This April, the Parliamo Italiano IGO group created an alphabet of Italian words that are commonly used in English. You'll also find the answers to the 'April Events' News Extra quiz.
Download a PDF of the April 2023 News Extra for IGO members: April IGO News Extra ()
How much Italian do you know? You’d be surprised.
The “Parliamo Italiano” Group has compiled an alphabet of Italian words that are commonly used in English, that is loan words from Italian. We had lively discussions in the group about what exactly a loan word is. By way of a compromise we have included all of the words suggested by the group but have marked doubtful words with a question mark and a note of their likely origin.
This is in no way an exhaustive list. Can you think of any more?
Italian Words in Common Usage in English
Parole Italiane Usate Correntemente in Inglese
A acqua, allegretto, allegro, alto, americano(caffè), andante, aria, arrabbiata
B ballerina, ballerino, basso profondo, bel canto, bimbo, brava/bravo, bravura, broccoli
C cappuccino, ‘cello, chiaroscuro, ciao, coda, confetti (one confetto), contralto
D al dente, dolce, dolce vita
E espresso
F falsetto, al forno, forte, fortissimo, fresco, al fresco,
G gelato, graffiti (one graffito)
H
I imbroglio, influenza
L latte, limbo? (this is directly from Latin OED), leggero, libretto
M madonna, macchiato(caffè), mamma, manifesto, minestrone
N novella, no
O opera, operetta
P padre, padrino, panini (one panino), paparazzi, pasta, pergola, pesto, pianissimo, piano, pianoforte piazza, pizza, prima donna, (one paparazzo), portico
Q
R replica, risotto, Roma
S salame, sambuca, santo, soprano, sottovoce, spaghetti, stiletto, studio,
T tango? ( from Spanish, OED). terracotta
U
V vendetta, vita, villa, viola, violoncello
Z zebra? (“Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from Italian. Partly a borrowing from Portuguese”. OED), zucchina (zucchino, pl. zucchini in Toscana), zecchino
Then we tried to compare sayings in the two languages, not just translating word for word but looking for sayings which express a similar idea and might be used in a similar way. This was a bit trickier but we hope you like them. Can you add any to this list?
Sayings in English and Italian: Paragonando Detti Inglesi e Italiani ()
Quiz Answers
- The 19th April has been designated Primrose Day - which UK Prime Minister is also connected to Primrose day - he died on 19th April in 1881? Benjamin Disraeli
- The Titanic sank on 15th April 1912. What natural phenomenon was the cause? Iceberg
- Do you know which Bird’s life cycle is described in this old rhyme / In April I open my bill/ In May I sing night and day/ In June I change my tune/ In July far far I fly/ In August away I must. Cuckoo
- On what day in April do we celebrate St George’s day? 23rd
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