reso conto
/ˈre.zo ˈkon.to/word by word
The English phrase 'realized' is translated into Italian as reso conto.
The phrase comes from the reflexive verb rendersi conto, which means to suddenly understand or become aware of a fact or situation. While the verb capire is used to mean 'to understand' a concept or logic, rendersi conto specifically emphasizes the suddenness of the realization or the awareness of a specific situation. When you want to say you realized something followed by a noun or an infinitive verb, you must use the preposition di.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to having 'rendered account' of something to oneself.
Which one should you use?
capire is used for general understanding, whereas rendersi conto emphasizes the moment of awareness or realization.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because it is a reflexive verb, the auxiliary verb essere is used in compound tenses. The past participle must agree in gender with the subject. For a masculine subject, use reso conto, but if the subject is female, the past participle becomes resa conto.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈre.zo ˈkon.to/. The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, you cannot simply say you 'realized' something using the verb realizzare. That word is used for making a project or a dream become a physical reality.
- The phrase rendersi conto literally describes a process of 'rendering an account' to oneself. It treats a moment of realization as if you are presenting a formal report or balance sheet to your own mind.
- The word conto in this phrase shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'count', as both stem from the Latin 'computus' used for calculating.
Examples in context
- Mi sono reso conto che ero seguito.I realized I was being followed.This sentence is useful for expressing the realization of being followed with reso conto.Tatoeba #9769765 by Nuel, translation #6257045 by CK
- Alla fine si è reso conto di essersi sbagliato.At last he realized that he was mistaken.This sentence shows how to use reso conto to express realizing a mistake.Tatoeba #13629880 by Guybrush88, translation #39871 by Swift
- È successo così in fretta che quasi non mi sono reso conto di ciò che stava accadendo.It happened so quickly that I hardly realized what was occurring.This sentence demonstrates using reso conto to describe a realization occurring during a fast event.Tatoeba #13143626 by Nuel, translation #13143625 by Nuel
- Mi sono reso conto che ho commesso un errore grave.I realized that I made a serious mistake.
- Ho capito che non potevo più ignorare la situazione.I realized that I could no longer ignore the situation.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are talking about a missed appointment.
- SofiaPerché non sei venuto all'appuntamento?Why didn't you come to the appointment?
- AlessandroScusami, non mi sono reso conto dell'orario.Sorry, I didn't realize the time.
- SofiaTi sei reso conto che avevi l'allarme impostato?Did you realize you had the alarm set?
- AlessandroNo, l'ho dimenticato del tutto.No, I forgot it entirely.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (reso, conto) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries conto, reso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
