The wind and I are not great friends. In fact, I’m one of those who usually blames it for the colpo d’aria (you know, that uniquely Italian phenomenon where a “hit of air” is supposedly responsible for everything from a scratchy throat to a stiff neck). So yeah, calm, windless days are very much my …
Guest post by Judy Cohen If you love post-war Italian films as I do, I think you’ll appreciate the following list of cinematic terms in Italian and English. Each one is explained in English. I include images as examples, describing their function in the context of the film. The goal here is not for you …
Every year on February 17th, Italy celebrates the Giornata Nazionale del Gatto—National Cat Day. So, what better occasion to explore some fun and curious expressions featuring the word gatto? After all, Italian is rich in idioms where animals symbolize human behavior, and cats, with their elegance and clever charm, have inspired quite a few of …
To master the art of the chiacchierata (a good old chat), it’s not enough to just study the rules or memorise phrases. You have to physically produce phrases, stumbling over words and feeling a bit clumsy at first (that’s all part of the process!). Don’t get me wrong, grammar is fascinating (who doesn’t love a …
When the temperature starts to drop, you’ll need an extra layer. The problem? Outerwear is a whole vocabulary of its own. There are many names for jackets and coats in Italian, each tied to a specific style, and mixing them up can lead to some confusing shopping moments (like looking for a sleek trench and …
Let’s face it: unless you’re a geologist, rock names are nowhere near the top of your Italian vocabulary list. But then it happens. You’re strolling through a charming cobblestone piazza or hiking a rugged mountain trail and wonder, “What is a rock called in Italian?” The problem is, there’s no single word for rock, so …