Friday, August 21, 2009

Friday's False Friend

fabric v. fabbrica

Clothes are made of fabric in English while a fabbrica in Italian refers to a factory, perhaps where they make the fabric. In fact, Italy's Lombardy and Tuscany regions are well-known for their high-quality fabric factories which have helped Milan become the fashion capital it is today. Without fine raw materials, design can only go so far.

Italy is fighting to keep its fabric factories in the country during a time in history when most factories are moving abroad to Eastern Europe or Asia.

Use the Italian words stoffa or tessuto when translating English's fabric.

Eng) I like the fabric used to make this dress.

It) Mi piace il tessuto usato per fare questo vestito.

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