You might already know the verb annoiarsi (to be bored), but you’re less likely to have come across the noun noia (boredom / bore). I was inspired to write about this word because it’s the title of Italy’s Eurovision submission by Angelina Mango! noia boredom / bore The word originates from Provençal enoja, derived from …
What do you reach for when you need to blow your nose? An old-fashioned handkerchief or a disposable tissue? Regardless of your choice, you’ll find solace in knowing that the Italian word for both of these items is the same: fazzoletto. fazzoletto handkerchief / tissue Fazzoletto is the diminutive of the archaic term fazzolo, a …
Scaramanzia is a particular subset of superstizione (superstition) aimed at averting perceived negative influences associated with people, places, and objects through the use of phrases such as magic spells, gestures, and items like amulets and lucky charms. While these practices vary across cultures and time periods, they are prevalent worldwide, and Italy is no exception. …
The word for the bark that covers a tree is corteccia. The word originates from the Latin corticĕa, the feminine form of the adjective corticĕus, derived from cortex -tĭcis, meaning bark. corteccia bark Here are the definite and indefinite articles you should use with this feminine noun. Note that in its plural form, cortecce, the …
One of my favourite Italian words actually refers to a rather banal household object that we use multiple times throughout the day: the humble rubinetto, which is known as a tap in the UK, a faucet in the US, or a spigot in technical terms. rubinetto tap / faucet The etymology of this word is …
Today we are going to be looking at a useful everyday word that can be classified as both an adjective and a noun: piatto. piatto flat / plate / dish ‘Piatto’ the adjective Used as an adjective, this word translates to flat or level. It is derived from the Latin *plattum, which in turn comes …