Tag Archives: Italian to English translation
At The Railway Station In Italy Posted by Serena on Nov 2, 2016
In English there’s a particular name for unhelpful public employees: jobsworth, an abbreviation of the phrase “I can’t let you do that, it’s more than my job’s worth”. The jobsworth seems to delight in upholding petty rules at the expense of humanity or even common sense. Isn’t it wonderful then, when you come across their…
Gli Ospiti Di Annalisa Posted by Serena on Oct 27, 2016
My friend Annalisa is a lovely sweet person with a very poetic soul. She can turn everyday facts into beautiful special events. So when I read this little tale on her Facebook page I decided (with her permission) to share it with you, my dear readers. Ho l’abitudine di mettere appena fuori casa del cibo…
At The Dentist in Italy Posted by Serena on Oct 14, 2016
In this weeks blockbuster blog, our hero, Geoff, demonstrates immense courage in the face of a ferocious Italian dentist. Based on a true story! The characters: Geoff, the dentist, and the secretary The setting: a private dental surgery in Italy Segretaria: “Buongiorno, come posso esservi utile?” Secretary: “Good morning, how can I help you?” Geoff…
My Mother And The Italian Sculptor Posted by Serena on Sep 30, 2016
I recently wrote a couple of posts about my mother’s encounters with famous Italians. The first was Beniamino Gigli, the operatic tenor, then was Mario Tobino, psychiatric doctor cum writer. Well, those two were just casual meetings, but there was another famous person in my mother’s life, with whom she shared a proper friendship, in…
A Special Italian Kiss On The Hand Posted by Serena on Sep 20, 2016
It’s September, and, as usual at this time of year, our aia (stone patio) is completely covered with hazelnuts that have fallen from the noccioli (hazelnut trees). Beautiful plump tasty nocciole (hazelnuts), just perfect for making a delicious chocolate spread … if you’re not Geoff, who is allergic to them! The mouthwatering thought of home…
At The Bar In Italy Posted by Serena on Aug 10, 2016
The bar is an essential institution in Italy. A meeting place, somewhere to pass the time of day, to top up your caffeine levels or the credit on your cellulare. At the bar you can read the provided daily paper, play lotto, buy cigarettes, fare la colazione (have breakfast), una merenda (a snack) or, in…
Italian Chestnut Bread Posted by Serena on Jun 17, 2016
Here’s an unusual recipe from the Appennino Tosco Emiliano region, where chestnuts were the main staple food for centuries, il pane di farina di castagne (chestnut bread). This recipe involves the use of the vocabulary we explored in our last article: What Is Pasta? Note how the words pasta, impastare and impasto are used in…