Heather Broster
The verb ululare (and its English cognate to ululate) descends from the Latin verb ululare, meaning to howl or to wail. The Latin root carried the same meaning as the modern Italian word, and almost certainly originated from the howling sound associated with it. Ululare is a regular -are verb, so it can be conjugated …
Today we’ll be looking at the Italian word spunto, which derives from the verb spuntare meaning to sprout or to crop up. Spunto is a masculine noun that starts with sp-. For this reason, it takes the following articles: lo spunto uno spunto gli spunti degli spunti In the world of the arts, the term …
A common word for jacket in Italian is giubbotto. It is the augmentative form of giubba, which in modern Italian refers to the shirt worn by jockeys or the jacket of military uniforms. Both can ultimately be traced back to the Arabic gubba, meaning ‘cotton petticoat’. Giubbotto is a masculine noun, which means it takes …
Baraonda is an evocative Italian word used to describe the confusion caused by the comings and goings of numerous people. The word entered the Italian language from the Spanish barahunda, which likely had onomatopoeic origins. Baraonda is a feminine noun whose plural form is baraonde. Here are the definite and indefinite articles it takes: la …
Today we’re going to be looking at the word cera, which means wax or polish. It comes from the Latin cera of the same meaning and spelling. Cera is a feminine noun, so it takes the following definite and indefinite articles: la cerathe wax una ceraa wax le cerethe waxes delle cere(some) waxes Note: Although …
Although we’re leaving the depths of winter behind us, some items of clothing remain indispensable, especially when cold winds are still blowing strong. One of these items is the sciarpa (scarf)! Sciarpa derives from the French écharpe, which in turn comes from the Franconian skerpa, a kind of shoulder belt with loops or pockets for …