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🎧Mini Episode 2 – Small Italian Words with Big Reactions:

“Come on!”, “What’s wrong?”, “Whatever.” Featuring: Dai, su! – Che c’è? – Va be…

Ciao a tutti, and welcome back to another mini episode of Impariamo l’italiano piano piano - the podcast where we slow things down, step by step.

If you’re just tuning in, we’re taking a short break from our ten-part story, Le Pagine del Passato, while I prepare the Companion Series, which includes printable resources that go with each episode and are available to supporters of the show.

In the meantime, we’re staying connected through these mini episodes, each one taking a closer look at the language used inside the podcast itself.

Today we’re zooming in on three little expressions that popped up in Episode 1 – The Poetry of the Past. They're short, easy to remember, and packed with meaning. Best of all, you can start using them right away, even if you’re just getting comfortable speaking Italian.

Let’s begin with a playful push. Do you recall in Episode One when I was trying to review an example of using the imperfetto to set the scene? And Antonio, of course, had to jump in with his opinion?

I had to gently encourage him to get on with things.
 Can you remember the expression I used? Let’s have a listen:

1) Dai, su! – Come on!

🎧 Clip from Episode 1
Myra: Dai, su! – Come on, let’s go!

“Dai” is the imperative of dare (to give), and “su” means up, but together?
👉 “Dai, su!” is a friendly, slightly impatient way to say:
Come on! / Let’s go! / Hurry up!

You can use it when you want to 

• To move things along
• When someone is stalling, or 
• To lighten the mood or say “stop being dramatic!”

Examples:

• Come on! It’s not the end of the world!
  Dai, su! Non è la fine del mondo! 
• Come on! It’s just a game!
  Dai, su! È solo un gioco! → 

The next excerpt I’d like to play for you is around an Italian expression for “What’s wrong?” Here’s a clip where Antonio uses it after having “improved” the example read by Paolo. Here we go…

[Play up to migliorando]

2) Che c’è? – What’s wrong?

🎧 Clip from Episode 1
Antonio: Che c’è? Lo sto solo migliorando!
(What’s wrong? I’m just improving it!)

Literally: What is there?
But functionally, “Che c’è?” means:
What’s wrong? / What’s up? / What is it?

Tone is everything. You can say it sweetly… or with dramatic flair.

Other versions:

• Che c’è adesso?! → “What now?!”
• Che c’è da ridere? → “What’s so funny?”

Try saying it with curiosity… then again with mock indignation. Italian is a very expressive language, after all!

And Myra’s response when she gives up on giving any kind of direction to her hopelessly theatrical sidekick...

3) Va be… – Whatever.

🎧 Clip from Episode 1
Myra: Va be, continuiamo.
(Whatever, let’s continue.)

Short for “Va bene” (Okay), this clipped version has a more casual, resigned tone.

👉 Think:
 Fine. / Whatever. / Meh.

🗣️ Examples:

• Va be, facciamo come vuoi tu. → “Fine, we’ll do it your way.”
• Va be… lasciamo stare. → “Whatever… let’s leave it alone.”

Add a shrug, and you’ve nailed it.

So, those were just three of the colorful little expressions tucked into Episode 1:
Come on! — Dai, su!
What’s wrong? — Che c’è?
Whatever. — Va be…

They may be short, but they bring personality, emotion, and a real sense of everyday Italian into your language toolkit. If you feel like trying them out, don’t be shy! Click the voice message link in the show notes and send me your best dramatic reading. You might just hear yourself in a future episode.

In our next mini episode, we’ll explore one of my favorite Italian expressions of good luck and why the response isn’t just “thanks,” but something a little more theatrical.
 And after that, we’ll take a closer look at how Italians use phrases like bella sfida, and what it really means when someone calls you Lei instead of tu.

Until then, keep practicing, keep listening — and as always…

Impariamo l’italiano… piano piano. 🐌