Heather Broster
The Italian word pasticcio is best translated as mess or muddle in English, and as you have probably guessed, it is used to describe a situation or piece of work that is chaotic, disorganised or poorly executed. It is a masculine noun, so it takes the following definite and indefinite articles: Although the origin of …
When we are offered a choice between two alternatives, we use the sweet and simple conjunction “or” in English. In the Italian language, there are two possible translations for “or” – o and oppure. But what is the difference between them? While both present a choice between two alternatives, we find it helpful to think …
Battibecco is an Italian word that can be translated to mean quarrel or squabble in English. It is the combination of the verb battere, which means “to hit” or “to beat”, and the masculine noun becco, which means the beak of a bird. Because it is a masculine noun, it takes the following definite and …
What springs to mind when you think of the English language? Most likely a hodgepodge of linguistic influences, which – I have to say – is a part of what makes our language so beautiful. Rather unfortunately for us language learners though, there are certain English words and phrases that aren’t easily translated into other …
Mano, which is the word for hand in Italian, has its origins in the Latin word manus, which also means hand. A curiosity about this word is that, despite ending in the letter o (which is usually associated with masculine nouns) mano is actually feminine. This is because the Latin manus is a fourth-declension feminine …
Valentine’s Day, known as San Valentino in Italian, is a special occasion celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a time to express your deepest love and affection towards your romantic partner in life. If you want to impress your Italian partner or friends, you can greet them with the phrase Buon San …