In this lesson you’ll learn the most common and interesting Italian expressions used in skiing.
Let’s start!
Italian expressions for ski turns
Pennellare le curve
It means to corner perfectly. It comes from pennello, which means brush.
This expression is not limited to skiing alone as it’s used in any kind of racing sports where you have to turn.
Pennellare le curve
To corner perfectly
Literally: to brush the curves
Ho appena iniziato a sciare e devo ancora imparare a pennellare le curve.
I’ve just started skiing and still have to learn how to corner perfectly.
Spigolare
It translates to to edge. The verb is derived from spigolo, meaning corner.
Spigolare
To edge
Si spigola meglio se le lamine sono affilate.
You can edge better if the ski edges are sharp.
Derapare
It means to drift, such as when you’re sliding while your skis are facing the opposite direction.
It’s often used in any racing sports.
Derapare
To drift
Adoro derapare durante le curve.
I love to drift during curves.
Slalom skiing
This is the type of skiing that involves skiing between gates. Speciale means special.
Slalom speciale
Slalom skiing
Inforcare un palo
In slalom skiing, this is when you cross a gate with one of your skis inside the gate. Inforcare translates to to fork.
Inforcare un palo
To cross a gate with one of your skis inside the gate
Nello slalom speciale rischi di essere squalificato se inforchi un palo.
In slalom skiing you can be disqualified if you go across a gate with one of your skis.
Italian expressions for ski slopes
Other Italian expressions used in skiing are…
Slope colors
Pista da sci
Ski slope
Depending on their difficulty, every slope in Italy is assigned a specific color.
Pista verde
Nursery or bunny slope
Literally: Green slope
Pista blu
Beginner slope
Literally: Blue slope
Pista rossa
Medium slope
Literally: Red slope
Pista nera
Advanced slope
Literally: Black slope
Solo gli sciatori esperti dovrebbero sciare sulle piste nere.
Only experienced skiers should ski on “black slopes”.
Le piste verdi sono adatte ai bambini perché non sono ripide.
Bunny slopes are suitable for kids because they are not steep.
Battere una pista
It means to prepare a slope for skiing. Battere means to beat.
Battere una pista
To prepare a slope for skiing
Riusciremo a battere la pista entro stamattina?
Will we manage to prepare the slope for skiing by this morning?
Uscire di pista
It means to go off-piste. Uscire translates to to get out.
Uscire di pista
To go off-piste
Fa’ molta attenzione a non uscire di pista. Segui il percorso.
Be very careful not to go off-piste. Follow the track.
Italian expressions for getting back to the top of the slope
Scaletta
It’s derived from scala, stair. It’s when you move up the slope with parallel skis, lifting one ski at a time.
Scaletta
Moving up with parallel skis
Sai come usare gli sci a scaletta per risalire un pendio?
Do you know how to move up a slope with parallel skis?
Spina di pesce
It literally translates to fishbone. It’s the technique you use when you move up a slope with diverging skis.
Spina di pesce
Moving up with diverging skis
Sai come usare gli sci a spina di pesce per risalire un pendio?
Do you know how to move up a slope with diverging skis?
Other Italian expressions used in skiing
There’s even more Italian expressions used in skiing!
Stazione sciisticaÂ
Ski resort
Stagione sciisticaÂ
Ski season
La stagione sciistica finisce di solito a inizio maggio.
Ski season usually lasts until the first days of May.
Discesa liberaÂ
Downhill
Cannoni sparaneveÂ
Snow cannons
Literally: Shooting-snow cannons
Istruttore di sciÂ
Ski instructor
Noleggio di sci
Skis rental
Quanto costa il noleggio degli sci per una settimana?
How much does skis rental cost for a week?
Campionato di sciÂ
Ski championship
Gatto delle neviÂ
Snowcat
(Literally snow cat…!)
SeggioviaÂ
Chairlift
Le lamine degli sciÂ
The sci edges
Sci di fondoÂ
Cross-country skiing
Sci acrobaticoÂ
Free-styling
Sci alpino
Downhill skiing
Bollettino neve
Snow report
Cosa prevede il bollettino neve per domani mattina?
What does the snow report predict for tomorrow morning?
Sciolina, sciolinare gli sci
Ski wax, ski waxing
Come si applica la sciolina sugli sci?
How do you wax skis?
Cancelletto di partenza
Starting gate
Il cancelletto di partenza è situato appena sotto alla cima del monte.
The starting gate is located just below the summit.
Impianto di risalita, funiviaÂ
Ski lift
SnowboardÂ
Snowboard
Sai andare sullo snowboard?
Can you do snowboarding?
Scarponi da sci
Ski boots
Sci paralleli
Parallel skis
Non è semplice imparare a curvare a sci paralleli.
It’s not simple to learn how to take parallel turns.
Paraneve
Powder skirt
Neve artificiale
Artificial snow
What next?
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