Heather Broster
The act of quickly closing and opening one’s eye while leaving the other eye open is known as an occhiolino in Italian or wink in English. It is usually performed in such a way that only the recipient notices it. occhiolino wink Occhiolino is a masculine noun that takes the following definite and indefinite articles: …
A colloquial adjective for someone whose behaviour or movements are clumsy is imbranato in Italian. The corresponding feminine form is imbranata whereas the respective plurals are imbranati (m) and imbranate (f). imbranato clumsy / awkward The word is thought to derive from the Venetian imbranà (imbrigliato in Italian) which literally translates as harnessed or tightened …
While listening to my favourite Italian radio station, Radio Italia, earlier today, one of the presenters used a fun little word I’d never written about before — but it absolutely deserves a spot on this website: calzante. calzante well-fitting / snug / suitable As you might guess just by looking at it, calzante comes from …
The word gratificante in Italian can translate as rewarding, gratifying, satisfying or fulfilling. It is almost always used in reference to a job, activity or relationship that provides satisfaction and pleasure. Gratificante comes from the verb gratificare meaning to be rewarding or to be gratifying, but also to compensate when talking about money. Gratificante is …
Intanto is a very common adverb in Italian that has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. It comprises the preposition in (in) and the adverb tanto (many) and in old Italian, it was written as two words. 1. Intanto = Meanwhile The first possible translation for intanto is meanwhile, in …
The Italian word for a firefly, glow-worm or lightning bug is lucciola (feminine, plural: lucciole). It comes from the Latin lucjola, which is the diminutive form of lux lucis meaning light. All species of lucciole, both at the larva and adult stage, are characterised by the ability to produce luce (light) from the abdomen due …