Becoming Italian Word by Word

How to Sound More Italian in the Italian Language

Ten Untranslatable Italian Words

Italian has an alternative to the standard trio of yes, no and maybe (si, no e forse): boh! I’ve never seen it in a dictionary, but I heard it everywhere in Florence, often in response to what I thought was a straightforward question. Yet when I tried dropping a “boh” into a casual conversation, an American living in Italy suggested that I probably meant “beh.”

“Boh” and “beh” are just two of the untranslatable words that make the Italian of native speakers such a zesty, mouth-watering linguistic sauce. By comparison, my Italian seems as bland as stewed tomatoes. The best way to spice it up, my Italian friends advise, is with some of these only-in=Italian expressions: 

1. Ahimè. “Alas!” A sigh that says it all.

2. Allora!  This word serves as a way to grab someone’s attention or prompt a response or reaction, as in “Allora, che fai?” (Hey, what are you doing?) or “Allora, andiamo!” (Well, let’s get going!).

3. Beh! (or Be’!). Just like “well," "then," "so" or "the fact is,” beh reinforces a sense of reluctance or hesitation in expressing a different opinion. If you comment that Angelina Jolie is a terrific actress, an Italian might say, “Beh, è senz’altro bellissima, ma a me non sembra mica così brava” (Well, she’s certainly beautiful, but to me she doesn’t seem all that good).

4. Boh! (or Bo!). More or less the equivalent of “who knows," "no idea" or "dunno," boh can express indifference, doubt, confusion, disbelief, scorn or contempt, depending on the situation and the intonation.

5. Dunque. At the beginning of a sentence, dunque serves as a way of buying time and filling the silence when you don’t know what to say or need a moment to collect your thoughts. However, in a phrase like “Penso, dunque sono” (I think, therefore I am), it takes on a completely different meaning.

6. Già. As an adverb, già means "already," "once" or "formerly."  As an exclamation, “Già!” takes on the energy of “Yes, of course!” Tone down the enthusiasm, and it can express disappointment, irony or distance. Ask an Italian if he’s heard the latest news about the economy, and he may wearily declare, “Già.”

7. Infatti. This sounds like “in fact” and means the same, as in "Marco ama Sabina alla follia, infatti, proprio ieri, le ha chiesto di sposarlo." (Marco loves Sabina like crazy; in fact, just yesterday he asked her to marry him.)

8. Insomma! “Insomma, basta! Smettetela di urlare!” I’ve heard exasperated mothers snap. "Enough already! Stop screaming!"  In addition to irritation or impatience, insomma serves as a laconic reply to something you don’t agree with or like. If you ask a friend if he had a good time at his brother’s party and he responds, “Insomma…” he's telling you, “Not really.”

9. Mah! This singular syllable gives voice to doubt, uncertainty, disapproval, disbelief or perplexity. Use it when you might say "we’ll see" or "I’m not sure about that."  

10. Mica. This adverb generally means “not at all” or “not in the least,” as in “Questa pizza non è mica male!” (This pizza is not bad at all!). If you’re asking a question, perhaps about some lost keys, you might use mica in another sense: “Hai mica visto le mie chiavi?” (Have you by any chance seen my keys?)

Do all these expressions make you feel uncomfortable, irritated or impatient? Well, just say “Phooey!” the way an Italian might: Uffa!

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World’s Most Enchanting Language.

Inside Italy's Convents, Monasteries and Abbeys

My thanks to Silvia Bascelli for this guest blog on a largely unknown aspect of Italy's culture and history:

monachesimo 

monasticism 

 by Silvia Bascelli

The panorama of Italian architecture, both in cities and in the countryside, includes convents, monasteries, abbeys and charter houses (i conventi, i monasteri, le abbazie e le certose). These are the residences of people who live in religious communities: friars, monks and nuns (i frati, i monaci e le suore), organized into "orders” (ordini). The phenomenon, which came to be called monasticism (monachesimo), was widespread both in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Monasticism emerged around 500 AD. Driven by a strong vocation (una forte vocazione), some of the faithful separated from the rest of the community to live a purer life (vivere una vita più  pura) and to get closer to God (avvicinarsi a Dio). This was also a kind of protest against the corruption (la corruzione) of the customs of the time and of the church itself.

Created by men and women of strong personality and religiosity (forte personalità e religiosità), each order lived under its "rule” (regola), that is, the precepts established by the founder. All the rules stipulated, among other obligations, that of living in chastity (vivere in castità).

Some orders, such as the Carthusians, led a contemplative life (vita contemplativa), almost entirely devoted to prayer (la preghiera) and work, normally agricultural (il lavoro, normalmente agricolo).One of the best known, perhaps also the first (forse il primo), is the order of Benedictines, founded by St. Benedict. Its Latin motto was "Ora et labora” '(Pray and work). The famous abbey of Montecassino, built by Saint Benedict, was destroyed by bombs during the Second World and then rebuilt exactly as before. 

The monastic institutions (istituzioni monastiche), especially those of the Benedictines, proved invaluable during the barbarian invasions (le invasioni barbariche), when they managed to preserve civilization and culture (la civiltà e la cultura).  Handwriting (la scrittura) itself had all but disappeared. Only thanks to the patient work of monastic scribes (amanuensi) was writing saved and newly diffused in society.

The monastic libraries also saved thousands of ancient books with all of the knowledge that had been transmitted (tutto il sapere che ci era stato trasmesso) in their pages. The popular novel, The Name of the Rose (Il nome della rosa), was set in one of these monasteries.

Today vocations (le vocazioni) have declined or almost disappeared (quasi scomparse) in Western nations, and in Italy as elsewhere there are very many empty convents (conventi vuoti). This is especially true in Rome, where the presence of the pope (la presenza del papa) had led to the building of many religious residences. Many empty convents and monasteries have been converted into residential hotels (strutture alberghiere). As a result, it is possible to find in Rome accomodations at reduced price (prezzi ridotti). The small rooms of the friars and sisters are certainly less luxurious (meno lussuose) than those in hotels, but they are clean (pulite), cost less (costano meno) and, above all. are almost always in the center of the city (nel centro della città).

The abandoned abbeys and chart houses located in the countryside have often been converted into museums that are open to the public (al pubblico). One of the greatest in the world (più grandi del mondo) is la Certosa di Padula. If you can’t visit it personally, check out this link. 

A special treat for visitors to some monasteries is the  heavenly sound of monks chanting:

 

Renewing the Italian Language

Nuove parole per una nuova Italia

New Words for a New Italy

It’s a new day in Italy, the end of an era (la fine di un’era) and the beginning of the “dopoSilvio” (after Silvio). On November 12, which some have dubbed La Festa della Liberazione (the feast of the Liberation), headlines declared “Addio” (goodbye). Crowds in the street, who had jeered Berlusconi as a buffone (clown) along with various unprintable epithets, began to chant “Futuro!” (Future!).

“Bisogna individuare un universo semantico nuovo” (It’s necessary to identify a new semantic universe), a top advertising expert commented. “Basta con il bunga bunga e riscopriamo l'orgoglio nazionale.” (Enough with the "bunga bunga" -- a term associated with Berlusconi's serial sex scandals -- and let’s rediscover the national pride.)

There is ”una straordinaria voglia di rinnovare il linguaggio” (an extraordinary wish to renew the language), observed La Repubblica, a major Italian newspaper.  In order to trovare un parola chiave per il nuovo tempo (find a key word for the new time), it has created a national poll (sondaggio) that offers readers the following possibilities:

*Rimontiamo –- an anagram of the Prime Minister Mario Monti’s name, it can translates as “Let’s move up,” “Let’s climb again” or “Let’s catch up.”

*Possiamo farcela –- We can do it

*Mai più -- Never again

*Fiducia nel Paese, fiducia negli altri -- trust in the country, trust in others

*Riscatto –- liberation, redemption

*Ricominciamo –- Let’s begin again, let’s start afresh

*Adesso si riparte –- Now we start again

*Rialziamo l'Italia — Let’s lift Italy up again

*Riprendiamoci l'ottimismo -- Let’s take back optimism

*E adesso, Italia -- And now, Italy

*Un Paese dove restare –- a country to stay in

*Il Paese dei talenti -- a country of talents

*Il tempo della fiducia e della competenza -- the time of trust and of competence

*Il tempo dell'essere dopo gli anni dell'apparire –- the time of being after the years of seeming

*Un Paese da cui non fuggire –- a country not to run away from

*Diventare un Paese vero –- becoming a true country

*Credibilità e verità –- credibility and truth

*Fiducia nel futuro –- trust in the future

*Dignità –- dignity

*Rigore e giustizia sociale –- rigor and social justice

*Più uguali –- more equal

*Equità sociale e crescita –- social equity and growth

*Siamo tutti europei –- We are all European

*L’Italia è una e indivisibile –- Italy is one and indivisible.

More than 55,000 people have responded to this poll. You can add your opinion here. The video below conveys the mix of skepticism and hope that many Italians feel for their povera patria (poor fatherland). “Non cambierà (it will not change),” goes the refrain,  “Forse cambierà” (Perhaps it will change.)

 

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World’s Most Enchanting Language.

Money Talks in the Italian Language

il denaro, i soldi

money

With Italy’s financial crisis (crisi finanziaria) rattling money markets (mercati monetari) around the world, everyone is talking about il denaro. Povera Italia (poor Italy), with a huge national debt (debito pubblico). is desperately short of money (a corto di denaro). If unable to pay off the debt (estinguere il debito), the country could end up senza un soldo (without a dime)--or squattrinato (penniless).

The wealthy (ricchi or facoltosi danarosi) still seem to be rolling in money (nuotare nell’oro, literally swimming in gold). But almost everyone else is looking for ways to make money (fare soldi) and earn more “dough” (quattrini) to get out of debt (tappare un buco, or fill up a hole). Sometimes debtors (debitori)  are robbing Peter to pay Paul (fare un debito per pagarne un altro, or incurring one debt to pay off another).

Being in debt (avere un debito) is hardly unusual. Many Americans have a sizable mortgage debt (mutuo ipotecario or mutuo); most of us run up some sort of petty debt (debituccio) at times.  As Italy has discovered, getting out of debt (uscire dal debito) can be very difficult, especially when banks don’t want to lend money (prestare denaro) or one has to pay through the nose (pagare profumatamente or fragrantly) for a loan.

Usury (usura), lending at exorbitant rates, is nothing new. Centuries ago Italians coined the word strozzinaggio for such profiteering and dubbed a usurer a strozzino—both terms derived from “strozzare” for strangle or choke. In his Divine Comedy, Dante damned usurers to the seventh circle of hell, lower than murderers.

Some colorful proverbs provide other Italian perspectives on wealth and its pursuit:

*”Denaro e santità metà della metà.” Money and holiness, half of half. Statements regarding money and saintliness tend to be exaggerated, so take them with a grain of salt.

*“Chi ha mangia, chi non ha, s’arrangia." Who’s got it (money is implied ) eats. Who doesn’t makes do.  

*“Senza lilleri ‘un si lallera.” This Tuscan dialect saying is hard to translate, but basically means “no deeds without dings,” or nothing happens without money.

*“I quattrini mandan l’acqua all’insù.” Money sends water upwards--or can do the impossible.

*“Il denaro apre tutte le porte.” Money opens all doors—similar to the English “money talks.”

*“L’ultimo vestito ce lo fanno senza tasche.” The last suit (dress) is made without pockets. So even if you accumulate a fortune, you can’t take it with out.

Remember too that money can’t buy happiness. Or as the Italians say, “I soldi non fanno la felicità” (money doesn’t make happiness).

Words and Expressions

 pagare in contanti -– to pay in cash

quattro soldi –- used to refer to something cheap, worth only "two bits"

non valere un soldo bucato, non valere niente -- not to be worth a penny

Il tempo è denaro –- Time is money.

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World’s Most Enchanting Language.

Click below for an ode to what “oro” (gold) can buy:

The Psychology of Italian Food

Una psicologa in cucina

A Psychologist in the Kitchen

When I met Carla Nuti years ago in Rome, I knew a smattering of Italian; she spoke no English. So we combined Italy’s two culinary arts: she cooked mouth-watering renditions of such classics as Roman-style gnocchi and artichokes, tagliatelle in meat sauce, veal scaloppine, and Neapolitan pastries. At her tavola imbandita (elegant table), I learned to eat like an Italian—not just with one's mouth, but with eyes and nose, heart and soul, brain and mind.

Carla has assembled a collection of her recipes in a new book, Una psicologa in cucina (A Psychologist in the Kitchen), available in Italian from Sovera Edizioni online and in bookstores in Italy. As a trained therapist, Carla offers insights into gli aspetti psicologici (the psychological aspects) of preparing and enjoying food, including:

*Confortante (comforting). When we are stressed or in a bad mood, we turn to un cibo gratificante (a gratifying food) like pasta that, beyond evoking pleasant memories, is ricco di carboidrati (rich in carbohydrates), a good source of serotonina, (serotonin), the neurotransmitter known as the “molecola della felicità’” (molecule of happiness).

*Simbolico (symbolic): Certain foods, based on their contesti socio-culturali (sociocultural contexts), are associated with particular emotions and experiences: il latte (milk) with il calore materno (maternal warmth), for example, and il cioccolato (chocolate) with romanticismo, lusso e ricompensa (romance, luxury and reward).

*Edonistico (hedonist): Eating involves il piacere di tutti i nostri sensi (the pleasure of all our senses). Even something as simple as un mandarino (a Mandarin orange) delights us with il suo colore (its color), the touch of la buccia (the rind) and the scent of il suo profumo (its perfume).

*Preferenziale (preferential): Men tend to favor sapori forti e decisi (strong and decisive flavors); women, foods that are soffici, delicati, facilmente digeribili, gradevoli alla vista e poco calorici (soft, delicate, easily digestible, pleasing to the eye and low in calories).

*Sessuale (sexual): Cibo e amore (food and love) have much in common, including l’appagamento di un desiderio (the satisfaction of a desire), la produzione di piacere (the production of pleasure) and la sopravvivenza della specie (the survival of the species).

*Afrodisiaco (aphrodisiac): Fiumi di parole (rivers of words) have been written to describe the provocative effects of certain foods, but nulla di scientifico (nothing scientific) has been proven. However, enjoying food has indirect effects by stimulating our creatività (creativity), volontà di sperimentarsi (wish to experiment) and desiderio di fare nuove esperienze (desire to have new experiences).

Just as she does at her table, Carla spices up every dish with bits of storia e curiosità (history and curiosity. For instance, we learn that Christopher Columbus brought back i fagioli bianchi (white beans) from the Americas and that the word ravioli comes from la famiglia Ravioli (the Ravioli family), proprietors of a 12th-century inn in Liguria that served a dish made of erbe, uova e formaggio di pecora (herbs, eggs and sheep cheese).

Carla’s final words to her readers are an exhortation: Scoperchiate le pentole e…liberate i vostri sogni. (Take the lids off your pots – and liberate your dreams!) But be forewarned: Carla’s dishes are so irresistible that they can prendere qualcuno per la gola (literally, take someone by the throat). 

Words and Expressions

cucinare –- to cook

libro di cucina –- cookbook

cucina casalinga -– home cooking

affogare i dispiaceri nel cibo –- to drown one’s sorrows in food

essere goloso di dolci / avere un debole per i dolci –- to have a sweet tooth

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language. 

Give It Up for the Italian Language!

dare (dah-ray)

to give

“Dai!” (pronounced “die”), a young woman gasps when she hears a racy bit of gossip. “Dai!” an exasperated mother snaps at her rambunctious toddler. “Dai!” yells a fan watching a soccer match. “Ma dai!” protests a shopper when someone tries to cut in line.

”Dai” literally means "give"  (second person singular) but, depending on inflection, tone and volume, this small syllable can express irritation, incredulity, encouragement, impatience, tension, surprise or suspicion that someone is pulling your leg. In various contexts dai may translate into English as “Come on,” “Cut it out,” “No way!” or a sarcastic “As if!” “Ma dai!” is even stronger and more emphatic.

Italian has many other ways of giving. You might start the day by dare il buon giorno (saying good morning). If you’re a student, you might dare un esame (take a test). If you have a lot to do, you would darsi da fare (get busy). If visitors arrive, you would dare il benvenuto (give a welcome). Then you can dare ascolto (give a listen) to what they have to say. If you decide to dare una festa (throw a party), you’re likely to darsi alla passa gioia (have a blast).

“Dare” gives life (dare la vita) to a wide range of actions. You might dare un sospiro (give a sigh), dare assicurazione (give assurance or reassure), dare la colpa (give the fault or blame) or dare fuoco (set on fire). Some things may dare fastidio (annoy or bother) or make you dare in escandescenze (burst out in rage). Just don’t give up (darsi per vinto), take to drink (darsi al bere) or shoot yourself in the foot (darsi la zappa ai piedi).

You can dare una risposta (give an answer), dare un calcio (give a kick), dare i saluti (give regards)  or dare un passagio (give a lift). If a person catches your eye, he or she would dare nell’occhio (literally give in the eye). Annoying people can be said to dare sui nervi (give on the nerves). In this case you might dare dello stupido (call them stupid) or feel an urge to darle (beat them) “Darle di santa ragione” (give of holy reason) means to thrash the living daylights out of someone.

If you want to ask someone how old they think you are, you might say, “Quanti anni mi dai?” (How many years do you give me?) If a forty-year-old woman could pass for thirty, you might say that “le danno trent’anni” (they give her thirty years).

Is it better to give than receive (meglio dare che ricevere) in Italian?  The answer one friend gave was "può darsi” (literally it could give itself). In other words, perhaps. But don't worry if you haven't been giving in the past.  Chi ha dato ha dato, chi ha avuto ha avuto. (Who gave gave, who had had).  In othe words, what’s done is done.

Words and Expressions:

darla a bere –- to put one over someone

dare a credere –- to make believe

darsela a gambe / darsela a gambe levate –- cut and run, to go running off

darsi delle arie –- to put on airs

Dianne Hales is the author of LA BELLA LINGUA: My Love Affair with Italian, the World' Most Enchanting Language. 

Click below for a rock band's plea to "give me only a minute":