Italian Word of the Day: Balzo (bounce / leap)

The Italian word balzo (masculine, plural: balzi) refers to the sudden movement of an object (usually a ball or something elastic) after it rebounds off the ground or any hard surface. Possible translations in English include bounce, leap, spring, and jump. It derives from the verb balzare meaning to bounce. The expression fare un balzo …

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Italian Word of the Day: Volpe (fox)

The Italian word for fox is volpe (feminine, plural: volpi). It derives from the Latin word vulpes of the same meaning. Two species of fox with which most people are familiar are the volpe rossa (red fox) and the volpe artica (arctic fox). In total, there are twelve separate extant species and four fossil species. …

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Italian Word of the Day: Mucca (cow)

The Italian word for cow is mucca (feminine, plural: mucche). As in English, the word refers to the female of a domesticated breed of ox that produces milk (latte) or beef (carne bovina). To milk a cow in Italian translates as mungere una mucca. Molti allevatori continuano a mungere le loro mucche a mano. Many …

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Italian Word of the Day: Pesca (peach)

The Italian word for peach is pesca (feminine, plural: pesche). Its etymology can be traced back to the classical Latin mala persica which is the word for the Persian apple tree. Important: Pesca is also the word for fishing in Italian. The two words are homonyms in that they are spelled and sound the same …

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Italian Word of the Day: Nottambulo (night owl)

If you are a person who is habitually wakeful or active at night, you might receive the nickname nottambulo which is the word for night owl in Italian. In particular, it indicates those who tend to spend the night walking or enjoying themselves in public places. It is a combination of the Latin words nox …

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Italian Word of the Day: Tegola (roof tile / blow)

The word for a roof tile or shingle in Italian is tegola (feminine, plural: tegole). It comes from the Latin tegula which derives from the verb tegere meaning to cover. Un tetto di tegole is a tiled roof whereas the verb to tile translates as coprire / rivestire di tegole (lit: to cover with tiles). …

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