Heather Broster
Before the arrival of electronic devices with a keypad or keyboard, it would have been difficult to imagine life without the humble pen. For centuries, it served as an essential tool for recording our thoughts, telling stories, and documenting important events. Pen in Italian translates as penna, a term derived from the Latin pinna meaning …
In English, we use the word cool as a blanket slang term for someone whose attitude, behaviour, appearance and style we admire, or something that we find fashionable, interesting or outstanding. There are numerous possible ways to say cool in Italian depending on your own personal style and who or what you are talking about. …
Do you know someone who is a voracious eater, gobbling up everything in sight? If so, you might have a mangione on your hands! Mangione is a playful Italian word that means “big eater” or “glutton“. It is the combination of the verb mangiare (to eat) and the suffix -one which is used to describe …
A word we use a lot around our house is borraccia, which has a number of translations including water bottle, canteen, flask and thermos. Why? Because my three year old has the terrible habit of constantly misplacing his! Borraccia is a feminine noun that comes from the Spanish borracha, meaning “leather jug”. It takes the …
Today, we want to discuss the meaning of a very common Italian idiom: Cercare il pelo nell’uovo (literally “to search for a hair in the egg”). This expression, which is very familiar to most Italians, signifies being overly meticulous and seeking out faults and flaws in others, even when they are imperceptible or non-existent. In …
Across the globe, the concept of independence holds a significant place in the historical narratives of numerous nations. Whether it is the 4th of July in the United States, Bastille Day in France, or La Festa della Repubblica in Italy, these national holidays provide a collective opportunity for citizens to reflect upon their shared history, …