Heather Broster
Today, we’re going to explore one of the most quintessentially Italian words: the adverb and conjunction pure. Like many words in this grammatical category, it has a broad range of translations in English, making it challenging to master in the early stages of learning the language. Let’s see if we can break it down and …
A tool that we use far less today due to the advent of the computer and keyboard is the humble pencil, known as a matita in Italian. matita pencil The word derives from the Latin lapis haematites, which refers to the hematite stone or pietra di ematite in Italian. Hematite ore was historically used for …
Each of us has our own habitual routines, the things we do regularly, no matter what. In Italian, the word solito captures this sense of the usual and habitual things we do in life. solito usual Solito can be both an adjective and a noun in Italian, but in either case, the best translation tends …
The famous Italian proverb Chi dorme non piglia pesci – which literally translates to “those who sleep don’t catch fish” – suggests that simply lounging around will get you nowhere. Just as a fisherman must remain vigilant to catch a fish when it bites, achieving success requires constant readiness and action. Chi dorme non piglia …
With estate (summer) behind us and autunno (autumn) in full swing, the cold season is just around the corner. In Italian, a cold is referred to as a raffreddore. raffreddore cold Important! In English, we use the word cold to refer to both the sensation of coldness, and to the common infection that tends to …
As you immerse yourself in Italian life, agio is a term you’ll quickly come to appreciate. After all, who doesn’t relish a life of ease and comfort? agio ease / comfort Agio is derived from the Provençal aize meaning proximity and the Late Latin adiăcens meaning near or comfortable. Being a masculine noun beginning with …