Question 1

Why do brusii and tintinnii end in a double -ii instead of a single -i?

Accepted Answer

Usually, masculine nouns ending in -io just change to a single -i in the plural (like bacio to baci or figlio to figli). However, if the stress in the singular form falls on the i in the -io ending, as it does in brusìo and tintinnìo, the plural gets a double -ii. You keep the stressed i and add the regular plural i.

Question 2

Since they end in a double -ii, how are brusii and tintinnii pronounced?

Accepted Answer

You actually pronounce both i vowels! Because the first i carries the stress from the singular form, you pronounce it clearly and then glide into the second i. It sounds like an elongated, stressed "ee" sound at the very end of the word.

Question 3

I learned before that ignorare means "to not know." Does it also mean "to ignore"?

Accepted Answer

Yes, ignorare is a partial false friend. It frequently means "to not know" or "to be unaware of" (for example, ignoro i fatti means "I am unaware of the facts"). However, as shown in this sentence, it also translates to "to ignore" or "to deliberately pay no attention to." You have to rely on context to know which meaning is intended.

Question 4

Are brusio and tintinnio common words, or are they mostly literary?

Accepted Answer

They are very common in everyday spoken Italian! Brusio is the standard word for the background hum or murmur of a crowd, like what you hear in a busy restaurant or theater lobby. Tintinnio is exactly what you'd call the clinking of glasses during a toast, or the jingling of keys and coins.

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