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The month of January is traditionally considered the coldest. In fact, its last three days are believed to be the chilliest time of the year: in Italy, we call them Giorni della Merla,  or “the blackbird days,” and there are …

Is there anything more quintessentially Venetian than a gondola? Well yes, perhaps: a gondoliere, or gondolier, to say it in English. We all know these colorful figures, so familiar to all those who visited La Serenissima at least once in …

We’ve all heard of it, but who actually tasted it? Yes, this may well be the biggest question about cappone(kap-poh-nai), capon in English, our Italian word for today. I, just like many of you I am sure, grew up with …

Capodanno is, on the Italian calendar, the second most important holiday in the season,  just after Christmas and just before Epifania. From a religious point of view, of course, the day of the Befana is more important – and not …

You know Italians are passionate, sometimes even too much. You just need to look at them when it comes to soccer. In the kitchen, if there is something likely to start up a heated discussion around the table – besides …

Sebbene (saib-bai-nai) means “although,” “even if,” “albeit” and pretty much all those little words you can use in English to indicate when something happens in spite of something else. As usual, it is much easier to understand with examples! Sono …

Ogni tanto (oh- ñee tahn-toh) is used more than sometimes in Italian! Why do I say “sometimes?” Because that’s what it means. Indeed ogni tanto stands for the English “sometimes,” or “every now and then,” which in fact may be …

Every Italian knows the word Galateo, but not many, I reckon, are acquainted with its rules. Actually, some of us may even be a tad confused about what it actually is: a book, a series of social norms, a historical treatise? …

Today’s word opens up a world of possibilities because we use it when talking about …just that: possibilities. Casomai (cah-soh-mah-ee) is the union of two terms, the noun caso (“case,” as in “just in case”) and the adverb mai (“never”). …

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, writing about a lovers’ word came naturally.  Bacio (bah-tcho) is the most immediate sign of affection; the kiss is ubiquitous and used by everyone who wants to show – more or less passionately, depending on who you’re directing your …