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Call me a killjoy, but swearing bothers me in any language. Whereas others might assail one another with flying f-words and references to bodily excrements, I am more partial to euphemisms. And let's be honest - they are often far more entertaining and effective than swear words themselves! In this article, you will find many of the most common politically-correct swear words in the language of … [Read more...] about Italian Swear Words and Their Meanings (for Polite Society)

Did you know that we have Italy to thank for La Festa di San Valentino (Saint Valentine's Day)? Saint Valentine, or San Valentino as he is known in Italian, was a Roman priest. Legend has it that he began marrying persecuted Christian couples in secret, and after being discovered by Emperor Claudius Gothicus and refusing to renounce his faith, was martyred on February 14th AD 269. Just over … [Read more...] about The Most Romantic Italian Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day

There are certain words in every language that can make you laugh, either because their meaning is humorous or because the way they sound is amusing. In this article, we've put together a list of ten funny Italian words that will succeed not only in making others chuckle but also in helping you sound like a fluent Italian speaker! 1. Pelandrone English meaning: loafer, idler, lazy … [Read more...] about 10 Funny Italian Words That Will Make You Chuckle

The start of the New Year (nuovo anno) is typically when many people tend to make a list of resolutions (buoni propositi) for the following year. By taking stock of what worked during the previous year, we are able to set goals for the next. Resolutions can be as simple as trying to lose weight or save money, or more specific, such as learning a new craft or in the case of anyone reading this … [Read more...] about 50 Common New Year’s Resolutions (Buoni Propositi) in Italian

Most people in the English speaking world strictly associate witches with Halloween. In our minds, they are dark clad figures with flying brooms, ragged clothing, craggy features, and perhaps, a black cat for company. As far as I know, Italy is the only country in the world where witches are also closely linked to the Christmas tradition. And not just witches in general - a specific witch who … [Read more...] about La Befana: The Italian Christmas Witch

Paying compliments is a huge part of learning any language to proficiency. Using them properly can improve your relationships with other people, which is extremely important when making new friendships in a foreign country. In English, we tend to say Good job!* or Well done! to praise an individual or a group of people on an activity or job performed to a high standard. In Italian, there are … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Say “Good job!” or “Well done!” in Italian