Tag Archives: italian slang

Word of the Day: Brillo – Alticcio

Posted on May 24, 2012 by

The verb brillare in Italian means to shine or to sparkle, but in Italian slang, you can also use the adjective brillo to say that someone is tipsy or slightly drunk. Personally, I think this can be explained by that sparkle or … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Aperitivare

Posted on May 22, 2012 by

I’m sure an aperitivo needs no explanation, but just in case: it’s when you go to a bar or restaurant and order a commonly imbibed pre-dinner beverage (spritz, wine, beer…), and they throw in a plate of goodies or a buffet for … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Rincoglionito

Posted on May 9, 2012 by

Today’s word of the day, rincoglionito, means an imbecile. It comes from the Italian verb, rincoglionire, which means to become stupid, be incoherent, or to lose capacity to use your brain. Not that calling someone an imbecile is ever particularly … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Zozzo

Posted on May 7, 2012 by

As another entry in the category of “I like the way it sounds,” I bring you zozzo.  This word is the Roman version of sozzo, which is the Italian version of dirty or filthy. Or, in a figurative sense, ‘lacking morals’. It … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: DAJE!

Posted on February 23, 2012 by

This is as Roman as it gets… Daje is simply the Italian word dai, said with a Roman accent, or rather, in the Roman dialect. Dai is the Italian equivalent of ‘come on!’ Said in Roman dialect however, daje has more than just the one … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Boh!

Posted on February 15, 2012 by

For a word that is not actually ‘real,’ boh sure does get a lot of play in everyday speak. Meaning, ‘I don’t know,’ ‘no idea,’ boh is uttered by all, in a kind of shoulder-shrug, compulsory way. Kind of like, ‘I wouldn’t … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Scemo

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

Coming from the Italian verb, scemare, or to decrease, or wane, scemo means: idiot, fool, stupid, dim-witted, silly, twit, dumb… It’s not particularly nice to call someone a scemo (pronounced shehmo), but let’s be honest, sometimes you just gotta. Scemo can be used in … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Figo, and co.

Posted on January 27, 2012 by

Want to say that something is ‘cool!’? Or maybe you want to point to a guy and say ‘he’s hot!’? The word in Italian would be: figo, pronounced feego. (Depending on the Italian region, one may say ‘fico‘ instead of … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Ammazza

Posted on January 26, 2012 by

This is the point where I should probably differentiate between the Italian language, and Roman slang… Italy is divided into 20 regions: each region has its own dialect and slang. This is apart from Sardinian (and Sicilian kind of), which is practically … Continue reading →

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