One of the most recognisable symbols of Christmas is the nutcracker, known as a schiaccianoci in Italian. Schiaccianoci is made up of two parts: the verb schiacciare (to crush) and the plural noun noci (walnuts). It is an invariable masculine noun, which means its form does not change in the plural. Dove vogliamo mettere lo …
One of the most amusing memories I have from the past year involves strolling around Cardiff with my dad and young son, who speaks Italian as his first language. Out of the blue, my dad turns to me and asks, “What does ‘a-choo‘ mean?” It took me a moment to realise he had caught onto …
Today, we’ll delve into an Italian verb that embodies dual meanings: “to search for” and “to try.” It comes from the late Latin term cĭrcare, meaning “to go around,” which in turn stems from the word circa, which translates to “around.” cercare to search for / to try But before we unravel its two primary …
Have you ever wondered how to say cool or trendy in the Italian language? Well, the adjective you’re looking for is fico, or figo as it is pronounced in the north. This slang term has become a popular expression to convey something stylish, attractive, or simply impressive. fico – figo cool / trendy Because it …
If you’re acquainted with the English words diverting and diversion, recalling the Italian word for ‘fun‘ or ‘entertaining‘ shouldn’t be too challenging – it’s divertente. It is the present participle of the verb divertire, meaning ‘to amuse‘ or ‘to entertain‘ but also ‘to have fun‘ in its reflexive form divertirsi (literally “to amuse oneself“). Divertire, …
In Italian, a positive way to describe a person or an action is by using the adjective carino. Carino is the diminutive form of caro, which translates to dear. It can be used in its masculine form, carino, feminine form, carina, or in their respective plural forms, carini and carine. When referring to a deed …