Unit 23 · I Contrari · A1 · Premium
Italian Opposites Songs for Kids
Big and small, up and down, full and empty: words that come in pairs are easier to remember together. These Italian songs sing both halves of each pair, with every line next to its English meaning.
4 songs · 46 key words · lyrics with English translation on every song
The opposites songs
Italian opposites words from these songs
Every key word and phrase across the unit, with its English meaning.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| grande | big |
| piccolo | small |
| alto | tall |
| basso | short |
| lungo | long |
| pesante | heavy |
| leggero | light |
| l'elefante grande | the big elephant |
| il topolino | the little mouse |
| la giraffa alta | the tall giraffe |
| un verme corto | a short worm |
| su | up |
| giù | down |
| dentro | in |
| fuori | out |
| vicino | near |
| lontano | far |
| veloce | fast |
| lento | slow |
| fermo | stop |
| via | go |
| pieno | full |
| vuoto | empty |
| aperto | open |
| chiuso | closed |
| bagnato | wet |
| asciutto | dry |
| pulito | clean |
| sporco | dirty |
| caldo | hot |
| freddo | cold |
| il bicchiere è pieno | the glass is full |
| la porta è aperta | the door is open |
| felice | happy |
| triste | sad |
| forte | loud |
| piano | soft |
| il giorno | day |
| la notte | night |
| vecchio | old |
| giovane | young |
| sveglio | awake |
| addormentato | asleep |
| sì | yes |
| io dico | I say |
| tu dici | you say |
Tips for parents
- Act the opposites out with your whole body: stretch tall for big, curl up for small.
- Use the pairs at home: a full cup and an empty cup, the light on and off, a toy up high and down low.
- Say one half of a pair in Italian and let your child answer with the other.
Questions parents ask
- Why teach opposites in pairs?
- A pair gives each word a partner to hang on to, so learning one half helps your child recall the other. Pairs are also easy to act out, which helps the words stick.
- Which Italian words are in these opposites songs?
- 46 key words and phrases, including grande (big), piccolo (small), alto (tall), basso (short), lungo (long), pesante (heavy), leggero (light), l'elefante grande (the big elephant). The full list is above, and every song page shows the complete lyrics with translation.
- Are the Italian opposites songs free?
- The lyrics, translations and word lists here are free to read. Playing the songs is part of Premium, which you can try free for 7 days. The first unit, greeting songs, is free forever.
- How long are the songs?
- Between 2:17 and 2:52 each, about 10 minutes for all 4. Short enough to replay, which is where most of the learning happens.
Unlock the Italian opposites songs
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