Italian Word of the Day: Pennello (brush / paintbrush)

Pennello is the term in Italian for any kind of small brush used for applying paint or dye to a surface. It comes form the Latin penellus, which is the diminutive of penis (‘tail’). Pennello is a masculine noun, and it is used with the following articles: If the brush is designed for an artist, …

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Italian Word of the Day: Spazzola (brush)

The word for brush in Italian is spazzola (feminine, plural: spazzole). It comes from the verb spazzare meaning to sweep or to mop. The diminutive spazzolina literally means little brush whereas the masculine equivalent spazzolino is what Italians call a toothbrush. The augmentative spazzolone on the other hand specifically denotes a scrubbing brush / broom. …

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