
allenarsi
to train, to work out
- Mi alleno tre volte alla settimana.
- La squadra si allena ogni martedì.
- Ti alleni per la maratona?
Vocabulary A1–A2
Observe the scene and discover each word through the image and three example Italian sentences.


to train, to work out

to warm up

to stretch

to lift weights

to do push-ups

to do sit-ups, to do crunches

to go jogging

to go to the gym

to do yoga

to coach, to train (someone)

to play football (soccer)

to play tennis

to pass the ball

to dribble (past someone)

to shoot (at goal)

to score

to save, to stop (a shot)

to score a basket

to bounce the ball, to dribble (in basketball)

to serve (in tennis, volleyball)

to spike, to smash

to ride a horse, to go horse riding

to row, to paddle

to surf

to do archery, to shoot with a bow

to do a somersault, to do a forward roll

to compete, to race

to support, to cheer (for)

to referee

to commit a foul

to book, to give a yellow card

to come first, to finish first

to cross the finish line

to break the record

to celebrate, to cheer (with joy)

to award, to present with a prize

to get injured
Ball sports are “played” with giocare a and no article: gioco a calcio (I play football), a tennis, a pallavolo (volleyball). Most other sports are “done” with fare: fare yoga, fare surf, fare pesi (to lift weights), fare jogging; a few take andare: andare a cavallo (to ride a horse), andare in palestra (to go to the gym). Allenarsi is reflexive (mi alleno: I train myself), allenare is not (l’allenatore allena la squadra: the coach trains the team). In the passato prossimo, arrivare and reflexive verbs take essere, and the participle agrees: Giulia è arrivata prima (Giulia came first), mi sono infortunata (I got injured, said by a woman), ci siamo allenati (we trained). Segnare (to score) is used on its own or with un gol, un punto, un canestro. Sports words (the ball, the referee, the finish line, the medal…) are in the lesson Sports.
Drag-and-drop exercise
Drag a verb onto the photo it describes. Sometimes several verbs fit (someone kicking the ball at the goal is shooting, but may also be scoring: segnare): one is enough, but you can add as many as you like. On a phone: tap the verb, then tap the photo.










Verbs: drag them onto the photos or tap them










Verbs: drag them onto the photos or tap them










Verbs: drag them onto the photos or tap them







Verbs: drag them onto the photos or tap them
Free production
Write your version and compare it with the proposed solution. These activities remain saved on the device, but non modificano il punteggio.
Translate freelyI train three times a week and go to the gym after work.
Proposed solution: Mi alleno tre volte alla settimana e vado in palestra dopo il lavoro.
Translate freelyBefore running I warm up, and afterwards I stretch.
Proposed solution: Prima di correre mi riscaldo, e dopo faccio stretching.
Translate freelyEvery morning I do twenty push-ups and thirty sit-ups.
Proposed solution: Ogni mattina faccio venti flessioni e trenta addominali.
Translate freelyMy uncle coaches a team of children who play football.
Proposed solution: Mio zio allena una squadra di bambini che giocano a calcio.
Translate freelyHe passed me the ball, I shot at goal and I scored!
Proposed solution: Mi ha passato la palla, ho tirato in porta e ho segnato!
Translate freelyThe goalkeeper saved a penalty and all the fans cheered.
Proposed solution: Il portiere ha parato un rigore e tutti i tifosi hanno esultato.
Translate freelyCan you ride a horse or shoot with a bow?
Proposed solution: Sai andare a cavallo o tirare con l’arco?
Translate freelyThe defender committed a foul and the referee booked him.
Proposed solution: Il difensore ha fatto fallo e l’arbitro lo ha ammonito.
Translate freelyGiulia came first and broke the school record.
Proposed solution: Giulia è arrivata prima e ha battuto il record della scuola.
Translate freelyI injured my knee and I can’t compete.
Proposed solution: Mi sono infortunato al ginocchio e non posso gareggiare.
Italiano con Martin
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