Italian Word of the Day: Barlume (flicker / glimmer)

What I consider a rather romantic-sounding term in Italian is barlume (masculine, plural: barlumi) which is the word for any kind of dim light, such as a glimmer, flicker or gleam. It derives from the word lume (one possible translation for light in Italian) and the prefix bar- which is akin to the pejorative prefix …

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What does Alberto say in Luca? – “Piacere Girolamo Trombetta!”

Everyone loves a feel-good movie, and Pixar’s latest release ‘Luca‘ will certainly fits the bill thanks to its loveable characters, whimsical plot and stunning (albeit animated) views of the Ligurian coastline. The story follows the eponymous Luca, a teenage sea monster who, much like Ariel in the Little Mermaid, wishes to experience life on land. …

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How to Pronounce “Cappuccino” in Italian – Pronunciation Guide

The cappuccino is a hot drink of Italian origin consisting of coffee and milk that has been frothed up with pressurised steam. It is traditionally consumed with sugar at or following breakfast, accompanied by a cornetto (croissant) or other baked goods. A cardinal rule of Italian coffee drinking is to never order a cappuccino or …

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Italian Word of the Day: Minestra (soup)

On a cold wintery day, few things are more comforting than curling up with a bowl of hot minestra (feminine, plural: minestre). Minestra is just one way of saying soup in Italian, and it has a fascinating history as we’ll discover in this article! Learn with our video Although minestra is now a generic term …

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The 10 Most Common Italian Cat Names

Despite their aloof reputation, cats (gatti) are one of the world’s most beloved pets, coming in second only to the dog (cane). In fact, according to a survey conducted in 2019, 58% of Italians owned a cat, which we can all agree is no small number! But what are some of the most common Italian …

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