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Life can be a struggle at times but with the help of comforting words of encouragement from a friend or family member, and a little perseverance and patience, it is possible to overcome even the most daunting of challenges. The important thing is keep going, even when you feel that the easiest option would be to give up. If one of your Italian friends is going through a difficult time or has … [Read more...] about 10 Italian Words and Phrases of Encouragement (Plus 5 Popular Quotes)

The festival of Carnevale, known as Carnival or Mardi Gras in English, takes place in February or early March in Italy. A time of festivities, parades, parties and entertainment, it can be considered the big celebration before the fasting of Lent and the pious restrictions of Easter. The most well-known Carnival celebrations take place in Venezia, Viareggio, Ivrea and Cento but celebrations … [Read more...] about Carnival Vocabulary in Italian: 10 Words You Need to Know!

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