Breakdown of Metto le monete nel portamonete.
io
I
mettere
to put
nel
in
la moneta
the coin
il portamonete
the coin purse
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Questions & Answers about Metto le monete nel portamonete.
What form and tense is the verb metto?
It’s the first-person singular present indicative of mettere (to put): “I put / I am putting.”
Key forms you’ll soon meet: passato prossimo → ho messo; imperfetto → mettevo; futuro → metterò; imperative (tu) → metti.
Why is there no subject pronoun (io)?
Italian usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the subject. Io metto is used only for emphasis or contrast (e.g., “I put them, not you”).
What does nel mean here?
Nel = in + il. It contracts because the noun is specific and masculine singular: il portamonete → nel portamonete (“in the coin purse”).
When would it be nello, nell’, nei, or negli instead of nel?
- nello = in + lo (before s+consonant, z, gn, ps, x, y): es. nello zaino, nello specchio
- nell’ = in + l’ (before a vowel): nell’armadio
- nei = in + i (masc. plural): nei cassetti
- negli = in + gli (masc. plural before s+consonant, z, or vowel): negli zaini, negli alberghi
What is portamonete exactly?
It’s a coin purse (a small case for coins). It’s not a general wallet; that’s il portafoglio (for banknotes/cards).
Is portamonete masculine or feminine, and how do I make the plural?
Masculine and invariable:
- Singular: il portamonete
- Plural: i portamonete (the form doesn’t change)
Why does portamonete look plural inside?
It’s a compound with porta- + a plural noun (like portachiavi, portaocchiali, portapenne). These “porta-” compounds often use a plural complement and are typically invariable.
Can I write it with a hyphen or a space?
Standard and most common: one word, portamonete. A hyphen (porta-monete) is sometimes seen; a space (porta monete) is not standard.
Why is it le monete (the coins) and not something like delle monete?
- le monete = specific coins already known in context.
- delle monete = some coins (unspecified).
Both are correct; they just convey different degrees of specificity.
What’s the difference between monete, soldi, and spiccioli?
- monete = coins (physical, countable).
- soldi = money (general; usually plural only): i soldi.
- spiccioli = loose change/small coins.
Examples: Metto gli spiccioli nel portamonete. Non ho soldi.
Can I change the word order?
Yes. Italian word order is flexible:
- Neutral: Metto le monete nel portamonete.
- Focus on destination: Metto nel portamonete le monete.
- With a pronoun: Le metto nel portamonete.
How do I replace both parts with pronouns?
- Replace le monete with direct object le.
- Replace nel portamonete with locative ci.
Together: Ce le metto (“I put them in it”). Note that ci becomes ce before lo/la/li/le/ne.
Is “in portamonete” without the article okay?
No, it sounds odd. Use the article: nel portamonete. Some nouns allow bare “in” (e.g., in chiesa, in ufficio, in borsa), but portamonete isn’t one of them.
Can I use dentro instead of nel?
Yes: Metto le monete dentro il portamonete.
Colloquial and regional: dentro al portamonete. The most neutral choices are nel portamonete or dentro il portamonete.
Any quick pronunciation tips?
- metto: double T; hold the “t” slightly longer.
- monete: stress on “ne” → mo-NE-te.
- portamonete: stress near the end → por-ta-mo-NE-te.
Say it smoothly: “MET-to le mo-NE-te nel por-ta-mo-NE-te.”
Can I use the present progressive?
Yes: Sto mettendo le monete nel portamonete. Italian often uses the simple present (metto) for actions happening now, so both are fine.
Is there another common word for “coin purse”?
Yes: il borsellino (very common). You may also hear il portaspiccioli. Remember, il portafoglio is a wallet for banknotes/cards.
How would I talk about banknotes instead of coins?
Use banconote and typically portafoglio:
- Metto le banconote nel portafoglio.
You can say banconote nel portamonete, but it’s unusual in real life.