There is a certain charm to the Italian word credenza (pronounced with a nice, rolling R), because it carries two completely different meanings, one abstract and one physical: it refers to the act of believing, yet it is also the word for a cupboard. These definitions might seem totally unrelated, but there is actually a …
At first glance, sopportare looks like the English word support, so you might assume it means pretty much the same thing. Well, not quite. In Italian, sopportare actually means “to bear,” “to endure,” or “to put up with.” So if you proudly tell your Italian friends Vi sopporto! thinking you’re saying “I support you,” you’ve …
If the first thing that pops into your head when you hear piano in Italian is tinkling keys and sweet melodies—fair enough. After all, piano is used in the English too! But in Italian, it plays many different roles: it’s an adjective, an adverb, and a noun too (il piano masculine singular and i piani …
Ah, la gelosia! That passionate mix of love, doubt, and a few overreactions we’d rather forget. In Italian, this word sounds and means pretty much the same as “jealousy” in English, but it hides another meaning that might just surprise you. Curious? Let’s find out what it is! Gelosia But first, a quick grammar note: …
The word sacco in Italian has several meanings. It can mean a sack, the punching bag you hit at the gym, or even a big pile of something. We also use it informally to mean “a ton” or “loads.” Sacco Sacco is a masculine noun, so it’s il sacco in the singular form and i …
While it usually translates to “case,” the meaning of caso in Italian changes depending on the context. It can mean situation, fate, coincidence, or even pop up in grammar jargon. Let’s explore how we use this word in everyday life, from court cases to chance encounters! caso Caso is a masculine noun that takes the …