In all languages, including Italian, there are countless adjectives whose job is to add an extra layer of meaning to the words they describe. Of course, some adjectives are used more frequently than others because in spoken language, we tend to simplify concepts and repeat the same words over and over again. In this article, …
If you are familiar with the word tortuous in English, you should have no trouble remembering its Italian equivalent tortuoso, which usually translates as windy or winding in everyday English. Adjectives such as tortuoso always agree with the noun they describe, which means that they have to demonstrate whether they are masculine or feminine and …
A person who is uninhibited, confident and sure of themselves can be called spigliato in Italian. It is the past participle of the verb spigliare, meaning “to make (someone) more relaxed and confident”. Because it is an adjective, the form changes depending on the gender and plurality of the noun in question: Spigliato can be …
Today we’ll be focusing on an advanced Italian adjective that translates in many ways including gaudy, showy, flamboyant, glitzy and flashy: sgargiante. It is thought to derive from the present participle of the Neapolitan sgargià meaning ‘to look (at someone) with a loving gaze’ with the intention of attracting their attention. When modifying masculine and …
Allettante is an adjective in Italian that means tempting, attractive or inviting. It derives from the verb allettare (to entice, to attract), which in turn comes from the Latin allectare. When it modifies masculine and feminine singular nouns, the form remains the same, or in other words, the -e ending doesn’t change. For example: Il …
One of the very first Italian adjectives you should learn as a beginner is freddo, which means cold. ‘Freddo’ as an adjective As with all adjectives, the ending changes in accordance with the gender and/or number of the subject in question. Much like the English word cold, you can use freddo to describe anything characterised …