Italian Word of the Day: Sfacciato (insolent / brash / brazen)

If an individual displays rude and arrogant behaviour, demonstrating a total lack of respect, you could characterise them as sfacciato in Italian, which translates to insolent, brash, brazen or impudent in English. sfacciato The term sfacciato originates from the root faccia (face), employed figuratively to convey notions of honor or respect. The s- prefix, in …

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Italian Word of the Day: Grattacapo (problem / headache / worry)

While it’s perfectly acceptable to use the word problema in Italian to talk about your issues, incorporating the term grattacapo will add a touch of fluency to your speech! grattacapo problem / headache / worry Grattacapo is composed of two words: the verb grattare (to scratch) and the noun capo (head). In other words, it …

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Italian Word of the Day: Dissestato (ruined / uneven / bumpy)

Italian word "dissestato"

Dissestato isn’t the kind of word you will come across in everyday Italian, but for those keen on expanding their vocabulary, it is one worth remembering. Because it is an adjective, the ending changes to correspond with the gender and/or plurality of the subject: First and foremost, it is used to describe things that have …

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Italian Word of the Day: Gradasso (boaster / show-off)

Orlando Furioso (The Frenzy of Orlando) and its sequel Orlando Inamorato (Orlando in Love) are two of the longest epic poems ever written in the Italian language. And they are packed with hundreds of characters, some of whom are so well-known and influential that their names have made their way into the Italian dictionary! One …

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Italian Word of the Day: Dolciastro (sickly sweet / cloying)

The adjective dolciastro, which derives from the more commonly known adjective dolce (sweet), refers to anything that is sweet in flavour, but not pleasant. Some possible translations include sickly sweet or cloying. Adjectives such as dolciastro always agree with the noun they describe, which means that they have to demonstrate whether they are masculine, feminine, …

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