Itlish: English Words in “Common” Use in Italian

Italian, like English and many others, accretes words from other languages. Often these are modern terms which have no easy equivalent in antique Latin or Greek roots. For example: Ten years ago, Italians didn’t know how to refer to the process of scanning (a page, a photograph) using a scanner. The correct word – digitalizzare… Continue reading Itlish: English Words in “Common” Use in Italian

The Boys of barCamp

For me, it started with a comment on Pandemia. Luca Conti (one of Italy’s most influential bloggers) reported the quizzical complaint of Marina Bellini: why were there practically no females signed up for barCamp Rome?   Luca Mascaro, Federico, Diego Bianchi, Luca Conti I’d been reading more and more Italian blogs lately, especially since I… Continue reading The Boys of barCamp

Pinching Italians

Recently asked on the Fodor’s travel forum: “We’ve been told it is customary and acceptable for men in Italy to pinch women’s bottoms. Is this true and, if it is, what is the customary and acceptable response?” Over the years I’ve lived in Italy I’ve been asked this question several times. And it always makes… Continue reading Pinching Italians