15 Expressions with “Quattro” in Italian

Numbers pop up in Italian expressions all the time, and today, we’re focusing on one in particular: quattro (four)! You’d be surprised how often we use this number in everyday conversations—sometimes to describe something small and insignificant, other times to paint a vivid picture of a situation. So, here are 15 super common Italian idioms …

Read more

15 Ways to Say NO in Italian

Looking for ways to sidestep a persistent vendor trying to charm you into buying a bracelet as you wander through Florence? Or maybe you’re searching for a polite way to decline that third helping of pasta from your overly generous Italian friend? Here, you’ll find 15 authentic ways to say “no” in Italian – whether …

Read more

19 Famous Actors with Italian Last Names

Have you ever spotted a celebrity name and thought, “Hang on, that sounds Italian!” Yep, some surnames carry that unmistakable Italian rhythm, you just know it as soon as you hear them said aloud. But what’s the story behind them? Are they tied to deep-rooted family heritage, or just some distant cousin in the family …

Read more

19 Italian Idioms with MARE (sea)

Just whisper the word mare (sea) and you’re halfway to a mental vacation: the sound of crashing waves, a chilled Spritz in hand, and that unmistakable scent of salsedine (salty air) in the face. But did you know that mare is also used for a series of everyday Italian idioms? Yep, we love the sea …

Read more

17 Italian Idioms with “Cane” (Dog)

Dogs pop up in the Italian language more often than you’d think. Whether it’s to complain, insult, or just add a bit of dramatic flair, we love a good dog reference when we want to be particularly expressive. So, in this article I’m sharing 17 of the most colorful, quirky, and occasionally confusing Italian idioms …

Read more

The easiest and hardest things about Italian for English speakers

Italian is often described as the language of music, poetry, and passion, where even a grocery list can sound sexy. I mean, try saying prosciutto out loud. It’s got a certain rhythm that is hard to resist, doesn’t it? But here’s the real question: as beautiful as it sounds, is Italian actually easy to learn …

Read more