Breakdown of A proposito, chiudiamo questa parentesi e cerchiamo uno spunto migliore.
e
and
questo
this (masculine)
uno
a / an (masculine special)
cercare
to look for
chiudere
to close
migliore
better/best
a proposito
by the way
lo spunto
the inspiration (cue, starting point)
la parentesi
the parenthesis
Questions & Answers about A proposito, chiudiamo questa parentesi e cerchiamo uno spunto migliore.
Why use a proposito here, and does it always mean 'by the way'?
In this context, a proposito is used to smoothly shift the conversation or bring up a related thought, translating well to 'by the way' or 'speaking of which.' It can also mean 'on purpose' or 'intentionally' in other contexts, but at the beginning of a sentence set off by a comma, it functions as a discourse marker for transition.
Is chiudiamo questa parentesi a common conversational expression in Italian?
Yes, chiudere una parentesi (literally 'to close a parenthesis') is a very common metaphor. It is used exactly like 'let's get back on track' or 'let's end this digression,' making it a perfect partner for discourse markers that navigate conversation topics. You will also hear aprire una parentesi when someone wants to make a quick side note.
What exactly does spunto mean in this context?
Are chiudiamo and cerchiamo in the present tense or the imperative here?
They are doing the job of the imperative. For the noi (we) form, the present indicative and the imperative share the exact same conjugation. Here, they function as exhortations or suggestions, translating to 'let's close' and 'let's look for.'
Learn A proposito, chiudiamo questa parentesi e cerchiamo uno spunto migliore and more in Italian
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free