Heather Broster
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 …
A common noun with a dual meaning in Italian is tenda, which can be translated as either curtain (or drapes in US English) or tent depending on the context. Let’s discover it now! tenda curtain / tent The word derives from the Medieval Latin word tenda. It is a derivative of the Latin verb tendĕre, …
Proprio is one of those sneaky little Italian words that seems to pop up everywhere. In fact, I don’t think five minutes ever go by without me slipping a proprio into one of my sentences. Its sheer ubiquity, in addition to the fact that it can function as an adjective, adverb, pronoun, and noun, is …