‘Braccine corte‘ means ‘short arms’, but if someone tells you “Avere le braccine corte“, they’re not referring to the length of your appendages… The Italian phrase “Avere le braccine corte” is an interesting idiom that literally translates to “to have short arms.” However, if someone tells you this, they are not commenting on the length […]
Squeeze every last drop of flavour from your plate with the Italian tradition of “fare la scarpetta” “Fare la scarpetta” is a unique Italian phrase that embodies the country’s culinary and cultural traditions. The literal translation of the phrase is “do the little shoe,” but it’s used to describe the act of cleaning the plate […]
In this edition of our bilingual feature, Tom Alberto Bull invites you to a hand of Burraco, the card game that’s become all the rage in Italy KEY WORDS Useful Italian words and phrases to add to your vocabulary Fare il quarto/la quarta To make up a foursome Un gioco di carte A card game […]
Discover the meaning of magari, a useful word that can express your hopes, wishes, and desires… Magari is an Italian word that has no direct translation in English. It comes from the Greek word “makàrios“, which means a blessed or happy event. In Italian, “magari” is a versatile word that can be used to express a […]
Karen Jensen-Jones jumps into life in Agnone in the heart of Molise to brush up on her Italian language skills and experience a slice of authentic Italian life. In Maria and Giuseppe’s rustic garden in the ancient hilltop town of Agnone, homemade digestivo di clementino and delicious sour cherry torta were generously offered to our […]
In today’s fast-paced and stressful world, it’s important to find healthy ways to cope with difficult emotions. One such way is through “sfogarsi”, an Italian word that describes the act of releasing pent-up feelings… Sfogarsi, meaning ‘let off steam’/’vent’. The Italian word “sfogarsi” comes from the verb “sfogare“, which is derived from the prefix “s-” […]
In this edition of our bilingual feature, Tom Alberto Bull reports on the rise and – in hindsight at least, inevitable – fall of the Domino’s pizza chain in Italy, home of the handmade pizza KEY WORDS Useful Italian words and phrases to add to your vocabulary Cotta (cotto) alla perfezione Cooked to perfection Prosciutto […]
‘Latte’ seems like a fairly simple Italian word, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye… Latte (pl. latti) meaning ‘milk’. In English, we understand it to mean a delicious steamy coffee, but in Italian ‘latte‘ simply means ‘milk’. So, to avoid being handed a glass of the white stuff, ensure you […]
‘Culaccino’ is an Italian word which sums up an irritating party phenomenon. We teach you the meaning of this word and how to use it… We all know this stain. The unsightly ring left on a wooden table when someone doesn’t use a coaster for their cold drink. It’s infuriating. Well, did you know that […]
Dreaming of Italy? Rachael Martin looks at how you can bring the country closer to you with online experiences, from live-streamed art history and cookery classes, wine tastings and more. There’s no doubt that the past two years have clipped our wings somewhat – and while travel appears to be opening up again, for many, […]