I am learning Italian using the free website Duolingo.
Today's bad news is that 'in tavola' is not in the table but on the table. Imagine that the Italians don't have any tables with drawers. Nothing is in the table. It is on the table. Translating from Italian to English that makes sense. It is easy to work out.
So why do they say in, when we English speakers would say on? You have to imagine that the Italian waiter is a humorous chap who is teasing you. He says in tavola when he means on the table.
The good news is that so many Italian words seem familiar if you know Latin, French or Spanish.
In English we used Italian words in opera and music. I have listed a few.
Aria - song
concerto
duo - two
mezzo soprano
opera - literally the work, as in opus
palazzo - square (often the town centre)
pianoforte (literally soft loud)
solo - alone, a piece of music played by one person
soprano
viola - smaller than a violin
virtuoso - expert
Angela Lansbury
