intonare
Lemma: intonare
Translation: to intone; to sing; to tune; to strike up; to start singing; to set the tone (verb)
Etymology: From Latin 'intonare' meaning 'to thunder' or 'to make a loud noise', derived from 'in-' (intensifier) + 'tonare' (to thunder). The English cognate 'intone' shares the same Latin root. The word evolved from its original meaning of making a thunderous sound to the more specific musical sense of setting or establishing a tone or melody.
Example Usage
Il coro ha intonato l'inno nazionale.
The choir intoned the national anthem.
Il cantante ha intonato una bellissima melodia.
The singer struck up a beautiful melody.
Devi intonare meglio la tua voce con il pianoforte.
You need to tune your voice better with the piano.
Il maestro ha intonato la prima nota e tutti l'hanno seguito.
The conductor set the first note and everyone followed.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'in-tone-are' - to put something 'in' the right 'tone'
- Remember the English word 'intone' which has a similar meaning and pronunciation
- Think of a choir director raising their hands to signal the choir to 'intone' or begin singing
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Italian culture, 'intonare' is frequently used in musical and religious contexts. It's particularly important in choral singing, liturgical ceremonies, and traditional folk music where starting a song with the correct pitch and tone is crucial.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'intonare' means to sing in tune or to start singing, 'stonare' means the opposite - to be out of tune or to sing off-key.
Confused word:
Il cantante ha stonato durante l'esibizione.
The singer was out of tune during the performance.
Notes: These verbs are direct opposites in musical contexts.
Mnemonic: 'Intonare' starts with 'in' (in tune), while 'stonare' starts with 's' which can be thought of as 'senza tono' (without tone).
Explanation: An archaic variant of 'intonare' that is rarely used in modern Italian. The two words mean essentially the same thing, but 'intonare' is the standard form.
Notes: You will almost never encounter 'intuonare' in contemporary Italian.
Mnemonic: Remember that 'intonare' is the modern, standard form without the extra 'u'.