chiamarsi Pietro

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Italian

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Etymology

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Literally, to be called Peter. From the rhyming saying si chiama Pietro, torna indietro (its name's Peter, and it comes back). By folk etymology it has been compared with Saint Peter's journey, despite him not coming back. Compare French s’appeler reviens and Spanish llamarse ida y vuelta.

Verb

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chiamàrsi Pietro (third-person only, third-person singular present si chiàma Pietro, third-person singular past historic si chiamò Pietro, past participle chiamàto Pietro)

  1. (intransitive) to be only lent, and expecting to be returned
    Ce l'hai le cuffiette? — Sì, ma si chiamano Pietro.
    Do you have earbuds? — Yes, but you have to give them back.
    (literally, “ [] Yes, but their name's Peter.”)

Conjugation

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