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#112: Understanding verbs — giocare v. suonare

6 May 2007, 9:03 PM by Keith

Giocare and suonare both mean ‘to play’ but within two different contexts. See below for an explanation of the two verbs:

  1. Giocare means to play in the context of playing a game, playing with a toy, or gambling. The thing being played is always preceded by the preposition, a:giocare a tennis | to play tennis

    giocare a carte | to play cards

    giocare a calcio | to play soccer

    giocare ai videogiochi | to play video games

    2.  

  2. Suonare means to play in the context of playing a musical instrument (or the radio):suonare il flauto | to play the flute

    suonare il piano | to play the piano

    suonare la radio | to play the radio

  3. Suonare can also means:

    to ringto sound

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