Word of the Day
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 word palio (pah-lee-oh) originates from the Latin term pallium, meaning “cloak” or “covering.” Over time, pallium evolved in the Italian language to refer specifically to a banner or a cloth used in competitions and festivals. Historically, palio became associated …
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 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 …
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 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 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 …
The Italian expression in quanto (in kwan-toh) is quite fancy. Its history, as it is more often than not in Italian, starts with a Latin word, quantum, which means “how much” or “how many.” Historically, in quanto has been used …