Word of the Day

The Italian expression perché mai (pehr-kai mah-ee) is a versatile idiom used to convey surprise, disbelief, or skepticism.  Literally translated as “why ever” or “why on earth,” it often appears in rhetorical questions or exclamations, emphasizing incredulity or seeking further …

The Italian word altrove (al-troh-vai) translates to “elsewhere” in English. It is a compound of altro, meaning “other” or “another,” and ove, an archaic form of dove, meaning “where.” Thus, altrove literally means “another where” or “somewhere else.” Altrove is …

The Italian word siccome  (seek-koh-mai) started being used in the second half of the 13th century, and is the union of two other Italian adverbs, sì and come. It must have become popular immediately, as even Dante and Petrarca used it! …

The Italian word ciononostante(cho-no-no-stahn-tai) is an adverb meaning “nevertheless,” “nonetheless,” or “despite that.” It is used to introduce a contrasting statement or an exception, similar to how “however” functions in English. It typically signals a shift in tone or outcome …

Accipicchia (atch-tchi-peek-eeah)  is a playful and colorful interjection in the Italian language, often used to express surprise, amazement, or mild frustration. It’s a term that embodies the expressive flair of the language and that can add a sense of lightheartedness …

The Italian word spavento (spah-vehn-toh) refers to a sudden and intense feeling of fear or fright. It is commonly used to describe an emotional reaction to an unexpected event or perceived danger, and can also imply shock or alarm in …

Today’s word, anzi (ants-ee) is an interesting and versatile term we use a lot in everyday conversations.  Etymologically, anzi originates from the Latin word ante, which means “before” or “in front of,” and was first attested in Italian during the …

The Italian word entrambi (en-tram-bee) translates to “both” in English and is used to refer to two people or things considered together.  At its heart is the cool idea of being together or sharing something, so we like to think …

Today’s word is parlantina(pahr-lahn-tee-nah) and, just like our title says, if you”have it” or are with someone who does, you are likely to never get bored.  This is because parlantina refers to a person’s ability to speak fluently, often with …

The Italian expression non ci sto (non tchi stoh) translates to “I don’t agree” or “I won’t stand for it” in English. It is often used to express firm disagreement or rejection of a proposal, situation, or idea.  The phrase …