Heather Broster
Is there someone in your life with whom you had an instant connection? Perhaps that person is your spouse, or maybe he or she is a childhood friend who, through thick and thin, has stuck by your side all these years. In Italian, there is a very fitting idiom to describe this kind of relationship: …
Did you know Italian contains numerous word pairs where only the gender ending is different? For example, we have mattino and mattina (morning), tavolo and tavola (table), and today’s scrumptious example, cioccolato and cioccolata (chocolate). Curious to discover the subtle yet important difference? Then keep reading! cioccolato cioccolata Now, before we begin, it needs to …
A few days ago, we learned everything there is to know about the word dopo, and today, we’re going to investigate its contrario (opposite): prima. Suffice it to say, it has just as many (if not more) translations as dopo! If you’re struggling to remember this word, just think of the operatic term prima donna, …
Feeling exhausted lately? Believe me, you’re not alone. Maybe it’s the relentless summer heat draining your energy, or, like me, un bambino birichino (mischievous boy) who’s had you up before sunrise every single day since birth. Whatever the cause, there’s a perfect Italian word that captures it all: spossatezza. spossatezza fatigue / lethargy / exhaustion …
I don’t know about you, but mi da veramente sui nervi (it really gets on my nerves) when people try to push their luck with me. There is something especially irritating about someone who decides to test my patience, even though I’ve already said no, or made it abundantly clear that they’re taking things too …
Mio papà (my dad) has developed a habit over the years that is pretty common amongst the over-sixties: afternoon naps. He never used to be someone who’d let l’omino del sonno (the Sandman) pay him a visit while the sun is up, but these days, if there’s a quiet afternoon and he’s reading a book …