Heather Broster
Pennello is the term in Italian for any kind of small brush used for applying paint or dye to a surface. It comes form the Latin penellus, which is the diminutive of penis (‘tail’). Pennello is a masculine noun, and it is used with the following articles: If the brush is designed for an artist, …
One of the most frequent “comparison” questions we receive on this website concerns the difference between the words tra and fra in Italian. Tra and Fra – What do they mean? Tra and fra are both Italian prepositions that translate in numerous ways in English including between, among, in, within, away, through and into. Yes, …
Did you know that the vast majority of the most common male names in Italian have an English equivalent? Yes, it’s true! This is because they derive from the same handful of sources, such as the Bible, ancient languages like Hebrew and Ancient Greek, and important figures in religious texts and history. In this article, …
Life is fleeting, which is why we must make the most of every second of every day. We need to take risks, learn as much as we can, and keep pushing towards our goals, even when the going gets tough. In Italian, there is no better phrase to encompass this positive approach to life than: …
Both the English caramel and the Italian caramella derive from the Spanish caramelo, which in turn can be traced back to the Latin calamellus, the diminutive of calamus (sugarcane). Caramel and caramella can be considered false friends, however, in that the Italian word refers to any piece of candy or sweet made of sugar, whereas …
There are many methods to learn a new language, but reading or at least referring to a good grammar book is an excellent way to come to grasps with some of the more challenging concepts a language can pose. That said, the complexity of some materials can be off-putting, not only hindering the reader’s ability …