Heather Broster
Some Italian words lend themselves to exploration, and putiferio is one such gem. It’s the perfect term for describing a commotion, uproar, or rumpus in Italian. putiferio commotion / uproar / rumpus This word, according to the Devoto-Oli dictionary, is a deformation of the word vituperio, meaning bitter or abusive language. It is derived from …
Imagine you find yourself adrift on a choppy sea in the middle of nowhere, with no means to call for help. It’s from this vivid image that we get the Italian idiom essere in alto mare, which literally translates to “to be on the high seas” in English. essere in alto mare to be in …
Many beginners know that the word for husband is marito in Italian, but a less commonly known word is sposo, which is the Italian for groom or bridegroom. sposo groom / bridegroom The feminine equivalent is sposa which, unsurprisingly, means bride. In its plural form, sposi, this word can mean two different things depending on …
You might already know the verb annoiarsi (to be bored), but you’re less likely to have come across the noun noia (boredom / bore). I was inspired to write about this word because it’s the title of Italy’s Eurovision submission by Angelina Mango! noia boredom / bore The word originates from Provençal enoja, derived from …
What do you reach for when you need to blow your nose? An old-fashioned handkerchief or a disposable tissue? Regardless of your choice, you’ll find solace in knowing that the Italian word for both of these items is the same: fazzoletto. fazzoletto handkerchief / tissue Fazzoletto is the diminutive of the archaic term fazzolo, a …
Zizzania, commonly referred to as darnel, poison darnel, darnel ryegrass, or cockle in English, is an herbaceous weed similar to wheat found in cultivated fields. It adversely affects the plants in the surrounding soil, causing damage to agricultural crops. Thus, the expression seminare zizzania literally translates to “sowing darnel.” seminare zizzania to sow discord This …