If there’s one thing Italy is known for, aside from its delicious food and rich cultural heritage, of course, it’s the language. Beautifully melodic, this Latin-based language is currently the fourth most studied language in the world and is growing in popularity.
While many Italian words are similar in pronunciation and spelling to their English counterparts, there are also many fascinating words unique to Italian. Here are just some of the most unique and unusual Italian words that you’d be hard-pressed to find in your typical Italian textbook.
1. fluff
significance: fluff, something of little substance or value
fluff is a regional word from Lombardy, and although it is a very common term in northern Italy, it is not mentioned in many Italian dictionaries. It doesn’t have a direct English translation, but usually refers to cheap goods or things, or things of little to no value, or conversation and description without any substance, basis, or meaning.
This is all nonsense!
This talk is empty talk without substance!
2. Quarrel
significance: quarrel, quarrel, quarrel (literally beat “hit” + beak “beak”)
As the Italian say, this one is very evocative!It is reminiscent of two birds, possibly a pair of hens or roosters, in a quarrel For supremacy.
I got into an altercation with the cashier because he didn’t give me change.
I got into an altercation with the cashier because he didn’t give me change.
3. pretty
significance: kinda nice/beautiful
beautiful may be belo (beautiful) but it’s actually used to describe something that’s nice but far from extraordinary. What’s interesting about this word is that it can also be used ironically or humorously to mean the exact opposite of the traditionally accepted meaning.In other words, it’s a milder way of saying ugly (“kind of ugly”)!
How about this light in your room? – Yes, come on, she’s beautiful, let’s take her.
How about this light in your room? – Yes, that’s good, let’s get started.
4. Armchair
significance: Armchair/ Couch Potato/ Lazybones
literally chaise longue in reality armchairwhich you may have come across in your Italian textbook at some point, but did you know that it can also be used figuratively to describe someone who is lazy or Inactive?In that case the word comes from the verb hang out (Lazy). So if you see your dear old mom lounging in an armchair all day, feel free to call her chaise longue (or as we say in English, “couch potatoes”)!If you want to say the same about your dad, use the masculine armchair.
That armchair sleeps all day!
That lazybones only sleeps all day!
5. I’m excited
If you want to talk about “have fun” in Italian, the default term you’ll find in textbooks is have fun (Fun) or pleasure (pleasure / entertainment). But in spoken Italian, you may come across this word i got taller Colloquially referring to something that causes excitement or surprise.this is somewhat similar to the english word scold or laugh.
Trust me, it will be a real blast!
Believe me, it’s going to be hilarious/hilarious/laughing.
the original meaning of i got tallerwhich, by the way, is still used, is travel or Highlike the hallucinatory state after taking drugs.
6. Cross-eyed
I first came across this word while reading one of my articles favorite book seriesNeapolitan novel whose protagonist Elena describes her mother as Strabica (cross-eyed/cross-eyed). Granted, it’s not the most useful Italian word in the dictionary, but if you get the chance to use it, you’re sure to impress your Italian friends!
My mother has squinted eyes since she was born.
My mother has squinted eyes since she was born.
7. Depravity
fall out literally a combination of verbs fall (fall) and died (dead), so in other words, this means fall like dead (“fall like dead“). No, the word has nothing to do with heart attack or clumsiness. Rather, it describes the behavior of a brazen man who plays a lovesick puppy in order to woo a woman, not because he’s lovesick but because he’s looking for some action. expect to see it in phrase flirt with someone It means “to flirt with someone in a disgusting way”.
He flirted with my friend but she didn’t want to hear it.
He’s trying it on with my friend, but she’s not at all interested.
8. Schiappa
We can translate in a variety of ways funny italian words shappa – Dud, to crack, rinse, loser…the list is endless! In short, it’s a term used to describe someone who has absolutely no talent. While it’s often heard in sports contexts, it can also be used more generally to refer to anyone who’s considered a loser.In fact, it was chosen as a translation of “wimpy kid” in the book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Italian).
George is a douchebag, not just in tennis but in all sports.
George is a loser, not just in tennis but in every other sport.
9. On a whim
Whim Actually a word that is difficult to translate into English.On the one hand, it can refer to a Whim or want toor a person in impulse Just for fun or to satisfy one’s needs, desires or curiosity.On the other hand, it may mean treatas in the phrase “treat yourself to something,” especially when food is an issue.
I decided to prepare a vegetarian curry just to satisfy the whim of not eating meat.
I decided to make a vegetarian curry on a whim, just to see what it was like not to eat meat.
After eating the pizza, we had a whim: tiramisu!
After the pizza, we treated ourselves to tiramisu.
Regardless of the definition, it’s very unlikely that you’ll see this word in a standard Italian textbook!
10. Milk source
the first definition you will encounter milk source in the dictionary is scabies or scab (Uh!).On the surface it might not seem like a very useful word, but in its figurative sense disturb or nuisanceItalians use it all the time!
This task is really painful.
This homework is such a headache!
Granted, we could have covered more unique Italian words in this article, but hopefully we’ve provided you with a rich and varied vocabulary that you’ll come across as you dig deeper into the Italian-speaking world. which one is your favourite?
