Rompiscatole is what you would call a person who is a pain in the neck, nuisance or pest in Italian. It is made up of two components – the verb rompere (to break) and the plural noun scatole (boxes) – so literally it translates as box-breaker! Learn with our video It is important to note …
Today is Arbor Day (La Festa degli Alberi), a holiday dedicated to planting trees, so what better word to choose as ‘word of the day’ than albero (masculine, plural: alberi). It comes from the Latin arbor of the same meaning. Learn with our video Some verbs that often appear alongside albero include: L’Etiopia ha annunciato …
The Italian word guarigione (feminine, plural: guarigioni), which comes from the verb guarire (to recover / to heal), describes the return to a normal state of health following an illness or injury. It is usually translated as recovery but can also mean curing or healing. Learn with our video You can describe a person’s recovery …
The adjective furbo in Italian is used to describe a person who is good at avoiding deception and traps, getting out of dangerous situations, or working a situation to his or her advantage. In English, you could describe such a person as cunning / sly / crafty if you are being critical of them, or …
The word gratificante in Italian can translate as rewarding, gratifying, satisfying or fulfilling. It is almost always used in reference to a job, activity or relationship that provides satisfaction and pleasure. Learn with our video Gratificante comes from the verb gratificare meaning to be rewarding or to be gratifying, but also to compensate when talking …
The word for a mat or coaster that you put under cups, mugs, bottles and glasses to avoid staining or wetting a surface is sottobicchiere (masculine, plural: sottobicchieri) in Italian. Learn with our video It is the combination of two words: sotto meaning under or underneath and bicchiere meaning drinking glass. Sottobicchieri can be made …