in set phrases/locations (e.g., in cucina, in ufficio), but with a specific appliance you use the article: nel microonde.

Why not nello microonde?

Because microonde doesn’t take lo as its article. Use:

• il/nel before most consonants (including m): il microonde, nel microonde
• lo/nello before s+consonant, z, gn, ps, pn, x, y: nello zaino, nello spazio, etc.

Can I say al microonde instead of nel microonde?

Yes. Both are common:

• nel microonde = literally “in the microwave (oven).”
• al microonde = “by microwave,” focusing on the method (like al forno = oven-baked). Packaging and instructions often use al microonde (e.g., Scaldare al microonde per 2 minuti). In conversation, both are fine.

Is microonde singular or plural, and what’s its gender? What’s the plural?

When it stands for “microwave (oven),” microonde is masculine singular: il microonde, un microonde, nel microonde. The plural is i microonde (or you can say i forni a microonde). It looks plural because onde means “waves,” but in this elliptical use it behaves as a masculine singular noun.

Do Italians really omit forno and just say microonde?

Yes. Both are natural:

• Full: nel forno a microonde
• Elliptical and very common: nel microonde / al microonde

Why the definite article la in la zuppa? When would I use something like della zuppa?

• la zuppa = a specific soup already known in context.
• della zuppa / un po’ di zuppa = some soup (an unspecified quantity).
• Bare zuppa without an article is unusual here. So choose based on specificity vs quantity.

Is there a difference between zuppa and minestra?

Traditionally:

• minestra = more brothy, often with pasta/rice;
• zuppa = thicker, often served with bread/croutons. Modern usage overlaps, and regional habits vary. You could say Riscaldo la minestra nel microonde if that matches the dish.

How do I pronounce the sentence naturally?

• Riscaldo: rees-KAHL-doh (stress on “-scàl-”; sc before a sounds like English “sk”).
• la: lah.
• zuppa: TSOOP-pah (double pp: hold the p a bit longer).
• nel: nel.
• microonde: mee-kroh-ON-deh (stress on “-ón-”; pronounce the “o–o” sequence clearly). Say it smoothly: rees-KAHL-doh lah TSOOP-pah nel mee-kroh-ON-deh.

How do I say it in the past or future?

• Past (passato prossimo): Ho riscaldato la zuppa nel microonde.
• Future: Riscalderò la zuppa nel microonde. The auxiliary for riscaldare is avere.

How do I make it negative?

Put non before the verb:

• Non riscaldo la zuppa nel microonde. With a pronoun: Non la riscaldo nel microonde.

Can I change the word order?

Yes, for focus/emphasis:

• Neutral: Riscaldo la zuppa nel microonde.
• Focus on location/method: Nel microonde riscaldo la zuppa.
• Less common but possible: Riscaldo nel microonde la zuppa. Italian word order is flexible as long as it remains clear.

Is there a verb for “to microwave” in Italian?

Colloquially you might hear microondare, but the standard, natural options are:

• (Ri)scaldare al microonde
• Mettere/Passare al microonde So you’d say: Passo la zuppa al microonde or La riscaldo al microonde.

How would I add a duration, like “for two minutes”?

Add a time phrase at the end; per is optional:

• Riscaldo la zuppa nel microonde (per) due minuti. You’ll also see instructions with power: al microonde a 700 W per 2 minuti.