Italian Word of the Day: Grattacapo (problem / headache / worry)

While it’s perfectly acceptable to use the word problema in Italian to talk about your issues, incorporating the term grattacapo will add a touch of fluency to your speech! grattacapo problem / headache / worry Grattacapo is composed of two words: the verb grattare (to scratch) and the noun capo (head). In other words, it …

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8 Ways to Say “Friend” in Italian

In English, there are numerous ways to address a friend, right? Well, the same goes for Italy. However, let’s zero in on a few terms – the ones Italians kick off their conversations with friends. It’s all in a friendly spirit, so if you happen to strike up a friendship with an Italian, you can …

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Italian Word of the Day: Meno male (thank goodness)

In Italian, there’s no better exclamation to convey your relief than meno male. In English, it can be translated as thank goodness, or more casually, it’s like letting out a big sigh of relief – phew! meno male Meno means less whereas male means bad, so the expression literally means “less bad.” Domani non dovrebbe …

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Italian Word of the Day: Anno bisestile (leap year)

Italian for "leap year"

The Italian word for leap year is anno bisestile, which should be easy to remember if you are already familiar with the term bissextile year, a synonym for leap year. anno bisestile leap year The word bisestile is derived from the Latin term “bissextilis (annus)” or “bissextilis (annus),” meaning ‘the year of the bissextus,’ which …

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Italian Word of the Day: Dissestato (ruined / uneven / bumpy)

Italian word "dissestato"

Dissestato isn’t the kind of word you will come across in everyday Italian, but for those keen on expanding their vocabulary, it is one worth remembering. Because it is an adjective, the ending changes to correspond with the gender and/or plurality of the subject: First and foremost, it is used to describe things that have …

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