A mistake I often hear Italians make when they’re not fluent in English is using boring when they actually mean annoying. There’s a very good reason for this: in Italian, there’s just one simple word for both adjectives – noioso. noioso boring / annoying According to Treccani, noioso probably originates from the Old Provençal word …
Are you someone who loves a good natter? If so, there is no better verb than chiacchierare, the Italian equivalent of to chat or to make small talk. It even sounds like the concept it describes, wouldn’t you agree? chiacchierare to chat According to Treccani, the origin of this word is indeed onomatopoeic. Unlike parlare, …
Still staring at the map after the guy on the Italian weather forecast warned about a strong swirl of cold air coming from la Manica, and you have no idea where that is? Read on to find out! manica sleeve / bunch / English Channel 1. MANICA = Sleeve The word manica in Italian comes …
Mio figlio (my son) has never been a fan of peas. Put a plate of them in front of him and you’d think I’d served him a bowl of tiny green villains. He’ll happily eat pasta, most kinds of minestra (soup) and practically anything else Italian, but peas? Absolutely not. Which is kind of a …
A few days ago, we learned everything there is to know about the word dopo, and today, we’re going to investigate its contrario (opposite): prima. Suffice it to say, it has just as many (if not more) translations as dopo! If you’re struggling to remember this word, just think of the operatic term prima donna, …
Feeling exhausted lately? Believe me, you’re not alone. Maybe it’s the relentless summer heat draining your energy, or, like me, un bambino birichino (mischievous boy) who’s had you up before sunrise every single day since birth. Whatever the cause, there’s a perfect Italian word that captures it all: spossatezza. spossatezza fatigue / lethargy / exhaustion …