What springs to mind when you think of the English language? Most likely a hodgepodge of linguistic influences, which – I have to say – is a part of what makes our language so beautiful. Rather unfortunately for us language learners though, there are certain English words and phrases that aren’t easily translated into other languages, and by the same token, these languages all have their own set of specific idiomatic expressions that may not have an equivalent in English.
In this article, we’ve set out to investigate seven English words that we feel are quite tricky to translate into Italian, even for the most seasoned language learners and translators. For each word, we have provided a range of example sentences so that you can come to grips with how it should be used in context. As always, if you can think of any other words that are a challenge to translate, let us know in the comments below!
1. Busy
So ubiquitous is the adjective busy in English that it can be frustrating to discover that there isn’t just one single translation for it in Italian.
When we talk about a busy road in English, what we’re really saying is that there are lots of vehicles coming and going. In Italian, the adjective they use is trafficato, which actually contains the word traffico (traffic).
- Questa strada è sempre molto trafficata. = This road is always very busy.
However, if we talk about a busy coffee shop, we are suggesting that the place is overrun with people coming and going. In this case, Italians prefer the adjective pieno, which means full, or pieno di gente (full of people). You may also hear movimentato (lively / animated) or affollato (crowded).
- Questo bar è troppo pieno. Andiamo da un’altra parte. = This bar is too busy. Let’s go somewhere else.
What about the state of being busy, as in having lots of work to do? Here we have a few possible translations: occupato (occupied), impegnato (occupied), indaffarato (swamped) and intenso (intense). Note that occupato can also be used to refer to a busy phone line or a place that is in use, such as a bathroom stall.
- Non posso venire. Sono troppo impegnato. = I can’t come. I’m too busy.
- La linea è occupata. Chiamerò più tardi. = The line is busy. I’ll call later.
- Ho avuto una giornata intensa. = I had a busy day.
The word pieno can be used as well, especially when referring to a busy day (una giornata piena).
If we’re talking about the verbs to busy (oneself) or to keep busy, you can expect to hear the translations tenersi occupato and occupare.
- Si teneva occupato leggendo e guardando la tv. = He busied himself with reading and the TV.
- Quel lavoro mi ha occupato per tutta la settimana. = That job kept me busy all week.
Finally we have busy in the sense of being excessively detailed or decorated. The best translations in this case are caotico (chaotic), confuso (confused), and troppo pieno di (too full of).
- Ha un vestito con troppi colori e disegni. = Her dress is too busy.
2. Bumpy
Here we have another B adjective that gives me headaches to this day when I am faced with translating it into Italian!
One of the primary definitions for bumpy in English is “something that isn’t smooth”, such as a bumpy road (as in a road that is full of potholes or covered in stones) or the bumpy surface of a ball (as in a ball that might have lots of raised bumps or a rough texture).
In Italian, the translation ultimately depends on what the bumpy object is. A bumpy road may be described as una strada piena di buche / dossi (a road full of holes / bumps), or less commonly, with the adjectives accidentato (rough / uneven), sconnesso (disjointed) or dissestato (in a bad way), whereas for the bumpy ball, you might use adjectives like ruvida (rough), irregolare (irregular) or simply non liscio (not smooth).
- Questa strada è piena di buche! = This road is so bumpy!
- Tocca la palla ruvida. = Touch the bumpy ball.
If, on the other hand, you are describing something that contains lots of bumps or lumps, like a misshapen brownie, you could use the adjectives sformato (deformed) or irregolare.
There is yet another meaning for bumpy which is a journey involving lots of jumps and jerks, such as a bumpy flight or a bumpy ride in the car.
In Italian, you might say abbiamo ballato (or si ballava) in volo (lit. we danced in flight) or describe the flight using the adjective turbolento (turbulent). As for the bumpy car ride, don’t be surprised if Italians refer to the state of the road using the phrase La strada è piena di buche (The road is full of holes) rather than the bumpiness of the journey itself.
- Mamma mia, questa strada è piena di buche! = My goodness, what a bumpy ride! (lit. this road is full of holes)
And don’t be surprised if you also hear words such as accidentato or scossone (jolt / bump)!
- Mamma mia, quanti scossoni! = My goodness, what a bumpy ride! (lit. how many jolts)
3. Overwhelmed
A bilingual Italian friend of mine once told me that when she speaks in Italian, she tends to drop the English word overwhelmed into her speech, untranslated, as she can never find the perfect equivalent. This alone should tell you how difficult this word is to translate!
We use the word overwhelmed in English when we are feeling overpowered emotionally with feelings such as sadness, grief, happiness or guilt, or when we feel submerged by pressing obligations or possibilities. And sometimes we simply feel overwhelmed, period, without any real reason!
In Italian, the options are endless. I find it really helps to ask yourself – What do I mean by overwhelmed in this case? Is there a possible synonym for how I’m feeling in this moment? – and work from there.
For example, if you are overwhelmed because you have lots of work to finish before the Friday deadline, you might also describe yourself as being stressed (stressato), under pressure (sotto pressione) or submerged (sommerso).
Someone who is overwhelmed with sadness could also be described devastated (devastato) or upset (sconvolto) while someone who is overwhelmed with fatigue could also be exhausted (esausto).
You could also use the following expressions which, while not exactly the same as overwhelmed, would be used in a similar situation:
- È tutto un po’ troppo! = It’s all too much!
- Non ce la faccio più! = I can’t take it anymore!
- Sono arrivato al limite. = I’ve reached my limit.
Sopraffatto and travolto are often put forward as good translations for overwhelmed, but the problem is that they don’t work in every case.
- Il bambino era sopraffatto dalla paura. = The boy was overwhelmed with fear.
- Sono stato travolto da un’ondata di ricordi. = I was overwhelmed by a rush of memories.
Of course, overwhelmed has a couple of other meanings in English that are easier to translate. Overburdened is one, in which case you’d use adjectives like oberato (overloaded / burdened) or schiacciato (crushed), and defeated with ease (stracciato) is another.
- In Italia la sanità pubblica è oberata di problemi. = In Italy public health is overwhelmed with problems.
- La Spagna ha stracciato l’Italia nell’hockey. = Spain overwhelmed Italy in the hockey.
4. Creepy
Creepy in English has a couple of meanings: on one hand, it can mean scary (as in a creepy movie) and on the other, it can mean unnerving and repulsive (as in a creepy man).
When creepy means scary, you can depend on adjectives like pauroso (scary / frightening), spaventoso (frightful) or raccapricciante (horrifying), or you can use the phrase che fa paura (lit. that scares), which also means scary.
- Fa così paura questo film! = This is such a creepy movie!
If you are talking about a creepy person, on the other hand, you might use adjectives such as schifoso (gross), viscido (slimy) or inquietante (unnerving / disturbing).
If you’re looking for something a little more idiomatic, you could also use one of the following phrases:
- fa venire la pelle d’oca = it gives me goosebumps
- mi fa accapponare la pelle = it makes my skin crawl
- mi fa venire i brividi / fa rabbrividire = it gives me the shivers
5. Excited
The word excited can be problematic to translate because, when Italians hear the word eccitato, their minds tend to drift toward the sexual definition of the word (which also exists in English, by the way).
This doesn’t mean eccitato absolutely cannot be used to describe someone who is hyper or enthusiastic – it just isn’t the first translation that springs to mind, making it tricky for learners to use it correctly.
So what do Italians actually say when they are excited about something? Well, two very safe options are emozionato (excited) and entusiasta (enthusiastic). In fact, excited can almost be considered a perfect blend of these two emotions. If the subject in question is hyper or agitated, you can also use agitato.
- Sono molto emozionato per la festa domani. = I’m very excited about the party tomorrow.
- Sono entusiasti di andare al concerto. = They’re excited to go to the concert.
- Il cucciolo agitato correva per tutta la stanza. = The excited puppy ran around the room.
Coming back to eccitato, there is one case in which you could use this adjective, and that’s when an outside force, such as coffee, provokes excitement. (Note that agitato works just as well.) But even when used in this manner, you can’t really escape the sexual overtones.
- Il caffè mi rende eccitato/agitato. = Coffee makes me excited.
You may also hear a lot of Italians using contento (happy / glad) if the degree of excitement is lower.
- È contento di andare in vacanza. = He’s excited (happy) to go on vacation.
And when in doubt, you can always turn to the idiomatic phrase Non vedo l’ora! which means I can’t wait! or I’m looking forward to…
6. To look forward to / I can’t wait to
Speaking of the expression “I’m looking forward to…”, you can expect to run into some difficulties when translating this phrase in very specific circumstances.
In short sentences like “I’m looking forward to going to Italy!” the translation is straightforward: Non vedo l’ora di andare in Italia!
But when “I’m looking forward to…” is contained within a phrase such as “I need something to look forward to,” Non vedo l’ora no longer works. In this case, an Italian might say Ho bisogno di qualcosa a cui puntare which means “I need something to work towards / set my sights on“.
Another tricky phrase is the negative “I never look forward to anything anymore” which could be rendered as Non mi aspetto più niente ormai.
Finally we have the question “Are you looking forward to…?” In this case, most Italians would simply use the word contento (happy/glad).
- Sei contento di andarci? = Are you looking forward to going?
7. Awkward
What do we mean when we use the adjective awkward in English? Embarrassing? Ungainly? Difficult? Or uncooperative? In truth, awkward can mean all of these things in English, so once again, the translation will depend on the context in which it appears.
When awkward refers to something that is embarrassing or uncomfortable, you might use words such as imbarazzante (embarrassing), delicato (delicate) or scomodo (uncomfortable). For example:
- una situazione sociale delicata = an awkward social situation
- una conversazione imbarazzante = an awkward conversation
- un silenzio imbarazzante = an awkward silence
- un rapporto scomodo = an awkward relationship
Another good term is a disagio, which is used when you don’t feel at ease.
- Mi sento a disagio quando le persone mi guardano. = I feel awkward when people look at me.
Referring to an awkward period or stage in one’s life, terms like difficile (difficult) or complicato (complicated) might be preferred.
- la difficile età dell’adolescenza = the awkward stage of adolescence
What if someone is just being darned awkward with you? You could describe them as testardo (stubborn) or irragionevole (unreasonable).
Of course, we mustn’t forget awkward as in ungainly, clumsy or ungraceful. In this case, the best translations are goffo, imbranato, impacciato or sgraziato. Take your pick!
On more than one occasion, I’ve found our toddler sleeping with his feet hanging out the side of the cot and head rammed up against the bars. We always wonder how he manages to sleep in such an awkward position, or una posizione scomoda/strana. In this particular situation, you’ll often hear Italian parents exclaim:
- In che diavolo di posizione sei finito! = What an awkward position you’re in! (literally: In what devil of a position did you end up in!)
Finally, awkward can be used on its own as an interjection: Awkward! The Italian equivalent for this would be something like Che imbarazzo! (How embarrassing!)
Do you find these English words difficult to translate into Italian? Are there any other words you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!
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Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.
