Valentina Nicastro
Italian has the perfect word to complain about everything: fastidio. A person walks slower than us on the sidewalk and won’t move to the side? Che fastidio. Someone chewing with their mouth open two tables away? Mi dà troppo fastidio. Those high heels that looked so cute in the store but are now destroying our feet? Uuuh, un …
If an Italian tells you they have influenza, don’t immediately reach for the hand sanitiser. Yes, we might be home in bed, surviving on broth and re-rurns, but we could just as easily be casually letting you know we have certain power and connections. Because the word influenza in Italian wears two hats: it means …
Il pane (bread) is one of those things that’s never missing from an Italian table. Even when there are already enough carbs on the plate and it’s clearly not needed for the meal. It doesn’t matter, it’s just there: in a basket, still inside the bakery bag, or scattered across the set table, quietly waiting …
You’ve decided to rent an apartment in Italy? That’s exciting! Just get ready to arm yourself with some new words and expressions to get through it. Because yes, there’s specific vocabulary you’ll need to familiarise yourself with. So, before you find yourself handing over a caparra without really knowing what you agreed to, or arguing …
Nobody wants to be called un pistola in certain parts of Italy. And no, it has nothing dangerous attached to it, even if the word does sound suspiciously like the English pistol. Which, as it turns out, is also one of its meanings. But only one. Let’s find out the rest! pistola pistol 1. PISTOLA …
Somewhere in Italy right now, someone is ordering priest stranglers and Judas’ blood, and nobody is batting an eye. Don’t worry, I haven’t gone crazy: Strozzapreti (priest stranglers) and Sangue di Giuda (Judas’ blood) are perfectly normal menu items in Italy! This is just what we call certain foods: body parts, religious figures, personal traits, …