Word of the Day: Cianfrusaglia

Cianfrusaglia is the Italian noun (f) for knick-knack, bric-à-brac, or junk. Basically ‘stuff,’ especially stuff of not much value. The plural is cianfrusaglie.

Word on the etymological street is that cianfrusaglia comes from the even more fun word to pronounce, cianciafruscolaThat word then comes from ciancia, meaning idle chatter, and fruscolo/bruscolo, meaning a grain or speck of dust. I suppose useless rambling in some way relates to useless junk…?

Example:

‘Mi sono resa conto di quanta cianfrusaglia c’ho quando ho cambiato casa.’ – I realized just how much junk I have when I moved.

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About Zvia Shwirtz

In Rome for 3 years now, and counting, Zvia boasts 'pro level' knowledge of the Roman public transportation system, club/music scene, and where to get a cappuccino after 11 AM without a dirty look. She also can't believe that Italians do not know about Seinfeld.
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