Word of the Day

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 …

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”). …

Our special word this week is a tricky one because it can truly be interpreted in a million ways. Quandomai – or quando mai, as an adverbial locution– (koo-ahn-doh mah-ee) is formed by two separate time adverbs, quando (when) and mai (ever). We use it commonly, in all …

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 …

Primavera (pree-mah-vai-rah) is the first season of the year, spring. Primavera is, for nature and for everyone on Earth, a moment of rebirth. Days are longer, the air is full of scents and the landscape of colors: all it’s new again!  …

Today’s word is much needed these days. Buondì (boo-ohn-dee, with the accent on the -dee!) is a colloquial term used to say “good morning” or “good day.” It is the union of two other words, buon (“good”) and dì (an old-fashioned version of “day”), and …

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 …

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 …

Cianfrusaglia (tchan-froo-sah-lyee-ah) is today’s word. I don’t know if you have heard it, but in the heart of many, it’s a controversial term!  Because your cianfrusaglia may be, to me, a little treasure to cherish.  Indeed, cianfrusaglia is a useless object, something that has no …

Today’s word, invece (een-vai-tchai) is the union of two terms, in and vece and we started using it sometimes in the 18th century as a single word, but its use was common before, but as a locution, with examples found even in Dante’s work. In English, …