Italian Word of the Day: Figlio (son / child)

Figlio is the word for son in Italian. It derives from the Latin filius and is related to words such as femmina (female) and fecondo (fertile). It can also refer more generically to a child if the sex is unknown (as in the case of an unborn child for example). The plural figli can mean …

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Italian Word of the Day: Capolavoro (masterpiece)

The word for masterpiece or best work in Italian is capolavoro (masculine, plural: capolavori). It is the combination of the words capo (head / extremity) and lavoro (work / job). Traditionally capolavoro refers to the very best piece of work by an artist or a writer, or of a particular era or style. Some examples …

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Italian Word of the Day: Spicciolo (loose change)

Spicciolo is the word for loose / spare / small change or coins in Italian. It derives from the verb spicciolare which means to pick off or to change (a sum of money) into (a different currency or denomination). spicciolo loose change / coin It is a masculine noun that takes the following definite and …

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Italian Word of the Day: Senno di poi (hindsight)

Senno di poi is how you would say hindsight in Italian. As in English, it refers to the ability to evaluate or comprehend an event, but only after it has happened. senno di poi hindsight The masculine noun senno means judgement / sense / wisdom, whereas poi is the word for then / later on …

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Italian Word of the Day: Perla (pearl)

The Italian word for pearl is the similar sounding perla (feminine, plural: perle). It is thought that both derive from the Latin perna (leg), so called for the leg-of-mutton shape of the mollusk shells from which they originate. Pearls broadly fall into three categories: natural pearls (perle naturali / vere), cultured pearls (perle coltivate) and …

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Italian Word of the Day: Strofinaccio (rag / cloth / dish towel)

The word for any piece of cloth used for drying dishes or for household cleaning is strofinaccio in Italian. strofinaccio rag / cloth / dishtowel Here are the definite and indefinite articles used with this masculine noun: If we break it down into its component parts, we can see that it is composed of the …

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