italki Review for Italian: The best way to practise speaking?

Very few serious language learners will argue with me when I say that speaking – and I mean speaking a lot – is the key to learning a language to high degree of fluency. Indeed, the reason many learners never move beyond the beginner or intermediate stage is because they spend too much time studying …

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How to Pronounce “Arrivederci” in Italian

If you are taking Italian classes online or in person, you have likely come across the quintessential word for goodbye: arrivederci. Indeed, it is easily one of the most widely recognised greetings in Italian, along with buongiorno, buonasera and ciao. Arrivederci is made up of the following components: a = a preposition with multiple translations …

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Italian Phrase: Vorrei una birra. (I would like a beer.)

Although Italy is renowned for its excellent wines, there has been growing demand for artisan beers since the 1980s. In the place of famous brand lagers such as Peroni and Moretti, many Italians now prefer craft beer infused with local flavours and ingredients. After all, there’s something truly magical about pouring yourself a frothy pint …

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18 Italian Quotes about Strength

Today we will look at some of the most famous Italian quotes about strength, which is forza in Italian. In Italian, the word forza has several meanings. It can refer to physical strength, which sometimes leads to brutality and violence, or inner strength and the will of the mind, which makes people capable of brave …

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Italian Word of the Day: Merenda (afternoon snack)

In Italy, in addition to the three main meals – colazione (breakfast), pranzo (lunch) and cena (dinner) – there is a fourth that occurs between lunch and dinner called merenda. Like most words in Italian, merenda derives from the late Latin merere (to deserve), and literally means “things you have to deserve”. /me·rèn·da/ Merenda is …

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Italian Word of the Day: Zanzara (mosquito)

The Italian word for that pesky insect whose high-pitched buzzing is enough to drive even the most patient of people to the brink of madness is zanzara (mosquito). It comes from the late Latin zinzala which has onomatopoeic origins. /ẓan·ẓà·ra/ Zanzara is a feminine noun, so it takes the following definite and indefinite articles: la …

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