romance v. romanzo
Romance is when you are in love with a person and have a love affair. However Italian's word, romanzo, means a novel (which may or may not have some romance as part of the plot). Translate with una storia d'amore.
Eng) Some women come to Italy for romance.
It) Alcune donne vengono in Italia per vivere una storia d'amore.
Showing posts with label language lesson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label language lesson. Show all posts
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Friday's False Friend
confidence v. confidenza
Confidence is when you feel very good about a situation. Confidenza means sharing intimate thoughts with someone. Translate with fiducia when searching for the proper Italian word.
Eng) We have confidence that the system will change soon.
It) Noi abbiamo la fiducia che il sistema cambierà presto.
Confidence is when you feel very good about a situation. Confidenza means sharing intimate thoughts with someone. Translate with fiducia when searching for the proper Italian word.
Eng) We have confidence that the system will change soon.
It) Noi abbiamo la fiducia che il sistema cambierà presto.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Friday's False Friend
gross v. grosso
Gross, in our language, means 1. total or exclusive of deductions 2. glaringly obvious or 3. crude. However grosso, in Italian, means "big" so use 1. lordo 2. ovvio or 3. volgare when translating the word from English.
An example of definition 3:
Eng) Little boys like gross things and especially like to embarrass their female classmates with them.
It) Piaciono le cose volgari agli ragazzini e a loro piace sopratutto mettere in imbarazzo le loro compagne di classe con esse.
Gross, in our language, means 1. total or exclusive of deductions 2. glaringly obvious or 3. crude. However grosso, in Italian, means "big" so use 1. lordo 2. ovvio or 3. volgare when translating the word from English.
An example of definition 3:
Eng) Little boys like gross things and especially like to embarrass their female classmates with them.
It) Piaciono le cose volgari agli ragazzini e a loro piace sopratutto mettere in imbarazzo le loro compagne di classe con esse.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Friday's False Friend
THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOTHER OF ALL FALSE FRIENDS
preservatives v. preservativo
Preservatives help keep food from going sour or stale in English while the Italian word with only one letter that changes, the "e" to an "o", reveals a completely different meaning: a condom. So once you have finished your Thanksgiving turkey dinner and you want to talk about food quality and keeping food in good condition, remember not to bring the "sexy" false friend into the discussion! Use conservante for a better translation unless you want to turn red at the dinner table with your in-laws...
Eng) American bread usually has more preservatives than Italian.
It) Di solito, il pane americano ha più conservanti di quello italiano.
preservatives v. preservativo
Preservatives help keep food from going sour or stale in English while the Italian word with only one letter that changes, the "e" to an "o", reveals a completely different meaning: a condom. So once you have finished your Thanksgiving turkey dinner and you want to talk about food quality and keeping food in good condition, remember not to bring the "sexy" false friend into the discussion! Use conservante for a better translation unless you want to turn red at the dinner table with your in-laws...
Eng) American bread usually has more preservatives than Italian.
It) Di solito, il pane americano ha più conservanti di quello italiano.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday's False Friend
stranger v. straniero
We English-speakers use stranger to refer to someone we don't know. In Italian, straniero may look similar but the meaning is more specific: a foreigner. Translate the word with estraneo for a better solution.
Eng) "Don't talk to strangers," the mother said to her son.
It) "Non parlare con un estraneo, " dice la madre al suo figlio.
We English-speakers use stranger to refer to someone we don't know. In Italian, straniero may look similar but the meaning is more specific: a foreigner. Translate the word with estraneo for a better solution.
Eng) "Don't talk to strangers," the mother said to her son.
It) "Non parlare con un estraneo, " dice la madre al suo figlio.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday's False Friend
proper v. proprio
In English, proper most often means, "characterized by appropriateness," while the similar-looking word proprio from Italian actually primarily means "own" as in "your own." Use adatto or appropriato or corretto when translating from English in this case.
Eng) I never know the proper thing to say on special occasions.
It) Non so mai la cosa adatta/corretta da dire nei momenti speciali.
In English, proper most often means, "characterized by appropriateness," while the similar-looking word proprio from Italian actually primarily means "own" as in "your own." Use adatto or appropriato or corretto when translating from English in this case.
Eng) I never know the proper thing to say on special occasions.
It) Non so mai la cosa adatta/corretta da dire nei momenti speciali.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Friday's False Friend
noisy v. noioso
Noisy in English means sound that is loud, unpleasant, unexpected or undesired, however the similar word, noioso, in Italian means bored. Use rumoroso as the correct translation.
Eng) My first apartment in Padua was extremely noisy because it was several yards away from a hospital. It made my former New York apartment seem quite!
It) Il mio primo appartamento a Padova era estremamente rumoroso perché si trovava ad una centinaia di metri dall'ospedale. Ha fatto sembrare silenzioso il mio precedente appartamento di New York!
Noisy in English means sound that is loud, unpleasant, unexpected or undesired, however the similar word, noioso, in Italian means bored. Use rumoroso as the correct translation.
Eng) My first apartment in Padua was extremely noisy because it was several yards away from a hospital. It made my former New York apartment seem quite!
It) Il mio primo appartamento a Padova era estremamente rumoroso perché si trovava ad una centinaia di metri dall'ospedale. Ha fatto sembrare silenzioso il mio precedente appartamento di New York!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday's False Friend
possibly v. possibilmente
Our word possibly means that there is a chance that something is capable of happening, whereas the Italian possibilmente means "if possible", as in when you would like somone to do something for you. Although they are linked in meaning, they are not the proper fit as translations of each other.
For possibly, use forse in Italian:
Eng) I will possibly be going to the states next spring.
It) Forse andrò in USA la prossima primavera.
Our word possibly means that there is a chance that something is capable of happening, whereas the Italian possibilmente means "if possible", as in when you would like somone to do something for you. Although they are linked in meaning, they are not the proper fit as translations of each other.
For possibly, use forse in Italian:
Eng) I will possibly be going to the states next spring.
It) Forse andrò in USA la prossima primavera.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Friday's False Friend
casual v. casuale
When not at work, Americans love to dress casual. Dressing up can be a pain: heels, runs in your hose, tight ties around the neck. But the word casuale in Italian refers to something coincidental that happens, maybe happening to see a colleague at the local shopping centre on Sunday when you are wearing your grungiest jeans and no make-up.
Use the Italian words sportivo or informale when translating casual.
Eng) On Fridays we can dress casual at the office.
It) Il venerdì all'ufficio si può vestire in modo sportivo.
When not at work, Americans love to dress casual. Dressing up can be a pain: heels, runs in your hose, tight ties around the neck. But the word casuale in Italian refers to something coincidental that happens, maybe happening to see a colleague at the local shopping centre on Sunday when you are wearing your grungiest jeans and no make-up.
Use the Italian words sportivo or informale when translating casual.
Eng) On Fridays we can dress casual at the office.
It) Il venerdì all'ufficio si può vestire in modo sportivo.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Friday's False Friend
mess v. messa
In English, a mess is a disorderly, cluttered, and often dirty condition. In Italian, la messa is a public celebration of the Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church: our English word, Mass. No Italian would forgive you for associating her messa with a mess. That would border on offensive. Use the words confusione or casino when translating from English.
Eng) The construction of the new building across the street is causing a mess.
It) La costruzione del nouvo edificio dall'altra parte della strada crea della confusione.
In English, a mess is a disorderly, cluttered, and often dirty condition. In Italian, la messa is a public celebration of the Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church: our English word, Mass. No Italian would forgive you for associating her messa with a mess. That would border on offensive. Use the words confusione or casino when translating from English.
Eng) The construction of the new building across the street is causing a mess.
It) La costruzione del nouvo edificio dall'altra parte della strada crea della confusione.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Friday's False Friend
It's been a week solidly dedicated to language which finishes off with the weekly "false friends".
front v. fronte
The most common definition of front in English involves the forward part or surface of something, such as a building. In Italian, la fronte, refers to the upper part of the head, between your eyebrows and hairline - the forehead.
Fortunately another meaning of the words is shared between the two languages: as in a military front (il fronte militare). Since the second one is less used, pay attention when translating front. For the first definition mentioned in English, used the Italian word facciata or parte anteriore.
Also, the difference between the masculine (il) and feminine (la) fronte in Italian, changes the definition from the military association to the part of the head.
Most common use and false friend:
Eng) The front of the Sant Sophia's Church in Padua demonstrates the Romanesque style often found in medieval architecture.
It) La facciata della Chiesa di Santa Sofia a Padova dimostra lo stile romanico che si trova spesso in architettura medievale.
front v. fronte
The most common definition of front in English involves the forward part or surface of something, such as a building. In Italian, la fronte, refers to the upper part of the head, between your eyebrows and hairline - the forehead.
Fortunately another meaning of the words is shared between the two languages: as in a military front (il fronte militare). Since the second one is less used, pay attention when translating front. For the first definition mentioned in English, used the Italian word facciata or parte anteriore.
Also, the difference between the masculine (il) and feminine (la) fronte in Italian, changes the definition from the military association to the part of the head.
Most common use and false friend:
Eng) The front of the Sant Sophia's Church in Padua demonstrates the Romanesque style often found in medieval architecture.
It) La facciata della Chiesa di Santa Sofia a Padova dimostra lo stile romanico che si trova spesso in architettura medievale.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
A Word's Mistaken Identity
I was reading Flash Art's Italian edition for August-September 2009 and chanced upon a curious and mistaken explanation for the title of a project called "Travelogue" involving contemporary art in Capri.
Benedetta Bernasconi, the article's author, wrote, "Travelogue- titolo che unisce i due termini ingesi travel e blog - ..." (Travelogue - a title that combines the two English terms, travel and blog).
She obviously didn't do her homework and made too many assumptions when giving this explanation to readers. Travelogue is a word with a much longer history than blog. Does she even know the background of how we came to the contemporary term of blog? Probably not.
According to Wikipedia, blog comes from the term "weblog" which was originally used to indicate a kind of online diary which chronicles daily thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc. Along the way, someone played around with the word by dividing it into "we blog". From that, the contraction was born.
Blogging is not necessarily relevant to a travelogue. A blog could be a travelogue. But a travelogue could also be a lecture, video, personal diary or book about travels.
More appropriate is to perhaps reflect on the word "log" that has been around in the English language for centuries, coming from the Middle English word logge. Two appropriate definitions that could help explain Ms Bernasconi's division and understanding of a compound nature of the word "travelogue" are the following: 1) to enter in a record, as of a ship or an aircraft. 2) to travel (a specified distance, time, or speed): logged 30,000 air miles in April.
Yet in the end, travelogue, is plain and simple a singular and real word that exists with its own definition. No artists organization is to credit for putting together this word.
Let's all try to read our dictionaries and online sources a little better in the future, Ms Bernasconi.
Benedetta Bernasconi, the article's author, wrote, "Travelogue- titolo che unisce i due termini ingesi travel e blog - ..." (Travelogue - a title that combines the two English terms, travel and blog).
She obviously didn't do her homework and made too many assumptions when giving this explanation to readers. Travelogue is a word with a much longer history than blog. Does she even know the background of how we came to the contemporary term of blog? Probably not.
According to Wikipedia, blog comes from the term "weblog" which was originally used to indicate a kind of online diary which chronicles daily thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc. Along the way, someone played around with the word by dividing it into "we blog". From that, the contraction was born.
Blogging is not necessarily relevant to a travelogue. A blog could be a travelogue. But a travelogue could also be a lecture, video, personal diary or book about travels.
More appropriate is to perhaps reflect on the word "log" that has been around in the English language for centuries, coming from the Middle English word logge. Two appropriate definitions that could help explain Ms Bernasconi's division and understanding of a compound nature of the word "travelogue" are the following: 1) to enter in a record, as of a ship or an aircraft. 2) to travel (a specified distance, time, or speed): logged 30,000 air miles in April.
Yet in the end, travelogue, is plain and simple a singular and real word that exists with its own definition. No artists organization is to credit for putting together this word.
Let's all try to read our dictionaries and online sources a little better in the future, Ms Bernasconi.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Guest post: The Anglo-Italiano invasion
by Ainsley Okoro
The English aren’t naturals when it comes to foreign languages – which may be why they spent hundreds of years ensuring the rest of the world spoke theirs.
As a Brit of a certain age, therefore, the five years in which I’ve tried to master Italian have been far from plain sailing.
Howlers that still make me cringe? Asking a Forte dei Marmi waitress where to leave la mancia (the tip)…only to end up enquiring what to do about la minchia (a crude term for the male genitals). Even worse was the time I confused ho scoperto (“I discovered”) with ho scopato (“I f*****”). It was only our second meeting – but I hope my future mother-in-law guessed what I wanted to say.
But all that trouble to learn the world’s most romantic language…only to find that half of Italy now seems to speak “Anglo-Italiano”, an ugly mishmash of English and Italian.
Accommodation for your visit to Florence? If gli hotel are fully booked, lo staff may point you to un bed and breakfast among i top in the area. Staying longer than a few days? Why not try un residence or un loft with un big open-space and equipped with tutti i comfort?
And being near the town centre should make it ideal to fare lo shopping at un shopping centre, boasting a wide range of i fashion outlet and i discount shop.
Just as bad is the media, where you learn Il Premier Silvio Berlusconi has misused il suo private jet to carry le showgirl and i VIP to i party at his villa. He is also said to have bedded una sexy escort. It’s not the first time il tycoon has committed un gaffe and the scandal has damaged il feeling between him and voters. Now he grumbles about il suo privacy and lo stress.
Following il summit di G8 in Italy – with altri leader such as Barack Obama and le first ladies – Berlusconi called un meeting of his cabinet to tie up un budget. But a journalist has un scoop – during briefing, Berlusconi blamed Il Ministro del Welfare for the deficit hitting un record.
But the worst offenders are beauty and gossip magazines: Madonna non è piu single. She’s found un nuovo boyfriend and she and il suo partner have been photographed in un resort. Fancy un po’ di restyling, Signora? Learn all about il beauty, gli accessory-must and i color this season – sono black and white. And il new look is un paio di jeans with un T-shirt extra large.
Elsewhere, una showgirl from un reality show is drinking i cocktail in un bar, before indulging in a spot of il clubbing then going home with un pop star from un boyband.
Surely Italian has enough words of its own that do the job just as well – velina rather than showgirl, spuntino instead of snack, il fine settimana, not weekend.
Little surprise that in 2008 the prestigious Dante Alighieri Society announced a campaign to halt the use of English in Italian. It’s going to be a tough task – Anglo-Italiano is now il nuovo trend…
*********************************************
Ainsley Okoro works for the property for sale in Italy website Homes and Villas Abroad.com and specialises in Calabria property and Tuscany property
The English aren’t naturals when it comes to foreign languages – which may be why they spent hundreds of years ensuring the rest of the world spoke theirs.
As a Brit of a certain age, therefore, the five years in which I’ve tried to master Italian have been far from plain sailing.
Howlers that still make me cringe? Asking a Forte dei Marmi waitress where to leave la mancia (the tip)…only to end up enquiring what to do about la minchia (a crude term for the male genitals). Even worse was the time I confused ho scoperto (“I discovered”) with ho scopato (“I f*****”). It was only our second meeting – but I hope my future mother-in-law guessed what I wanted to say.
But all that trouble to learn the world’s most romantic language…only to find that half of Italy now seems to speak “Anglo-Italiano”, an ugly mishmash of English and Italian.
Accommodation for your visit to Florence? If gli hotel are fully booked, lo staff may point you to un bed and breakfast among i top in the area. Staying longer than a few days? Why not try un residence or un loft with un big open-space and equipped with tutti i comfort?
And being near the town centre should make it ideal to fare lo shopping at un shopping centre, boasting a wide range of i fashion outlet and i discount shop.
Just as bad is the media, where you learn Il Premier Silvio Berlusconi has misused il suo private jet to carry le showgirl and i VIP to i party at his villa. He is also said to have bedded una sexy escort. It’s not the first time il tycoon has committed un gaffe and the scandal has damaged il feeling between him and voters. Now he grumbles about il suo privacy and lo stress.
Following il summit di G8 in Italy – with altri leader such as Barack Obama and le first ladies – Berlusconi called un meeting of his cabinet to tie up un budget. But a journalist has un scoop – during briefing, Berlusconi blamed Il Ministro del Welfare for the deficit hitting un record.
But the worst offenders are beauty and gossip magazines: Madonna non è piu single. She’s found un nuovo boyfriend and she and il suo partner have been photographed in un resort. Fancy un po’ di restyling, Signora? Learn all about il beauty, gli accessory-must and i color this season – sono black and white. And il new look is un paio di jeans with un T-shirt extra large.
Elsewhere, una showgirl from un reality show is drinking i cocktail in un bar, before indulging in a spot of il clubbing then going home with un pop star from un boyband.
Surely Italian has enough words of its own that do the job just as well – velina rather than showgirl, spuntino instead of snack, il fine settimana, not weekend.
Little surprise that in 2008 the prestigious Dante Alighieri Society announced a campaign to halt the use of English in Italian. It’s going to be a tough task – Anglo-Italiano is now il nuovo trend…
*********************************************
Ainsley Okoro works for the property for sale in Italy website Homes and Villas Abroad.com and specialises in Calabria property and Tuscany property
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday's False Friend
magazine v. magazzino
We like to read lots of magazines in the US. I grew up in a household that had about 15 titles delivered weekly or monthly. The word magazine can easily be mixed up with the Italian magazzino, which means warehouse. After printing, the magazines might stay in a magazzino before being sent to subscribers and newstands. Use the Italian word rivista to translate magazine.
Eng) A new Italian edition of 'Wired' magazine was launched this year.
It) Una nuova edizione italiana della rivista 'Wired' è uscita quest'anno.
We like to read lots of magazines in the US. I grew up in a household that had about 15 titles delivered weekly or monthly. The word magazine can easily be mixed up with the Italian magazzino, which means warehouse. After printing, the magazines might stay in a magazzino before being sent to subscribers and newstands. Use the Italian word rivista to translate magazine.
Eng) A new Italian edition of 'Wired' magazine was launched this year.
It) Una nuova edizione italiana della rivista 'Wired' è uscita quest'anno.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday's False Friend
taste v. tasto
Taste is one of the most powerful senses and we love to use it abundantly when we live and visit Italy. But the similar word in Italian, tasto, refers to a key on a keyboard, many of which I am using to create this post. Translate taste into gusto for best results.
Eng) Wine has a different taste based on the region where it is produced.
It) Il vino ha un gusto diverso in base alla regione dove viene prodotto.
Taste is one of the most powerful senses and we love to use it abundantly when we live and visit Italy. But the similar word in Italian, tasto, refers to a key on a keyboard, many of which I am using to create this post. Translate taste into gusto for best results.
Eng) Wine has a different taste based on the region where it is produced.
It) Il vino ha un gusto diverso in base alla regione dove viene prodotto.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Friday's False Friend
eventually v. eventualmente
Eventually means "in the end" for English speakers while a similar word, eventualmente, is a way to express the idea of "possibly" for Italians. Use the Italian words "alla fine" when you would like to convey the English meaning.
Eng) I eventually got back to writing my blog after spending a week being a tour guide for my father.
It) Alla fine sono tornata a scrivere il mio blog dopo aver passato una settimana in cui ho fatto la guida turistica per il mio padre.
Eventually means "in the end" for English speakers while a similar word, eventualmente, is a way to express the idea of "possibly" for Italians. Use the Italian words "alla fine" when you would like to convey the English meaning.
Eng) I eventually got back to writing my blog after spending a week being a tour guide for my father.
It) Alla fine sono tornata a scrivere il mio blog dopo aver passato una settimana in cui ho fatto la guida turistica per il mio padre.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Friday's False Friend
college v. collegio
It's back-to-school season. Are the dedicated sales on in USA? College students have hit the books and younger pupils are doing the same. Be careful about how you use the English term college because, for us, it refers to university. In Italian, a similar word, collegio means boarding school or the on-campus lodging provided to our university students.
Think plain "university" when you want to say college: università.
Eng) My son started college last week.
It) Il mio figlio ha cominciato l'università la settimana scorsa.
It's back-to-school season. Are the dedicated sales on in USA? College students have hit the books and younger pupils are doing the same. Be careful about how you use the English term college because, for us, it refers to university. In Italian, a similar word, collegio means boarding school or the on-campus lodging provided to our university students.
Think plain "university" when you want to say college: università.
Eng) My son started college last week.
It) Il mio figlio ha cominciato l'università la settimana scorsa.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Friday's False Friend
parent v. parente
Your parents are your mother and father, if we don't need to count new-entries from divorced and remarried situations, but the Italian word parenti (pl. of parente) widens the field to family members in general, or relatives, in English. Use the Italian word genitore when referring to a parent.
Eng) I have a parent who lives in London.
It) Ho un genitore che vive a Londra.
Your parents are your mother and father, if we don't need to count new-entries from divorced and remarried situations, but the Italian word parenti (pl. of parente) widens the field to family members in general, or relatives, in English. Use the Italian word genitore when referring to a parent.
Eng) I have a parent who lives in London.
It) Ho un genitore che vive a Londra.
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.
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.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Friday's False Friend
camera v. camera
I love this false friend because the one word reveals the origins of the other. In English, we use a camera to take a picture, digitally nowadays, but also with film. But in Italian, camera means room, or better yet, bedroom. What's fantastic is that the English word's action was originally performed in a box or dark room and today's photography students usually have to experiment at least once in their life with the "camera oscura" technique.
Use macchina fotografica as the correct translation for English's camera. It literally means "photographic machine".
Eng) Don't forget your camera when you go on vacation!
It) Non dimenticare la macchina fotografica quando vai in vacanza!
I love this false friend because the one word reveals the origins of the other. In English, we use a camera to take a picture, digitally nowadays, but also with film. But in Italian, camera means room, or better yet, bedroom. What's fantastic is that the English word's action was originally performed in a box or dark room and today's photography students usually have to experiment at least once in their life with the "camera oscura" technique.
Use macchina fotografica as the correct translation for English's camera. It literally means "photographic machine".
Eng) Don't forget your camera when you go on vacation!
It) Non dimenticare la macchina fotografica quando vai in vacanza!
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