Italian Word of the Day: Gusto (taste / flavour)

At its core, the Italian word gusto refers to the literal sense of taste. It plays a key role in our perception of flavours, working alongside our olfatto, or sense of smell, to create the full experience of taste. gusto taste / flavour Gusto is derived from the Latin gustus of the same meaning. Being …

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Italian Word of the Day: Capra (goat)

Last week, we took our son to a county fair, where a variety of farm animals were on display. The goats—known as capre in Italian—were the most eager of them all. They were so enthusiastic to eat from my son’s hand that they accidentally nipped his fingers. Needless to say, he has been keeping his …

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Italian Word of the Day: Bosco (woods)

On the weekend, one of our favourite pass-times as a family is going on a walk in the woods. In Italian, woods translates to bosco. bosco wood(s) / woodland Bosco is a masculine noun, derived from the West Germanic busk or bosk, with its plural form being boschi. Here are its definite and indefinite articles: …

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Italian Word of the Day: Lingua (tongue / language)

Today, we’re delving into a word that lies at the heart of human communication. Whether referring to the physical organ itself (tongue) or the words it generates through articulation (language), la lingua is indispensable for expressing and exchanging our thoughts effectively! lingua tongue / language Before we begin, let’s take a quick look at its …

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Italian Word of the Day: Spazio (space)

The English word space carries various meanings, and the good news for learners is that the Italian equivalent, spazio, covers nearly all of these meanings as well. spazio space Before we dive in, let’s quickly explore its etymology. Spazio derives from the Latin spatium, a word of uncertain origin that encompasses the same meanings as …

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Italian Word of the Day: Barba (beard)

Whether you love them or hate them, many men choose to grow a beard at some point in their lives. In Italian, the word for this type of peli del volto (facial hair) is barba. barba beard The word comes from the Latin barba of the same spelling and meaning. Barba is a feminine noun, …

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