rimanere
Lemma: rimanere
Translation: to remain; to stay; to be left; to be left over; to be surprised (verb)
Etymology: From Latin 'remanēre', composed of 're-' (back, again) and 'manēre' (to stay, remain). The Latin 'manēre' shares the same Indo-European root as English words like 'mansion' (originally a place to stay) and 'permanent'. The prefix 're-' indicates persistence or continuation in a state, emphasizing the idea of staying in place.
Example Usage
Rimango a casa stasera.
I'm staying at home tonight.
Quanto tempo rimani in Italia?
How long are you staying in Italy?
È rimasto poco cibo nel frigorifero.
There's little food left in the refrigerator.
Sono rimasto sorpreso dalla notizia.
I was surprised by the news.
Rimaniamo d'accordo per domani.
Let's agree on tomorrow.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'remain' in English, which shares both sound and meaning with 'rimanere'
- The 'man' in 'rimanere' can remind you of 'mansion' - a place where you stay or remain
- For the meaning 'to be surprised', imagine someone so shocked they remain frozen in place
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Italian culture, 'rimanere' is often used in social contexts to indicate staying somewhere, but also has important figurative uses to express surprise or shock. The expression 'rimanere male' (to feel bad, to be disappointed) is particularly common in everyday conversation.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'rimanere' and 'restare' are very close synonyms both meaning 'to remain' or 'to stay', 'rimanere' is more commonly used to express surprise or being left in a certain condition, while 'restare' tends to emphasize physical presence or position.
Confused word:
Resto qui ad aspettarti.
I'll stay here waiting for you.
Notes: In many contexts, these verbs are interchangeable, but 'rimanere' is slightly more formal and often preferred in written Italian.
Mnemonic: 'Rimanere' contains 'man' - imagine a man frozen in surprise; 'restare' contains 'rest' - think of resting in one place.
Explanation: 'Rimanere' means 'to remain' or 'to stay', while 'diventare' means 'to become'. They can be confused because both can describe a change or continuation of state.
Notes: With adjectives, 'rimanere' suggests staying in a state, while 'diventare' indicates transformation into a new state.
Mnemonic: 'Rimanere' - think 'remain'; 'diventare' - think 'develop into'