Tag Archives: learn italian

Letter of the Day: ‘S’

Posted on July 24, 2012 by

Very rarely, if ever, do I dedicate the Word of the Day to a letter, but the letter ‘S‘ in Italian rocks hardcore. For the most part, you can add the letter ‘S‘ to any verb, and it becomes its … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Centellinare

Posted on June 13, 2012 by

Have you ever bought a bottle of wine that costs more than €4? Well then you would savor it, right? Centellinare, in Italian, means to savor, to sip, or to nurse a drink. It can also mean to take pleasure … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Stra-

Posted on June 11, 2012 by

As a brava Americana, I live for hyperbole. I love hyperbole. Hyperbole is like the best thing EVER! Having spent enough time out of the glorious United States of America, I realize that a lot of other cultures and peoples … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Boia

Posted on June 4, 2012 by

Today’s word of the day, boia, traditionally means an executioner or a hangman. Colloquially, it means nothing of the sort. One uses boia to express abundance, usually to refer to either very cold or very hot weather. However it can also … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Pettegolezzi

Posted on May 31, 2012 by

Pettegolezzi means items of gossip. Juicy details. The lowdown. The chatter, the chit-chat. And other nouns of the sort. It comes from the Italian noun, pettegolo, or gossiper. In other words, the one who gossips. It can also be used … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Arrangiare

Posted on May 25, 2012 by

You know when you learn a new language and the teacher always warns you about ‘false friends?’ You know, those tricky words in the language you are learning that resemble or sound like a word in English, but they do … Continue reading →

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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: Spassarsela

Posted on May 16, 2012 by

Spassarsela comes from the Italian reflexive verb, spassarsi, meaning to amuse oneself, or to have a good time. Specifically, spassarsela means to live it up, or to have a great time. I couldn’t find the etymology of this word, but … Continue reading →

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Word of the Day: Pacchia

Posted on May 15, 2012 by

La pacchia è finita is a famous phrase in Italian. It means that the fun has ended, the party’s over, and it’s time to return to a less fortunate or less relaxed state or situation. The phrase centers around the … Continue reading →

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