The generic word for any box or container equipped with a lid, used for storing or transporting goods, is scatola (feminine, plural: scatole) in Italian. Learn with our video and podcast The video is also available on our YouTube channel. The podcast episode can be found on Podbean, Apple Podcast and Spotify. Keep scrolling for the written version. The word was likely born as … [Read more...] about Italian Word of the Day: Scatola (box / container)
Italian Phrase: Hai un minuto? (Do you have a minute?)
In both Italian and English, a common way of informally asking to have a quick word with someone is: Hai un minuto? Do you have a minute? Learn with our video and podcast The video is also available on our YouTube channel. The podcast episode can be found on Podbean, Apple Podcast and Spotify. Keep scrolling for the written version. This phrase breaks down in the … [Read more...] about Italian Phrase: Hai un minuto? (Do you have a minute?)
Italian Word of the Day: Viola (purple / violet)
The colour purple is known as viola in Italian. It comes from the Latin word of the same spelling. When used as an adjective, it remains invariable, or in other words, it has the same form in both the singular and the plural. For example: un vestito viola = a purple dress (masculine, singular)una gonna viola = a purple skirt (feminine, singular)dei vestiti viola = purple dresses … [Read more...] about Italian Word of the Day: Viola (purple / violet)
Italian Word of the Day: Bebè (baby)
The word bebè (masculine, invariable) is an affectionate way of saying baby or infant in Italian. It entered the language via the French bébé which itself comes from the English baby. Although the most commonly used terms for baby are bambino for a boy and bambina for a girl, they are somewhat problematic as they can refer to any child between infancy and adolescence. In order to specify … [Read more...] about Italian Word of the Day: Bebè (baby)
Italian Word of the Day: Disfare (to undo)
The word disfare in Italian is a combination of the prefix dis- (the equivalent of the English prefix un-) and the verb fare (to do / make). In addition to the verb to undo, which is the most literal translation, there are multiple ways of expressing this word in English, and as always, the surrounding context is key. Let's take a look at a few of the most common scenarios in which disfare is … [Read more...] about Italian Word of the Day: Disfare (to undo)
Italian Word of the Day: A malapena (barely / just about)
The adverbial phrase a malapena means barely, scarcely, hardly, just about or only just in English. /ma·la·pé·na/ In both languages, these expressions often (albeit not always) imply some degree of hardship or difficulty. Il paziente con la bronchite riesce a malapena a respirare. The patient with bronchitis is hardly able to breathe.The patient with bronchitis is scarcely able to … [Read more...] about Italian Word of the Day: A malapena (barely / just about)