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Il tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsGATTOFrom Latin CATTUS ESSERE AGILE COME UN GATTO — to be as agile as a catESSERE IN 4 GATTI — To be 4 cats, to be very few people‘C’erano solo 4 gatti allo spettacolo’- ‘There were only a few ppl at the show’ESSERE DEL GATTO — to be ‘of the cat’, to be in a bad situation, problematic, almost hopeless‘Siamo del gatto’ - ‘We’re screwed’ESSERE COME IL GATTO E LA VOLPE...2023-08-1505 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsMOSCAFrom Latin MUSCA = FLYACCHIAPPARE LE MOSCHE - to catch flies, to do a useless job"Cosa devo fare?" "Prendi una mosca e falla ballare“ - "What can I do?’ ‘Get a fly and dance with her’”ESSERE NOIOSO/ FASTIDIOSO COME UNA MOSCA, to be annoying as a fly‘Giovanni è fastidioso come una mosca: ha sempre da criticare!" - "Giovanni is as annoying as a fly: he’s always criticizing’STARE A GUARDARE LE MOS...2023-07-2104 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsPESCEFrom Latin PISCISESSERE SANO COME UN PESCE - to be as healthy as a fishNUOTARE COME UN PESCE - to swim like a fish, to be a perfect swimmerNON ESSERE NE’ CARNE NE’ PESC - to be neither meat or fish, to be in between, to not have a specific flavor, personality, etcANDARE A FARE COMPAGNIA AI PESCI - to go keep company to the fish, to drownNON SAPERE CHE...2023-06-3005 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsCANEFrom Latin CANISFIGLIO DI UNA CANE!! Son of a dog!!VITA DA CANI, dogs’ life, bad lifeLavorare, vivere, mangiare, dormire DA CANI — work, live, eat, sleep badlyFA UN FREDDO CANE, it’s damn cold, literally a dog kind of coldUN MALE CANE! - A dog's pain‘La gamba mi fa un male cane’ ‘My leg hurts like crazy’COME UN CANE...2023-06-2305 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsTESTAFrom the late Latin ‘cranio, testa’, originally with the meaning of ‘shell, vase’, TESTA is the Italian for HEAD.La TESTA can be PICCOLA // GROSSA // A PERA // A PUNTA // BIANCA // PELATA // BIONDA // RICCIUTATESTA DURA — hard head, stubborn TESTA DI CAVOLO! TESTA DI C****! — CAULIFLOWER/ D*** HEAD!RIEMPIRE LA TESTA, To fill the head with something ‘Mi ha riempito la testa di stupidaggini’ —‘He filled my head with stupid things’DARE ALLA TESTA, to go to...2023-06-1704 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsPIEDEPIEDEFrom Latin PES, PEDIS, it’s the Italian for FOOT!UN PIEDE can be LUNGO// CORTO// STRETTO// LARGOAI PIEDI DEL MONTE // COLLE at the foot of the hill IN PIEDI = Standing, on your feetA PIEDI = by foot, walking‘Tutti in piedi!’ — ‘Everyone stand!’,‘Non mi reggo in piedi’ — ‘I can’t hold my self up’, said someone after one too many drinksIN PUNTA DI PIEDI — On ti...2023-06-0905 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsBOCCABOCCA From the Latin BUCCA = cheek, it then acquired the new meaning of MOUTHLa bocca, can be LARGA // STRETTA // REGOLARE //CHE ARRIVA AGLI ORECCHI, mouth that opens up to the earsCHE PARE UN FORNO, which looks like a oven SDENTATA, with no teethWe have expressions like:A BOCCA PIENA , with a mouth fullACQUA IN BOCCA! Water in your mouth — don’t spill the beans, don’t share this sec...2023-06-0208 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsGAMBAFrom Latin CAMBA, Greek cambè, which means curve, articulation. Le gambe (plural) can be LUNGHE // CORTE // SOTTILI // DRITTE // STORTE FORTI // DEBOLI // ROBUSTE ESSERE IN GAMBA, literally ‘to be in your legs’, to be in good health, strong, a very capable person!‘Conosci Francesca? E’ davvero una ragazza in gamba: non solo va all’ Università, ha anche due lavori!’ —‘Francesca is really smart: not only she goes to College, she also has two jobs!’PRENDERE SOTTO GAMBA, to let things under their...2023-05-2505 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsGIALLO & NEROGIALLO GIALLO = yellow, from French JAUNEGIALLO can be LIMONE (lemon)/ ORO (gold)/ ZAFFERANO (saffron) / CANARINO (canary).We also use GIALLO to talk about a LIBRO GIALLO or a FILM GIALLO (a yellow book or yellow movie) meaning a DETECTIVE STORY (mystery, crime). It comes from a long-running series of pulp crime-mystery novels known as 'Il Giallo Mondadori', named such for their bright yellow covers and the name of the publisher behind them, which directly led to the birth of the Giallo film genre....2023-04-1204 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsROSSOROSSOROSSO: a fantastic color.Il colore della passioneMATITA or PENNA ROSSA = Red pencil o penSEMAFORO ROSSO = Red traffic lightVINO ROSSO = Red wineROSSO come il FUOCO = Red as fireROSSO = PALLIDO (pale), ACCESO (bright), FIAMMEGGIANTE (flaming) ROSSO COME UN PEPERONE = as red as a bell pepper or come UN POMODORO = as a tomato.ROSSETTO = lipstickREGIONI ROSSE (red regions)n and PARTITI ROSSI (red parties) to indicate their left, far-left, communist affiliation...2023-04-0503 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsBIANCOBIANCOFrom the German BLANK (connected with the word BLANK in English) = white, untouched, blank.BIANCO COME LA NEVEBIANCO COME IL LATTE BIANCO COME UN CENCIO, as white as a rug MOSCA BIANCA, white flyVOCE BIANCA// VOCI BIANCHE, kids voices, falsettosUNA SETTIMANA BIANCA, white week literally, is a skiing weekDARE CARTA BIANCA, to give a white card, to give somebody full freedom to operate as they likeBIANCHERIA, lin...2023-03-2304 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsVERDEVERDEFrom the Latin VIRIDIS, from the root of VIRERE = to be vigorous (of plants)Think about the adjective VIRILE in relation with strengthWhat can be VERDE?IL SEMAFORO = green traffic lightGLI OCCHI = the eyesVERDE DI PAURA = green of fearVERDE DI RABBIA O BILE = green of anger or bileVERDE D’ INVIDIA = envy greenESSERE AL VERDE or RESTARE AL VERDE = to end up with no...2023-03-1403 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsVIAVIA VIA (V-I-A), from Latin VIA, coming from the verb VEHERE, to transport. VIA is the Italian for the word STREET, or WAY. That’s the same root of WAY and the two words have, in fact, a lot of common uses.VIA (or VIALE, boulevard, when the street is bigger) is the way we call our streets. If you’ve ever been to Italy, you have read streets names like VIA NAZIONALEVIA TORNABUONIVIA DEL...2023-02-2103 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsPIAZZAPIAZZAFrom the Latin PLATEA = wide street, from greek PLATEIA = PLATUS = wide LETTO A DUE PIAZZE, a queen or king bed, a bed for twoNON URLARE! NON SEI IN PIAZZA! Don’t yell, you’re not in piazza!! NON VOGLIO METTERE I MIEI PROBLEMI IN PIAZZA, I don’t want to put my problems out on the piazza, I don’t want to share them publiclySCENDERE IN PIAZZA, to go down on the streets, to take the streetsPARLARE ALLE PIAZZE, to talk with t...2023-02-1403 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsBOTTEGAFrom greek APOTHEKE = storage,warehouseBOTTEGA DI MERCIAIO, sewing goods, DI FERRAMENTA, hardware, FORNAIO, bakerBOTTEGA DI MICHELANGELO, or BOTTEGA DI DONATELLO, del BERNINI, and all the other big ones. DI BOTTEGA, a piece, an artwork that wasn’t probably made by the main artist himself but by his students.CHIUDERE LA BOTTEGA, closing the business , HO CHIUSO BOTTEGA ALLA 6, I cose the shop at 6ESSERE USCIO A BOTTEGA, To live where you workESSERE CASA E BOTTEGA, to not get distr...2023-02-0703 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsMARCIAPIEDE & SEMAFOROMARCIAPIEDE From French MARCHER= to walk and PED = foot STARE SUL MARCIAPIEDE, to be on the sidewalk), CAMMINARE sul marciapiede, to walk on the sidewalkMARCIAPIEDE STRETTO, narrow or LARGO, bigBATTERE IL MARCIAPIEDE, literally meaning to beat the sidewalk, exercising prostitution.SEMAFOROFrom the greek SEMA= sign, signal and FERO= port. LE PERSONE IRRESPONSABILI PASSANO CON IL SEMAFORO ROSSO, irresponsible people pass with a red lightANDIAMO! È SCATTATO IL (SEMAFORO) VERDE! Let’s go, t...2023-01-3103 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsACQUAACQUAFrom the Latin AQUA = waterACQUA pura, pure // dolce, sweet water (fresh water)// salata, salt water // limpida, clear // torbida, murkyACQUA A CATINELLE, basin/washbowls of waters, for when it’s raining profusely L’ACQUA VIENE A DIROTTO, another way to say that the rain is pouringPRENDERE L’ACQUA, ieri ho preso l’acqua mentre andavo a lavoro, I got water// I got rain while I was going to work CIELO A PECORELLE, ACQUA A CA...2023-01-2502 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsFUOCOFUOCOFrom Latin FOCUS = fire, flameMETTERE A FUOCO, to focus, in photography but also in everyday life NON RIESCO A METTERE A FUOCO, I can’t focus, concentrate AVERE LE MANI/FACCIA/GAMBE A FUOCO, to have hands, face etc on fire, very hotMETTERE TROPPA CARNE AL FUOCO, to put too much meat on the fire, bite off more than you can chew SETTIMANA DI FUOCO, usuale used to define a very hectic weekVIGILI DEL FUOCO, our b...2023-01-1303 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsTERRATERRAFrom Latin TERRA = dry part, as opposed to water part.Earth, world, as a globe, but also ground, landCADERE PER TERRA// MI È CADUTO IL CELLULARE PER TERRA, I dropped the phone on the groundBUTTARE A TERRA, to throw in the groundSDRAIARSI PER TERRA , to lay down on the groundESSERE A TERRA, to feel down, to have a low morale OGGI SONO A TERRA, Today I feel downTERRA NATALE, motherland TERRA DI NESSUNO, no ma...2023-01-0303 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsARIAARIA from the greek AER = AIR. L’ ARIA can be fine (thin) // leggera (light) // grave, pesante (heavy) // calda o fredda // tiepida (warm) or gelata (freezing)È BELLO MANGIARE ALL’ ARIA APERTA , It’s great to eat open air, outsideODDIO, QUI MANCA L’ARIA, Oh God, the air is missing here! There’s no airorNON C’È UN FILO D’ARIA , there’s not even a strand of airCHIUDI LA PORTA, C’È CORRENTE D’ARIA , close the door...2022-12-2703 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsVIAGGIOVIAGGIOfrom the Latin VIATICUM (travel supply), then TRIP, TRAVEL.È STATO IL VIAGGIO PIÙ BELLO DELLA MIA VITA, it was the best trip of my lifeSIAMO IN VIAGGIO, we are en route/travelingBUON VIAGGIO! Have a great trip!VIAGGIO DI NOZZE, HoneymoonFARE UN VIAGGIO A VUOTO, to do a trip for nothingSE IL RISTORANTE È GIÀ CHIUSO QUANDO ARRIVIAMO, AVREMO FATTO UN VIAGGIO A VUOTO, If the restaurant is closed when we get there, we’ll have d...2022-12-2002 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsESTATEESTATEfrom Latin AESTAS, -ATIS, from AESTUS = HEAT.DOVE VAI QUEST’ESTATE? QUEST’ESTATE VADO IN BRASILE! Where are you going this Summer? Im going to Brazil AMO L’ESTATE! I love summer!L’ESTATE NON DURA MAI ABBASTANZA, Summer never lasts enough ESTATE can be AFOSA, (SULTRY) PIOVOSA (RAINY), TORRIDA (SCORCHING), CALDA (HOT)I got a few proverbs for you guys SE NON C’È INVERNO NON C’È ESTATE, there’s no summer without winterCATTIVO INVERNO F...2022-12-1602 min
Il tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsMAREMARE from Latin MARE = SEA QUEST’ANNO PASSIAMO L’ESTATE AL MARE, this year we’ll spend the summer by the sea (beach)CI SONO TANTI PESCI NEL MARE, there are many fish in the seaADORO L’ODORE DEL MARE, I love the smell of the seabut alsoUN MARE DI SCARPE , a sea of shoes, a lot of shoesTI VOGLIO UN MARE DI BENE, I love you a lotC’È UN MARE DI GENTE OGGI IN...2022-11-2903 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsSPIAGGIA & SABBIASABBIA from Latin SABULUM = SANDExamples:IL BAMBINO COSTRUISCE CASTELLI DI SABBIA the kid is building sand castlesMI SENTO UN GRANELLO DI SABBIA NEL DESERTO, I feel like a grain of sand in the desert QUELLA PROMESSA È STATA SCRITTA SULLA SABBIA, that promise was written in the sandVerb ‘INSABBIARE’, literally to COVER UP WITH SANDLA POLIZIA HA INSABBIATO LE PROVE, Police covered up the evidence IL GOVERNO HA INSABBIATO LO SCANDALO, the government coved up the sc...2022-11-2302 minIl tempo di un Caffe' - Thoughts on Italian WordsIl tempo di un caffè - IntroductionIntroducing 'Il tempo di un caffè - Thoughts on Italian Words' A fast paced 3 minutes morning chat to deepen your knowledge of Italian and satisfy your Italian curiosity.All levels can enjoy it!2022-11-2301 min