In this article, I’d like to explore a very common error that learners of Italian, especially native English speakers, tend to make. It concerns two expressions: avere senso and fare senso. Although they both contain the word senso (sense), the difference in their meaning couldn’t be greater. Avere senso / Fare senso In English, when …
A few years back, I remember being in the kitchen with my Italian mother-in-law, helping her prepare a shopping list for the week. The Monday meal was going to consist of her famous zucchini fritters, so I diligently started writing out the word: zucchini… “Zucchini? Don’t you mean zucchine?” she asked, peering bemused over my …
When we are offered a choice between two alternatives, we use the sweet and simple conjunction “or” in English. In the Italian language, there are two possible translations for “or” – o and oppure. But what is the difference between them? While both present a choice between two alternatives, we find it helpful to think …
Students of Italian often find themselves feeling confused about when to use ancora versus di nuovo since both can be translated with the word “again”. In this article, we attempt to shed some light on the differences in their usage. How to Use “Ancora” in Italian Before we delve into ancora as a translation for …
The Italian language has multiple verbs that, on the surface, appear to have the same function, but the way in which they are used can be quite different. The reason for this is rooted in their etymology and development which, over time, has changed how these verbs are used today. One the most misleading verb …
Ciao and arrivederci are two of the most well-known Italian greetings – in fact, even those who have had zero contact with the Italian language before tend to be familiar with these terms. The difficulty for beginners is knowing when it is appropriate to use ciao as opposed to arrivederci and vice versa. In this …