What do the acts of prodding, poking, teasing and stimulating all have in common? They are all linked by the verb stuzzicare in Italian, as we’ll discover below! The origin of stuzzicare appears to be uncertain. Devoto-Oli claims it comes from the verb tuzzare meaning “to strike at the tip,” while Treccani suggests it is …
A camicia (shirt or button down shirt) is an item of clothing made of different fabrics like cotton, linen, silk, or flannel, that can have long or short sleeves. Camicia comes from the Latin term camisia, whose origins are uncertain. Unlike a maglietta (T-shirt) or a maglia (a shirt made with heavier cloth), a camicia …
Sopracciglio is a masculine noun that means eyebrow. Modelled on the Latin supercilium, it is the combination of ciglio (eyelash) and sopra (meaning ‘above‘). Before we begin, it’s important to clarify that this word has two possible plurals: the feminine plural le sopracciglia, which indicates a single pair of eyebrows, and the masculine plural i …
Today’s word miscela means mixture or blend, or more specifically, a mix of two or more different substances whose particles are blended without undergoing any chemical reactions. This noun originates from the Latin adjective miscellus, meaning “mixed,” which is derived from the verb miscere, indicating the act of mixing. Because miscela is a feminine noun, …
Life is often full of unexpected twists and turns that can throw our plans into disarray and leave us feeling disoriented. Whether it’s a sudden change of circumstances, unforeseen obstacles, or a series of unpredictable events, these disruptions can leave us grappling with frustration. An Italian verb that is often used to describe this kind …
Some Italian words encompass multiple meanings, extending far beyond their original definitions, and our word of the day piumino is no exception! Piumino is a derivative of piuma meaning feather. It is a masculine noun that takes the following definite and indefinite articles: Originally, piumino designated the down of birds, which is the layer of …