The non-dictionary
Italian words, expressions and habits explained beyond their literal translation.
ALLORA
The key to understanding Italians.
TRANQUILLO
In Italy, tranquillo is a form of relationship maintenance.
UN CAFFÈ
For an Italian, asking for a coffee is only the beginning of the conversation.
FIGURATI
In many countries, when someone thanks you, a simple “you’re welcome” is enough.
ACCENDO L'ARIA
Italian summers are getting hotter and hotter. Yet every time someone reaches for the air-conditioning remote, a discussion begins.
LA MOKA
For an Italian, the moka is not a kitchen utensil. It is an inheritance.
LE PERSIANE
To many foreigners they are simply shutters. To Italians, persiane are a way of living in a house.
IL BIDET
To many foreigners it is a mystery. To Italians, its absence is inexplicable.
BOH
Try asking an Italian what boh really means.
STASERA GIOCA L'ITALIA
If there is one thing capable of bringing Italians together, it is the national football team.
IL CONGIUNTIVO
If you are studying Italian, you have probably already encountered the congiuntivo, the condizionale, consecutio temporum and a quantity of rules that seem to have been invented specifically to discourage you.
MAGARI
Of all the Italian words that confuse foreigners, magari is probably the most deceptive.
FACCIAMO DUE PASSI
If an Italian suggests facciamo due passi?, do not worry about the distance.
CI SENTIAMO
If an Italian ends a conversation with ci sentiamo, do not rush to check your phone.
PASSA A TROVARMI
If an Italian tells you:
VEDIAMO
If you ask an Italian a question and they answer:
CI ARRANGIAMO
Few expressions describe Italians better than ci arrangiamo.
C****!
If you study Italian from textbooks, they will tell you that cazzo is a vulgar word.
LO DICO SOLO A TE
If there is one phrase a foreigner should learn to take with a pinch of salt, it is this:
CI PENSANO I NONNI
A piece of the Italian welfare system.
LA SCARPETTA
The sincerest compliment you can give the person who cooked.
TOP
A very quick way of taking a position.
FA' COME SE FOSSI A CASA TUA
The way many Italians approach the rest of the world.
LASCIA PERDERE
One of Italians’ favourite ways of recognising one another.
MA VA LÀ!
An expression whose meaning changes completely with the tone.
SCENDE IN CAMPO
In Italy, people do not merely run for office. They take the field.