Diminutives and augmentatives are everywhere in casual, spoken Italian, so if you want to sound more natural or finally understand those fast-paced movie dialogues, they’re definitely worth getting familiar with. Basically, they’re formed by adding a suffix to the end of a word to make it sound smaller, bigger, cuter, or more intense. But it’s …
When learning Italian, it’s easy to get caught up in grammar rules and forget about real-life situations… like getting your hair done! Say that you’re traveling through Italy and need a last-minute touch-up, or maybe you’re in the mood for a bold new look to celebrate your trip. Would you know how to talk about …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …