I play bocce with my friends from the bar.
'Bocce' = BOC-ce with double 'c' giving a slightly longer stop. 'Amici' = a-MI-ci.
Use this to describe a traditional Italian leisure activity. Bocce is strongly associated with social life in Italian villages and towns. Mentioning 'gli amici del bar' adds an authentically Italian social dimension to the hobby.
'Giocare a bocce' (or 'a bocce'). Note that unlike most sports, 'bocce' is always plural in Italian (the name refers to the balls). The game is similar to French pétanque and British bowls. 'Del bar' means 'from the bar' — referring to the local café social circle.
Gioco a bocce nel campetto del quartiere.
I play bocce in the neighbourhood court.
Describes the local setting
Le bocce è uno sport che unisce tutte le generazioni.
Bocce is a sport that brings all generations together.
Commentary on the social value of the game
Ho vinto il torneo di bocce del paese.
I won the village bocce tournament.
Competitive achievement
Bocce is one of the most Italian of all games — ancient in origin, it was played in the Roman Empire. Today it remains a fixture of village life ('vita del paese'), often played on beaten-earth courts ('campi di bocce') behind bars and in public gardens. It is a symbol of 'la dolce vita'.