Heather Broster
Today’s Italian word is soqquadro (masculine, plural: soqquadri), which can translate in a number of ways in English including upside-down, disarray, mess, shambles, cluttered and topsy-turvy, just to name a few! It comes from the expression sotto quadro (lit. under square), which was used by builders to refer to off-kilter or crooked structural elements that …
Ever since my uncle gifted it to him two years ago, my son has been obsessed with his stuffed raccoon. Wherever my son goes, Raccoon must follow. There are now signs of stuffing coming out of a hole under his armpit, and his fur isn’t nearly as silky as when he first arrived, but my …
In Italian, the word abito is used to denote any specific kind of garment worn over underwear, be that a gown, dress, suit or outfit. It derives from the Latin habitus, meaning demeanour or appearance. Because it is a masculine word beginning with a, it takes the following definite and indefinite articles: Mi piacciono molto …
Aiuto, which means “help” or “aid”, is arguably one of the most useful Italian words you can learn. After all, you never know when you might find yourself in need of assistance in a foreign country! The noun aiuto is masculine, and used with the following articles: Aiuto comes from the Latin adiutus which in …
In this article, I’d like to explore a very common error that learners of Italian, especially native English speakers, tend to make. It concerns two expressions: avere senso and fare senso. Although they both contain the word senso (sense), the difference in their meaning couldn’t be greater. Avere senso / Fare senso In English, when …
Mother’s Day is coming up! The second Sunday of May is recognised in Italy, as well as many other countries around the world, as Mother’s Day (la Festa della Mamma) – the day to celebrate our amazing mothers. In Italy, Mother’s Day as it is celebrated today is a relatively new holiday. This holiday and …