Heather Broster
The word joke has three main translations in Italian. The one you choose depends on the kind of joke in question. The first, which is our word of the day, is battuta (feminine, plural: battute). It refers to any kind of comment that is intended to be witty or humorous. With the exception of battute …
If there is one thing Italy is renowned for besides Vespas, classic art and hand gestures, it is the delicious yet extraordinarily simple cuisine. From the various pasta dishes to the much-loved pizza, there is little that won’t send your taste buds into overdrive. Being able to paint a picture of these mouth-watering dishes with …
Today we’re going to be talking about one of my favourite verbs in Italian, brontolare, meaning to grumble or complain in a low voice. It comes from the Greek word βροντάω (vrontáo), which means to thunder or rumble. An easy way to remember this verb is to think of brontosaurus, the well-known dinosaur whose name …
Just as there are numerous terms for the humble garbage can in English including trash can, rubbish bin, wastepaper basket and dustbin, so too are there many in Italian! One of the most diffused terms is bidone (masculine, plural: bidoni). It can be used on its own or followed by della spazzatura / dei rifiuti …
Today’s “word of the day” couldn’t be more timely with news about the coronavirus dominating every headline across the world. The Italian word virus (masculine, plural: virus) is written the same as in English but is pronounced quite differently as you can hear from the audio clip below. The word comes from the Latin virus …
A very important phrase for all those who enjoy a hearty Italian meal is Ho fame! which in Italian means I’m hungry! It is made up of two components: the first person conjugation of the verb avere (to have) and the noun fame which translates as famine or hunger. Ho (I have) + fame (hunger) …